1
|
Skeens A, Markle JM, Petipas G, Frey SL, Legleiter J. Divalent cations promote huntingtin fibril formation on endoplasmic reticulum derived and model membranes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2024; 1866:184339. [PMID: 38763270 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2024.184339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Huntington's Disease (HD) is caused by an abnormal expansion of the polyglutamine (polyQ) domain within the first exon of the huntingtin protein (htt). This expansion promotes disease-related htt aggregation into amyloid fibrils and the formation of proteinaceous inclusion bodies within neurons. Fibril formation is a complex heterogenous process involving an array of aggregate species such as oligomers, protofibrils, and fibrils. In HD, structural abnormalities of membranes of several organelles develop. In particular, the accumulation of htt fibrils near the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) impinges upon the membrane, resulting in ER damage, altered dynamics, and leakage of Ca2+. Here, the aggregation of htt at a bilayer interface assembled from ER-derived liposomes was investigated, and fibril formation directly on these membranes was enhanced. Based on these observations, simplified model systems were used to investigate mechanisms associated with htt aggregation on ER membranes. As the ER-derived liposome fractions contained residual Ca2+, the role of divalent cations was also investigated. In the absence of lipids, divalent cations had minimal impact on htt structure and aggregation. However, the presence of Ca2+ or Mg2+ played a key role in promoting fibril formation on lipid membranes despite reduced htt insertion into and association with lipid interfaces, suggesting that the ability of divalent cations to promote fibril formation on membranes is mediated by induced changes to the lipid membrane physicochemical properties. With enhanced concentrations of intracellular calcium being a hallmark of HD, the ability of divalent cations to influence htt aggregation at lipid membranes may play a role in aggregation events that lead to organelle abnormalities associated with disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Skeens
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Jordyn M Markle
- The Department of Chemistry, Gettysburg College, 300 N. Washington Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA
| | - Gabriella Petipas
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Shelli L Frey
- The Department of Chemistry, Gettysburg College, 300 N. Washington Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA.
| | - Justin Legleiter
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; Rockefeller Neurosciences Institutes, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang N, Zhang S, Langfelder P, Ramanathan L, Plascencia M, Gao F, Vaca R, Gu X, Deng L, Dionisio LE, Prasad BC, Vogt T, Horvath S, Aaronson JS, Rosinski J, Yang XW. Msh3 and Pms1 Set Neuronal CAG-repeat Migration Rate to Drive Selective Striatal and Cortical Pathogenesis in HD Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.09.602815. [PMID: 39026894 PMCID: PMC11257559 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.09.602815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Modifiers of Huntington's disease (HD) include mismatch repair (MMR) genes; however, their underlying disease-altering mechanisms remain unresolved. Knockout (KO) alleles for 9 HD GWAS modifiers/MMR genes were crossed to the Q140 Huntingtin (mHtt) knock-in mice to probe such mechanisms. Four KO mice strongly ( Msh3 and Pms1 ) or moderately ( Msh2 and Mlh1 ) rescue a triad of adult-onset, striatal medium-spiny-neuron (MSN)-selective phenotypes: somatic Htt DNA CAG-repeat expansion, transcriptionopathy, and mHtt protein aggregation. Comparatively, Q140 cortex also exhibits an analogous, but later-onset, pathogenic triad that is Msh3 -dependent. Remarkably, Q140/homozygous Msh3-KO lacks visible mHtt aggregates in the brain, even at advanced ages (20-months). Moreover, Msh3 -deficiency prevents striatal synaptic marker loss, astrogliosis, and locomotor impairment in HD mice. Purified Q140 MSN nuclei exhibit highly linear age-dependent mHtt DNA repeat expansion (i.e. repeat migration), with modal-CAG increasing at +8.8 repeats/month (R 2 =0.98). This linear rate is reduced to 2.3 and 0.3 repeats/month in Q140 with Msh3 heterozygous and homozygous alleles, respectively. Our study defines somatic Htt CAG-repeat thresholds below which there are no detectable mHtt nuclear or neuropil aggregates. Mild transcriptionopathy can still occur in Q140 mice with stabilized Htt 140-CAG repeats, but the majority of transcriptomic changes are due to somatic repeat expansion. Our analysis reveals 479 genes with expression levels highly correlated with modal-CAG length in MSNs. Thus, our study mechanistically connects HD GWAS genes to selective neuronal vulnerability in HD, in which Msh3 and Pms1 set the linear rate of neuronal mHtt CAG-repeat migration to drive repeat-length dependent pathogenesis; and provides a preclinical platform for targeting these genes for HD suppression across brain regions. One Sentence Summary Msh3 and Pms1 are genetic drivers of sequential striatal and cortical pathogenesis in Q140 mice by mediating selective CAG-repeat migration in HD vulnerable neurons.
Collapse
|
3
|
Qin Y, Chen L, Zhu W, Song J, Lin J, Li Y, Zhang J, Song X, Xing T, Guo T, Duan X, Zhang Y, Ruan E, Wang Q, Li B, Yang W, Yin P, Yan XX, Li S, Li XJ, Yang S. TRIM37 is a primate-specific E3 ligase for Huntingtin and accounts for the striatal degeneration in Huntington's disease. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl2036. [PMID: 38758800 PMCID: PMC11100560 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl2036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease characterized by preferential neuronal loss in the striatum. The mechanism underlying striatal selective neurodegeneration remains unclear, making it difficult to develop effective treatments for HD. In the brains of nonhuman primates, we examined the expression of Huntingtin (HTT), the gene responsible for HD. We found that HTT protein is highly expressed in striatal neurons due to its slow degradation in the striatum. We also identified tripartite motif-containing 37 (TRIM37) as a primate-specific protein that interacts with HTT and is selectively reduced in the primate striatum. TRIM37 promotes the ubiquitination and degradation of mutant HTT (mHTT) in vitro and modulates mHTT aggregation in mouse and monkey brains. Our findings suggest that nonhuman primates are crucial for understanding the mechanisms of human diseases such as HD and support TRIM37 as a potential therapeutic target for treating HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Qin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Laiqiang Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenzhen Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiahong Song
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingpan Lin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuwei Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiawei Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xichen Song
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Xing
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Guo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuezhi Duan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiran Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Eshu Ruan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weili Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Yin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Xin Yan
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Su Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Makeeva VS, Dyrkheeva NS, Lavrik OI, Zakian SM, Malakhova AA. Mutant-Huntingtin Molecular Pathways Elucidate New Targets for Drug Repurposing. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16798. [PMID: 38069121 PMCID: PMC10706709 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases known today is quite extensive. The complexities of their research and treatment lie not only in their diversity. Even many years of struggle and narrowly focused research on common pathologies such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other brain diseases have not brought cures for these illnesses. What can be said about orphan diseases? In particular, Huntington's disease (HD), despite affecting a smaller part of the human population, still attracts many researchers. This disorder is known to result from a mutation in the HTT gene, but having this information still does not simplify the task of drug development and studying the mechanisms of disease progression. Nonetheless, the data accumulated over the years and their analysis provide a good basis for further research. Here, we review studies devoted to understanding the mechanisms of HD. We analyze genes and molecular pathways involved in HD pathogenesis to describe the action of repurposed drugs and try to find new therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vladlena S. Makeeva
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Akad. Lavrentiev Ave., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.S.M.); (S.M.Z.); (A.A.M.)
| | - Nadezhda S. Dyrkheeva
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 8 Akad. Lavrentiev Ave., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
| | - Olga I. Lavrik
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 8 Akad. Lavrentiev Ave., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
| | - Suren M. Zakian
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Akad. Lavrentiev Ave., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.S.M.); (S.M.Z.); (A.A.M.)
| | - Anastasia A. Malakhova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Akad. Lavrentiev Ave., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.S.M.); (S.M.Z.); (A.A.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gall-Duncan T, Luo J, Jurkovic CM, Fischer LA, Fujita K, Deshmukh AL, Harding RJ, Tran S, Mehkary M, Li V, Leib DE, Chen R, Tanaka H, Mason AG, Lévesque D, Khan M, Razzaghi M, Prasolava T, Lanni S, Sato N, Caron MC, Panigrahi GB, Wang P, Lau R, Castel AL, Masson JY, Tippett L, Turner C, Spies M, La Spada AR, Campos EI, Curtis MA, Boisvert FM, Faull RLM, Davidson BL, Nakamori M, Okazawa H, Wold MS, Pearson CE. Antagonistic roles of canonical and Alternative-RPA in disease-associated tandem CAG repeat instability. Cell 2023; 186:4898-4919.e25. [PMID: 37827155 PMCID: PMC11209935 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Expansions of repeat DNA tracts cause >70 diseases, and ongoing expansions in brains exacerbate disease. During expansion mutations, single-stranded DNAs (ssDNAs) form slipped-DNAs. We find the ssDNA-binding complexes canonical replication protein A (RPA1, RPA2, and RPA3) and Alternative-RPA (RPA1, RPA3, and primate-specific RPA4) are upregulated in Huntington disease and spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) patient brains. Protein interactomes of RPA and Alt-RPA reveal unique and shared partners, including modifiers of CAG instability and disease presentation. RPA enhances in vitro melting, FAN1 excision, and repair of slipped-CAGs and protects against CAG expansions in human cells. RPA overexpression in SCA1 mouse brains ablates expansions, coincident with decreased ATXN1 aggregation, reduced brain DNA damage, improved neuron morphology, and rescued motor phenotypes. In contrast, Alt-RPA inhibits melting, FAN1 excision, and repair of slipped-CAGs and promotes CAG expansions. These findings suggest a functional interplay between the two RPAs where Alt-RPA may antagonistically offset RPA's suppression of disease-associated repeat expansions, which may extend to other DNA processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Terence Gall-Duncan
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer Luo
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Laura A Fischer
- Developmental Biology and Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kyota Fujita
- Neuropathology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Amit L Deshmukh
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rachel J Harding
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Stephanie Tran
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mustafa Mehkary
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vanessa Li
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David E Leib
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19146, USA
| | - Ran Chen
- Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Hikari Tanaka
- Neuropathology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Amanda G Mason
- Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Dominique Lévesque
- Immunology and Cell Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Mahreen Khan
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mortezaali Razzaghi
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Tanya Prasolava
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stella Lanni
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nozomu Sato
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marie-Christine Caron
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Oncology Division, Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry, and Pathology, Laval University Cancer Research Center, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Gagan B Panigrahi
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Peixiang Wang
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rachel Lau
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Jean-Yves Masson
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Oncology Division, Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry, and Pathology, Laval University Cancer Research Center, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Lynette Tippett
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; University Research Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Clinton Turner
- Anatomical Pathology, LabPlus, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Maria Spies
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Albert R La Spada
- Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Neurology, and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA; Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Center for Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Eric I Campos
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maurice A Curtis
- University Research Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Richard L M Faull
- University Research Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Beverly L Davidson
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19146, USA
| | - Masayuki Nakamori
- Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Okazawa
- Neuropathology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Marc S Wold
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Christopher E Pearson
- Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Farzana F, McConville MJ, Renoir T, Li S, Nie S, Tran H, Hannan AJ, Hatters DM, Boughton BA. Longitudinal spatial mapping of lipid metabolites reveals pre-symptomatic changes in the hippocampi of Huntington's disease transgenic mice. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 176:105933. [PMID: 36436748 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In Huntington's disease (HD), a key pathological feature includes the development of inclusion-bodies of fragments of the mutant huntingtin protein in the neurons of the striatum and hippocampus. To examine the molecular changes associated with inclusion-body formation, we applied MALDI-mass spectrometry imaging and deuterium pulse labelling to determine lipid levels and synthesis rates in the hippocampus of a transgenic mouse model of HD (R6/1 line). The R6/1 HD mice lacked inclusions in the hippocampus at 6 weeks of age (pre-symptomatic), whereas inclusions were pervasive by 16 weeks of age (symptomatic). Hippocampal subfields (CA1, CA3 and DG), which formed the highest density of inclusion formation in the mouse brain showed a reduction in the relative abundance of neuron-enriched lipids that have roles in neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and ER-stress protection. Lipids involved in the adaptive response to ER stress (phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid, and ganglioside classes) displayed increased rates of synthesis in HD mice relative to WT mice at all the ages examined, including prior to the formation of the inclusion bodies. Our findings, therefore, support a role for ER stress occurring pre-symptomatically and potentially contributing to pathological mechanisms underlying HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farheen Farzana
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Malcolm J McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Metabolomics Australia, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Thibault Renoir
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Shanshan Li
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Shuai Nie
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Harvey Tran
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Danny M Hatters
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Berin A Boughton
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Australian National Phenome Centre, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, Western Australia, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kim H, Gomez-Pastor R. HSF1 and Its Role in Huntington's Disease Pathology. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1410:35-95. [PMID: 36396925 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2022_742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is the master transcriptional regulator of the heat shock response (HSR) in mammalian cells and is a critical element in maintaining protein homeostasis. HSF1 functions at the center of many physiological processes like embryogenesis, metabolism, immune response, aging, cancer, and neurodegeneration. However, the mechanisms that allow HSF1 to control these different biological and pathophysiological processes are not fully understood. This review focuses on Huntington's disease (HD), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by severe protein aggregation of the huntingtin (HTT) protein. The aggregation of HTT, in turn, leads to a halt in the function of HSF1. Understanding the pathways that regulate HSF1 in different contexts like HD may hold the key to understanding the pathomechanisms underlying other proteinopathies. We provide the most current information on HSF1 structure, function, and regulation, emphasizing HD, and discussing its potential as a biological target for therapy. DATA SOURCES We performed PubMed search to find established and recent reports in HSF1, heat shock proteins (Hsp), HD, Hsp inhibitors, HSF1 activators, and HSF1 in aging, inflammation, cancer, brain development, mitochondria, synaptic plasticity, polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, and HD. STUDY SELECTIONS Research and review articles that described the mechanisms of action of HSF1 were selected based on terms used in PubMed search. RESULTS HSF1 plays a crucial role in the progression of HD and other protein-misfolding related neurodegenerative diseases. Different animal models of HD, as well as postmortem brains of patients with HD, reveal a connection between the levels of HSF1 and HSF1 dysfunction to mutant HTT (mHTT)-induced toxicity and protein aggregation, dysregulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruption of the structural and functional integrity of synaptic connections, which eventually leads to neuronal loss. These features are shared with other neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Currently, several inhibitors against negative regulators of HSF1, as well as HSF1 activators, are developed and hold promise to prevent neurodegeneration in HD and other NDs. CONCLUSION Understanding the role of HSF1 during protein aggregation and neurodegeneration in HD may help to develop therapeutic strategies that could be effective across different NDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyuck Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Rocio Gomez-Pastor
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Integrative Meta-Analysis of Huntington's Disease Transcriptome Landscape. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13122385. [PMID: 36553652 PMCID: PMC9777612 DOI: 10.3390/genes13122385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance caused by glutamine expansion in the Huntingtin gene (HTT). Striatal projection neurons (SPNs) in HD are more vulnerable to cell death. The executive striatal population is directly connected with the Brodmann Area (BA9), which is mainly involved in motor functions. Analyzing the disease samples from BA9 from the SRA database provides insights related to neuron degeneration, which helps to identify a promising therapeutic strategy. Most gene expression studies examine the changes in expression and associated biological functions. In this study, we elucidate the relationship between variants and their effect on gene/downstream transcript expression. We computed gene and transcript abundance and identified variants from RNA-seq data using various pipelines. We predicted the effect of genome-wide association studies (GWAS)/novel variants on regulatory functions. We found that many variants affect the histone acetylation pattern in HD, thereby perturbing the transcription factor networks. Interestingly, some variants affect miRNA binding as well as their downstream gene expression. Tissue-specific network analysis showed that mitochondrial, neuroinflammation, vasculature, and angiogenesis-related genes are disrupted in HD. From this integrative omics analysis, we propose that abnormal neuroinflammation acts as a two-edged sword that indirectly affects the vasculature and associated energy metabolism. Rehabilitation of blood-brain barrier functionality and energy metabolism may secure the neuron from cell death.
Collapse
|
9
|
Li RL, Wang LY, Duan HX, Zhang Q, Guo X, Wu C, Peng W. Regulation of mitochondrial dysfunction induced cell apoptosis is a potential therapeutic strategy for herbal medicine to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:937289. [PMID: 36210852 PMCID: PMC9535092 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.937289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disease is a progressive neurodegeneration caused by genetic and environmental factors. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Huntington’s disease (HD) are the three most common neurodegenerative diseases clinically. Unfortunately, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing year by year. However, the current available drugs have poor efficacy and large side effects, which brings a great burden to the patients and the society. Increasing evidence suggests that occurrence and development of the neurodegenerative diseases is closely related to the mitochondrial dysfunction, which can affect mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, as well as mitochondrial mitophagy. Through the disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis, nerve cells undergo varying degrees of apoptosis. Interestingly, it has been shown in recent years that the natural agents derived from herbal medicines are beneficial for prevention/treatment of neurodegenerative diseases via regulation of mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, in this review, we will focus on the potential therapeutic agents from herbal medicines for treating neurodegenerative diseases via suppressing apoptosis through regulation of mitochondrial dysfunction, in order to provide a foundation for the development of more candidate drugs for neurodegenerative diseases from herbal medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruo-Lan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling-Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Hu-Xinyue Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaohui Guo
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaohui Guo, ; Chunjie Wu, ; Wei Peng,
| | - Chunjie Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaohui Guo, ; Chunjie Wu, ; Wei Peng,
| | - Wei Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaohui Guo, ; Chunjie Wu, ; Wei Peng,
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lee HN, Hyeon SJ, Kim H, Sim KM, Kim Y, Ju J, Lee J, Wang Y, Ryu H, Seong J. Decreased FAK activity and focal adhesion dynamics impair proper neurite formation of medium spiny neurons in Huntington's disease. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 144:521-536. [PMID: 35857122 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02462-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the protein huntingtin (HTT) [55]. While the final pathological consequence of HD is the neuronal cell death in the striatum region of the brain, it is still unclear how mutant HTT (mHTT) causes synaptic dysfunctions at the early stage and during the progression of HD. Here, we discovered that the basal activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is severely reduced in a striatal HD cell line, a mouse model of HD, and the human post-mortem brains of HD patients. In addition, we observed with a FRET-based FAK biosensor [59] that neurotransmitter-induced FAK activation is decreased in HD striatal neurons. Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) imaging revealed that the reduced FAK activity causes the impairment of focal adhesion (FA) dynamics, which further leads to the defect in filopodial dynamics causing the abnormally increased number of immature neurites in HD striatal neurons. Therefore, our results suggest that the decreased FAK and FA dynamics in HD impair the proper formation of neurites, which is crucial for normal synaptic functions [52]. We further investigated the molecular mechanism of FAK inhibition in HD and surprisingly discovered that mHTT strongly associates with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate, altering its normal distribution at the plasma membrane, which is crucial for FAK activation [14, 60]. Therefore, our results provide a novel molecular mechanism of FAK inhibition in HD along with its pathological mechanism for synaptic dysfunctions during the progression of HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hae Nim Lee
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Department of Converging Science and Technology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02453, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Jae Hyeon
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Heejung Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Department of Converging Science and Technology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02453, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung Mi Sim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunha Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongmin Ju
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Junghee Lee
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Yingxiao Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Hoon Ryu
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jihye Seong
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Converging Science and Technology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02453, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Spead O, Zaepfel BL, Rothstein JD. Nuclear Pore Dysfunction in Neurodegeneration. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1050-1060. [PMID: 36070178 PMCID: PMC9587172 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01293-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is a large multimeric structure that is interspersed throughout the membrane of the nucleus and consists of at least 33 protein components. Individual components cooperate within the nuclear pore to facilitate selective passage of materials between the nucleus and cytoplasm while simultaneously performing pore-independent roles throughout the cell. NPC dysfunction is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). NPC components can become mislocalized or altered in expression in neurodegeneration. These alterations in NPC structure are often detrimental to the neuronal function and ultimately lead to neuronal loss. This review highlights the importance of nucleocytoplasmic transport and NPC integrity and how dysfunction of such may contribute to neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Spead
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Benjamin L Zaepfel
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Rothstein
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Petersen MH, Willert CW, Andersen JV, Madsen M, Waagepetersen HS, Skotte NH, Nørremølle A. Progressive Mitochondrial Dysfunction of Striatal Synapses in R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2022; 11:121-140. [PMID: 35311711 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-210518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by synaptic dysfunction and loss of white matter volume especially in the striatum of the basal ganglia and to a lesser extent in the cerebral cortex. Studies investigating heterogeneity between synaptic and non-synaptic mitochondria have revealed a pronounced vulnerability of synaptic mitochondria, which may lead to synaptic dysfunction and loss. OBJECTIVE As mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of HD pathogenesis, we investigated synaptic mitochondrial function from striatum and cortex of the transgenic R6/2 mouse model of HD. METHODS We assessed mitochondrial volume, ROS production, and antioxidant levels as well as mitochondrial respiration at different pathological stages. RESULTS Our results reveal that striatal synaptic mitochondria are more severely affected by HD pathology than those of the cortex. Striatal synaptosomes of R6/2 mice displayed a reduction in mitochondrial mass coinciding with increased ROS production and antioxidants levels indicating prolonged oxidative stress. Furthermore, synaptosomal oxygen consumption rates were significantly increased during depolarizing conditions, which was accompanied by a marked increase in mitochondrial proton leak of the striatal synaptosomes, indicating synaptic mitochondrial stress. CONCLUSION Overall, our study provides new insight into the gradual changes of synaptic mitochondrial function in HD and suggests compensatory mitochondrial actions to maintain energy production in the HD brain, thereby supporting that mitochondrial dysfunction do indeed play a central role in early disease progression of HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Hvidberg Petersen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Jens Velde Andersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mette Madsen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Niels Henning Skotte
- Proteomics Program, The Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Protein Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Nørremølle
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kacher R, Mounier C, Caboche J, Betuing S. Altered Cholesterol Homeostasis in Huntington’s Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:797220. [PMID: 35517051 PMCID: PMC9063567 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.797220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by an expansion of the CAG repeat in the first exon of Huntingtin’s gene. The associated neurodegeneration mainly affects the striatum and the cortex at early stages and progressively spreads to other brain structures. Targeting HD at its earlier stages is under intense investigation. Numerous drugs were tested, with a rate of success of only 3.5% approved molecules used as symptomatic treatment. The restoration of cholesterol metabolism, which is central to the brain homeostasis and strongly altered in HD, could be an interesting disease-modifying strategy. Cholesterol is an essential membrane component in the central nervous system (CNS); alterations of its homeostasis have deleterious consequences on neuronal functions. The levels of several sterols, upstream of cholesterol, are markedly decreased within the striatum of HD mouse model. Transcription of cholesterol biosynthetic genes is reduced in HD cell and mouse models as well as post-mortem striatal and cortical tissues from HD patients. Since the dynamic of brain cholesterol metabolism is complex, it is essential to establish the best method to target it in HD. Cholesterol, which does not cross the blood-brain-barrier, is locally synthesized and renewed within the brain. All cell types in the CNS synthesize cholesterol during development but as they progress through adulthood, neurons down-regulate their cholesterol synthesis and turn to astrocytes for their full supply. Cellular levels of cholesterol reflect the dynamic balance between synthesis, uptake and export, all integrated into the context of the cross talk between neurons and glial cells. In this review, we describe the latest advances regarding the role of cholesterol deregulation in neuronal functions and how this could be a determinant factor in neuronal degeneration and HD progression. The pathways and major mechanisms by which cholesterol and sterols are regulated in the CNS will be described. From this overview, we discuss the main clinical strategies for manipulating cholesterol metabolism in the CNS, and how to reinstate a proper balance in HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Radhia Kacher
- Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute (ICM), AP-HP, INSERM, CNRS, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- INSERM, U1216, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Coline Mounier
- Neuroscience Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8246, Paris, France
- U1130, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France
| | - Jocelyne Caboche
- Neuroscience Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8246, Paris, France
- U1130, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Betuing
- Neuroscience Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8246, Paris, France
- U1130, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Sandrine Betuing,
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Gu X, Richman J, Langfelder P, Wang N, Zhang S, Bañez-Coronel M, Wang HB, Yang L, Ramanathan L, Deng L, Park CS, Choi CR, Cantle JP, Gao F, Gray M, Coppola G, Bates GP, Ranum LPW, Horvath S, Colwell CS, Yang XW. Uninterrupted CAG repeat drives striatum-selective transcriptionopathy and nuclear pathogenesis in human Huntingtin BAC mice. Neuron 2022; 110:1173-1192.e7. [PMID: 35114102 PMCID: PMC9462388 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In Huntington's disease (HD), the uninterrupted CAG repeat length, but not the polyglutamine length, predicts disease onset. However, the underlying pathobiology remains unclear. Here, we developed bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mice expressing human mutant huntingtin (mHTT) with uninterrupted, and somatically unstable, CAG repeats that exhibit progressive disease-related phenotypes. Unlike prior mHTT transgenic models with stable, CAA-interrupted, polyglutamine-encoding repeats, BAC-CAG mice show robust striatum-selective nuclear inclusions and transcriptional dysregulation resembling those in murine huntingtin knockin models and HD patients. Importantly, the striatal transcriptionopathy in HD models is significantly correlated with their uninterrupted CAG repeat length but not polyglutamine length. Finally, among the pathogenic entities originating from mHTT genomic transgenes and only present or enriched in the uninterrupted CAG repeat model, somatic CAG repeat instability and nuclear mHTT aggregation are best correlated with early-onset striatum-selective molecular pathogenesis and locomotor and sleep deficits, while repeat RNA-associated pathologies and repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation may play less selective or late pathogenic roles, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Gu
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Richman
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peter Langfelder
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nan Wang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shasha Zhang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Monica Bañez-Coronel
- Center for Neurogenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute of Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Huei-Bin Wang
- Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lucia Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lalini Ramanathan
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Linna Deng
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chang Sin Park
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher R Choi
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Cantle
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Fuying Gao
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michelle Gray
- Department of Neurology and Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gillian P Bates
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura P W Ranum
- Center for Neurogenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute of Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher S Colwell
- Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - X William Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
CAG repeat-binding small molecule improves motor coordination impairment in a mouse model of Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 163:105604. [PMID: 34968706 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) is a devastating genetic disease presenting myoclonus, epilepsy, ataxia, and dementia. DRPLA is caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat in the ATN1 gene. Aggregation of the polyglutamine-expanded ATN1 protein causes neuro-degeneration of the dentatorubral and pallidoluysian systems. The expanded CAG repeats are unstable, and ongoing repeat expansions contribute to disease onset, progression, and severity. Inducing contractions of expanded repeats can be a means to treat DRPLA, for which no disease-modifying or curative therapies exist at present. Previously, we characterized a small molecule, naphthyridine-azaquinolone (NA), which binds to CAG slip-out structures and induces repeat contraction in Huntington's disease mice. Here, we demonstrate that long-term intracerebroventricular infusion of NA leads to repeat contraction, reductions in mutant ATN1 aggregation, and improved motor phenotype in a murine model of DRPLA. Furthermore, NA-induced contraction resulted in the modification of repeat-length-dependent dysregulation of gene expression profiles in DRPLA mice. Our study reveals the therapeutic potential of repeat contracting small molecules for repeat expansion disorders, such as DRPLA.
Collapse
|
16
|
Martinez B, Peplow PV. Altered microRNA expression in animal models of Huntington's disease and potential therapeutic strategies. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:2159-2169. [PMID: 33818488 PMCID: PMC8354140 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.310673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A review of recent animal models of Huntington's disease showed many microRNAs had altered expression levels in the striatum and cerebral cortex, and which were mostly downregulated. Among the altered microRNAs were miR-9/9*, miR-29b, miR-124a, miR-132, miR-128, miR-139, miR-122, miR-138, miR-23b, miR-135b, miR-181 (all downregulated) and miR-448 (upregulated), and similar changes had been previously found in Huntington's disease patients. In the animal cell studies, the altered microRNAs included miR-9, miR-9*, miR-135b, miR-222 (all downregulated) and miR-214 (upregulated). In the animal models, overexpression of miR-155 and miR-196a caused a decrease in mutant huntingtin mRNA and protein level, lowered the mutant huntingtin aggregates in striatum and cortex, and improved performance in behavioral tests. Improved performance in behavioral tests also occurred with overexpression of miR-132 and miR-124. In the animal cell models, overexpression of miR-22 increased the viability of rat primary cortical and striatal neurons infected with mutant huntingtin and decreased huntingtin -enriched foci of ≥ 2 µm. Also, overexpression of miR-22 enhanced the survival of rat primary striatal neurons treated with 3-nitropropionic acid. Exogenous expression of miR-214, miR-146a, miR-150, and miR-125b decreased endogenous expression of huntingtin mRNA and protein in HdhQ111/HdhQ111 cells. Further studies with animal models of Huntington's disease are warranted to validate these findings and identify specific microRNAs whose overexpression inhibits the production of mutant huntingtin protein and other harmful processes and may provide a more effective means of treating Huntington's disease in patients and slowing its progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bridget Martinez
- Physical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, Chemistry Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
- Department of Medicine, St. Georges University School of Medicine, Grenada
| | - Philip V. Peplow
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Correspondence to: Philip V. Peplow, .
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Vieweg S, Mahul-Mellier AL, Ruggeri FS, Riguet N, DeGuire SM, Chiki A, Cendrowska U, Dietler G, Lashuel HA. The Nt17 Domain and its Helical Conformation Regulate the Aggregation, Cellular Properties and Neurotoxicity of Mutant Huntingtin Exon 1. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167222. [PMID: 34492254 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Converging evidence points to the N-terminal domain comprising the first 17 amino acids of the Huntingtin protein (Nt17) as a key regulator of its aggregation, cellular properties and toxicity. In this study, we further investigated the interplay between Nt17 and the polyQ domain repeat length in regulating the aggregation and inclusion formation of exon 1 of the Huntingtin protein (Httex1). In addition, we investigated the effect of removing Nt17 or modulating its local structure on the membrane interactions, neuronal uptake, and toxicity of monomeric or fibrillar Httex1. Our results show that the polyQ and Nt17 domains synergistically modulate the aggregation propensity of Httex1 and that the Nt17 domain plays important roles in shaping the surface properties of mutant Httex1 fibrils and regulating their poly-Q-dependent growth, lateral association and neuronal uptake. Removal of Nt17 or disruption of its transient helical conformations slowed the aggregation of monomeric Httex1 in vitro, reduced inclusion formation in cells, enhanced the neuronal uptake and nuclear accumulation of monomeric Httex1 proteins, and was sufficient to prevent cell death induced by Httex1 72Q overexpression. Finally, we demonstrate that the uptake of Httex1 fibrils into primary neurons and the resulting toxicity are strongly influenced by mutations and phosphorylation events that influence the local helical propensity of Nt17. Altogether, our results demonstrate that the Nt17 domain serves as one of the key master regulators of Htt aggregation, internalization, and toxicity and represents an attractive target for inhibiting Htt aggregate formation, inclusion formation, and neuronal toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Vieweg
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Laure Mahul-Mellier
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Francesco S Ruggeri
- Laboratory of the Physics of Living Matter, EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nathan Riguet
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sean M DeGuire
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anass Chiki
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Urszula Cendrowska
- Laboratory of the Physics of Living Matter, EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Dietler
- Laboratory of the Physics of Living Matter, EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Adegbuyiro A, Sedighi F, Jain P, Pinti MV, Siriwardhana C, Hollander JM, Legleiter J. Mitochondrial membranes modify mutant huntingtin aggregation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2021; 1863:183663. [PMID: 34089719 PMCID: PMC8328955 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) tract near the N-terminus of the huntingtin (htt) protein. Expanded polyQ tracts are prone to aggregate into oligomers and insoluble fibrils. Mutant htt (mhtt) localizes to variety of organelles, including mitochondria. Specifically, mitochondrial defects, morphological alteration, and dysfunction are observed in HD. Mitochondrial lipids, cardiolipin (CL) in particular, are essential in mitochondria function and have the potential to directly interact with htt, altering its aggregation. Here, the impact of mitochondrial membranes on htt aggregation was investigated using a combination of mitochondrial membrane mimics and tissue-derived mitochondrial-enriched fractions. The impact of exposure of outer and inner mitochondrial membrane mimics (OMM and IMM respectively) to mhtt was explored. OMM and IMM reduced mhtt fibrillization, with IMM having a larger effect. The role of CL in mhtt aggregation was investigated using a simple PC system with varying molar ratios of CL. Lower molar ratios of CL (<5%) promoted fibrillization; however, increased CL content retarded fibrillization. As revealed by in situ AFM, mhtt aggregation and associated membrane morphological changes at the surface of OMM mimics was markedly different compared to IMM mimics. While globular deposits of mhtt with few fibrillar aggregates were observed on OMM, plateau-like domains were observed on IMM. A similar impact on htt aggregation was observed with exposure to purified mitochondrial-enriched fractions. Collectively, these observations suggest mitochondrial membranes heavily influence htt aggregation with implication for HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adewale Adegbuyiro
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States
| | - Faezeh Sedighi
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States
| | - Pranav Jain
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States
| | - Mark V Pinti
- Division of Exercise Physiology, West Virginia School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States; Mitochondria, Metabolism & Bioenergetics Working Group, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Chathuranga Siriwardhana
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States
| | - John M Hollander
- Division of Exercise Physiology, West Virginia School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States; Mitochondria, Metabolism & Bioenergetics Working Group, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Justin Legleiter
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, 217 Clark Hall, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States; Rockefeller Neurosciences Institutes, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States; Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Dr., P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Nanotheranostic agents for neurodegenerative diseases. Emerg Top Life Sci 2021; 4:645-675. [PMID: 33320185 DOI: 10.1042/etls20190141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), affect the ageing population worldwide and while severely impairing the quality of life of millions, they also cause a massive economic burden to countries with progressively ageing populations. Parallel with the search for biomarkers for early detection and prediction, the pursuit for therapeutic approaches has become growingly intensive in recent years. Various prospective therapeutic approaches have been explored with an emphasis on early prevention and protection, including, but not limited to, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy. Many pharmacological interventions have proved to be promising novel avenues, but successful applications are often hampered by the poor delivery of the therapeutics across the blood-brain-barrier (BBB). To overcome this challenge, nanoparticle (NP)-mediated drug delivery has been considered as a promising option, as NP-based drug delivery systems can be functionalized to target specific cell surface receptors and to achieve controlled and long-term release of therapeutics to the target tissue. The usefulness of NPs for loading and delivering of drugs has been extensively studied in the context of NDDs, and their biological efficacy has been demonstrated in numerous preclinical animal models. Efforts have also been made towards the development of NPs which can be used for targeting the BBB and various cell types in the brain. The main focus of this review is to briefly discuss the advantages of functionalized NPs as promising theranostic agents for the diagnosis and therapy of NDDs. We also summarize the results of diverse studies that specifically investigated the usage of different NPs for the treatment of NDDs, with a specific emphasis on AD and PD, and the associated pathophysiological changes. Finally, we offer perspectives on the existing challenges of using NPs as theranostic agents and possible futuristic approaches to improve them.
Collapse
|
20
|
Needs HI, Protasoni M, Henley JM, Prudent J, Collinson I, Pereira GC. Interplay between Mitochondrial Protein Import and Respiratory Complexes Assembly in Neuronal Health and Degeneration. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:432. [PMID: 34064758 PMCID: PMC8151517 DOI: 10.3390/life11050432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The fact that >99% of mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the nuclear genome and synthesised in the cytosol renders the process of mitochondrial protein import fundamental for normal organelle physiology. In addition to this, the nuclear genome comprises most of the proteins required for respiratory complex assembly and function. This means that without fully functional protein import, mitochondrial respiration will be defective, and the major cellular ATP source depleted. When mitochondrial protein import is impaired, a number of stress response pathways are activated in order to overcome the dysfunction and restore mitochondrial and cellular proteostasis. However, prolonged impaired mitochondrial protein import and subsequent defective respiratory chain function contributes to a number of diseases including primary mitochondrial diseases and neurodegeneration. This review focuses on how the processes of mitochondrial protein translocation and respiratory complex assembly and function are interlinked, how they are regulated, and their importance in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hope I. Needs
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK; (H.I.N.); (J.M.H.)
| | - Margherita Protasoni
- Medical Research Council-Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK; (M.P.); (J.P.)
| | - Jeremy M. Henley
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK; (H.I.N.); (J.M.H.)
- Centre for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Julien Prudent
- Medical Research Council-Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK; (M.P.); (J.P.)
| | - Ian Collinson
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK; (H.I.N.); (J.M.H.)
| | - Gonçalo C. Pereira
- Medical Research Council-Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK; (M.P.); (J.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Donaldson J, Powell S, Rickards N, Holmans P, Jones L. What is the Pathogenic CAG Expansion Length in Huntington's Disease? J Huntingtons Dis 2021; 10:175-202. [PMID: 33579866 PMCID: PMC7990448 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-200445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) (OMIM 143100) is caused by an expanded CAG repeat tract in the HTT gene. The inherited CAG length is known to expand further in somatic and germline cells in HD subjects. Age at onset of the disease is inversely correlated with the inherited CAG length, but is further modulated by a series of genetic modifiers which are most likely to act on the CAG repeat in HTT that permit it to further expand. Longer repeats are more prone to expansions, and this expansion is age dependent and tissue-specific. Given that the inherited tract expands through life and most subjects develop disease in mid-life, this implies that in cells that degenerate, the CAG length is likely to be longer than the inherited length. These findings suggest two thresholds- the inherited CAG length which permits further expansion, and the intracellular pathogenic threshold, above which cells become dysfunctional and die. This two-step mechanism has been previously proposed and modelled mathematically to give an intracellular pathogenic threshold at a tract length of 115 CAG (95% confidence intervals 70- 165 CAG). Empirically, the intracellular pathogenic threshold is difficult to determine. Clues from studies of people and models of HD, and from other diseases caused by expanded repeat tracts, place this threshold between 60- 100 CAG, most likely towards the upper part of that range. We assess this evidence and discuss how the intracellular pathogenic threshold in manifest disease might be better determined. Knowing the cellular pathogenic threshold would be informative for both understanding the mechanism in HD and deploying treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Donaldson
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sophie Powell
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Nadia Rickards
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Peter Holmans
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Lesley Jones
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Lee CYD, Wang N, Shen K, Stricos M, Langfelder P, Cheon KH, Cortés EP, Vinters HV, Vonsattel JP, Wexler NS, Damoiseaux R, Frydman J, Yang XW. Disease-related Huntingtin seeding activities in cerebrospinal fluids of Huntington's disease patients. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20295. [PMID: 33219289 PMCID: PMC7679413 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77164-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In Huntington's disease (HD), the mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) is postulated to mediate template-based aggregation that can propagate across cells. It has been difficult to quantitatively detect such pathological seeding activities in patient biosamples, e.g. cerebrospinal fluids (CSF), and study their correlation with the disease manifestation. Here we developed a cell line expressing a domain-engineered mHTT-exon 1 reporter, which showed remarkably high sensitivity and specificity in detecting mHTT seeding species in HD patient biosamples. We showed that the seeding-competent mHTT species in HD CSF are significantly elevated upon disease onset and with the progression of neuropathological grades. Mechanistically, we showed that mHTT seeding activities in patient CSF could be ameliorated by the overexpression of chaperone DNAJB6 and by antibodies against the polyproline domain of mHTT. Together, our study developed a selective and scalable cell-based tool to investigate mHTT seeding activities in HD CSF, and demonstrated that the CSF mHTT seeding species are significantly associated with certain disease states. This seeding activity can be ameliorated by targeting specific domain or proteostatic pathway of mHTT, providing novel insights into such pathological activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Y Daniel Lee
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nan Wang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Koning Shen
- Department of Biology and BioX Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Matthew Stricos
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peter Langfelder
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kristina H Cheon
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Etty P Cortés
- Division of Aging and Dementia, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harry V Vinters
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jean Paul Vonsattel
- Division of Aging and Dementia, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nancy S Wexler
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Hereditary Disease Foundation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert Damoiseaux
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Judith Frydman
- Department of Biology and BioX Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - X William Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Gatto RG, Weissmann C. Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Preclinical and Human Studies of Huntington's Disease: What Have we Learned so Far? Curr Med Imaging 2020; 15:521-542. [PMID: 32008561 DOI: 10.2174/1573405614666181115113400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's Disease is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive deterioration of specific brain nerve cells. The current evaluation of cellular and physiological events in patients with HD relies on the development of transgenic animal models. To explore such events in vivo, diffusion tensor imaging has been developed to examine the early macro and microstructural changes in brain tissue. However, the gap in diffusion tensor imaging findings between animal models and clinical studies and the lack of microstructural confirmation by histological methods has questioned the validity of this method. OBJECTIVE This review explores white and grey matter ultrastructural changes associated to diffusion tensor imaging, as well as similarities and differences between preclinical and clinical Huntington's Disease studies. METHODS A comprehensive review of the literature using online-resources was performed (Pub- Med search). RESULTS Similar changes in fractional anisotropy as well as axial, radial and mean diffusivities were observed in white matter tracts across clinical and animal studies. However, comparative diffusion alterations in different grey matter structures were inconsistent between clinical and animal studies. CONCLUSION Diffusion tensor imaging can be related to specific structural anomalies in specific cellular populations. However, some differences between animal and clinical studies could derive from the contrasting neuroanatomy or connectivity across species. Such differences should be considered before generalizing preclinical results into the clinical practice. Moreover, current limitations of this technique to accurately represent complex multicellular events at the single micro scale are real. Future work applying complex diffusion models should be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo Gabriel Gatto
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, United States
| | - Carina Weissmann
- Insituto de Fisiología Biologia Molecular y Neurociencias-IFIBYNE-CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Nakamori M, Panigrahi GB, Lanni S, Gall-Duncan T, Hayakawa H, Tanaka H, Luo J, Otabe T, Li J, Sakata A, Caron MC, Joshi N, Prasolava T, Chiang K, Masson JY, Wold MS, Wang X, Lee MYWT, Huddleston J, Munson KM, Davidson S, Layeghifard M, Edward LM, Gallon R, Santibanez-Koref M, Murata A, Takahashi MP, Eichler EE, Shlien A, Nakatani K, Mochizuki H, Pearson CE. A slipped-CAG DNA-binding small molecule induces trinucleotide-repeat contractions in vivo. Nat Genet 2020; 52:146-159. [PMID: 32060489 PMCID: PMC7043212 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-019-0575-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In many repeat diseases, such as Huntington's disease (HD), ongoing repeat expansions in affected tissues contribute to disease onset, progression and severity. Inducing contractions of expanded repeats by exogenous agents is not yet possible. Traditional approaches would target proteins driving repeat mutations. Here we report a compound, naphthyridine-azaquinolone (NA), that specifically binds slipped-CAG DNA intermediates of expansion mutations, a previously unsuspected target. NA efficiently induces repeat contractions in HD patient cells as well as en masse contractions in medium spiny neurons of HD mouse striatum. Contractions are specific for the expanded allele, independently of DNA replication, require transcription across the coding CTG strand and arise by blocking repair of CAG slip-outs. NA-induced contractions depend on active expansions driven by MutSβ. NA injections in HD mouse striatum reduce mutant HTT protein aggregates, a biomarker of HD pathogenesis and severity. Repeat-structure-specific DNA ligands are a novel avenue to contract expanded repeats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Nakamori
- Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Gagan B Panigrahi
- Program of Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stella Lanni
- Program of Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Terence Gall-Duncan
- Program of Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Program of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hideki Hayakawa
- Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hana Tanaka
- Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jennifer Luo
- Program of Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Program of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Takahiro Otabe
- Department of Regulatory Bioorganic Chemistry, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jinxing Li
- Department of Regulatory Bioorganic Chemistry, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akihiro Sakata
- Department of Regulatory Bioorganic Chemistry, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Marie-Christine Caron
- Genome Stability Laboratory, CHU de Québec Research Center, HDQ Pavilion, Oncology Division, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology, Laval University Cancer Research Center, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Niraj Joshi
- Genome Stability Laboratory, CHU de Québec Research Center, HDQ Pavilion, Oncology Division, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology, Laval University Cancer Research Center, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tanya Prasolava
- Program of Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karen Chiang
- Program of Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Program of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean-Yves Masson
- Genome Stability Laboratory, CHU de Québec Research Center, HDQ Pavilion, Oncology Division, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology, Laval University Cancer Research Center, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marc S Wold
- Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Marietta Y W T Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - John Huddleston
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Katherine M Munson
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Scott Davidson
- Program of Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mehdi Layeghifard
- Program of Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lisa-Monique Edward
- Program of Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard Gallon
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Asako Murata
- Department of Regulatory Bioorganic Chemistry, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masanori P Takahashi
- Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Evan E Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Adam Shlien
- Program of Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kazuhiko Nakatani
- Department of Regulatory Bioorganic Chemistry, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hideki Mochizuki
- Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Christopher E Pearson
- Program of Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Program of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Hartlage-Rübsamen M, Ratz V, Zeitschel U, Finzel L, Machner L, Köppen J, Schulze A, Demuth HU, von Hörsten S, Höfling C, Roßner S. Endogenous mouse huntingtin is highly abundant in cranial nerve nuclei, co-aggregates to Abeta plaques and is induced in reactive astrocytes in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:79. [PMID: 31109380 PMCID: PMC6526682 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0726-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic variants of the huntingtin (HTT) protein and their aggregation have been investigated in great detail in brains of Huntington's disease patients and HTT-transgenic animals. However, little is known about the physiological brain region- and cell type-specific HTT expression pattern in wild type mice and a potential recruitment of endogenous HTT to other pathogenic protein aggregates such as amyloid plaques in cross seeding events. Employing a monoclonal anti-HTT antibody directed against the HTT mid-region and using brain tissue of three different mouse strains, we detected prominent immunoreactivity in a number of brain areas, particularly in cholinergic cranial nerve nuclei, while ubiquitous neuronal staining appeared faint. The region-specific distribution of endogenous HTT was found to be comparable in wild type rat and hamster brain. In human amyloid precursor protein transgenic Tg2576 mice with amyloid plaque pathology, similar neuronal HTT expression patterns and a distinct association of HTT with Abeta plaques were revealed by immunohistochemical double labelling. Additionally, the localization of HTT in reactive astrocytes was demonstrated for the first time in a transgenic Alzheimer's disease animal model. Both, plaque association of HTT and occurrence in astrocytes appeared to be age-dependent. Astrocytic HTT gene and protein expression was confirmed in primary cultures by RT-qPCR and by immunocytochemistry. We provide the first detailed analysis of physiological HTT expression in rodent brain and, under pathological conditions, demonstrate HTT aggregation in proximity to Abeta plaques and Abeta-induced astrocytic expression of endogenous HTT in Tg2576 mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Veronika Ratz
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Preclinical Experimental Center, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Zeitschel
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lukas Finzel
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lisa Machner
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Janett Köppen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Anja Schulze
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Demuth
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Preclinical Experimental Center, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Corinna Höfling
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Steffen Roßner
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Rangel-Barajas C, Rebec GV. Overview of Huntington's Disease Models: Neuropathological, Molecular, and Behavioral Differences. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 83:e47. [PMID: 30040221 DOI: 10.1002/cpns.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic mouse models of Huntington's disease (HD), a neurodegenerative condition caused by a single gene mutation, have been transformative in their ability to reveal the molecular processes and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the HD behavioral phenotype. Three model categories have been generated depending on the genetic context in which the mutation is expressed: truncated, full-length, and knock-in. No single model, however, broadly replicates the behavioral symptoms and massive neuronal loss that occur in human patients. The disparity between model and patient requires careful consideration of what each model has to offer when testing potential treatments. Although the translation of animal data to the clinic has been limited, each model can make unique contributions toward an improved understanding of the neurobehavioral underpinnings of HD. Thus, conclusions based on data obtained from more than one model are likely to have the most success in the search for new treatment targets. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Rangel-Barajas
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
| | - George V Rebec
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Intihar TA, Martinez EA, Gomez-Pastor R. Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Huntington's Disease; Interplay Between HSF1, p53 and PGC-1α Transcription Factors. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:103. [PMID: 30941017 PMCID: PMC6433789 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, causing the protein to misfold and aggregate. HD progression is characterized by motor impairment and cognitive decline associated with the preferential loss of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs). The mechanisms that determine increased susceptibility of MSNs to mutant HTT (mHTT) are not fully understood, although there is abundant evidence demonstrating the importance of mHTT mediated mitochondrial dysfunction in MSNs death. Two main transcription factors, p53 and peroxisome proliferator co-activator PGC-1α, have been widely studied in HD for their roles in regulating mitochondrial function and apoptosis. The action of these two proteins seems to be interconnected. However, it is still open to discussion whether p53 and PGC-1α dependent responses directly influence each other or if they are connected via a third mechanism. Recently, the stress responsive transcription factor HSF1, known for its role in protein homeostasis, has been implicated in mitochondrial function and in the regulation of PGC-1α and p53 levels in different contexts. Based on previous reports and our own research, we discuss in this review the potential role of HSF1 in mediating mitochondrial dysfunction in HD and propose a unifying mechanism that integrates the responses mediated by p53 and PGC-1α in HD via HSF1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taylor A Intihar
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Elisa A Martinez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, United States
| | - Rocio Gomez-Pastor
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Yagami T, Yamamoto Y, Koma H. Pathophysiological Roles of Intracellular Proteases in Neuronal Development and Neurological Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:3090-3112. [PMID: 30097848 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1277-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Proteases are classified into six distinct classes (cysteine, serine, threonine, aspartic, glutamic, and metalloproteases) on the basis of catalytic mechanism. The cellular control of protein quality senses misfolded or damaged proteins principally by selective ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and non-selective autophagy-lysosome pathway. The two pathways do not only maintain cell homeostasis physiologically, but also mediate necrosis and apoptosis pathologically. Proteasomes are threonine proteases, whereas cathepsins are lysosomal aspartic proteases. Calpains are non-lysosomal cysteine proteases and calcium-dependent papain-like enzyme. Calpains and cathepsins are involved in the neuronal necrosis, which are accidental cell death. Necrosis is featured by the disruption of plasma membranes and lysosomes, the loss of ATP and ribosomes, the lysis of cell and nucleus, and the caspase-independent DNA fragmentation. On the other hand, caspases are cysteine endoproteases and mediate neuronal cell death such as apoptosis and pyroptosis, which are programmed cell death. In the central nervous system, necroptosis, ferroptosis and autophagic cell death are also classified into programmed cell death. Neuronal apoptosis is characterized by cell shrinkage, plasma membrane blebbing, karyorrhexis, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation. Necroptosis and pyroptosis are necrotic and lytic forms of programmed cell death, respectively. Although autophagy is involved in cell survival, it fails to maintain cellular homeostasis, resulting in autophagic cell death. Ferroptosis is induced by reactive oxygen species in excitotoxicity of glutamate and ischemia-reperfusion. Apoptosis and pyroptosis are dependent on caspase-3 and caspase-1, respectively. Autophagic cell death and necroptosis are dependent on calpain and cathepsin, respectively, but independent of caspase. Although apoptosis has been defined by the absence of morphological features of necrosis, the two deaths are both parts of a continuum. The intracellular proteases do not only maintain cell homeostasis but also regulate neuronal maturation during the development of embryonic brain. Furthermore, neurodegenerative diseases are caused by the impairment of quality control mechanisms for a proper folding and function of protein.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hiromi Koma
- Himeji Dokkyo University, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Pan Y, Zhu Y, Yang W, Tycksen E, Liu S, Palucki J, Zhu L, Sasaki Y, Sharma MK, Kim AH, Zhang B, Yano H. The role of Twist1 in mutant huntingtin-induced transcriptional alterations and neurotoxicity. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:11850-11866. [PMID: 29891550 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.001211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by an abnormal expansion of polyglutamine repeats in the huntingtin protein (Htt). Transcriptional dysregulation is an early event in the course of HD progression and is thought to contribute to disease pathogenesis, but how mutant Htt causes transcriptional alterations and subsequent cell death in neurons is not well understood. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that expression of a mutant Htt fragment in primary cortical neurons leads to robust gene expression changes before neuronal death. Basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Twist1, which is essential for embryogenesis and is normally expressed at low levels in mature neurons, was substantially up-regulated in mutant Htt-expressing neurons in culture and in the brains of HD mouse models. Knockdown of Twist1 by RNAi in mutant Htt-expressing primary cortical neurons reversed the altered expression of a subset of genes involved in neuronal function and, importantly, abrogated neurotoxicity. Using brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), which is known to be involved in HD pathogenesis, as a model gene, we found that Twist1 knockdown could reverse mutant Htt-induced DNA hypermethylation at the Bdnf regulatory region and reactivate Bdnf expression. Together, these results suggest that Twist1 is an important upstream mediator of mutant Htt-induced neuronal death and may in part operate through epigenetic mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ying Zhu
- From the Department of Neurological Surgery
| | - Wei Yang
- Genome Technology Access Center.,Department of Genetics
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Albert H Kim
- From the Department of Neurological Surgery.,Department of Genetics.,Department of Developmental Biology.,Center of Regenerative Medicine.,Department of Neurology, and.,Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Developmental Biology.,Center of Regenerative Medicine
| | - Hiroko Yano
- From the Department of Neurological Surgery, .,Department of Genetics.,Center of Regenerative Medicine.,Department of Neurology, and.,Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Luo H, Cao L, Liang X, Du A, Peng T, Li H. Herp Promotes Degradation of Mutant Huntingtin: Involvement of the Proteasome and Molecular Chaperones. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:7652-7668. [PMID: 29430620 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0900-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
In neurodegenerative diseases, pathogenic proteins tend to misfold and form aggregates that are difficult to remove and able to induce excessive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, leading to neuronal injury and apoptosis. Homocysteine-induced endoplasmic reticulum protein (Herp), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, is an important early marker of ER stress and is involved in the ubiquitination and degradation of many neurodegenerative proteins. However, in Huntington's disease (HD), a typical polyglutamine disease, whether Herp is also involved in the metabolism and degradation of the pathogenic protein, mutant huntingtin, has not been reported. Therefore, we studied the relationship between Herp and N-terminal fragments of huntingtin (HttN-20Q and HttN-160Q). We found that Herp was able to bind to the overexpressed Htt N-terminal, and this interaction was enhanced by expansion of the polyQ fragment. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that Herp was co-localized with the HttN-160Q aggregates in the cytoplasm and tightly surrounded the aggregates. Overexpression of Herp significantly decreased the amount of soluble and insoluble HttN-160Q, promoted its ubiquitination, and inhibited its cytotoxicity. In contrast, knockdown of Herp resulted in more HttN-160Q protein, less ubiquitination, and stronger cytotoxicity. Inhibition of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) had no effect on the function of Herp. However, blocking the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) inhibited the reduction in soluble HttN-160Q caused by Herp. Interestingly, blocking the UPP did not weaken the ability of Herp to reduce HttN-160Q aggregates. Deletions of the N-terminal of Herp weakened its ability to inhibit HttN-160Q aggregation but did not result in a significant increase in its soluble form. However, loss of the C-terminal led to a significant increase in soluble HttN-160Q, but Herp still maintained the ability to inhibit aggregate formation. We further found that the expression level of Herp was significantly increased in HD animal and cell models. Our findings suggest that Herp is a newly identified huntingtin-interacting protein that is able to reduce the cytotoxicity of mutant huntingtin by inhibiting its aggregation and promoting its degradation. The N-terminal of Herp serves as the molecular chaperone to inhibit protein aggregation, while its C-terminal functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase to promote the degradation of misfolded proteins through the UPP. Increased expression of Herp in HD models may be a pro-survival mechanism under stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Luo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, People's Republic of China
| | - Liying Cao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan Liang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Ana Du
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Peng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China. .,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
| | - He Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China. .,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Histology and Embryology, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Mutant Huntingtin Inhibits αB-Crystallin Expression and Impairs Exosome Secretion from Astrocytes. J Neurosci 2017; 37:9550-9563. [PMID: 28893927 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1418-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the brain, astrocytes secrete diverse substances that regulate neuronal function and viability. Exosomes, which are vesicles produced through the formation of multivesicular bodies and their subsequent fusion with the plasma membrane, are also released from astrocytes via exocytotic secretion. Astrocytic exosomes carry heat shock proteins that can reduce the cellular toxicity of misfolded proteins and prevent neurodegeneration. Although mutant huntingtin (mHtt) affects multiple functions of astrocytes, it remains unknown whether mHtt impairs the production of exosomes from astrocytes. We found that mHtt is not present in astrocytic exosomes, but can decrease exosome secretion from astrocytes in HD140Q knock-in (KI) mice. N-terminal mHtt accumulates in the nuclei and forms aggregates, causing decreased secretion of exosomes from cultured astrocytes. Consistently, there is a significant decrease in secreted exosomes in both female and male HD KI mouse striatum in which abundant nuclear mHtt aggregates are present. Conversely, injection of astrocytic exosomes into the striatum of HD140Q KI mice reduces the density of mHtt aggregates. Further, mHtt in astrocytes decreased the expression of αB-crystallin, a small heat shock protein that is enriched in astrocytes and mediates exosome secretion, by reducing the association of Sp1 with the enhancer of the αB-crystallin gene. Importantly, overexpression of αB-crystallin rescues defective exosome release from HD astrocytes as well as mHtt aggregates in the striatum of HD140Q KI mice. Our results demonstrate that mHtt reduces the expression of αB-crystallin in astrocytes to decrease exosome secretion in the HD brains, contributing to non-cell-autonomous neurotoxicity in HD.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by selective neurodegeneration that preferentially occurs in the striatal medium spiny neurons. Recent studies in different HD mouse models demonstrated that dysfunction of astrocytes, a major type of glial cell, leads to neuronal vulnerability. Emerging evidence shows that exosomes secreted from astrocytes contain neuroprotective cargoes that could support the survival of neighboring neurons. We found that mHtt in astrocytes impairs exosome secretion by decreasing αB-crystallin, a protein that is expressed mainly in glial cells and mediates exosome secretion. Overexpression of αB-crystallin could alleviate the deficient exosome release and neuropathology in HD mice. Our results revealed a new pathological pathway that affects the critical support of glial cells to neurons in the HD brain.
Collapse
|
32
|
Compartment-Dependent Degradation of Mutant Huntingtin Accounts for Its Preferential Accumulation in Neuronal Processes. J Neurosci 2017; 36:8317-28. [PMID: 27511006 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0806-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED In neurodegenerative diseases caused by misfolded proteins, including Huntington's disease (HD), the neuronal processes and terminals are particularly prone to the accumulation of misfolded proteins, leading to axonal and synaptic dysfunction. This compartment-dependent accumulation can result from either the altered transport of misfolded proteins or impaired protein degradation. Mutant huntingtin (mHtt), the HD protein, is known to affect intracellular transport and can be degraded by the proteasome and autophagy, but how mHtt accumulates in the neuronal processes, an early pathological event in the brains of HD patients, still remains unclear. Using an "optical pulse-chase" assay that can quantify protein degradation in specific subcellular regions, we found that neuronal mHtt is removed faster in the cell body than in neurites. Furthermore, mHtt is cleared more rapidly in astrocytes than in neurons. The ubiquitin-proteasome system plays a much bigger role than autophagy in degrading soluble mHtt via K48 ubiquitination in both the cytoplasm and processes of neurons and astrocytes. By injecting adenoviral vectors expressing mHtt into the mouse brain, we confirmed that mHtt is removed more slowly in neurites than in the cytoplasm of the cell body of neurons. Our findings provide evidence for the cell type- and compartment-dependent degradation of mHtt and explain why mHtt preferentially accumulates and aggregates in the neuropils of vulnerable neurons. In addition, our findings suggest that enhancing proteasomal activity could be an effective way to reduce the preferential accumulation of soluble mHtt in neuronal processes. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The clearance of misfolded proteins is key to preventing neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease, but how mutant huntingtin (mHtt) accumulates differentially in different cell types and subcellular regions remains unclear. We found mHtt is cleared slowly in neuronal processes compared with the cytoplasm and is cleared more efficiently in astrocytes than in neurons. Moreover, this compartment-dependent degradation of soluble mHtt is mediated primarily by the ubiquitin-proteasome system rather than autophagy. Our findings imply that enhancing proteasome activity could be an efficient way to clear soluble misfolded proteins in the neuronal processes.
Collapse
|
33
|
Yang HM, Yang S, Huang SS, Tang BS, Guo JF. Microglial Activation in the Pathogenesis of Huntington's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:193. [PMID: 28674491 PMCID: PMC5474461 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by expanded CAG trinucleotide repeats (>36) in exon 1 of HTT gene that encodes huntingtin protein. Although HD is characterized by a predominant loss of neurons in the striatum and cortex, previous studies point to a critical role of aberrant accumulation of mutant huntingtin in microglia that contributes to the progressive neurodegeneration in HD, through both cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms. Microglia are resident immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS), which function to surveil the microenvironment at a quiescent state. In response to various pro-inflammatory stimuli, microglia become activated and undergo two separate phases (M1 and M2 phenotype), which release pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), anti-inflammatory cytokines, and growth factors (TGF-β, CD206, and Arg1), respectively. Immunoregulation by microglial activation could be either neurotoxic or neuroprotective. In this review, we summarized current understanding about microglial activation in the pathogenesis and progression of HD, with a primary focus of M1 and M2 phenotype of activated microglia and their corresponding signaling pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ming Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha, China
| | - Su Yang
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, AtlantaGA, United States
| | - Shan-Shan Huang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Bei-Sha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South UniversityChangsha, China.,State Key Laboratory of Medical GeneticsChangsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric DiseasesChangsha, China
| | - Ji-Feng Guo
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South UniversityChangsha, China.,State Key Laboratory of Medical GeneticsChangsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric DiseasesChangsha, China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Yu-Taeger L, Bonin M, Stricker-Shaver J, Riess O, Nguyen HHP. Dysregulation of gene expression in the striatum of BACHD rats expressing full-length mutant huntingtin and associated abnormalities on molecular and protein levels. Neuropharmacology 2017; 117:260-272. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
35
|
Bartlett DM, Cruickshank TM, Hannan AJ, Eastwood PR, Lazar AS, Ziman MR. Neuroendocrine and neurotrophic signaling in Huntington’s disease: Implications for pathogenic mechanisms and treatment strategies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 71:444-454. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Revised: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
36
|
Pan Y, Daito T, Sasaki Y, Chung YH, Xing X, Pondugula S, Swamidass SJ, Wang T, Kim AH, Yano H. Inhibition of DNA Methyltransferases Blocks Mutant Huntingtin-Induced Neurotoxicity. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31022. [PMID: 27516062 PMCID: PMC4981892 DOI: 10.1038/srep31022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although epigenetic abnormalities have been described in Huntington's disease (HD), the causal epigenetic mechanisms driving neurodegeneration in HD cortex and striatum remain undefined. Using an epigenetic pathway-targeted drug screen, we report that inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), decitabine and FdCyd, block mutant huntingtin (Htt)-induced toxicity in primary cortical and striatal neurons. In addition, knockdown of DNMT3A or DNMT1 protected neurons against mutant Htt-induced toxicity, together demonstrating a requirement for DNMTs in mutant Htt-triggered neuronal death and suggesting a neurodegenerative mechanism based on DNA methylation-mediated transcriptional repression. Inhibition of DNMTs in HD model primary cortical or striatal neurons restored the expression of several key genes, including Bdnf, an important neurotrophic factor implicated in HD. Accordingly, the Bdnf promoter exhibited aberrant cytosine methylation in mutant Htt-expressing cortical neurons. In vivo, pharmacological inhibition of DNMTs in HD mouse brains restored the mRNA levels of key striatal genes known to be downregulated in HD. Thus, disturbances in DNA methylation play a critical role in mutant Htt-induced neuronal dysfunction and death, raising the possibility that epigenetic strategies targeting abnormal DNA methylation may have therapeutic utility in HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanchun Pan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Takuji Daito
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yo Sasaki
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yong Hee Chung
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Xiaoyun Xing
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Santhi Pondugula
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - S. Joshua Swamidass
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Albert H. Kim
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Hiroko Yano
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
N-terminal Huntingtin Knock-In Mice: Implications of Removing the N-terminal Region of Huntingtin for Therapy. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1006083. [PMID: 27203582 PMCID: PMC4874551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Huntington’s disease (HD) protein, huntingtin (HTT), is a large protein consisting of 3144 amino acids and has conserved N-terminal sequences that are followed by a polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat. Loss of Htt is known to cause embryonic lethality in mice, whereas polyQ expansion leads to adult neuronal degeneration. Whether N-terminal HTT is essential for neuronal development or contributes only to late-onset neurodegeneration remains unknown. We established HTT knock-in mice (N160Q-KI) expressing the first 208 amino acids of HTT with 160Q, and they show age-dependent HTT aggregates in the brain and neurological phenotypes. Importantly, the N-terminal mutant HTT also preferentially accumulates in the striatum, the brain region most affected in HD, indicating the importance of N-terminal HTT in selective neuropathology. That said, homozygous N160Q-KI mice are also embryonic lethal, suggesting that N-terminal HTT alone is unable to support embryonic development. Using Htt knockout neurons, we found that loss of Htt selectively affects the survival of developing neuronal cells, but not astrocytes, in culture. This neuronal degeneration could be rescued by a truncated HTT lacking the first 237 amino acids, but not by N-terminal HTT (1–208 amino acids). Also, the rescue effect depends on the region in HTT known to be involved in intracellular trafficking. Thus, the N-terminal HTT region may not be essential for the survival of developing neurons, but when carrying a large polyQ repeat, can cause selective neuropathology. These findings imply a possible therapeutic benefit of removing the N-terminal region of HTT containing the polyQ repeat to treat the neurodegeneration in HD. The 17 amino acids in the N-terminal region of huntingtin (HTT) are conserved in a wide range of species and are followed by a polyglutamine repeat whose expansion causes selective neurodegeneration in Huntington’s disease (HD). Loss of Htt can affect developing neurons and early embryonic development in mice. Whether N-terminal HTT is important for the survival of developing neurons or contributes mainly to a gain of toxic function in HD remains unknown. In the current study, we generated N-terminal mutant HTT knock-in mice and found that N-terminal HTT with an expanded polyQ repeat is unable to support the early development of mice, but can cause age-dependent neurological phenotypes. Further, we show that a truncated HTT without the N-terminal region can rescue the Htt loss-mediated degeneration of developing neurons. Our studies suggest that removal of the N-terminal region of mutant HTT could be a strategy to abolish the neuronal toxicity of mutant HTT.
Collapse
|
38
|
Hamilton J, Pellman JJ, Brustovetsky T, Harris RA, Brustovetsky N. Oxidative metabolism and Ca2+ handling in isolated brain mitochondria and striatal neurons from R6/2 mice, a model of Huntington's disease. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:2762-2775. [PMID: 27131346 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in oxidative metabolism and defects in mitochondrial Ca2+ handling have been implicated in the pathology of Huntington's disease (HD), but existing data are contradictory. We investigated the effect of human mHtt fragments on oxidative metabolism and Ca2+ handling in isolated brain mitochondria and cultured striatal neurons from the R6/2 mouse model of HD. Non-synaptic and synaptic mitochondria isolated from the brains of R6/2 mice had similar respiratory rates and Ca2+ uptake capacity compared with mitochondria from wild-type (WT) mice. Respiratory activity of cultured striatal neurons measured with Seahorse XF24 flux analyzer revealed unaltered cellular respiration in neurons derived from R6/2 mice compared with neurons from WT animals. Consistent with the lack of respiratory dysfunction, ATP content of cultured striatal neurons from R6/2 and WT mice was similar. Mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation was also evaluated in cultured striatal neurons from R6/2 and WT animals. Our data obtained with striatal neurons derived from R6/2 and WT mice show that both glutamate-induced increases in cytosolic Ca2+ and subsequent carbonilcyanide p-triflouromethoxyphenylhydrazone-induced increases in cytosolic Ca2+ were similar between WT and R6/2, suggesting that mitochondria in neurons derived from both types of animals accumulated comparable amounts of Ca2+ Overall, our data argue against respiratory deficiency and impaired Ca2+ handling induced by human mHtt fragments in both isolated brain mitochondria and cultured striatal neurons from transgenic R6/2 mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Robert A Harris
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.,Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Nickolay Brustovetsky
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology .,Stark Neuroscience Research InstituteIndiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Doboro FA, Njiro S, Sibeko-Matjila K, Van Vuuren M. Molecular Analysis of South African Ovine Herpesvirus 2 Strains Based on Selected Glycoprotein and Tegument Genes. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147019. [PMID: 27002629 PMCID: PMC4803344 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), is the causative agent of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF), a generally fatal disease of cattle and other captive wild ruminants. Information on the OvHV-2 strains circulating in South Africa (SA) and other African countries with regard to genetic structure and diversity, and pattern of distribution is not available. This study aimed to characterize the OvHV-2 strains circulating in SA using selected genes encoding glycoproteins and tegument proteins. To establish the genetic diversity of OvHV-2 strains, four genes, Ov 7, Ov 8 ex2, ORF 27 and ORF 73 were selected for analysis by PCR and DNA sequencing. Nucleotide and amino acid multiple sequence analyses revealed two genotypes for ORF 27 and ORF 73, and three genotypes for Ov 7 and Ov 8 ex2, randomly distributed throughout the regions. Ov 7 and ORF 27 nucleotide sequence analysis revealed variations that distinguished SA genotypes from those of reference OvHV-2 strains. Epitope mapping analysis showed that mutations identified from the investigated genes are not likely to affect the functions of the gene products, particularly those responsible for antibody binding activities associated with B-cell epitopes. Knowledge of the extent of genetic diversity existing among OvHV-2 strains has provided an understanding on the distribution patterns of OvHV-2 strains or genotypes across the regions of South Africa. This can facilitate the management of SA-MCF in SA, in terms of introduction of control measures or safe practices to monitor and control OvHV-2 infection. The products encoded by the Ov 7, Ov 8 ex2 and ORF 27 genes are recommended for evaluation of their coded proteins as possible antigens in the development of an OvHV-2 specific serodiagnostic assay.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fulufhelo Amanda Doboro
- Molecular Epidemiology and Diagnostics programme, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa
- * E-mail:
| | - Stephen Njiro
- Food, feed & Veterinary Public Health Programme, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Kgomotso Sibeko-Matjila
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Moritz Van Vuuren
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Holm IE, Alstrup AKO, Luo Y. Genetically modified pig models for neurodegenerative disorders. J Pathol 2015; 238:267-87. [DOI: 10.1002/path.4654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Revised: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ida E Holm
- Department of Pathology; Randers Hospital; 8930 Randers Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine; Aarhus University; 8000 Aarhus C Denmark
| | | | - Yonglun Luo
- Department of Biomedicine; Aarhus University; 8000 Aarhus C Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Gatto RG, Chu Y, Ye AQ, Price SD, Tavassoli E, Buenaventura A, Brady ST, Magin RL, Kordower JH, Morfini GA. Analysis of YFP(J16)-R6/2 reporter mice and postmortem brains reveals early pathology and increased vulnerability of callosal axons in Huntington's disease. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:5285-98. [PMID: 26123489 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cumulative evidence indicates that the onset and severity of Huntington's disease (HD) symptoms correlate with connectivity deficits involving specific neuronal populations within cortical and basal ganglia circuits. Brain imaging studies and pathological reports further associated these deficits with alterations in cerebral white matter structure and axonal pathology. However, whether axonopathy represents an early pathogenic event or an epiphenomenon in HD remains unknown, nor is clear the identity of specific neuronal populations affected. To directly evaluate early axonal abnormalities in the context of HD in vivo, we bred transgenic YFP(J16) with R6/2 mice, a widely used HD model. Diffusion tensor imaging and fluorescence microscopy studies revealed a marked degeneration of callosal axons long before the onset of motor symptoms. Accordingly, a significant fraction of YFP-positive cortical neurons in YFP(J16) mice cortex were identified as callosal projection neurons. Callosal axon pathology progressively worsened with age and was influenced by polyglutamine tract length in mutant huntingtin (mhtt). Degenerating axons were dissociated from microscopically visible mhtt aggregates and did not result from loss of cortical neurons. Interestingly, other axonal populations were mildly or not affected, suggesting differential vulnerability to mhtt toxicity. Validating these results, increased vulnerability of callosal axons was documented in the brains of HD patients. Observations here provide a structural basis for the alterations in cerebral white matter structure widely reported in HD patients. Collectively, our data demonstrate a dying-back pattern of degeneration for cortical projection neurons affected in HD, suggesting that axons represent an early and potentially critical target for mhtt toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo G Gatto
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 808 S. Wood St., Rm 578 M/C 512, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Yaping Chu
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA and
| | - Allen Q Ye
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Steven D Price
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 808 S. Wood St., Rm 578 M/C 512, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Ehsan Tavassoli
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 808 S. Wood St., Rm 578 M/C 512, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Andrea Buenaventura
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 808 S. Wood St., Rm 578 M/C 512, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Scott T Brady
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 808 S. Wood St., Rm 578 M/C 512, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Richard L Magin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Jeffrey H Kordower
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA and
| | - Gerardo A Morfini
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 808 S. Wood St., Rm 578 M/C 512, Chicago, IL 60612, USA,
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Wild EJ, Boggio R, Langbehn D, Robertson N, Haider S, Miller JR, Zetterberg H, Leavitt BR, Kuhn R, Tabrizi SJ, Macdonald D, Weiss A. Quantification of mutant huntingtin protein in cerebrospinal fluid from Huntington's disease patients. J Clin Invest 2015; 125:1979-86. [PMID: 25844897 PMCID: PMC4463213 DOI: 10.1172/jci80743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quantification of disease-associated proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been critical for the study and treatment of several neurodegenerative disorders; however, mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT), the cause of Huntington's disease (HD), is at very low levels in CSF and, to our knowledge, has never been measured previously. METHODS We developed an ultrasensitive single-molecule counting (SMC) mHTT immunoassay that was used to quantify mHTT levels in CSF samples from individuals bearing the HD mutation and from control individuals in 2 independent cohorts. RESULTS This SMC mHTT immunoassay demonstrated high specificity for mHTT, high sensitivity with a femtomolar detection threshold, and a broad dynamic range. Analysis of the CSF samples showed that mHTT was undetectable in CSF from all controls but quantifiable in nearly all mutation carriers. The mHTT concentration in CSF was approximately 3-fold higher in patients with manifest HD than in premanifest mutation carriers. Moreover, mHTT levels increased as the disease progressed and were associated with 5-year onset probability. The mHTT concentration independently predicted cognitive and motor dysfunction. Furthermore, the level of mHTT was associated with the concentrations of tau and neurofilament light chain in the CSF, suggesting a neuronal origin for the detected mHTT. CONCLUSIONS We have demonstrated that mHTT can be quantified in CSF from HD patients using the described SMC mHTT immunoassay. Moreover, the level of mHTT detected is associated with proximity to disease onset and diminished cognitive and motor function. The ability to quantify CSF mHTT will facilitate the study of HD, and mHTT quantification could potentially serve as a biomarker for the development and testing of experimental mHTT-lowering therapies for HD. TRIAL REGISTRATION Not applicable. FUNDING CHDI Foundation Inc.; Medical Research Council (MRC) UK; National Institutes for Health Research (NIHR); Rosetrees Trust; Swedish Research Council; and Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward J. Wild
- University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Nicola Robertson
- University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
| | - Salman Haider
- University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
| | - James R.C. Miller
- University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Blair R. Leavitt
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Sarah J. Tabrizi
- University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Chang R, Liu X, Li S, Li XJ. Transgenic animal models for study of the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease and therapy. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2015; 9:2179-88. [PMID: 25931812 PMCID: PMC4404937 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s58470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by a genetic mutation that results in polyglutamine expansion in the N-terminal regions of huntingtin. As a result, this polyQ expansion leads to the misfolding and aggregation of mutant huntingtin as well as age-dependent neurodegeneration. The genetic mutation in HD allows for generating a variety of animal models that express different forms of mutant huntingtin and show differential pathology. Studies of these animal models have provided an important insight into the pathogenesis of HD. Mouse models of HD include transgenic mice, which express N-terminal or full-length mutant huntingtin ubiquitously or selectively in different cell types, and knock-in mice that express full-length mutant Htt at the endogenous level. Large animals, such as pig, sheep, and monkeys, have also been used to generate animal HD models. This review focuses on the different features of commonly used transgenic HD mouse models as well as transgenic large animal models of HD, and also discusses how to use them to identify potential therapeutics. Since HD shares many pathological features with other neurodegenerative diseases, identification of therapies for HD would also help to develop effective treatment for different neurodegenerative diseases that are also caused by protein misfolding and occur in an age-dependent manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renbao Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xudong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shihua Li
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China ; Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Jin J, Peng Q, Hou Z, Jiang M, Wang X, Langseth AJ, Tao M, Barker PB, Mori S, Bergles DE, Ross CA, Detloff PJ, Zhang J, Duan W. Early white matter abnormalities, progressive brain pathology and motor deficits in a novel knock-in mouse model of Huntington's disease. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:2508-27. [PMID: 25609071 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
White matter abnormalities have been reported in premanifest Huntington's disease (HD) subjects before overt striatal neuronal loss, but whether the white matter changes represent a necessary step towards further pathology and the underlying mechanism of these changes remains unknown. Here, we characterized a novel knock-in mouse model that expresses mouse HD gene homolog (Hdh) with extended CAG repeat- HdhQ250, which was derived from the selective breeding of HdhQ150 mice. HdhQ250 mice manifest an accelerated and robust phenotype compared with its parent line. HdhQ250 mice exhibit progressive motor deficits, reduction in striatal and cortical volume, accumulation of mutant huntingtin aggregation, decreased levels of DARPP32 and BDNF and altered striatal metabolites. The abnormalities detected in this mouse model are reminiscent of several aspects of human HD. In addition, disturbed myelination was evident in postnatal Day 14 HdhQ250 mouse brain, including reduced levels of myelin regulatory factor and myelin basic protein, and decreased numbers of myelinated axons in the corpus callosum. Thinner myelin sheaths, indicated by increased G-ratio of myelin, were also detected in the corpus callosum of adult HdhQ250 mice. Moreover, proliferation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells is altered by mutant huntingtin both in vitro and in vivo. Our data indicate that this model is suitable for understanding comprehensive pathogenesis of HD in white matter and gray matter as well as developing therapeutics for HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Jin
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Qi Peng
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | | | - Mali Jiang
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | - Michael Tao
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | | | | | | | - Christopher A Ross
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA, Department of Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences and
| | - Peter J Detloff
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35242, USA
| | | | - Wenzhen Duan
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA, Department of Neuroscience,
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Feligioni M, Marcelli S, Knock E, Nadeem U, Arancio O, E. Fraser P. SUMO modulation of protein aggregation and degradation. AIMS MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2015. [DOI: 10.3934/molsci.2015.4.382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
|
46
|
Ubiquitin-activating enzyme activity contributes to differential accumulation of mutant huntingtin in brain and peripheral tissues. J Neurosci 2014; 34:8411-22. [PMID: 24948797 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0775-14.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) belongs to a family of neurodegenerative diseases caused by misfolded proteins and shares the pathological hallmark of selective accumulation of misfolded proteins in neuronal cells. Polyglutamine expansion in the HD protein, huntingtin (Htt), causes selective neurodegeneration that is more severe in the striatum and cortex than in other brain regions, but the mechanism behind this selectivity is unknown. Here we report that in HD knock-in mice, the expression levels of mutant Htt (mHtt) are higher in brain tissues than in peripheral tissues. However, the expression of N-terminal mHtt via stereotaxic injection of viral vectors in mice also results in greater accumulation of mHtt in the striatum than in muscle. We developed an in vitro assay that revealed that extracts from the striatum and cortex promote the formation of high-molecular weight (HMW) mHtt compared with the relatively unaffected cerebellar and peripheral tissue extracts. Inhibition of ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 (Ube1) increased the levels of HMW mHtt in the relatively unaffected tissues. Importantly, the expression levels of Ube1 are lower in brain tissues than peripheral tissues and decline in the nuclear fraction with age, which is correlated with the increased accumulation of mHtt in the brain and neuronal nuclei during aging. Our findings suggest that decreased targeting of misfolded Htt to the proteasome for degradation via Ube1 may underlie the preferential accumulation of toxic forms of mHtt in the brain and its selective neurodegeneration.
Collapse
|
47
|
Yano H, Baranov SV, Baranova OV, Kim J, Pan Y, Yablonska S, Carlisle DL, Ferrante RJ, Kim AH, Friedlander RM. Inhibition of mitochondrial protein import by mutant huntingtin. Nat Neurosci 2014; 17:822-31. [PMID: 24836077 PMCID: PMC4174557 DOI: 10.1038/nn.3721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with neuronal loss in Huntington's disease (HD), a neurodegenerative disease caused by an abnormal polyglutamine expansion in huntingtin (Htt). However, the mechanisms linking mutant Htt and mitochondrial dysfunction in HD remain unknown. We identify an interaction between mutant Htt and the TIM23 mitochondrial protein import complex. Remarkably, recombinant mutant Htt directly inhibited mitochondrial protein import in vitro. Furthermore, mitochondria from brain synaptosomes of presymptomatic HD model mice and from mutant Htt-expressing primary neurons exhibited a protein import defect, suggesting that deficient protein import is an early event in HD. The mutant Htt-induced mitochondrial import defect and subsequent neuronal death were attenuated by overexpression of TIM23 complex subunits, demonstrating that deficient mitochondrial protein import causes mutant Htt-induced neuronal death. Collectively, these findings provide evidence for a direct link between mutant Htt, mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal pathology, with implications for mitochondrial protein import-based therapies in HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroko Yano
- 1] Department of Neurological Surgery, Neuroapoptosis Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. [2] Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. [3] Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. [4] Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sergei V Baranov
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neuroapoptosis Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Oxana V Baranova
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neuroapoptosis Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jinho Kim
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neuroapoptosis Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yanchun Pan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Svitlana Yablonska
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neuroapoptosis Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Diane L Carlisle
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neuroapoptosis Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Robert J Ferrante
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neuroapoptosis Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Albert H Kim
- 1] Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. [2] Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. [3] Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Robert M Friedlander
- 1] Department of Neurological Surgery, Neuroapoptosis Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. [2] University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Choi KA, Hwang I, Park HS, Oh SI, Kang S, Hong S. Stem cell therapy and cellular engineering for treatment of neuronal dysfunction in Huntington's disease. Biotechnol J 2014; 9:882-94. [PMID: 24827816 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201300560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Revised: 02/25/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of neurons in the striatum, a sub-cortical region of the forebrain. The sub-cortical region of the forebrain is associated with the control of movement and behavior, thus HD initially presents with coordination difficulty and cognitive decline. Recent reprogramming technologies, including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and induced neural stem cells (iNSCs), have created opportunities to understand the pathological cascades that underlie HD and to develop new treatments for this currently incurable neurological disease. The ultimate objectives of stem cell-based therapies for HD are to replace lost neurons and to prevent neuronal dysfunction and death. In this review, we examine the current understanding of the molecular and pathological mechanisms involved in HD. We discuss disease modeling with HD-iPSCs derived from the somatic cells of patients, which could provide an invaluable platform for understanding HD pathogenesis. We speculate about the benefits and drawbacks of using iNSCs as an alternative stem cell source for HD treatment. Finally, we discuss cell culture and engineering systems that promote the directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cell-derived NSCs into a striatal DARPP32(+) GABAergic MSN phenotype for HD. In conclusion, this review summarizes the potentials of cell reprogramming and engineering technologies relevant to the development of cell-based therapies for HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Ah Choi
- School of Biosystem and Biomedical Science, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
|
50
|
Li JY, Conforti L. Axonopathy in Huntington's disease. Exp Neurol 2013; 246:62-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2012.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2011] [Revised: 06/27/2012] [Accepted: 08/11/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
|