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Ranta-Aho J, Johari M, Udd B. Current advance on distal myopathy genetics. Curr Opin Neurol 2024:00019052-990000000-00182. [PMID: 39017652 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Distal myopathies are a clinically heterogenous group of rare, genetic muscle diseases, that present with weakness in hands and/or feet at onset. Some of these diseases remain accentuated in the distal muscles whereas others may later progress to the proximal muscles. In this review, the latest findings related to genetic and clinical features of distal myopathies are summarized. RECENT FINDINGS Variants in SMPX, DNAJB2, and HSPB6 have been identified as a novel cause of late-onset distal myopathy and neuromyopathy. In oculopharyngodistal myopathies, repeat expansions were identified in two novel disease-causing genes, RILPL1 and ABCD3. In multisystem proteinopathies, variants in HNRNPA1 and TARDBP, genes previously associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, have been shown to cause late-onset distal myopathy without ALS. In ACTN2-related distal myopathy, the first recessive forms of the disease have been described, adding it to the growing list of genes were both dominant and recessive forms of myopathy are present. SUMMARY The identification of novel distal myopathy genes and pathogenic variants contribute to our ability to provide a final molecular diagnosis to a larger number of patients and increase our overall understanding of distal myopathy genetics and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Ranta-Aho
- Folkhälsan Research Center
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mridul Johari
- Folkhälsan Research Center
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Centre for Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Bjarne Udd
- Folkhälsan Research Center
- Tampere Neuromuscular Center, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
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Nijs M, Van Damme P. The genetics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Curr Opin Neurol 2024:00019052-990000000-00178. [PMID: 38967083 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has a strong genetic basis, but the genetic landscape of ALS appears to be complex. The purpose of this article is to review recent developments in the genetics of ALS. RECENT FINDINGS Large-scale genetic studies have uncovered more than 40 genes contributing to ALS susceptibility. Both rare variants with variable effect size and more common variants with small effect size have been identified. The most common ALS genes are C9orf72, SOD1, TARDBP and FUS. Some of the causative genes of ALS are shared with frontotemporal dementia, confirming the molecular link between both diseases. Access to diagnostic gene testing for ALS has to improve, as effective gene silencing therapies for some genetic subtypes of ALS are emerging, but there is no consensus about which genes to test for. SUMMARY Our knowledge about the genetic basis of ALS has improved and the first effective gene silencing therapies for specific genetic subtypes of ALS are underway. These therapeutic advances underline the need for better access to gene testing for people with ALS. Further research is needed to further map the genetic heterogeneity of ALS and to establish the best strategy for gene testing in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Nijs
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Leuven Brain Institute, University of Leuven (KU Leuven)
| | - Philip Van Damme
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Leuven Brain Institute, University of Leuven (KU Leuven)
- Neurology Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Bjelica B, Bartels MB, Hesebeck-Brinckmann J, Petri S. Non-motor symptoms in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: current state and future directions. J Neurol 2024; 271:3953-3977. [PMID: 38805053 PMCID: PMC11233299 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12455-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of both upper and lower motor neurons. A defining histopathological feature in approximately 97% of all ALS cases is the accumulation of phosphorylated trans-activation response (TAR) DNA-binding protein 43 protein (pTDP-43) aggregates in the cytoplasm of neurons and glial cells within the central nervous system. Traditionally, it was believed that the accumulation of TDP-43 aggregates and subsequent neurodegeneration primarily occurs in motor neurons. However, contemporary evidence suggests that as the disease progresses, other systems and brain regions are also affected. Despite this, there has been a limited number of clinical studies assessing the non-motor symptoms in ALS patients. These studies often employ various outcome measures, resulting in a wide range of reported frequencies of non-motor symptoms in ALS patients. The importance of assessing the non-motor symptoms reflects in a fact that they have a significant impact on patients' quality of life, yet they frequently go underdiagnosed and unreported during clinical evaluations. This review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the current knowledge concerning non-motor symptoms in ALS. Furthermore, we address their diagnosis and treatment in everyday clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan Bjelica
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 1, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Maj-Britt Bartels
- Precision Neurology of Neuromuscular and Motoneuron Diseases, University of Luebeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jasper Hesebeck-Brinckmann
- Neurology Department, Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim Center for Translational Medicine, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 1, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse, 30625, Hannover, Germany
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4
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Arseni D, Nonaka T, Jacobsen MH, Murzin AG, Cracco L, Peak-Chew SY, Garringer HJ, Kawakami I, Suzuki H, Onaya M, Saito Y, Murayama S, Geula C, Vidal R, Newell KL, Mesulam M, Ghetti B, Hasegawa M, Ryskeldi-Falcon B. Heteromeric amyloid filaments of ANXA11 and TDP-43 in FTLD-TDP Type C. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.25.600403. [PMID: 38979278 PMCID: PMC11230283 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.25.600403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterised by the abnormal filamentous assembly of specific proteins in the central nervous system 1 . Human genetic studies established a causal role for protein assembly in neurodegeneration 2 . However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown, which is limiting progress in developing clinical tools for these diseases. Recent advances in electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) have enabled the structures of the protein filaments to be determined from patient brains 1 . All diseases studied to date have been characterised by the self-assembly of a single intracellular protein in homomeric amyloid filaments, including that of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 inclusions (FTLD-TDP) Types A and B 3,4 . Here, we used cryo-EM to determine filament structures from the brains of individuals with FTLD-TDP Type C, one of the most common forms of sporadic FTLD-TDP. Unexpectedly, the structures revealed that a second protein, annexin A11 (ANXA11), co-assembles with TDP-43 in heteromeric amyloid filaments. The ordered filament fold is formed by TDP-43 residues G282/284-N345 and ANXA11 residues L39-L74 from their respective low-complexity domains (LCDs). Regions of TDP-43 and ANXA11 previously implicated in protein-protein interactions form an extensive hydrophobic interface at the centre of the filament fold. Immunoblots of the filaments revealed that the majority of ANXA11 exists as a ∼22 kDa N-terminal fragment (NTF) lacking the annexin core domain. Immunohistochemistry of brain sections confirmed the co-localisation of ANXA11 and TDP-43 in inclusions, redefining the histopathology of FTLD-TDP Type C. This work establishes a central role for ANXA11 in FTLD-TDP Type C. The unprecedented formation of heteromeric amyloid filaments in human brain revises our understanding of amyloid assembly and may be of significance for the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Ho DM, Shaban M, Mahmood F, Ganguly P, Todeschini L, Van Vactor D, Artavanis-Tsakonas S. cAMP/PKA signaling regulates TDP-43 aggregation and mislocalization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2400732121. [PMID: 38838021 PMCID: PMC11181030 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2400732121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation of TDP-43 protein are hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and are observed in the vast majority of both familial and sporadic cases. How these two interconnected processes are regulated on a molecular level, however, remains enigmatic. Genome-wide screens for modifiers of the ALS-associated genes TDP-43 and FUS have identified the phospholipase D (Pld) pathway as a key regulator of ALS-related phenotypes in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster [M. W. Kankel et al., Genetics 215, 747-766 (2020)]. Here, we report the results of our search for downstream targets of the enzymatic product of Pld, phosphatidic acid. We identify two conserved negative regulators of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, the phosphodiesterase dunce and the inhibitory subunit PKA-R2, as modifiers of pathogenic phenotypes resulting from overexpression of the Drosophila TDP-43 ortholog TBPH. We show that knockdown of either of these genes results in a mitigation of both TBPH aggregation and mislocalization in larval motor neuron cell bodies, as well as an amelioration of adult-onset motor defects and shortened lifespan induced by TBPH. We determine that PKA kinase activity is downstream of both TBPH and Pld and that overexpression of the PKA target CrebA can rescue TBPH mislocalization. These findings suggest a model whereby increasing cAMP/PKA signaling can ameliorate the molecular and functional effects of pathological TDP-43.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana M. Ho
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Muhammad Shaban
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
- Cancer Data Science Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02115
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA02142
| | - Faisal Mahmood
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
- Cancer Data Science Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02115
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA02142
| | - Payel Ganguly
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | | | - David Van Vactor
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
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Rooney JPK, Geoghegan G, O'Reilly F, Heverin M, Bose-O'Reilly S, Casale F, Chio A, Günther K, Schuster J, Klopstock T, Ludolph A, Hardiman O, Rakete S. Serum heat shock protein concentrations are not associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis risk or survival in three European populations. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2024:1-9. [PMID: 38826044 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2024.2358805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Introduction: Serum heat shock protein (HSP) concentrations have been reported as potential biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we investigate the role of serum HSP70, HSP90, and DNAJC7 as biomarkers for ALS. Methods: Serum samples were collected from ALS patients and volunteer controls from three different clinical cohorts (in Germany, Ireland, and Italy). Serum HSP concentrations were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Descriptive statistics, generalized logistic regression, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to model associations between log serum HSP concentrations and ALS risk. Results: In total, 251 ALS patients and 184 healthy volunteers were included. Logistic regression models failed to find associations between ALS risk and log serum concentration of HSP70 (OR 0.43, 95% CI: 0.10-1.78, p = 0.242), HSP90 (OR 0.95, 95% CI: 0.39-2.37, p = 0.904), or DNAJC7 (OR 1.55, 95% CI: 0.90-2.68, p = 0.118). Survival of ALS patients was not associated with log serum concentration of HSP HSP70 (HR1.06, 95% CI: 0.36-3.14, p = 0.916), HSP90 (HR 1.17, 95% CI: 0.67-2.02, p = 0.584), or DNAJC7 (HR 0.83, 95% CI: 0.57-1.21, p = 0.337). Discussion: We did not replicate previous findings that serum HSP70 and HSP90 concentrations were associated with risk of ALS. DNAJC7 was not associated with ALS risk, and there were no obvious longitudinal patterns in log serum concentrations of HSP70, HSP90, or DNAJC7. In addition, serum HSP concentrations were not associated with ALS survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P K Rooney
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Grainne Geoghegan
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fiona O'Reilly
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mark Heverin
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stephan Bose-O'Reilly
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Federico Casale
- Rita Levi Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Adriano Chio
- Rita Levi Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | | | - Thomas Klopstock
- Department of Neurology with Friedrich-Baur-Institute, University Hospital of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Munich, Germany
| | - Albert Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany, and
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- FutureNeuro Research Centre, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stefan Rakete
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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7
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Picher-Martel V, Babu S, Amato AA. TARDBP Mutations in Facial-Onset Sensory and Motor Neuronopathy. Neurol Genet 2024; 10:e200160. [PMID: 38841627 PMCID: PMC11152643 DOI: 10.1212/nxg.0000000000200160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Objectives Facial-onset sensory and motor neuronopathy (FOSMN) is a rare neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive facial sensory impairment followed by motor dysfunction in a rostro-caudal distribution. FOSMN is clinically and pathologically associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD). In contrast to ALS/FTD, the genetic profile of patients with FOSMN and the role of genetic testing are poorly defined. Methods A 66-year-old woman was evaluated in our neuromuscular clinic for progressive facial pain, dysphagia, and dysarthria. Her diagnostic evaluation included brain and cervical MRI, nerve conduction studies and EMG, and an ALS/FTD next-generation sequencing panel. Results The patient was diagnosed with FOSMN, and we identified a N390D variant in transactive response DNA-binding protein (TDP-43/TARDBP). This variant has never been reported in FOSMN but was previously reported in 2 cases of ALS, and a N390S variant was also previously reported in FOSMN. A review of the literature revealed that TARDBP mutations are overrepresented in patients with FOSMN compared with patients with ALS/FTD. By contrast, other common familial forms of ALS, including C9ORF72 or SOD1, are respectively absent or rare in FOSMN. Discussion FOSMN is pathologically and genetically associated with TDP-43. Therefore, ALS genetic testing that includes specifically TARDBP should be considered in patients with FOSMN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Picher-Martel
- From the Department of Neurology (V.P.-M.), Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School; Department of Neurology (V.P.-M.), MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND); Department of Neurology (S.B.), Massachusetts General Hospital; Department of Neurology (A.A.A.), Brigham Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Suma Babu
- From the Department of Neurology (V.P.-M.), Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School; Department of Neurology (V.P.-M.), MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND); Department of Neurology (S.B.), Massachusetts General Hospital; Department of Neurology (A.A.A.), Brigham Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Anthony A Amato
- From the Department of Neurology (V.P.-M.), Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School; Department of Neurology (V.P.-M.), MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND); Department of Neurology (S.B.), Massachusetts General Hospital; Department of Neurology (A.A.A.), Brigham Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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8
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Zhu L, Bai D, Wang X, Ou K, Li B, Jia Q, Tan Z, Liang J, He D, Yan S, Wang L, Li S, Li XJ, Yin P. Pathologic TDP-43 downregulates myelin gene expression in the monkey brain. Brain Pathol 2024:e13277. [PMID: 38779803 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence indicates that non-neuronal oligodendrocyte plays an important role in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. In patient's brain, the impaired myelin structure is a pathological feature with the observation of TDP-43 in cytoplasm of oligodendrocyte. However, the mechanism underlying the gain of function by TDP-43 in oligodendrocytes, which are vital for the axonal integrity, remains unclear. Recently, we found that the primate-specific cleavage of truncated TDP-43 fragments occurred in cytoplasm of monkey neural cells. This finding opened up the avenue to investigate the myelin integrity affected by pathogenic TDP-43 in oligodendrocytes. In current study, we demonstrated that the truncated TDP-35 in oligodendrocytes specifically, could lead to the dysfunctional demyelination in corpus callosum of monkey. As a consequence of the interaction of myelin regulatory factor with the accumulated TDP-35 in cytoplasm, the downstream myelin-associated genes expression was downregulated at the transcriptional level. Our study aims to investigate the potential effect on myelin structure injury, affected by the truncated TDP-43 in oligodendrocyte, which provided the additional clues on the gain of function during the progressive pathogenesis and symptoms in TDP-43 related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longhong 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
| | - Dazhang Bai
- 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
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Institute of Neurological Diseases, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Xiang 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
| | - Kaili Ou
- 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
| | - Qingqing Jia
- 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
| | - Zhiqiang Tan
- Department of Medical Imaging, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiahui Liang
- Department of Medical Imaging, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dajian He
- 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
| | - Sen Yan
- 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
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 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
| | - 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
| | - 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
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Lu X, Lu J, Li S, Feng S, Wang Y, Cui L. The Role of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in the Accumulation of Pathological Proteins: New Perspectives on the Mechanism of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Aging Dis 2024:AD.2024.0209. [PMID: 38739933 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
It is widely accepted that living organisms form highly dynamic membrane-less organelles (MLOS) with various functions through phase separation, and the indispensable role that phase separation plays in the mechanisms of normal physiological functions and pathogenesis is gradually becoming clearer. Pathological aggregates, regarded as hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases, have been revealed to be closely related to aberrant phase separation. Specific proteins are assembled into condensates and transform into insoluble inclusions through aberrant phase separation, contributing to the development of diseases. In this review, we present an overview of the progress of phase separation research, involving its biological mechanisms and the status of research in neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on five main disease-specific proteins, tau, TDP-43, FUS, α-Syn and HTT, and how exactly these proteins reside within dynamic liquid-like compartments and thus turn into solid deposits. Further studies will yield new perspectives for understanding the aggregation mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies, and future research directions are anticipated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu Lu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Jiongtong Lu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Shengnan Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Sifan Feng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Lili Cui
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- The Marine Biomedical Research Institute of Guangdong, School of Ocean and Tropical Medicine, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
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10
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Zibold J, Lessard LER, Picard F, da Silva LG, Zadorozhna Y, Streichenberger N, Belotti E, Osseni A, Emerit A, Errazuriz-Cerda E, Michel-Calemard L, Menassa R, Coudert L, Wiessner M, Stucka R, Klopstock T, Simonetti F, Hutten S, Nonaka T, Hasegawa M, Strom TM, Bernard E, Ollagnon E, Urtizberea A, Dormann D, Petiot P, Schaeffer L, Senderek J, Leblanc P. The new missense G376V-TDP-43 variant induces late-onset distal myopathy but not amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain 2024; 147:1768-1783. [PMID: 38079474 PMCID: PMC11068115 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
TAR DNA binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43)-positive inclusions in neurons are a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases including familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) caused by pathogenic TARDBP variants as well as more common non-Mendelian sporadic ALS (sALS). Here we report a G376V-TDP-43 missense variant in the C-terminal prion-like domain of the protein in two French families affected by an autosomal dominant myopathy but not fulfilling diagnostic criteria for ALS. Patients from both families presented with progressive weakness and atrophy of distal muscles, starting in their fifth to seventh decade. Muscle biopsies revealed a degenerative myopathy characterized by accumulation of rimmed (autophagic) vacuoles, disruption of sarcomere integrity and severe myofibrillar disorganization. The G376V variant altered a highly conserved amino acid residue and was absent in databases on human genome variation. Variant pathogenicity was supported by in silico analyses and functional studies. The G376V mutant increased the formation of cytoplasmic TDP-43 condensates in cell culture models, promoted assembly into high molecular weight oligomers and aggregates in vitro, and altered morphology of TDP-43 condensates arising from phase separation. Moreover, the variant led to the formation of cytoplasmic TDP-43 condensates in patient-derived myoblasts and induced abnormal mRNA splicing in patient muscle tissue. The identification of individuals with TDP-43-related myopathy, but not ALS, implies that TARDBP missense variants may have more pleiotropic effects than previously anticipated and support a primary role for TDP-43 in skeletal muscle pathophysiology. We propose to include TARDBP screening in the genetic work-up of patients with late-onset distal myopathy. Further research is warranted to examine the precise pathogenic mechanisms of TARDBP variants causing either a neurodegenerative or myopathic phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Zibold
- Friedrich-Baur Institute at the Department of Neurology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Lola E R Lessard
- Faculté de Médecine Rockefeller, Institut NeuroMyoGène-PGNM, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
- Service d’Electroneuromyographie et de pathologies neuromusculaires, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69677 Bron, France
| | - Flavien Picard
- Faculté de Médecine Rockefeller, Institut NeuroMyoGène-PGNM, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Lara Gruijs da Silva
- Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU), Faculty of Biology, Institute of Molecular Physiology, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), LMU BioCenter, Department Biology II Neurobiology, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Center for Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Yelyzaveta Zadorozhna
- Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU), Faculty of Biology, Institute of Molecular Physiology, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- International PhD Programme (IPP) of the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Nathalie Streichenberger
- Faculté de Médecine Rockefeller, Institut NeuroMyoGène-PGNM, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
- Département d’Anatomo-Pathologie, Groupement Hospitalier Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69677 Bron, France
| | - Edwige Belotti
- Faculté de Médecine Rockefeller, Institut NeuroMyoGène-PGNM, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Alexis Osseni
- Faculté de Médecine Rockefeller, Institut NeuroMyoGène-PGNM, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Andréa Emerit
- Faculté de Médecine Rockefeller, Institut NeuroMyoGène-PGNM, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
| | | | - Laurence Michel-Calemard
- Faculté de Médecine Rockefeller, Institut NeuroMyoGène-PGNM, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
- Service Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Centre de biologie et pathologie Est, Hospices civils de Lyon, 69677 Bron, France
| | - Rita Menassa
- Faculté de Médecine Rockefeller, Institut NeuroMyoGène-PGNM, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
- Service Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Centre de biologie et pathologie Est, Hospices civils de Lyon, 69677 Bron, France
| | - Laurent Coudert
- Faculté de Médecine Rockefeller, Institut NeuroMyoGène-PGNM, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Manuela Wiessner
- Friedrich-Baur Institute at the Department of Neurology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Rolf Stucka
- Friedrich-Baur Institute at the Department of Neurology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Klopstock
- Friedrich-Baur Institute at the Department of Neurology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich Site, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Francesca Simonetti
- Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU), Faculty of Biology, Institute of Molecular Physiology, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), LMU BioCenter, Department Biology II Neurobiology, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich Site, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Saskia Hutten
- Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU), Faculty of Biology, Institute of Molecular Physiology, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Takashi Nonaka
- Dementia Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Dementia Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Tim M Strom
- Institute of Human Genetics, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Emilien Bernard
- Faculté de Médecine Rockefeller, Institut NeuroMyoGène-PGNM, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
- Service d’Electroneuromyographie et de pathologies neuromusculaires, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69677 Bron, France
| | - Elisabeth Ollagnon
- Service de Génétique, Neurogénétique et Médecine Prédictive, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France
| | - Andoni Urtizberea
- Centre de Référence Neuromusculaire, Hôpital Marin—APHP, 64701 Hendaye, France
| | - Dorothee Dormann
- Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU), Faculty of Biology, Institute of Molecular Physiology, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Laurent Schaeffer
- Faculté de Médecine Rockefeller, Institut NeuroMyoGène-PGNM, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Jan Senderek
- Friedrich-Baur Institute at the Department of Neurology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Pascal Leblanc
- Faculté de Médecine Rockefeller, Institut NeuroMyoGène-PGNM, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
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11
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Udine E, DeJesus-Hernandez M, Tian S, das Neves SP, Crook R, Finch NA, Baker MC, Pottier C, Graff-Radford NR, Boeve BF, Petersen RC, Knopman DS, Josephs KA, Oskarsson B, Da Mesquita S, Petrucelli L, Gendron TF, Dickson DW, Rademakers R, van Blitterswijk M. Abundant transcriptomic alterations in the human cerebellum of patients with a C9orf72 repeat expansion. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:73. [PMID: 38641715 PMCID: PMC11031479 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02720-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
The most prominent genetic cause of both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a repeat expansion in the gene C9orf72. Importantly, the transcriptomic consequences of the C9orf72 repeat expansion remain largely unclear. Here, we used short-read RNA sequencing (RNAseq) to profile the cerebellar transcriptome, detecting alterations in patients with a C9orf72 repeat expansion. We focused on the cerebellum, since key C9orf72-related pathologies are abundant in this neuroanatomical region, yet TDP-43 pathology and neuronal loss are minimal. Consistent with previous work, we showed a reduction in the expression of the C9orf72 gene and an elevation in homeobox genes, when comparing patients with the expansion to both patients without the C9orf72 repeat expansion and control subjects. Interestingly, we identified more than 1000 alternative splicing events, including 4 in genes previously associated with ALS and/or FTLD. We also found an increase of cryptic splicing in C9orf72 patients compared to patients without the expansion and controls. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the expression level of select RNA-binding proteins is associated with cryptic splice junction inclusion. Overall, this study explores the presence of widespread transcriptomic changes in the cerebellum, a region not confounded by severe neurodegeneration, in post-mortem tissue from C9orf72 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Udine
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | | | - Shulan Tian
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | | | - Richard Crook
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - NiCole A Finch
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Matthew C Baker
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Cyril Pottier
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Björn Oskarsson
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Sandro Da Mesquita
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Leonard Petrucelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Tania F Gendron
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Rosa Rademakers
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marka van Blitterswijk
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
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12
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Ke YD, van Hummel A, Au C, Chan G, Lee WS, van der Hoven J, Przybyla M, Deng Y, Sabale M, Morey N, Bertz J, Feiten A, Ippati S, Stevens CH, Yang S, Gladbach A, Haass NK, Kril JJ, Blair IP, Delerue F, Ittner LM. Targeting 14-3-3θ-mediated TDP-43 pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia mice. Neuron 2024; 112:1249-1264.e8. [PMID: 38366598 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are characterized by cytoplasmic deposition of the nuclear TAR-binding protein 43 (TDP-43). Although cytoplasmic re-localization of TDP-43 is a key event in the pathogenesis of ALS/FTD, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we identified a non-canonical interaction between 14-3-3θ and TDP-43, which regulates nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling. Neuronal 14-3-3θ levels were increased in sporadic ALS and FTD with TDP-43 pathology. Pathogenic TDP-43 showed increased interaction with 14-3-3θ, resulting in cytoplasmic accumulation, insolubility, phosphorylation, and fragmentation of TDP-43, resembling pathological changes in disease. Harnessing this increased affinity of 14-3-3θ for pathogenic TDP-43, we devised a gene therapy vector targeting TDP-43 pathology, which mitigated functional deficits and neurodegeneration in different ALS/FTD mouse models expressing mutant or non-mutant TDP-43, including when already symptomatic at the time of treatment. Our study identified 14-3-3θ as a mediator of cytoplasmic TDP-43 localization with implications for ALS/FTD pathogenesis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazi D Ke
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Annika van Hummel
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Carol Au
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Gabriella Chan
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Wei Siang Lee
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Julia van der Hoven
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Magdalena Przybyla
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Yuanyuan Deng
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Miheer Sabale
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Nicolle Morey
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Josefine Bertz
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Astrid Feiten
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Stefania Ippati
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Claire H Stevens
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Shu Yang
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Amadeus Gladbach
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Nikolas K Haass
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Jillian J Kril
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Ian P Blair
- Centre for MND Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Fabien Delerue
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Lars M Ittner
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
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13
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Song N, Mei S, Wang X, Hu G, Lu M. Focusing on mitochondria in the brain: from biology to therapeutics. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:23. [PMID: 38632601 PMCID: PMC11022390 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00409-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria have multiple functions such as supplying energy, regulating the redox status, and producing proteins encoded by an independent genome. They are closely related to the physiology and pathology of many organs and tissues, among which the brain is particularly prominent. The brain demands 20% of the resting metabolic rate and holds highly active mitochondrial activities. Considerable research shows that mitochondria are closely related to brain function, while mitochondrial defects induce or exacerbate pathology in the brain. In this review, we provide comprehensive research advances of mitochondrial biology involved in brain functions, as well as the mitochondria-dependent cellular events in brain physiology and pathology. Furthermore, various perspectives are explored to better identify the mitochondrial roles in neurological diseases and the neurophenotypes of mitochondrial diseases. Finally, mitochondrial therapies are discussed. Mitochondrial-targeting therapeutics are showing great potentials in the treatment of brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanshan Song
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Shuyuan Mei
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xiangxu Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Neuroprotective Drug Discovery Key Laboratory, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Gang Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Neuroprotective Drug Discovery Key Laboratory, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Ming Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Neuroprotective Drug Discovery Key Laboratory, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
- Changzhou Second People's Hospital, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, China.
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14
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Zhang H, Guo H, Li D, Zhang Y, Zhang S, Kang W, Liu C, Le W, Wang L, Li D, Dai B. Halogen doped graphene quantum dots modulate TDP-43 phase separation and aggregation in the nucleus. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2980. [PMID: 38582774 PMCID: PMC10998863 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47167-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 is implicated in the dynamic formation of nuclear bodies and stress granules through phase separation. In diseased states, it can further condense into pathological aggregates in the nucleus and cytoplasm, contributing to the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In this study, we evaluate the effect of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with different functional groups on TDP-43's phase separation and aggregation in various cellular locations. We find that halogen atom-doped GQDs (GQDs-Cl, Cl-GQDs-OH) penetrate the nuclear envelope, inhibiting the assembly of TDP-43 nuclear bodies and stress granules under oxidative stress or hyperosmotic environments, and reduce amyloid aggregates and disease-associated phosphorylation of TDP-43. Mechanistic analysis reveals GQDs-Cl and Cl-GQDs-OH modulate TDP-43 phase separation through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Our findings highlight the potential of GQDs-Cl and Cl-GQDs-OH in modulating nuclear protein condensation and pathological aggregation, offering direction for the innovative design of GQDs to modulate protein phase separation and aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhang
- School of Sensing Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Huazhang Guo
- Institute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Baoshan District, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Danni Li
- School of Sensing Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yiling Zhang
- School of Sensing Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Shengnan Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Wenyan Kang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hainan Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Boao Research Hospital), Hainan, 571434, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Weidong Le
- Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, 201318, China
- Center for Clinical and Translational Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201318, China
| | - Liang Wang
- Institute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Baoshan District, Shanghai, 200444, PR China.
| | - Dan Li
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Bio-X-Renji Hospital Research Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Bin Dai
- School of Sensing Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
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15
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Godoy-Corchuelo JM, Ali Z, Brito Armas JM, Martins-Bach AB, García-Toledo I, Fernández-Beltrán LC, López-Carbonero JI, Bascuñana P, Spring S, Jimenez-Coca I, Muñoz de Bustillo Alfaro RA, Sánchez-Barrena MJ, Nair RR, Nieman BJ, Lerch JP, Miller KL, Ozdinler HP, Fisher EMC, Cunningham TJ, Acevedo-Arozena A, Corrochano S. TDP-43-M323K causes abnormal brain development and progressive cognitive and motor deficits associated with mislocalised and increased levels of TDP-43. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 193:106437. [PMID: 38367882 PMCID: PMC10988218 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 pathology is found in several neurodegenerative disorders, collectively referred to as "TDP-43 proteinopathies". Aggregates of TDP-43 are present in the brains and spinal cords of >97% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and in brains of ∼50% of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients. While mutations in the TDP-43 gene (TARDBP) are usually associated with ALS, many clinical reports have linked these mutations to cognitive impairments and/or FTD, but also to other neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinsonism (PD) or progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). TDP-43 is a ubiquitously expressed, highly conserved RNA-binding protein that is involved in many cellular processes, mainly RNA metabolism. To investigate systemic pathological mechanisms in TDP-43 proteinopathies, aiming to capture the pleiotropic effects of TDP-43 mutations, we have further characterised a mouse model carrying a point mutation (M323K) within the endogenous Tardbp gene. Homozygous mutant mice developed cognitive and behavioural deficits as early as 3 months of age. This was coupled with significant brain structural abnormalities, mainly in the cortex, hippocampus, and white matter fibres, together with progressive cortical interneuron degeneration and neuroinflammation. At the motor level, progressive phenotypes appeared around 6 months of age. Thus, cognitive phenotypes appeared to be of a developmental origin with a mild associated progressive neurodegeneration, while the motor and neuromuscular phenotypes seemed neurodegenerative, underlined by a progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons as well as distal denervation. This is accompanied by progressive elevated TDP-43 protein and mRNA levels in cortex and spinal cord of homozygous mutant mice from 3 months of age, together with increased cytoplasmic TDP-43 mislocalisation in cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and spinal cord at 12 months of age. In conclusion, we find that Tardbp M323K homozygous mutant mice model many aspects of human TDP-43 proteinopathies, evidencing a dual role for TDP-43 in brain morphogenesis as well as in the maintenance of the motor system, making them an ideal in vivo model system to study the complex biology of TDP-43.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Godoy-Corchuelo
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdiSSC), Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Zeinab Ali
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdiSSC), Madrid 28040, Spain; MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Jose M Brito Armas
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, ITB-ULL and CIBERNED, La Laguna, Spain
| | | | - Irene García-Toledo
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdiSSC), Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Luis C Fernández-Beltrán
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdiSSC), Madrid 28040, Spain; Department of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan I López-Carbonero
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdiSSC), Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Pablo Bascuñana
- Brain Mapping Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Shoshana Spring
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Irene Jimenez-Coca
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdiSSC), Madrid 28040, Spain
| | | | - Maria J Sánchez-Barrena
- Department of Crystallography and Structural Biology, Institute of Physical Chemistry "Blas Cabrera", CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Remya R Nair
- MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK; Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator (NATA), Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Brian J Nieman
- Mouse Imaging Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Karla L Miller
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hande P Ozdinler
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Elizabeth M C Fisher
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, and UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, UCL, Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Thomas J Cunningham
- MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK; MRC Prion Unit at UCL, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London, UK
| | - Abraham Acevedo-Arozena
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, ITB-ULL and CIBERNED, La Laguna, Spain.
| | - Silvia Corrochano
- Neurological Disorders Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdiSSC), Madrid 28040, Spain; MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK.
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16
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Das T, Zaidi F, Farag M, Ruff KM, Messing J, Taylor JP, Pappu RV, Mittag T. Metastable condensates suppress conversion to amyloid fibrils. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.28.582569. [PMID: 38464104 PMCID: PMC10925303 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.28.582569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Stress granules form via co-condensation of RNA binding proteins with prion-like low complexity domains (PLCDs) and RNA molecules released by stress-induced polysomal runoff. Homotypic interactions among PLCDs can drive amyloid fibril formation and this is enhanced by ALS-associated mutations. We find that homotypic interactions that drive condensation versus fibril formation are separable for A1-LCD, the PLCD of hnRNPA1. These separable interactions lead to condensates that are metastable versus fibrils that are globally stable. Metastable condensates suppress fibril formation, and ALS-associated mutations enhance fibril formation by weakening condensate metastability. Mutations designed to enhance A1-LCD condensate metastability restore wild-type behaviors of stress granules in cells even when ALS-associated mutations are present. This suggests that fibril formation can be suppressed by enhancing condensate metastability through condensate-driving interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapojyoti Das
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Fatima Zaidi
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Mina Farag
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis; St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Kiersten M. Ruff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis; St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - James Messing
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - J. Paul Taylor
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Rohit V. Pappu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis; St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Tanja Mittag
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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17
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Jagaraj CJ, Shadfar S, Kashani SA, Saravanabavan S, Farzana F, Atkin JD. Molecular hallmarks of ageing in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:111. [PMID: 38430277 PMCID: PMC10908642 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05164-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, severely debilitating and rapidly progressing disorder affecting motor neurons in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. Unfortunately, there are few effective treatments, thus there remains a critical need to find novel interventions that can mitigate against its effects. Whilst the aetiology of ALS remains unclear, ageing is the major risk factor. Ageing is a slowly progressive process marked by functional decline of an organism over its lifespan. However, it remains unclear how ageing promotes the risk of ALS. At the molecular and cellular level there are specific hallmarks characteristic of normal ageing. These hallmarks are highly inter-related and overlap significantly with each other. Moreover, whilst ageing is a normal process, there are striking similarities at the molecular level between these factors and neurodegeneration in ALS. Nine ageing hallmarks were originally proposed: genomic instability, loss of telomeres, senescence, epigenetic modifications, dysregulated nutrient sensing, loss of proteostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, stem cell exhaustion, and altered inter-cellular communication. However, these were recently (2023) expanded to include dysregulation of autophagy, inflammation and dysbiosis. Hence, given the latest updates to these hallmarks, and their close association to disease processes in ALS, a new examination of their relationship to pathophysiology is warranted. In this review, we describe possible mechanisms by which normal ageing impacts on neurodegenerative mechanisms implicated in ALS, and new therapeutic interventions that may arise from this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Jones Jagaraj
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Sina Shadfar
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Sara Assar Kashani
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Sayanthooran Saravanabavan
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Fabiha Farzana
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
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18
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Ivantsik O, John A, Kydonopoulou K, Mitropoulos K, Gerou S, Ali BR, Patrinos GP. Novel Pathogenic Variants Leading to Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Greek Patients. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:309. [PMID: 38540370 PMCID: PMC10970271 DOI: 10.3390/genes15030309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive disease that affects motor neurons, leading to paralysis and death usually 3-5 years after the onset of symptoms. The investigation of both sporadic and familial ALS highlighted four main genes that contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease: SOD1, FUS, TARDBP and C9orf72. This study aims to provide a comprehensive investigation of genetic variants found in SOD1, FUS and TARDBP genes in Greek sporadic ALS (sALS) cases. Our sequencing analysis of the coding regions of the abovementioned genes that include the majority of the variants that lead to ALS in 32 sALS patients and 3 healthy relatives revealed 6 variants in SOD1, 19 variants in FUS and 37 variants in TARDBP, of which the SOD1 p.D90A and the FUS c.*356G>A (rs886051940) variants have been previously associated with ALS, while two novel nonsense pathogenic variants were also identified, namely FUS p.R241* and TDP-43 p.Y214*. Our study contributes to the worldwide effort toward clarifying the genetic basis of sALS to better understand the disease's molecular pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ouliana Ivantsik
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy, Division of Pharmacology and Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Rion, Greece
| | - Anne John
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Konstantinos Mitropoulos
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10679 Athens, Greece
| | - Spyridon Gerou
- ANALYSI Biomedical Laboratories S.A., 54623 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Bassam R Ali
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- ASPIRE Abu Dhabi Precision Medicine Ρesearch Institute, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - George P Patrinos
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy, Division of Pharmacology and Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Rion, Greece
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- ASPIRE Abu Dhabi Precision Medicine Ρesearch Institute, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Clinical Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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19
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Firdaus Z, Li X. Unraveling the Genetic Landscape of Neurological Disorders: Insights into Pathogenesis, Techniques for Variant Identification, and Therapeutic Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2320. [PMID: 38396996 PMCID: PMC10889342 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic abnormalities play a crucial role in the development of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). Genetic exploration has indeed contributed to unraveling the molecular complexities responsible for the etiology and progression of various NDDs. The intricate nature of rare and common variants in NDDs contributes to a limited understanding of the genetic risk factors associated with them. Advancements in next-generation sequencing have made whole-genome sequencing and whole-exome sequencing possible, allowing the identification of rare variants with substantial effects, and improving the understanding of both Mendelian and complex neurological conditions. The resurgence of gene therapy holds the promise of targeting the etiology of diseases and ensuring a sustained correction. This approach is particularly enticing for neurodegenerative diseases, where traditional pharmacological methods have fallen short. In the context of our exploration of the genetic epidemiology of the three most prevalent NDDs-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, our primary goal is to underscore the progress made in the development of next-generation sequencing. This progress aims to enhance our understanding of the disease mechanisms and explore gene-based therapies for NDDs. Throughout this review, we focus on genetic variations, methodologies for their identification, the associated pathophysiology, and the promising potential of gene therapy. Ultimately, our objective is to provide a comprehensive and forward-looking perspective on the emerging research arena of NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeba Firdaus
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Xiaogang Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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20
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Berthiaume AA, Reda SM, Kleist KN, Setti SE, Wu W, Johnston JL, Taylor RW, Stein LR, Moebius HJ, Church KJ. ATH-1105, a small-molecule positive modulator of the neurotrophic HGF system, is neuroprotective, preserves neuromotor function, and extends survival in preclinical models of ALS. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1348157. [PMID: 38389786 PMCID: PMC10881713 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1348157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder, primarily affects the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord. Like other neurodegenerative conditions, ongoing pathological processes such as increased inflammation, excitotoxicity, and protein accumulation contribute to neuronal death. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signaling through the MET receptor promotes pro-survival, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects in multiple cell types, including the neurons and support cells of the nervous system. This pleiotropic system is therefore a potential therapeutic target for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS. Here, we test the effects of ATH-1105, a small-molecule positive modulator of the HGF signaling system, in preclinical models of ALS. Methods In vitro, the impact of ATH-1105 on HGF-mediated signaling was assessed via phosphorylation assays for MET, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and protein kinase B (AKT). Neuroprotective effects of ATH-1105 were evaluated in rat primary neuron models including spinal motor neurons, motor neuron-astrocyte cocultures, and motor neuron-human muscle cocultures. The anti-inflammatory effects of ATH-1105 were evaluated in microglia- and macrophage-like cell systems exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In vivo, the impact of daily oral treatment with ATH-1105 was evaluated in Prp-TDP43A315T hemizygous transgenic ALS mice. Results In vitro, ATH-1105 augmented phosphorylation of MET, ERK, and AKT. ATH-1105 attenuated glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity in primary motor neurons and motor neuron- astrocyte cocultures, and had protective effects on motor neurons and neuromuscular junctions in motor neuron-muscle cocultures. ATH-1105 mitigated LPS-induced inflammation in microglia- and macrophage-like cell systems. In vivo, ATH-1105 treatment resulted in improved motor and nerve function, sciatic nerve axon and myelin integrity, and survival in ALS mice. Treatment with ATH-1105 also led to reductions in levels of plasma biomarkers of inflammation and neurodegeneration, along with decreased pathological protein accumulation (phospho-TDP-43) in the sciatic nerve. Additionally, both early intervention (treatment initiation at 1 month of age) and delayed intervention (treatment initiation at 2 months of age) with ATH-1105 produced benefits in this preclinical model of ALS. Discussion The consistent neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects demonstrated by ATH-1105 preclinically provide a compelling rationale for therapeutic interventions that leverage the positive modulation of the HGF pathway as a treatment for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Wei Wu
- Athira Pharma, Inc., Bothell, WA, United States
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21
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Khalil B, Linsenmeier M, Smith CL, Shorter J, Rossoll W. Nuclear-import receptors as gatekeepers of pathological phase transitions in ALS/FTD. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:8. [PMID: 38254150 PMCID: PMC10804745 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00698-1] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are fatal neurodegenerative disorders on a disease spectrum that are characterized by the cytoplasmic mislocalization and aberrant phase transitions of prion-like RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). The common accumulation of TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43), fused in sarcoma (FUS), and other nuclear RBPs in detergent-insoluble aggregates in the cytoplasm of degenerating neurons in ALS/FTD is connected to nuclear pore dysfunction and other defects in the nucleocytoplasmic transport machinery. Recent advances suggest that beyond their canonical role in the nuclear import of protein cargoes, nuclear-import receptors (NIRs) can prevent and reverse aberrant phase transitions of TDP-43, FUS, and related prion-like RBPs and restore their nuclear localization and function. Here, we showcase the NIR family and how they recognize cargo, drive nuclear import, and chaperone prion-like RBPs linked to ALS/FTD. We also discuss the promise of enhancing NIR levels and developing potentiated NIR variants as therapeutic strategies for ALS/FTD and related neurodegenerative proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Khalil
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, U.S.A
| | - Miriam Linsenmeier
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, U.S.A
| | - Courtney L Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, U.S.A
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Track, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, U.S.A
| | - James Shorter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, U.S.A..
| | - Wilfried Rossoll
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, U.S.A..
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22
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Zhu L, Deng F, Bai D, Hou J, Jia Q, Zhang C, Ou K, Li S, Li XJ, Yin P. Loss of TDP-43 mediates severe neurotoxicity by suppressing PJA1 gene transcription in the monkey brain. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:16. [PMID: 38194085 PMCID: PMC11072099 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05066-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The nuclear loss and cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP-43 (TAR DNA/RNA binding protein 43) are pathological hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Previously, we reported that the primate-specific cleavage of TDP-43 accounts for its cytoplasmic mislocalization in patients' brains. This prompted us to investigate further whether and how the loss of nuclear TDP-43 mediates neuropathology in primate brain. In this study, we report that TDP-43 knockdown at the similar effectiveness, induces more damage to neuronal cells in the monkey brain than rodent mouse. Importantly, the loss of TDP-43 suppresses the E3 ubiquitin ligase PJA1 expression in the monkey brain at transcriptional level, but yields an opposite upregulation of PJA1 in the mouse brain. This distinct effect is due to the species-dependent binding of nuclear TDP-43 to the unique promoter sequences of the PJA1 genes. Further analyses reveal that the reduction of PJA1 accelerates neurotoxicity, whereas overexpressing PJA1 diminishes neuronal cell death by the TDP-43 knockdown in vivo. Our findings not only uncover a novel primate-specific neurotoxic contribution to the loss of function theory of TDP-43 proteinopathy, but also underscore a potential therapeutic approach of PJA1 to the loss of nuclear TDP-43.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longhong Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Fuyu Deng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Dazhang Bai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China
- Institute of Neurological Diseases, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China
| | - Junqi Hou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Qingqing Jia
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Kaili Ou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Peng Yin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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23
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Yang X, Li G, Lou P, Zhang M, Yao K, Xiao J, Chen Y, Xu J, Tian S, Deng M, Pan Y, Li M, Wu X, Liu R, Shi X, Tian Y, Yu L, Ke H, Jiao B, Cong Y, Plikus MV, Liu X, Yu Z, Lv C. Excessive nucleic acid R-loops induce mitochondria-dependent epithelial cell necroptosis and drive spontaneous intestinal inflammation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2307395120. [PMID: 38157451 PMCID: PMC10769860 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307395120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress, which can be activated by a variety of environmental risk factors, has been implicated as an important pathogenic factor for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, how oxidative stress drives IBD onset remains elusive. Here, we found that oxidative stress was strongly activated in inflamed tissues from both ulcerative colitis patients and Crohn's disease patients, and it caused nuclear-to-cytosolic TDP-43 transport and a reduction in the TDP-43 protein level. To investigate the function of TDP-43 in IBD, we inducibly deleted exons 2 to 3 of Tardbp (encoding Tdp-43) in mouse intestinal epithelium, which disrupted its nuclear localization and RNA-processing function. The deletion gave rise to spontaneous intestinal inflammation by inducing epithelial cell necroptosis. Suppression of the necroptotic pathway with deletion of Mlkl or the RIP1 inhibitor Nec-1 rescued colitis phenotypes. Mechanistically, disruption of nuclear TDP-43 caused excessive R-loop accumulation, which triggered DNA damage and genome instability and thereby induced PARP1 hyperactivation, leading to subsequent NAD+ depletion and ATP loss, consequently activating mitochondrion-dependent necroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells. Importantly, restoration of cellular NAD+ levels with NAD+ or NMN supplementation, as well as suppression of ALKBH7, an α-ketoglutarate dioxygenase in mitochondria, rescued TDP-43 deficiency-induced cell death and intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, TDP-43 protein levels were significantly inversely correlated with γ-H2A.X and p-MLKL levels in clinical IBD samples, suggesting the clinical relevance of TDP-43 deficiency-induced mitochondrion-dependent necroptosis. Taken together, these findings identify a unique pathogenic mechanism that links oxidative stress to intestinal inflammation and provide a potent and valid strategy for IBD intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Yang
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan450052, China
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Ankang University, Ankang, Shaanxi725000, China
| | - Guilin Li
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan450052, China
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
| | - Pengbo Lou
- China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing100094, China
| | - Mingxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
| | - Kai Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
| | - Jintao Xiao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan410008, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of AI Computer Aided Diagnosis and Treatment for Digestive Disease, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yiqian Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan410008, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of AI Computer Aided Diagnosis and Treatment for Digestive Disease, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jiuzhi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
| | - Shengyuan Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
| | - Min Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
| | - Yuwei Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
| | - Mengzhen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
| | - Xi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
| | - Ruiqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
| | - Xiaojing Shi
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan450052, China
| | - Yuhua Tian
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan450052, China
| | - Lu Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
| | - Hao Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution of Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650223, China
| | - Baowei Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution of Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650223, China
| | - Yingzi Cong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, IL60611
| | - Maksim V. Plikus
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA92697
| | - Xiaowei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan410008, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of AI Computer Aided Diagnosis and Treatment for Digestive Disease, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhengquan Yu
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan450052, China
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
| | - Cong Lv
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing100193, China
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24
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Ducharme S, Pijnenburg Y, Rohrer JD, Huey E, Finger E, Tatton N. Identifying and Diagnosing TDP-43 Neurodegenerative Diseases in Psychiatry. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2024; 32:98-113. [PMID: 37741764 DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2023.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common manifestations of neurodegenerative disorders and are often early signs of those diseases. Among those neurodegenerative diseases, TDP-43 proteinopathies are an increasingly recognized cause of early neuropsychiatric manifestations. TDP-43-related diseases include frontotemporal dementia (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Limbic-Predominant Age-Related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE). The majority of TDP-43-related diseases are sporadic, but a significant proportion is hereditary, with progranulin (GRN) mutations and C9orf72 repeat expansions as the most common genetic etiologies. Studies reveal that NPS can be the initial manifestation of those diseases or can complicate disease course, but there is a lack of awareness among clinicians about TDP-43-related diseases, which leads to common diagnostic mistakes or delays. There is also emerging evidence that TDP-43 accumulations could play a role in late-onset primary psychiatric disorders. In the absence of robust biomarkers for TDP-43, the diagnosis remains primarily based on clinical assessment and neuroimaging. Given the association with psychiatric symptoms, clinical psychiatrists have a key role in the early identification of patients with TDP-43-related diseases. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the pathobiology of TDP-43, resulting clinical presentations, and associated neuropsychiatric manifestations to help guide clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Ducharme
- Department of Psychiatry (SD), Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Yolande Pijnenburg
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience (YP), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease (JDR), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Edward Huey
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Department of Psychiatry (EH), Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Elizabeth Finger
- London Health Sciences Centre Parkwood Institute (EF), London, ON, Canada
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25
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De Marchi F, Venkatesan S, Saraceno M, Mazzini L, Grossini E. Acetyl-L-carnitine and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Current Evidence and Potential use. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2024; 23:588-601. [PMID: 36998125 DOI: 10.2174/1871527322666230330083757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The management of neurodegenerative diseases can be frustrating for clinicians, given the limited progress of conventional medicine in this context. AIM For this reason, a more comprehensive, integrative approach is urgently needed. Among various emerging focuses for intervention, the modulation of central nervous system energetics, oxidative stress, and inflammation is becoming more and more promising. METHODS In particular, electrons leakage involved in the mitochondrial energetics can generate reactive oxygen-free radical-related mitochondrial dysfunction that would contribute to the etiopathology of many disorders, such as Alzheimer's and other dementias, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). RESULTS In this context, using agents, like acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR), provides mitochondrial support, reduces oxidative stress, and improves synaptic transmission. CONCLUSION This narrative review aims to update the existing literature on ALCAR molecular profile, tolerability, and translational clinical potential use in neurodegeneration, focusing on ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola De Marchi
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Sakthipriyan Venkatesan
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Massimo Saraceno
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Elena Grossini
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale 28100, Novara, Italy
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Ma H, Huo J, Xin C, Yang J, Liu Q, Dong H, Li R, Liu Y. RABGGTB plays a critical role in ALS pathogenesis. Brain Res Bull 2024; 206:110833. [PMID: 38042502 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with unknown causes, which mainly affects motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord, brain stem, and cerebral cortex, also known as motor neuron disease. An important pathological feature of ALS is the formation of aggregates of mutant SOD1 protein, CTF25 of TDP-43, or other abnormal proteins in motor neurons, which require autophagy for degradation. Protein prenylation is known to participate in membrane association and proper localization of proteins. RABGGTB is the β subunit of GGTase II (one of the prenyltransferases) that can regulate autophagy via Rab7 geranylgeranylation. In this study, we overexpressed RABGGTB via lentiviral transfection in NSC34-hSOD1G93A and TDP-43 cells. Overexpression of RABGGTB improved ALS cell proliferation by facilitating autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Furthermore, the abnormal aggregation of SOD1 protein was reduced. This indicates that protein prenylation is important for the proliferation and autophagy of cells autophagy. Enhanced autophagy has been observed in two of the most widely used ALS cell models. These findings indicate the widespread applicability of prenylation in ALS. In summary, overexpression of RABGGTB improved the geranylgeranylation of the Rab7 protein and had a positive effect on cells. These findings provide insights into the development of a novel therapeutic strategy for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Ma
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Jia Huo
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Cheng Xin
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Hui Dong
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
| | - Yaling Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China; Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
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27
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Yuan Y, Bailey JM, Rivera-Lopez GM, Atchison WD. Preferential potentiation of AMPA-mediated currents in brainstem hypoglossal motoneurons by subchronic exposure of mice expressing the human superoxide dismutase 1 G93A gene mutation to neurotoxicant methylmercury in vivo. Neurotoxicology 2024; 100:72-84. [PMID: 38065418 PMCID: PMC10877233 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The exact causes of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive and fatal neurological disorder due to loss of upper and/or lower motoneurons, remain elusive. Gene-environment interactions are believed to be an important factor in the development of ALS. We previously showed that in vivo exposure of mice overexpressing the human superoxide dismutase 1 (hSOD1) gene mutation (hSOD1G93A; G93A), a mouse model for ALS, to environmental neurotoxicant methylmercury (MeHg) accelerated the onset of ALS-like phenotype. Here we examined the time-course of effects of MeHg on AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated currents in hypoglossal motoneurons in brainstem slices prepared from G93A, hSOD1wild-type (hWT) and non-carrier WT mice following in vivo exposure to MeHg. Mice were exposed daily to 3 ppm (approximately 0.7 mg/kg/day) MeHg via drinking water beginning at postnatal day 28 (P28) and continued until P47, 64 or 84, then acute brainstem slices were prepared, and spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) or AMPA-evoked currents were examined using whole cell patch-clamp recording technique. Brainstem slices of untreated littermates were prepared at the same time points to serve as control. MeHg exposure had no significant effect on either sEPSCs or AMPA-evoked currents in slices from hWT or WT mice during any of those exposure time periods under our experimental conditions. MeHg also did not cause any significant effect on sEPSCs or AMPA-currents in G93A hypoglossal motoneurons at P47 and P64. However, at P84, MeHg significantly increased amplitudes of both sEPSCs and AMPA-evoked currents in hypoglossal motineurons from G93A mice (p < 0.05), but not the sEPSC frequency, suggesting a postsynaptic action on AMPARs. MeHg exposure did not cause any significant effect on GABAergic spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). Therefore, MeHg exposure in vivo caused differential effects on AMPARs in hypoglossal motoneurons from mice with different genetic backgrounds. MeHg appears to preferentially stimulate the AMPAR-mediated currents in G93A hypoglossal motoneurons in an exposure time-dependent manner, which may contribute to the AMPAR-mediated motoneuron excitotoxicity, thereby facilitating development of ALS-like phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, Michigan State University, Life Sciences Building, 1355 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA.
| | - Jordan M Bailey
- Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, Michigan State University, Life Sciences Building, 1355 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA
| | - Gretchen M Rivera-Lopez
- Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, Michigan State University, Life Sciences Building, 1355 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA
| | - William D Atchison
- Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, Michigan State University, Life Sciences Building, 1355 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA
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28
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Qin F, Cai B, Cao R, Bai X, Yuan J, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Chen T, Liu F, Sun W, Zheng Y, Qi X, Zhao W, Liu B, Gao C. Listerin promotes cGAS protein degradation through the ESCRT pathway to negatively regulate cGAS-mediated immune response. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2308853120. [PMID: 38109536 PMCID: PMC10756308 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308853120] [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: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The enzyme cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a key sensor for detecting misplaced double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) of genomic, mitochondrial, and microbial origin. It synthesizes 2'3'-cGAMP, which in turn activates the stimulator of interferon genes pathway, leading to the initiation of innate immune responses. Here, we identified Listerin as a negative regulator of cGAS-mediated innate immune response. We found that Listerin interacts with cGAS on endosomes and promotes its K63-linked ubiquitination through recruitment of the E3 ligase TRIM27. The polyubiquitinated cGAS is then recognized by the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport machinery and sorted into endosomes for degradation. Listerin deficiency enhances the innate antiviral response to herpes simplex virus 1 infection. Genetic deletion of Listerin also deteriorates the neuroinflammation and the ALS disease progress in an ALS mice model; overexpression of Listerin can robustly ameliorate disease progression in ALS mice. Thus, our work uncovers a mechanism for cGAS regulation and suggests that Listerin may be a promising therapeutic target for ALS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Qin
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Baoshan Cai
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Runyu Cao
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuemei Bai
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiahua Yuan
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuling Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaxing Liu
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tian Chen
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Feng Liu
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wanwei Sun
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Zheng
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaopeng Qi
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bingyu Liu
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chengjiang Gao
- Department of Immunology and Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province & Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong250012, People’s Republic of China
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García Morato J, Gloeckner CJ, Kahle PJ. Proteomics elucidating physiological and pathological functions of TDP-43. Proteomics 2023; 23:e2200410. [PMID: 37671599 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202200410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Trans-activation response DNA binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) regulates a great variety of cellular processes in the nucleus and cytosol. In addition, a defined subset of neurodegenerative diseases is characterized by nuclear depletion of TDP-43 as well as cytosolic mislocalization and aggregation. To perform its diverse functions TDP-43 can associate with different ribonucleoprotein complexes. Combined with transcriptomics, MS interactome studies have unveiled associations between TDP-43 and the spliceosome machinery, polysomes and RNA granules. Moreover, the highly dynamic, low-valency interactions regulated by its low-complexity domain calls for innovative proximity labeling methodologies. In addition to protein partners, the analysis of post-translational modifications showed that they may play a role in the nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, RNA binding, liquid-liquid phase separation and protein aggregation of TDP-43. Here we review the various TDP-43 ribonucleoprotein complexes characterized so far, how they contribute to the diverse functions of TDP-43, and roles of post-translational modifications. Further understanding of the fluid dynamic properties of TDP-43 in ribonucleoprotein complexes, RNA granules, and self-assemblies will advance the understanding of RNA processing in cells and perhaps help to develop novel therapeutic approaches for TDPopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge García Morato
- Laboratory of Functional Neurogenetics, Department of Neurodegeneration, German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Johannes Gloeckner
- Research Group Functional Neuroproteomics, German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tübingen, Germany
- Core Facility for Medical Bioanalytics, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Center for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Philipp J Kahle
- Laboratory of Functional Neurogenetics, Department of Neurodegeneration, German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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30
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Belosludtseva NV, Matveeva LA, Belosludtsev KN. Mitochondrial Dyshomeostasis as an Early Hallmark and a Therapeutic Target in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16833. [PMID: 38069154 PMCID: PMC10706047 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal multisystem disease characterized by progressive death of motor neurons, loss of muscle mass, and impaired energy metabolism. More than 40 genes are now known to be associated with ALS, which together account for the majority of familial forms of ALS and only 10% of sporadic ALS cases. To date, there is no consensus on the pathogenesis of ALS, which makes it difficult to develop effective therapy. Accumulating evidence indicates that mitochondria, which play an important role in cellular homeostasis, are the earliest targets in ALS, and abnormalities in their structure and functions contribute to the development of bioenergetic stress and disease progression. Mitochondria are known to be highly dynamic organelles, and their stability is maintained through a number of key regulatory pathways. Mitochondrial homeostasis is dynamically regulated via mitochondrial biogenesis, clearance, fission/fusion, and trafficking; however, the processes providing "quality control" and distribution of the organelles are prone to dysregulation in ALS. Here, we systematically summarized changes in mitochondrial turnover, dynamics, calcium homeostasis, and alterations in mitochondrial transport and functions to provide in-depth insights into disease progression pathways, which may have a significant impact on current symptomatic therapies and personalized treatment programs for patients with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia V. Belosludtseva
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya 3, Pushchino 142290, Russia;
| | - Lyudmila A. Matveeva
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Microbiology, Mari State University, pl. Lenina 1, Yoshkar-Ola 424001, Russia;
| | - Konstantin N. Belosludtsev
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya 3, Pushchino 142290, Russia;
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Microbiology, Mari State University, pl. Lenina 1, Yoshkar-Ola 424001, Russia;
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31
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Huang B, Liu X, Zhang T, Wu Q, Huang C, Xia XG, Zhou H. Increase in hnRNPA1 Expression Suffices to Kill Motor Neurons in Transgenic Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16214. [PMID: 38003404 PMCID: PMC10671660 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
A dominant mutation in hnRNPA1 causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but it is not known whether this mutation leads to motor neuron death through increased or decreased function. To elucidate the relationship between pathogenic hnRNPA1 mutation and its native function, we created novel transgenic rats that overexpressed wildtype rat hnRNPA1 exclusively in motor neurons. This targeted expression of wildtype hnRNPA1 caused severe motor neuron loss and subsequent denervation muscle atrophy in transgenic rats that recapitulated the characteristics of ALS. These findings demonstrate that the augmentation of hnRNPA1 expression suffices to trigger motor neuron degeneration and the manifestation of ALS-like phenotypes. It is reasonable to infer that an amplification of an as-yet undetermined hnRNPA1 function plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of familial ALS caused by pathogenic hnRNPA1 mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Huang
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Xionghao Liu
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, The Center for Translational Sciences, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Qinxue Wu
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Cao Huang
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Xu-Gang Xia
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, The Center for Translational Sciences, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Hongxia Zhou
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, The Center for Translational Sciences, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
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32
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Lombardi M, Corrado L, Piola B, Comi C, Cantello R, D’Alfonso S, Mazzini L, De Marchi F. Variability in Clinical Phenotype in TARDBP Mutations: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Case Description and Literature Review. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2039. [PMID: 38002982 PMCID: PMC10671725 DOI: 10.3390/genes14112039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the 43 kDa transactive-response (TAR)-DNA-binding protein (TARDBP) are associated with 2-5% of familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) cases. TAR DNA-Binding Protein 43 (TDP-43) is an RNA/DNA-binding protein involved in several cellular mechanisms (e.g., transcription, pre-mRNA processing, and splicing). Many ALS-linked TARDBP mutations have been described in the literature, but few phenotypic data on monogenic TARDBP-mutated ALS are available. In this paper, (1) we describe the clinical features of ALS patients carrying mutations in the TARDBP gene evaluated at the Tertiary ALS Center at Maggiore della Carità University Hospital, Novara, Italy, from 2010 to 2020 and (2) present the results of our review of the literature on this topic, analyzing data obtained for 267 patients and highlighting their main clinical and demographic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Lombardi
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.L.); (R.C.); (L.M.)
| | - Lucia Corrado
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (L.C.); (B.P.); (S.D.)
| | - Beatrice Piola
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (L.C.); (B.P.); (S.D.)
| | - Cristoforo Comi
- Neurology Unit, S. Andrea Hospital, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 13100 Vercelli, Italy;
| | - Roberto Cantello
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.L.); (R.C.); (L.M.)
| | - Sandra D’Alfonso
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (L.C.); (B.P.); (S.D.)
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.L.); (R.C.); (L.M.)
| | - Fabiola De Marchi
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.L.); (R.C.); (L.M.)
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33
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Elmansy MF, Reidl CT, Rahaman M, Özdinler PH, Silverman RB. Small molecules targeting different cellular pathologies for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Med Res Rev 2023; 43:2260-2302. [PMID: 37243319 PMCID: PMC10592673 DOI: 10.1002/med.21974] [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: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease in which the motor neuron circuitry displays progressive degeneration, affecting mostly the motor neurons in the brain and in the spinal cord. There are no effective cures, albeit three drugs, riluzole, edaravone, and AMX0035 (a combination of sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol), have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, with limited improvement in patients. There is an urgent need to build better and more effective treatment strategies for ALS. Since the disease is very heterogenous, numerous approaches have been explored, such as targeting genetic mutations, decreasing oxidative stress and excitotoxicity, enhancing mitochondrial function and protein degradation mechanisms, and inhibiting neuroinflammation. In addition, various chemical libraries or previously identified drugs have been screened for potential repurposing in the treatment of ALS. Here, we review previous drug discovery efforts targeting a variety of cellular pathologies that occur from genetic mutations that cause ALS, such as mutations in SOD1, C9orf72, FUS, and TARDP-43 genes. These mutations result in protein aggregation, which causes neuronal degeneration. Compounds used to target cellular pathologies that stem from these mutations are discussed and comparisons among different preclinical models are presented. Because the drug discovery landscape for ALS and other motor neuron diseases is changing rapidly, we also offer recommendations for a novel, more effective, direction in ALS drug discovery that could accelerate translation of effective compounds from animals to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed F. Elmansy
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Department of Organometallic and Organometalloid Chemistry, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Cory T. Reidl
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Mizzanoor Rahaman
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - P. Hande Özdinler
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Richard B. Silverman
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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34
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Corcia P, Vourc'h P, Bernard E, Cassereau J, Codron P, Fleury MC, Guy N, Mouzat K, Pradat PF, Soriani MH, Couratier P. French National Protocol for genetic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2023; 179:1020-1029. [PMID: 37735015 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2023.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Relationships between genes and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have been widely accepted since the first studies highlighting pathogenic mutations in the SOD1 gene 30years ago. Over the last three decades, scientific literature has clearly highlighted the central role played by genetic factors in the disease, in both clinics and pathophysiology, as well as in therapeutics. This implies that health professionals who care for patients with ALS are increasingly faced with patients and relatives eager to have answers to questions related to the role of genetic factors in the occurrence of the disease and the risk for their relatives to develop ALS. In order to address these public health issues, the French ALS network FILSLAN proposed to the Haute Autorité de santé (HAS) the drafting of a French National Protocol (PNDS) on ALS genetics. This PNDS was developed according to the "method for developing a national diagnosis and care protocol for rare diseases" published by the HAS in 2012 (methodological guide for PNDS available on the HAS website: http://www.has-sante.fr/). This document aims to provide the most recent data on the role of genes in ALS and to detail the implications for diagnosis and care.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Corcia
- CRMR SLA, CHRU Bretonneau, Tours, France; UMR 1253 iBrain, Tours, France.
| | - P Vourc'h
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Tours, France; Laboratoire de biochimie et biologie moléculaire, CHRU Bretonneau, Tours, France
| | | | | | - P Codron
- CRMR SLA, CHU d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - M-C Fleury
- CRC SLA, CHU de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - N Guy
- CRC SLA, CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - K Mouzat
- Laboratoire de biochimie et biologie moléculaire, CHU de Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - P-F Pradat
- CRMR SLA, CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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35
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Sekiyama N, Kobayashi R, Kodama TS. Toward a high-resolution mechanism of intrinsically disordered protein self-assembly. J Biochem 2023; 174:391-398. [PMID: 37488093 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvad056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Membraneless organelles formed via the self-assembly of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) play a crucial role in regulating various physiological functions. Elucidating the mechanisms behind IDP self-assembly is of great interest not only from a biological perspective but also for understanding how amino acid mutations in IDPs contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases and other disorders. Currently, two proposed mechanisms explain IDP self-assembly: (1) the sticker-and-spacer framework, which considers amino acid residues as beads to simulate the intermolecular interactions, and (2) the cross-β hypothesis, which focuses on the β-sheet interactions between the molecular surfaces constructed by multiple residues. This review explores the advancement of new models that provide higher resolution insights into the IDP self-assembly mechanism based on new findings obtained from structural studies of IDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naotaka Sekiyama
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Ryoga Kobayashi
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Takashi S Kodama
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
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36
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Zhu H, Yang Y, Wang Y, Wang F, Huang Y, Chang Y, Wong KC, Li X. Dynamic characterization and interpretation for protein-RNA interactions across diverse cellular conditions using HDRNet. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6824. [PMID: 37884495 PMCID: PMC10603054 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42547-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins play crucial roles in the regulation of gene expression, and understanding the interactions between RNAs and RBPs in distinct cellular conditions forms the basis for comprehending the underlying RNA function. However, current computational methods pose challenges to the cross-prediction of RNA-protein binding events across diverse cell lines and tissue contexts. Here, we develop HDRNet, an end-to-end deep learning-based framework to precisely predict dynamic RBP binding events under diverse cellular conditions. Our results demonstrate that HDRNet can accurately and efficiently identify binding sites, particularly for dynamic prediction, outperforming other state-of-the-art models on 261 linear RNA datasets from both eCLIP and CLIP-seq, supplemented with additional tissue data. Moreover, we conduct motif and interpretation analyses to provide fresh insights into the pathological mechanisms underlying RNA-RBP interactions from various perspectives. Our functional genomic analysis further explores the gene-human disease associations, uncovering previously uncharacterized observations for a broad range of genetic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Zhu
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Jilin University, 130012, Changchun, China
| | - Yuning Yang
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yunhe Wang
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Fuzhou Wang
- Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Yujian Huang
- College of Computer Science and Cyber Security, Chengdu University of Technology, 610059, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Chang
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Jilin University, 130012, Changchun, China
| | - Ka-Chun Wong
- Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
| | - Xiangtao Li
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Jilin University, 130012, Changchun, China.
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37
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Godfrey RK, Alsop E, Bjork RT, Chauhan BS, Ruvalcaba HC, Antone J, Gittings LM, Michael AF, Williams C, Hala'ufia G, Blythe AD, Hall M, Sattler R, Van Keuren-Jensen K, Zarnescu DC. Modelling TDP-43 proteinopathy in Drosophila uncovers shared and neuron-specific targets across ALS and FTD relevant circuits. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:168. [PMID: 37864255 PMCID: PMC10588218 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01656-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) comprise a spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases linked to TDP-43 proteinopathy, which at the cellular level, is characterized by loss of nuclear TDP-43 and accumulation of cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions that ultimately cause RNA processing defects including dysregulation of splicing, mRNA transport and translation. Complementing our previous work in motor neurons, here we report a novel model of TDP-43 proteinopathy based on overexpression of TDP-43 in a subset of Drosophila Kenyon cells of the mushroom body (MB), a circuit with structural characteristics reminiscent of vertebrate cortical networks. This model recapitulates several aspects of dementia-relevant pathological features including age-dependent neuronal loss, nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP-43, and behavioral deficits in working memory and sleep that occur prior to axonal degeneration. RNA immunoprecipitations identify several candidate mRNA targets of TDP-43 in MBs, some of which are unique to the MB circuit and others that are shared with motor neurons. Among the latter is the glypican Dally-like-protein (Dlp), which exhibits significant TDP-43 associated reduction in expression during aging. Using genetic interactions we show that overexpression of Dlp in MBs mitigates TDP-43 dependent working memory deficits, conistent with Dlp acting as a mediator of TDP-43 toxicity. Substantiating our findings in the fly model, we find that the expression of GPC6 mRNA, a human ortholog of dlp, is specifically altered in neurons exhibiting the molecular signature of TDP-43 pathology in FTD patient brains. These findings suggest that circuit-specific Drosophila models provide a platform for uncovering shared or disease-specific molecular mechanisms and vulnerabilities across the spectrum of TDP-43 proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Keating Godfrey
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
- McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, 3215 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
| | - Eric Alsop
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, 445 N 5th St., Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Reed T Bjork
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Brijesh S Chauhan
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive Crescent Building C4605, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Hillary C Ruvalcaba
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jerry Antone
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, 445 N 5th St., Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Lauren M Gittings
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Allison F Michael
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Christi Williams
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Grace Hala'ufia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Alexander D Blythe
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Megan Hall
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, 445 N 5th St., Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Rita Sattler
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | | | - Daniela C Zarnescu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive Crescent Building C4605, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.
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38
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Chang K, Gao D, Yan J, Lin L, Cui T, Lu S. Critical Roles of Protein Arginine Methylation in the Central Nervous System. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:6060-6091. [PMID: 37415067 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03465-x] [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: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
A remarkable post-transitional modification of both histones and non-histone proteins is arginine methylation. Methylation of arginine residues is crucial for a wide range of cellular process, including signal transduction, DNA repair, gene expression, mRNA splicing, and protein interaction. Arginine methylation is modulated by arginine methyltransferases and demethylases, like protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMTs) and Jumonji C (JmjC) domain containing (JMJD) proteins. Symmetric dimethylarginine and asymmetric dimethylarginine, metabolic products of the PRMTs and JMJD proteins, can be changed by abnormal expression of these proteins. Many pathologies including cancer, inflammation and immune responses have been closely linked to aberrant arginine methylation. Currently, the majority of the literature discusses the substrate specificity and function of arginine methylation in the pathogenesis and prognosis of cancers. Numerous investigations on the roles of arginine methylation in the central nervous system (CNS) have so far been conducted. In this review, we display the biochemistry of arginine methylation and provide an overview of the regulatory mechanism of arginine methyltransferases and demethylases. We also highlight physiological functions of arginine methylation in the CNS and the significance of arginine methylation in a variety of neurological diseases such as brain cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders. Furthermore, we summarize PRMT inhibitors and molecular functions of arginine methylation. Finally, we pose important questions that require further research to comprehend the roles of arginine methylation in the CNS and discover more effective targets for the treatment of neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kewei Chang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Dan Gao
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jidong Yan
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Liyan Lin
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tingting Cui
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shemin Lu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
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39
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Bodin A, Greibill L, Gouju J, Letournel F, Pozzi S, Julien JP, Renaud L, Bohl D, Millecamps S, Verny C, Cassereau J, Lenaers G, Chevrollier A, Tassin AM, Codron P. Transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 is enriched at the centrosome in human cells. Brain 2023; 146:3624-3633. [PMID: 37410912 PMCID: PMC10473568 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The centrosome, as the main microtubule organizing centre, plays key roles in cell polarity, genome stability and ciliogenesis. The recent identification of ribosomes, RNA-binding proteins and transcripts at the centrosome suggests local protein synthesis. In this context, we hypothesized that TDP-43, a highly conserved RNA binding protein involved in the pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration, could be enriched at this organelle. Using dedicated high magnification sub-diffraction microscopy on human cells, we discovered a novel localization of TDP-43 at the centrosome during all phases of the cell cycle. These results were confirmed on purified centrosomes by western blot and immunofluorescence microscopy. In addition, the co-localization of TDP-43 and pericentrin suggested a pericentriolar enrichment of the protein, leading us to hypothesize that TDP-43 might interact with local mRNAs and proteins. Supporting this hypothesis, we found four conserved centrosomal mRNAs and 16 centrosomal proteins identified as direct TDP-43 interactors. More strikingly, all the 16 proteins are implicated in the pathophysiology of TDP-43 proteinopathies, suggesting that TDP-43 dysfunction in this organelle contributes to neurodegeneration. This first description of TDP-43 centrosomal enrichment paves the way for a more comprehensive understanding of TDP-43 physiology and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Bodin
- Univ Angers, Equipe MitoLab, Unité MitoVasc, Inserm U1083, CNRS 6015, SFR ICAT, 49100 Angers, France
- Neurobiology and neuropathology, University-Hospital of Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Logan Greibill
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Julien Gouju
- Neurobiology and neuropathology, University-Hospital of Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Franck Letournel
- Neurobiology and neuropathology, University-Hospital of Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Silvia Pozzi
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of Laval, Québec City, Qc G1V 0A6, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Québec, Qc G1E 1T2, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of Laval, Québec City, Qc G1V 0A6, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Québec, Qc G1E 1T2, Canada
| | - Laurence Renaud
- Département de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Qc H3C 3J7, Canada
- Groupe de recherche sur le système nerveux central, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Qc H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Delphine Bohl
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Millecamps
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Christophe Verny
- Univ Angers, Equipe MitoLab, Unité MitoVasc, Inserm U1083, CNRS 6015, SFR ICAT, 49100 Angers, France
- Department of Neurology, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Center, University-Hospital of Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Julien Cassereau
- Univ Angers, Equipe MitoLab, Unité MitoVasc, Inserm U1083, CNRS 6015, SFR ICAT, 49100 Angers, France
- Department of Neurology, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Center, University-Hospital of Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Guy Lenaers
- Univ Angers, Equipe MitoLab, Unité MitoVasc, Inserm U1083, CNRS 6015, SFR ICAT, 49100 Angers, France
- Department of Neurology, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Center, University-Hospital of Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Arnaud Chevrollier
- Univ Angers, Equipe MitoLab, Unité MitoVasc, Inserm U1083, CNRS 6015, SFR ICAT, 49100 Angers, France
| | - Anne-Marie Tassin
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Philippe Codron
- Univ Angers, Equipe MitoLab, Unité MitoVasc, Inserm U1083, CNRS 6015, SFR ICAT, 49100 Angers, France
- Neurobiology and neuropathology, University-Hospital of Angers, 49933 Angers, France
- Department of Neurology, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Center, University-Hospital of Angers, 49933 Angers, France
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40
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Scheres SHW, Ryskeldi-Falcon B, Goedert M. Molecular pathology of neurodegenerative diseases by cryo-EM of amyloids. Nature 2023; 621:701-710. [PMID: 37758888 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06437-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Abnormal assembly of tau, α-synuclein, TDP-43 and amyloid-β proteins into amyloid filaments defines most human neurodegenerative diseases. Genetics provides a direct link between filament formation and the causes of disease. Developments in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have made it possible to determine the atomic structures of amyloids from postmortem human brains. Here we review the structures of brain-derived amyloid filaments that have been determined so far and discuss their impact on research into neurodegeneration. Whereas a given protein can adopt many different filament structures, specific amyloid folds define distinct diseases. Amyloid structures thus provide a description of neuropathology at the atomic level and a basis for studying disease. Future research should focus on model systems that replicate the structures observed in disease to better understand the molecular mechanisms of disease and develop improved diagnostics and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sjors H W Scheres
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
| | | | - Michel Goedert
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
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41
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Akçimen F, Lopez ER, Landers JE, Nath A, Chiò A, Chia R, Traynor BJ. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: translating genetic discoveries into therapies. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:642-658. [PMID: 37024676 PMCID: PMC10611979 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00592-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in sequencing technologies and collaborative efforts have led to substantial progress in identifying the genetic causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This momentum has, in turn, fostered the development of putative molecular therapies. In this Review, we outline the current genetic knowledge, emphasizing recent discoveries and emerging concepts such as the implication of distinct types of mutation, variability in mutated genes in diverse genetic ancestries and gene-environment interactions. We also propose a high-level model to synthesize the interdependent effects of genetics, environmental and lifestyle factors, and ageing into a unified theory of ALS. Furthermore, we summarize the current status of therapies developed on the basis of genetic knowledge established for ALS over the past 30 years, and we discuss how developing treatments for ALS will advance our understanding of targeting other neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulya Akçimen
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Elia R Lopez
- Therapeutic Development Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - John E Landers
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Avindra Nath
- Section of Infections of the Nervous System, National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Adriano Chiò
- Rita Levi Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, C.N.R, Rome, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Citta' della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy
| | - Ruth Chia
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Bryan J Traynor
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
- Therapeutic Development Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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42
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Lo Piccolo L, Umegawachi T, Yeewa R, Potikanond S, Nimlamool W, Prachayasittikul V, Gotoh Y, Yoshida H, Yamaguchi M, Jantrapirom S. A Novel Drosophila-based Drug Repurposing Platform Identified Fingolimod As a Potential Therapeutic for TDP-43 Proteinopathy. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:1330-1346. [PMID: 37493896 PMCID: PMC10480388 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01406-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic changes to TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) leading to alteration of its homeostasis are a common feature shared by several progressive neurodegenerative diseases for which there is no effective therapy. Here, we developed Drosophila lines expressing either wild type TDP-43 (WT) or that carrying an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis /Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration-associating G384C mutation that recapitulate several aspects of the TDP-43 pathology. To identify potential therapeutics for TDP-43-related diseases, we implemented a drug repurposing strategy that involved three consecutive steps. Firstly, we evaluated the improvement of eclosion rate, followed by the assessment of locomotive functions at early and late developmental stages. Through this approach, we successfully identified fingolimod, as a promising candidate for modulating TDP-43 toxicity. Fingolimod exhibited several beneficial effects in both WT and mutant models of TDP-43 pathology, including post-transcriptional reduction of TDP-43 levels, rescue of pupal lethality, and improvement of locomotor dysfunctions. These findings provide compelling evidence for the therapeutic potential of fingolimod in addressing TDP-43 pathology, thereby strengthening the rationale for further investigation and consideration of clinical trials. Furthermore, our study demonstrates the utility of our Drosophila-based screening pipeline in identifying novel therapeutics for TDP-43-related diseases. These findings encourage further scale-up screening endeavors using this platform to discover additional compounds with therapeutic potential for TDP-43 pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Lo Piccolo
- Center of Multidisciplinary Technology for Advanced Medicine (CMUTEAM), Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Faculty of Medicine, Musculoskeletal Science and Translational Research Centre (MSTR), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | | | - Ranchana Yeewa
- Center of Multidisciplinary Technology for Advanced Medicine (CMUTEAM), Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Saranyapin Potikanond
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Wutigri Nimlamool
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Virapong Prachayasittikul
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Yusuke Gotoh
- Platform Technology Research Unit, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hideki Yoshida
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Salinee Jantrapirom
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
- Drosophila Centre for Human Diseases and Drug Discovery (DHD), Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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43
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Ludolph A, Dupuis L, Kasarskis E, Steyn F, Ngo S, McDermott C. Nutritional and metabolic factors in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:511-524. [PMID: 37500993 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00845-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex neurodegenerative disease that is classically thought to impact the motor system. Over the past 20 years, research has started to consider the contribution of non-motor symptoms and features of the disease, and how they might affect ALS prognosis. Of the non-motor features of the disease, nutritional status (for example, malnutrition) and metabolic balance (for example, weight loss and hypermetabolism) have been consistently shown to contribute to more rapid disease progression and/or earlier death. Several complex cellular changes observed in ALS, including mitochondrial dysfunction, are also starting to be shown to contribute to bioenergetic failure. The resulting energy depletion in high energy demanding neurons makes them sensitive to apoptosis. Given that nutritional and metabolic stressors at the whole-body and cellular level can impact the capacity to maintain optimal function, these factors present avenues through which we can identify novel targets for treatment in ALS. Several clinical trials are now underway evaluating the effectiveness of modifying energy balance in ALS, making this article timely in reviewing the evidence base for metabolic and nutritional interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Site Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Luc Dupuis
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Mécanismes Centraux et Périphériques de la Neurodégénérescence, UMR-S1118, Centre de Recherches en Biomédecine, Strasbourg, France
| | - Edward Kasarskis
- Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Frederik Steyn
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Shyuan Ngo
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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De Marchi F, Tondo G, Corrado L, Menegon F, Aprile D, Anselmi M, D’Alfonso S, Comi C, Mazzini L. Neuroinflammatory Pathways in the ALS-FTD Continuum: A Focus on Genetic Variants. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1658. [PMID: 37628709 PMCID: PMC10454262 DOI: 10.3390/genes14081658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal dementia (FDT) are progressive neurodegenerative disorders that, in several cases, overlap in clinical presentation, and genetic and pathological disease mechanisms. About 10-15% of ALS cases and up to 40% of FTD are familial, usually with dominant traits. ALS and FTD, in several cases, share common gene mutations, such as in C9ORF72, TARDBP, SQSTM-1, FUS, VCP, CHCHD10, and TBK-1. Also, several mechanisms are involved in ALS and FTD pathogenesis, such as protein misfolding, oxidative stress, and impaired axonal transport. In addition, neuroinflammation and neuroinflammatory cells, such as astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, and lymphocytes and, overall, the cellular microenvironment, have been proposed as pivotal players in the pathogenesis the ALS-FTD spectrum disorders. This review overviews the current evidence regarding neuroinflammatory markers in the ALS/FTD continuum, focusing on the neuroinflammatory pathways involved in the genetic cases, moving from post-mortem reports to in vivo biofluid and neuroimaging data. We further discuss the potential link between genetic and autoimmune disorders and potential therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola De Marchi
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy;
| | - Giacomo Tondo
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 13100 Vercelli, Italy; (G.T.); (D.A.); (C.C.)
| | - Lucia Corrado
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (L.C.); (S.D.)
| | - Federico Menegon
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Davide Aprile
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 13100 Vercelli, Italy; (G.T.); (D.A.); (C.C.)
| | - Matteo Anselmi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Sandra D’Alfonso
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (L.C.); (S.D.)
| | - Cristoforo Comi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 13100 Vercelli, Italy; (G.T.); (D.A.); (C.C.)
- Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases (IRCAD), University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy;
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Brunette S, Sharma A, Bell R, Puente L, Megeney LA. Caspase 3 exhibits a yeast metacaspase proteostasis function that protects mitochondria from toxic TDP43 aggregates. MICROBIAL CELL (GRAZ, AUSTRIA) 2023; 10:157-169. [PMID: 37545643 PMCID: PMC10399456 DOI: 10.15698/mic2023.08.801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Caspase 3 activation is a hallmark of cell death and there is a strong correlation between elevated protease activity and evolving pathology in neurodegenerative disease, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). At the cellular level, ALS is characterized by protein aggregates and inclusions, comprising the RNA binding protein TDP-43, which are hypothesized to trigger pathogenic activation of caspase 3. However, a growing body of evidence indicates this protease is essential for ensuring cell viability during growth, differentiation and adaptation to stress. Here, we explored whether caspase 3 acts to disperse toxic protein aggregates, a proteostasis activity first ascribed to the distantly related yeast metacaspase ScMCA1. We demonstrate that human caspase 3 can functionally substitute for the ScMCA1 and limit protein aggregation in yeast, including TDP-43 inclusions. Proteomic analysis revealed that disrupting caspase 3 in the same yeast substitution model resulted in detrimental TDP-43/mitochondrial protein associations. Similarly, suppression of caspase 3, in either murine or human skeletal muscle cells, led to accumulation of TDP-43 aggregates and impaired mitochondrial function. These results suggest that caspase 3 is not inherently pathogenic, but may act as a compensatory proteostasis factor, to limit TDP-43 protein inclusions and protect organelle function in aggregation related degenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Brunette
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Anupam Sharma
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ryan Bell
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Lawrence Puente
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Lynn A Megeney
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Arseni D, Chen R, Murzin AG, Peak-Chew SY, Garringer HJ, Newell KL, Kametani F, Robinson AC, Vidal R, Ghetti B, Hasegawa M, Ryskeldi-Falcon B. TDP-43 forms amyloid filaments with a distinct fold in type A FTLD-TDP. Nature 2023; 620:898-903. [PMID: 37532939 PMCID: PMC10447236 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06405-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
The abnormal assembly of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) in neuronal and glial cells characterizes nearly all cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and around half of cases of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD)1,2. A causal role for TDP-43 assembly in neurodegeneration is evidenced by dominantly inherited missense mutations in TARDBP, the gene encoding TDP-43, that promote assembly and give rise to ALS and FTLD3-7. At least four types (A-D) of FTLD with TDP-43 pathology (FTLD-TDP) are defined by distinct brain distributions of assembled TDP-43 and are associated with different clinical presentations of frontotemporal dementia8. We previously showed, using cryo-electron microscopy, that TDP-43 assembles into amyloid filaments in ALS and type B FTLD-TDP9. However, the structures of assembled TDP-43 in FTLD without ALS remained unknown. Here we report the cryo-electron microscopy structures of assembled TDP-43 from the brains of three individuals with the most common type of FTLD-TDP, type A. TDP-43 formed amyloid filaments with a new fold that was the same across individuals, indicating that this fold may characterize type A FTLD-TDP. The fold resembles a chevron badge and is unlike the double-spiral-shaped fold of ALS and type B FTLD-TDP, establishing that distinct filament folds of TDP-43 characterize different neurodegenerative conditions. The structures, in combination with mass spectrometry, led to the identification of two new post-translational modifications of assembled TDP-43, citrullination and monomethylation of R293, and indicate that they may facilitate filament formation and observed structural variation in individual filaments. The structures of TDP-43 filaments from type A FTLD-TDP will guide mechanistic studies of TDP-43 assembly, as well as the development of diagnostic and therapeutic compounds for TDP-43 proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Arseni
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Renren Chen
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Holly J Garringer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kathy L Newell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Fuyuki Kametani
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Andrew C Robinson
- Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, UK
| | - Ruben Vidal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
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Christoforidou E, Simoes FA, Gordon D, Talbot K, Hafezparast M. Aberrant dynein function promotes TDP-43 aggregation and upregulation of p62 in male mice harboring transgenic human TDP-43. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023:1-10. [PMID: 37498094 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2239276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Most TDP-43 mouse models of ALS do not display cytoplasmic mislocalisation or protein aggregation of TDP-43 in spinal motor neurons in vivo. Thus, we investigated whether a combination of defective dynein with a TDP-43 mutation could trigger TDP-43 pathology. METHODS Using immunohistochemical methods we examined the intracellular motor neuron pathology of the offspring of TDP-43WT and TDP-43M337V transgenic mice bred to heterozygous Loa mice, which carry an autosomal dominant mutation in dynein cytoplasmic 1 heavy chain 1 (Dync1h1). RESULTS These mice did not exhibit TDP-43 mislocalisation in spinal motor neurons, but the expression of mutant dynein in combination with wildtype human TDP-43 resulted in p62 upregulation and TDP-43 aggregation, thus partially recapitulating the human disease. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide new insights into the possible relationship between dynein and TDP-43 and could prove useful in future studies looking to elucidate the mechanism behind the TDP-43 pathology observed in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Christoforidou
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK and
| | - Fabio A Simoes
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK and
| | - David Gordon
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Majid Hafezparast
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK and
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48
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Ciurea AV, Mohan AG, Covache-Busuioc RA, Costin HP, Glavan LA, Corlatescu AD, Saceleanu VM. Unraveling Molecular and Genetic Insights into Neurodegenerative Diseases: Advances in Understanding Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's Diseases and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10809. [PMID: 37445986 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are, according to recent studies, one of the main causes of disability and death worldwide. Interest in molecular genetics has started to experience exponential growth thanks to numerous advancements in technology, shifts in the understanding of the disease as a phenomenon, and the change in the perspective regarding gene editing and the advantages of this action. The aim of this paper is to analyze the newest approaches in genetics and molecular sciences regarding four of the most important neurodegenerative disorders: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We intend through this review to focus on the newest treatment, diagnosis, and predictions regarding this large group of diseases, in order to obtain a more accurate analysis and to identify the emerging signs that could lead to a better outcome in order to increase both the quality and the life span of the patient. Moreover, this review could provide evidence of future possible novel therapies that target the specific genes and that could be useful to be taken into consideration when the classical approaches fail to shed light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Vlad Ciurea
- Department of Neurosurgery, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Neurosurgery Department, Sanador Clinical Hospital, 010991 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Aurel George Mohan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bihor County Emergency Clinical Hospital, 410167 Oradea, Romania
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Oradea University, 410610 Oradea, Romania
| | | | - Horia-Petre Costin
- Department of Neurosurgery, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Luca-Andrei Glavan
- Department of Neurosurgery, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Antonio-Daniel Corlatescu
- Department of Neurosurgery, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Vicentiu Mircea Saceleanu
- Neurosurgery Department, Sibiu County Emergency Hospital, 550245 Sibiu, Romania
- Neurosurgery Department, "Lucian Blaga" University of Medicine, 550024 Sibiu, Romania
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Ervilha Pereira P, Schuermans N, Meylemans A, LeBlanc P, Versluys L, Copley KE, Rubien JD, Altheimer C, Peetermans M, Debackere E, Vanakker O, Janssens S, Baets J, Verhoeven K, Lammens M, Symoens S, De Paepe B, Barmada SJ, Shorter J, De Bleecker JL, Bogaert E, Dermaut B. C-terminal frameshift variant of TDP-43 with pronounced aggregation-propensity causes rimmed vacuole myopathy but not ALS/FTD. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 145:793-814. [PMID: 37000196 PMCID: PMC10175433 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02565-1] [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: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal TDP-43-positive inclusions are neuropathological hallmark lesions in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Pathogenic missense variants in TARDBP, the gene encoding TDP-43, can cause ALS and cluster in the C-terminal prion-like domain (PrLD), where they modulate the liquid condensation and aggregation properties of the protein. TDP-43-positive inclusions are also found in rimmed vacuole myopathies, including sporadic inclusion body myositis, but myopathy-causing TDP-43 variants have not been reported. Using genome-wide linkage analysis and whole exome sequencing in an extended five-generation family with an autosomal dominant rimmed vacuole myopathy, we identified a conclusively linked frameshift mutation in TDP-43 producing a C-terminally altered PrLD (TDP-43p.Trp385IlefsTer10) (maximum multipoint LOD-score 3.61). Patient-derived muscle biopsies showed TDP-43-positive sarcoplasmic inclusions, accumulation of autophagosomes and transcriptomes with abnormally spliced sarcomeric genes (including TTN and NEB) and increased expression of muscle regeneration genes. In vitro phase separation assays demonstrated that TDP-43Trp385IlefsTer10 does not form liquid-like condensates and readily forms solid-like fibrils indicating increased aggregation propensity compared to wild-type TDP-43. In Drosophila TDP-43p.Trp385IlefsTer10 behaved as a partial loss-of-function allele as it was able to rescue the TBPH (fly ortholog of TARDBP) neurodevelopmental lethal null phenotype while showing strongly reduced toxic gain-of-function properties upon overexpression. Accordingly, TDP-43p.Trp385IlefsTer10 showed reduced toxicity in a primary rat neuron disease model. Together, these genetic, pathological, in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate that TDP-43p.Trp385IlefsTer10 is an aggregation-prone partial loss-of-function variant that causes autosomal dominant vacuolar myopathy but not ALS/FTD. Our study genetically links TDP-43 proteinopathy to myodegeneration, and reveals a tissue-specific role of the PrLD in directing pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Ervilha Pereira
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nika Schuermans
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Antoon Meylemans
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Head and Skin, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pontus LeBlanc
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lauren Versluys
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katie E Copley
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jack D Rubien
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | | | - Myra Peetermans
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elke Debackere
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Olivier Vanakker
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sandra Janssens
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Baets
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Reference Centre, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Translational Neurosciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Pathology, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kristof Verhoeven
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, Sint-Jan Hospital Bruges, Brugge, Belgium
| | - Martin Lammens
- Department of Pathology, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Sofie Symoens
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Boel De Paepe
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Head and Skin, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sami J Barmada
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - James Shorter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jan L De Bleecker
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Head and Skin, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elke Bogaert
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Bart Dermaut
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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50
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Fang X, Wu F, Jiang C. A novel gene, TARDBP, and the protein it encodes can predict glioma patient prognosis and establish a prediction model. BMC Neurol 2023; 23:182. [PMID: 37147573 PMCID: PMC10163712 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-023-03224-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND TDP-43 (43-kD transactive response DNA-binding protein) is a DNA-/RNA-binding protein that plays an important role in several nervous system diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Whether it plays an important role in glioma patients is unknown. METHODS Datasets were downloaded from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) website ( http://www.cgga.org.cn/ ). Cox survival analysis was performed to determine the relationship between TARDBP gene expression and the overall survival of glioma patients. GO analyses were performed to determine the biological functions of the TARDBP gene. Finally, we used PRS type, age, grade, IDH mutation status, 1p/19q codeletion status, and expression value of the TARDBP gene to construct a prediction model. With this model, we can predict patients' 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates. RESULTS The TARDBP gene plays an important role in glioma patients. The expression of the TARDBP gene has a significant correlation with glioma patient survival. We also constructed an ideal prediction model. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the TARDBP gene and the protein it encodes play important roles in glioma patients. The expression of the TARDBP gene has a significant correlation with the overall survival of glioma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Fang
- Department of Neurosurgery, the Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Fan Wu
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit, the Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China.
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