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Zhang C, Su K, Jiang X, Tian Y, Li K. Advances in research on potential therapeutic approaches for Niemann-Pick C1 disease. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1465872. [PMID: 39263569 PMCID: PMC11387184 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1465872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NP-C1) is a rare and devastating recessive inherited lysosomal lipid and cholesterol storage disorder caused by mutations in the NPC1 or NPC2 gene. These two proteins bind to cholesterol and cooperate in endosomal cholesterol transport. Characteristic clinical manifestations of NP-C1 include hepatosplenomegaly, progressive neurodegeneration, and ataxia. While the rarity of NP-C1 presents a significant obstacle to progress, researchers have developed numerous potential therapeutic approaches over the past two decades to address this condition. Various methods have been proposed and continuously improved to slow the progression of NP-C1, although they are currently at an animal or clinical experimental stage. This overview of NP-C1 therapy will delve into different theoretical treatment strategies, such as small molecule therapies, cell-based approaches, and gene therapy, highlighting the complex therapeutic challenges associated with this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caifeng Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Keke Su
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- First College for Clinical Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Xu Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- First College for Clinical Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Yuping Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- First College for Clinical Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Ke Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- First College for Clinical Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
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Antipova V, Heimes D, Seidel K, Schulz J, Schmitt O, Holzmann C, Rolfs A, Bidmon HJ, González de San Román Martín E, Huesgen PF, Amunts K, Keiler J, Hammer N, Witt M, Wree A. Differently increased volumes of multiple brain areas in Npc1 mutant mice following various drug treatments. Front Neuroanat 2024; 18:1430790. [PMID: 39081805 PMCID: PMC11286580 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2024.1430790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NPC1, MIM 257220) is a heritable lysosomal storage disease characterized by a progressive neurological degeneration that causes disability and premature death. A murine model of Npc1-/- displays a rapidly progressing form of Npc1 disease, which is characterized by weight loss, ataxia, and increased cholesterol storage. Npc1-/- mice receiving a combined therapy (COMBI) of miglustat (MIGLU), the neurosteroid allopregnanolone (ALLO) and the cyclic oligosaccharide 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPßCD) showed prevention of Purkinje cell loss, improved motor function and reduced intracellular lipid storage. Although therapy of Npc1-/- mice with COMBI, MIGLU or HPßCD resulted in the prevention of body weight loss, reduced total brain weight was not positively influenced. Methods In order to evaluate alterations of different brain areas caused by pharmacotherapy, fresh volumes (volumes calculated from the volumes determined from paraffin embedded brain slices) of various brain structures in sham- and drug-treated wild type and mutant mice were measured using stereological methods. Results In the wild type mice, the volumes of investigated brain areas were not significantly altered by either therapy. Compared with the respective wild types, fresh volumes of specific brain areas, which were significantly reduced in sham-treated Npc1-/- mice, partly increased after the pharmacotherapies in all treatment strategies; most pronounced differences were found in the CA1 area of the hippocampus and in olfactory structures. Discussion Volumes of brain areas of Npc1-/- mice were not specifically changed in terms of functionality after administering COMBI, MIGLU, or HPßCD. Measurements of fresh volumes of brain areas in Npc1-/- mice could monitor region-specific changes and response to drug treatment that correlated, in part, with behavioral improvements in this mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Antipova
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Division of Macroscopic and Clinical Anatomy, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Diana Heimes
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Katharina Seidel
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Klinikum, Neubrandenburg, Germany
| | - Jennifer Schulz
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Oliver Schmitt
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School Hamburg, University of Applied Sciences and Medical University, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carsten Holzmann
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Centre of Transdisciplinary Neuroscience Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Arndt Rolfs
- Medical Faculty, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Hans-Jürgen Bidmon
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Structural and Functional Organisation of the Brain (INM-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Central Institute of Engineering, Electronics and Analytics, ZEA-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | | | - Pitter F. Huesgen
- Central Institute of Engineering, Electronics and Analytics, ZEA-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institut für Biologie II, AG Funktional Proteomics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Amunts
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Structural and Functional Organisation of the Brain (INM-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- C. and O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research, University Hospital Düsseldorf, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jonas Keiler
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Niels Hammer
- Division of Macroscopic and Clinical Anatomy, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Division of Biomechatronics, Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Witt
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Anatomy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biostructural Basics of Medical Sciences, Poznan Medical University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Andreas Wree
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Centre of Transdisciplinary Neuroscience Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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Malara M, Prestel M, Tahirovic S. Endo-lysosomal dysfunction and neuronal-glial crosstalk in Niemann-Pick type C disease. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220388. [PMID: 38368932 PMCID: PMC10874755 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a rare progressive lysosomal lipid storage disorder that manifests with a heterogeneous spectrum of clinical syndromes, including visceral, neurological and psychiatric symptoms. This monogenetic autosomal recessive disease is largely caused by mutations in the NPC1 gene, which controls intracellular lipid homeostasis. Vesicle-mediated endo-lysosomal lipid trafficking and non-vesicular lipid exchange via inter-organelle membrane contact sites are both regulated by the NPC1 protein. Loss of NPC1 function therefore triggers intracellular accumulation of diverse lipid species, including cholesterol, glycosphingolipids, sphingomyelin and sphingosine. The NPC1-mediated dysfunction of lipid transport has severe consequences for all brain cells, leading to neurodegeneration. Besides the cell-autonomous contribution of neuronal NPC1, aberrant NPC1 signalling in other brain cells is critical for the pathology. We discuss here the importance of endo-lysosomal dysfunction and a tight crosstalk between neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and microglia in NPC pathology. We strongly believe that a cell-specific rescue may not be sufficient to counteract the severity of the NPC pathology, but targeting common mechanisms, such as endo-lysosomal and lipid trafficking dysfunction, may ameliorate NPC pathology. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Understanding the endo-lysosomal network in neurodegeneration'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariagiovanna Malara
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Prestel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Sabina Tahirovic
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
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