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Mora P, Chapouly C. Astrogliosis in multiple sclerosis and neuro-inflammation: what role for the notch pathway? Front Immunol 2023; 14:1254586. [PMID: 37936690 PMCID: PMC10627009 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1254586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system leading to neurodegeneration. It affects 2.3 million people worldwide, generally younger than 50. There is no known cure for the disease, and current treatment options - mainly immunotherapies to limit disease progression - are few and associated with serious side effects. In multiple sclerosis, disruption of the blood-brain barrier is an early event in the pathogenesis of lesions, predisposing to edema, excito-toxicity and inflammatory infiltration into the central nervous system. Recently, the vision of the blood brain barrier structure and integrity has changed and include contributions from all components of the neurovascular unit, among which astrocytes. During neuro-inflammation, astrocytes become reactive. They undergo morphological and molecular changes named "astrogliosis" driving the conversion from acute inflammatory injury to a chronic neurodegenerative state. Astrogliosis mechanisms are minimally explored despite their significance in regulating the autoimmune response during multiple sclerosis. Therefore, in this review, we take stock of the state of knowledge regarding astrogliosis in neuro-inflammation and highlight the central role of NOTCH signaling in the process of astrocyte reactivity. Indeed, a very detailed nomenclature published in nature neurosciences in 2021, listing all the reactive astrocyte markers fully identified in the literature, doesn't cover the NOTCH signaling. Hence, we discuss evidence supporting NOTCH1 receptor as a central regulator of astrogliosis in the pathophysiology of neuro-inflammation, notably multiple sclerosis, in human and experimental models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Mora
- Université de Bordeaux, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Biology of Cardiovascular Diseases, Pessac, France
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El Khoury M, Biondi O, Bruneteau G, Sapaly D, Bendris S, Bezier C, Clerc Z, Akar EA, Weill L, Eid AA, Charbonnier F. NADPH oxidase 4 inhibition is a complementary therapeutic strategy for spinal muscular atrophy. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1242828. [PMID: 37780204 PMCID: PMC10536974 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1242828] [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: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by motor neuron (MN) degeneration and severe muscular atrophy and caused by Survival of Motor Neuron (SMN) depletion. Therapies aimed at increasing SMN in patients have proven their efficiency in alleviating SMA symptoms but not for all patients. Thus, combinational therapies are warranted. Here, we investigated the involvement of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) in SMA-induced spinal MN death and if the modulation of Nox4 activity could be beneficial for SMA patients. Methods We analysed in the spinal cord of severe type SMA-like mice before and at the disease onset, the level of oxidative stress and Nox4 expression. Then, we tested the effect of Nox4 inhibition by GKT137831/Setanaxib, a drug presently in clinical development, by intrathecal injection on MN survival and motor behaviour. Finally, we tested if GKT137831/Setanaxib could act synergistically with FDA-validated SMN-upregulating treatment (nusinersen). Results We show that NOX4 is overexpressed in SMA and its inhibition by GKT137831/Setanaxib protected spinal MN from SMA-induced degeneration. These improvements were associated with a significant increase in lifespan and motor behaviour of the mice. At the molecular level, GKT137831 activated the pro-survival AKT/CREB signaling pathway, leading to an increase in SMN expression in SMA MNs. Most importantly, we found that the per os administration of GKT137831 acted synergistically with a FDA-validated SMN-upregulating treatment. Conclusion The pharmacological inhibition of NOX4 by GKT137831/Setanaxib is neuroprotector and could represent a complementary therapeutic strategy to fight against SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirella El Khoury
- Faculty of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University Paris Cité & Inserm UMR_S1124, Paris, France
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Olivier Biondi
- Faculty of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University Paris Cité & Inserm UMR_S1124, Paris, France
| | - Gaelle Bruneteau
- Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, Association Institut de Myologie, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Paris, France
- Département de Neurologie, Centre référent SLA, APHP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Delphine Sapaly
- Faculty of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University Paris Cité & Inserm UMR_S1124, Paris, France
| | - Sabrina Bendris
- Faculty of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University Paris Cité & Inserm UMR_S1124, Paris, France
| | - Cynthia Bezier
- Faculty of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University Paris Cité & Inserm UMR_S1124, Paris, France
| | - Zoé Clerc
- Faculty of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University Paris Cité & Inserm UMR_S1124, Paris, France
| | - Elias Abi Akar
- Faculty of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University Paris Cité & Inserm UMR_S1124, Paris, France
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Laure Weill
- Faculty of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University Paris Cité & Inserm UMR_S1124, Paris, France
| | - Assaad A. Eid
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Frédéric Charbonnier
- Faculty of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University Paris Cité & Inserm UMR_S1124, Paris, France
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Czerwonka A, Kałafut J, Nees M. Modulation of Notch Signaling by Small-Molecular Compounds and Its Potential in Anticancer Studies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4563. [PMID: 37760535 PMCID: PMC10526229 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184563] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling is responsible for conveying messages between cells through direct contact, playing a pivotal role in tissue development and homeostasis. The modulation of Notch-related processes, such as cell growth, differentiation, viability, and cell fate, offer opportunities to better understand and prevent disease progression, including cancer. Currently, research efforts are mainly focused on attempts to inhibit Notch signaling in tumors with strong oncogenic, gain-of-function (GoF) or hyperactivation of Notch signaling. The goal is to reduce the growth and proliferation of cancer cells, interfere with neo-angiogenesis, increase chemosensitivity, potentially target cancer stem cells, tumor dormancy, and invasion, and induce apoptosis. Attempts to pharmacologically enhance or restore disturbed Notch signaling for anticancer therapies are less frequent. However, in some cancer types, such as squamous cell carcinomas, preferentially, loss-of-function (LoF) mutations have been confirmed, and restoring but not blocking Notch functions may be beneficial for therapy. The modulation of Notch signaling can be performed at several key levels related to NOTCH receptor expression, translation, posttranslational (proteolytic) processing, glycosylation, transport, and activation. This further includes blocking the interaction with Notch-related nuclear DNA transcription. Examples of small-molecular chemical compounds, that modulate individual elements of Notch signaling at the mentioned levels, have been described in the recent literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arkadiusz Czerwonka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (M.N.)
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Welby E, Ebert AD. Diminished motor neuron activity driven by abnormal astrocytic EAAT1 glutamate transporter activity in spinal muscular atrophy is not fully restored after lentiviral SMN delivery. Glia 2023; 71:1311-1332. [PMID: 36655314 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is characterized by the loss of the lower spinal motor neurons due to survival motor neuron (SMN) deficiency. The motor neuron cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous disease mechanisms driving early glutamatergic dysfunction, a therapeutically targetable phenotype prior to motor neuron cell loss, remain unclear. Using microelectrode array analysis, we demonstrate that the secretome and cell surface proteins needed for proper synaptic modulation are likely disrupted in human SMA astrocytes and lead to diminished motor neuron activity. While healthy astrocyte conditioned media did not improve SMA motor neuron activity, SMA motor neurons robustly responded to healthy astrocyte neuromodulation in direct contact cultures. This suggests an important role of astrocyte synaptic-associated plasma membrane proteins and contact-mediated cellular interactions for proper motor neuron function in SMA. Specifically, we identified a significant reduction of the glutamate Na+ dependent excitatory amino acid transporter EAAT1 within human SMA astrocytes and SMA lumbar spinal cord tissue. The selective inhibition of EAAT1 in healthy co-cultures phenocopied the diminished neural activity observed in SMA astrocyte co-cultures. Caveolin-1, an SMN-interacting protein previously associated with local translation at the plasma membrane, was abnormally elevated in human SMA astrocytes. Although lentiviral SMN delivery to SMA astrocytes partially rescued EAAT1 expression, limited activity of healthy motor neurons was still observed in SMN-transduced SMA astrocyte co-cultures. Together, these data highlight the detrimental impact of astrocyte-mediated disease mechanisms on motor neuron function in SMA and that SMN delivery may be insufficient to fully restore astrocyte function at the synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Welby
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Allison D Ebert
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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5
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Butchbach MER, Scott RC. Biological networks and complexity in early-onset motor neuron diseases. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1035406. [PMID: 36341099 PMCID: PMC9634177 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1035406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are neuromuscular disorders where the spinal motor neurons-either the cell bodies themselves or their axons-are the primary cells affected. To date, there are 120 different genes that are lost or mutated in pediatric-onset MNDs. Most of these childhood-onset disorders, aside from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), lack viable therapeutic options. Previous research on MNDs has focused on understanding the pathobiology of a single, specific gene mutation and targeting therapies to that pathobiology. This reductionist approach has yielded therapeutic options for a specific disorder, in this case SMA. Unfortunately, therapies specific for SMA have not been effective against other pediatric-onset MNDs. Pursuing the same approach for the other defined MNDs would require development of at least 120 independent treatments raising feasibility issues. We propose an alternative to this this type of reductionist approach by conceptualizing MNDs in a complex adaptive systems framework that will allow identification of common molecular and cellular pathways which form biological networks that are adversely affected in early-onset MNDs and thus MNDs with similar phenotypes despite diverse genotypes. This systems biology approach highlights the complexity and self-organization of the motor system as well as the ways in which it can be affected by these genetic disorders. Using this integrated approach to understand early-onset MNDs, we would be better poised to expand the therapeutic repertoire for multiple MNDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E. R. Butchbach
- Division of Neurology, Nemours Children's Hospital Delaware, Wilmington, DE, United States,Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States,*Correspondence: Matthew E. R. Butchbach
| | - Rod C. Scott
- Division of Neurology, Nemours Children's Hospital Delaware, Wilmington, DE, United States,Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States,Neurosciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom,Rod C. Scott
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Li DY, Gao SJ, Sun J, Zhang LQ, Wu JY, Song FH, Liu DQ, Zhou YQ, Mei W. Notch signaling activation contributes to paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain via activation of A1 astrocytes. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 928:175130. [PMID: 35777441 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain (PINP) is a progressive and refractory side effect of chemotherapy with few effective treatments at present. It is well-established that astrocytes activation contributes to the development of PINP. Recent reports showed astrocytes can be divided into A1 and A2 phenotypes. However, whether the transformation of astrocytes participates in PINP and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. As Notch signaling pathway have shown to be involved in neuropathic pain, we aimed to investigate the relationship between Notch signaling pathway and A1 astrocytes in PINP. Herein we found that both A1 astrocytes and Notch signaling were markedly activated in the spinal cord of PINP rats and the downstream molecules of Notch signaling were colocalized with A1 astrocytes. DAPT (an inhibitor of Notch signaling) not only suppressed the mechanical allodynia of PINP rats, but also inhibited the activation of Notch signaling pathway and A1 astrocytes. Furthermore, Jagged1 (a ligand of Notch1 receptors) dose-dependently induced mechanical hyperalgesia in naïve rats and simultaneously led to Notch signaling activation and A1 astrocytes transformation, all of which were inhibited by DAPT. Taken together, these results demonstrate Notch signaling activation contributes to PINP via A1 astrocytes activation, which provides a promising therapeutic target for PINP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Yang Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shao-Jie Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jia Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Long-Qing Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jia-Yi Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Fan-He Song
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Dai-Qiang Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ya-Qun Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Wei Mei
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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7
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Farrugia M, Vassallo N, Cauchi RJ. Disruption of Smn in glia impacts survival but has no effect on neuromuscular function in Drosophila. Neuroscience 2022; 491:32-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Induction of Survival of Motor Neuron (SMN) Protein Deficiency in Spinal Astrocytes by Small Interfering RNA as an In Vitro Model of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030558. [PMID: 35159369 PMCID: PMC8834238 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disorder leading to progressive loss of ventral horn neurons resulting in muscle wasting. Here we investigate the contribution of spinal astrocytes to the pathogenesis of late-onset SMA forms using a mouse model. Furthermore, we generated SMA-like astrocytes using survival of motor neuron (SMN) siRNA transfection techniques. In the SMA mouse model, the activation of spinal astrocytes and the reduction of the inward rectifier potassium channel Kir4.1 and excitatory amino acid transporter 1 (EAAT1) were observed at postnatal day (P) 28, preceding the loss of spinal motor neurons appearing earliest at P42. Using SMA-like astrocytes, we could mimic the modulation of spinal astrocytes of the mouse model in a dish and perform electrophysiological assessments and functional assays. In SMA-like astrocytes, glutamate uptake was diminished due to a reduction in EAAT1. Furthermore, patch-clamp measurements revealed reduced potassium uptake into astrocytes with membrane depolarization. Additionally, exposure of healthy spinal motor neurons to a conditioned medium of SMA-like astrocytes resulted in increased firing frequency. These data demonstrate spinal astrocytes’ crucial role in the late-onset SMA forms’ pathogenesis.
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9
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Abstract
Autosomal-recessive spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is characterized by the loss of specific motor neurons of the spinal cord and skeletal muscle atrophy. SMA is caused by mutations or deletions of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene, and disease severity correlates with the expression levels of the nearly identical copy gene, SMN2. Both genes ubiquitously express SMN protein, but SMN2 generates only low levels of protein that do not fully compensate for the loss-of-function of SMN1. SMN protein forms a multiprotein complex essential for the cellular assembly of ribonucleoprotein particles involved in diverse aspects of RNA metabolism. Other studies using animal models revealed a spatio-temporal requirement of SMN that is high during the development of the neuromuscular system and later, in the general maintenance of cellular and tissues homeostasis. These observations define a period for maximum therapeutic efficiency of SMN restoration, and suggest that cells outside the central nervous system may also participate in the pathogenesis of SMA. Finally, recent innovative therapies have been shown to mitigate SMN deficiency and have been approved to treat SMA patients. We briefly review major findings from the past twenty-five years of SMA research. © 2020 French Society of Pediatrics. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Lefebvre
- T3S INSERM UMR 1124, Toxicité Environnementale, Cibles Thérapeutiques, Signalisation Cellulaire et Biomarqueurs, UFR des Sciences Fondamentales et Biomédicales, Campus Saint-Germain-des-prés, Université de Paris, Paris, France.
| | - C Sarret
- Centre de compétence maladies rares des pathologies neuromusculaires, service de génétique médicale, Hôpital Estaing, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, France.
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Albert K, Niskanen J, Kälvälä S, Lehtonen Š. Utilising Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Neurodegenerative Disease Research: Focus on Glia. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094334. [PMID: 33919317 PMCID: PMC8122303 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a self-renewable pool of cells derived from an organism's somatic cells. These can then be programmed to other cell types, including neurons. Use of iPSCs in research has been two-fold as they have been used for human disease modelling as well as for the possibility to generate new therapies. Particularly in complex human diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, iPSCs can give advantages over traditional animal models in that they more accurately represent the human genome. Additionally, patient-derived cells can be modified using gene editing technology and further transplanted to the brain. Glial cells have recently become important avenues of research in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, for example, in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. This review focuses on using glial cells (astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes) derived from human iPSCs in order to give a better understanding of how these cells contribute to neurodegenerative disease pathology. Using glia iPSCs in in vitro cell culture, cerebral organoids, and intracranial transplantation may give us future insight into both more accurate models and disease-modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Albert
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK;
| | - Jonna Niskanen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (J.N.); (S.K.)
| | - Sara Kälvälä
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (J.N.); (S.K.)
| | - Šárka Lehtonen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (J.N.); (S.K.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Correspondence:
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Sharifi Z, Taheri M, Fallah MS, Abiri M, Golnabi F, Bagherian H, Zeinali R, Farahzadi H, Alborji M, Tehrani PG, Amini M, Asnavandi S, Hashemi M, Forouzesh F, Zeinali S. Comprehensive Mutation Analysis and Report of 12 Novel Mutations in a Cohort of Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Iran. J Mol Neurosci 2021; 71:2281-2298. [PMID: 33481221 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-020-01789-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophies (SMAs) are a heterogeneous group of neuromuscular diseases characterized by loss of motor neurons, muscle weakness, hypotonia and muscle atrophy, with different modes of inheritance; however, the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene is predominantly involved. The aims of the current study were to clarify the genetic basis of SMA and determine the mutation spectrum of SMN1 and other associated genes, in order to provide molecular information for more accurate diagnosis and future prospects for treatment. We performed a comprehensive analysis of 5q SMA in 1765 individuals including 528 patients from 432 unrelated families with at least one child with suspected clinical presentation of SMA. Copy number variations of the SMN1 and SMN2 genes and linkage analysis were performed using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and short tandem repeat (STR) markers linked to the SMN1 gene. Cases without mutation in the SMA locus on 5q were analyzed for the DNAJB2, IGHMBP2, SIGMAR1 and PLEKHG5 genes using linked STR markers. Sanger sequencing of whole genes was performed for cases with homozygous haplotypes. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and whole-exome analysis was conducted for some of the remaining cases. Mutations in the SMN1 gene were identified in 287 (66.43%) families including 269 patients (62.26%) with homozygous deletion of the entire SMN1 gene. Only one of the patients had a homozygous point mutation in the SMN1 gene. Among the remaining families, three families showed mutations in either the DNAJB2, SIGMAR1 or PLEKHG5 genes, which were linked using STR analysis and Sanger sequencing. From 10 families who underwent WGS, we found six homozygous point mutations in six families for either the TNNT1, TPM3, TTN, SACS or COL6A2 genes. Two mutations in the PLA2G6 gene were also found in another patient as compound heterozygous. This rather large cohort allowed us to identify genotype patterns in Iranian 5q SMA patients. The process of identifying 11 mutations (9 novel) in 9 different genes among non-5q SMA patients shows the diversity of genes involved in non-5q SMA in Iranians. Genotyping of patients with SMA is essential for prenatal and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and may be very helpful for guiding treatment, with the advent of new, more effective, albeit very expensive, therapies. Also, combining linkage analysis was shown to be beneficial in many ways, including sample authenticity and segregation analysis, and for ruling out maternal cell contamination during prenatal diagnosis (PND).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Sharifi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.,Dr. Zeinali's Medical Genetics Laboratory, Kawsar Human Genetics Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Urogenital Stem Cell Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Sadegh Fallah
- Dr. Zeinali's Medical Genetics Laboratory, Kawsar Human Genetics Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Abiri
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Golnabi
- Dr. Zeinali's Medical Genetics Laboratory, Kawsar Human Genetics Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamideh Bagherian
- Dr. Zeinali's Medical Genetics Laboratory, Kawsar Human Genetics Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Razieh Zeinali
- Dr. Zeinali's Medical Genetics Laboratory, Kawsar Human Genetics Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Farahzadi
- Proteomics Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marjan Alborji
- Dr. Zeinali's Medical Genetics Laboratory, Kawsar Human Genetics Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Masoume Amini
- Dr. Zeinali's Medical Genetics Laboratory, Kawsar Human Genetics Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadaf Asnavandi
- Dr. Zeinali's Medical Genetics Laboratory, Kawsar Human Genetics Research Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Flora Forouzesh
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sirous Zeinali
- Dr. Zeinali's Medical Genetics Laboratory, Kawsar Human Genetics Research Center, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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12
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Ando S, Tanaka M, Chinen N, Nakamura S, Shimazawa M, Hara H. SMN Protein Contributes to Skeletal Muscle Cell Maturation Via Caspase-3 and Akt Activation. In Vivo 2020; 34:3247-3254. [PMID: 33144430 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.12161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM In spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), systemic deficiency of survival motor neurons (SMN) caused by loss or mutation of SMN1 leads to SMA symptoms. SMA was, for a long time, considered as a selective motor-neuron disease. However, accumulated evidence suggests that skeletal muscle cells are affected by low levels of SMN protein. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the function of SMN protein in skeletal cell differentiation and maturation. MATERIALS AND METHODS In SMNΔ7 mice, which exhibit a systemic reduction of SMN protein, muscle atrophy was evaluated. To direct the effect of SMN against muscle cells, SMN functions were examined by knockdown of SMN in mouse myoblasts cell line C2C12 using siRNA. RESULTS SMNΔ7 mice showed muscle atrophy accompanied by decreased both expression of a myogenesis marker and a proliferating marker. In SMN-knockdown myoblasts, early expression of myosin heavy chain and reduced multinuclear myotube formation were found. Decreased caspase-3 activity and reduced phosphorylation of Akt were observed at an early stage of differentiation in SMN-knockdown myoblasts. CONCLUSION A critical role of SMN protein in muscle cell differentiation via caspase-3 and Akt activation was shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiori Ando
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Miruto Tanaka
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Naoki Chinen
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Nakamura
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Masamitsu Shimazawa
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hideaki Hara
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
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Ando S, Osanai D, Takahashi K, Nakamura S, Shimazawa M, Hara H. Survival motor neuron protein regulates oxidative stress and inflammatory response in microglia of the spinal cord in spinal muscular atrophy. J Pharmacol Sci 2020; 144:204-211. [PMID: 33070839 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2020.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The deficiency of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein can result in the onset of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a progressive loss of motor neurons and skeletal muscle atrophy. The mechanism underlying SMA pathology remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that SMN protein regulates oxidative stress and inflammatory response in microglia. Antisense oligonucleotide, which increases SMN protein expression (SMN-ASO), attenuated SMA model mice phenotypes and suppressed the activation of microglia in the spinal cord. The expression of oxidative stress marker in microglia was decreased by SMN-ASO injection in SMA model mice. Increased reactive oxygen species production and subsequent antioxidative stress reaction was observed in SMN protein-depleted RAW264.7. Furthermore, nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and c-Jun amino terminal kinase (JNK) signaling, which mainly mediate the inflammatory response, are activated in SMN protein-depleted RAW264.7. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production is also increased in SMN protein-depleted RAW264.7. These findings suggest that SMN protein regulates oxidative stress and inflammatory response in microglia, supporting current claims that microglia can be an effective target for SMA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiori Ando
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Daiki Osanai
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Kei Takahashi
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Nakamura
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan.
| | - Masamitsu Shimazawa
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hideaki Hara
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
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14
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Zhou Z, Tian X, Mo B, Xu H, Zhang L, Huang L, Yao S, Huang Z, Wang Y, Xie H, Xu L, Zhang H. Adipose mesenchymal stem cell transplantation alleviates spinal cord injury-induced neuroinflammation partly by suppressing the Jagged1/Notch pathway. Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 11:212. [PMID: 32493480 PMCID: PMC7268310 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-01724-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The therapeutic effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADSC) transplantation have been demonstrated in several models of central nervous system (CNS) injury and are thought to involve the modulation of the inflammatory response. However, the exact underlying molecular mechanism is poorly understood. Activation of the Jagged1/Notch signaling pathway is thought to involve inflammatory and gliotic events in the CNS. Here, we elucidated the effect of ADSC transplantation on the inflammatory reaction after spinal cord injury (SCI) and the potential mechanism mediated by Jagged1/Notch signaling pathway suppression. METHODS To evaluate the therapeutic effects of ADSC treatment and the potential inhibitory effects of ADSCs on Notch signaling, mice were subjected to contusion SCI, and GFP-labeled ADSCs were injected into the lesion site immediately after the injury. Locomotor function, spinal cord tissue morphology, and the levels of Notch-related proteins and proinflammatory transcripts were compared between groups. To validate the hypothesis that the therapeutic effects of ADSCs are partly due to Notch1 signaling inhibition, a Jagged1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) was injected into the spinal cord to knock down Jagged1/Notch signaling. Neuronal staining and analyses of microglia/macrophage activation and signaling pathways were performed. RESULTS We demonstrated that ADSCs survived in the injured spinal cord for at least 28 days without differentiating into glial or neuronal elements. ADSC treatment resulted in significant downregulation of proinflammatory mediator expression and reduced ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA1) and ED-1 staining in the injured spinal cord, eventually improving functional recovery. The augmentation of the Jagged1/Notch signaling pathway after SCI was suppressed by ADSC transplantation. The inhibition of the Jagged1/Notch signaling pathway by Jagged1 siRNA resulted in decreases in SCI-induced proinflammatory cytokines and the activation of microglia and an increase in the survival of neurons. Furthermore, Jagged1 knockdown suppressed the phosphorylation of JAK/STAT3 in astrocytes following SCI. CONCLUSION The results of this study demonstrated that the therapeutic effects of ADSCs in SCI mice were partly due to Jagged1/Notch signaling pathway inhibition and a subsequent reduction in JAK/STAT3 phosphorylation in astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilai Zhou
- The Spine Department, Orthopaedic Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaobo Tian
- The Spine Department, Orthopaedic Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China.,The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Biling Mo
- Department of Cardiology, Liwan Central Hospital of Gaungzhou, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huali Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhu Jiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Zhang
- The Spine Department, Orthopaedic Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lishan Huang
- The Spine Department, Orthopaedic Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shun Yao
- The Spine Department, Orthopaedic Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zixiang Huang
- The Spine Department, Orthopaedic Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yeyang Wang
- The Spine Department, Orthopaedic Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huan Xie
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liwei Xu
- The Spine Department, Orthopaedic Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China.,The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- The Spine Department, Orthopaedic Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China. .,The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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15
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Glial cells involvement in spinal muscular atrophy: Could SMA be a neuroinflammatory disease? Neurobiol Dis 2020; 140:104870. [PMID: 32294521 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe, inherited disease characterized by the progressive degeneration and death of motor neurons of the anterior horns of the spinal cord, which results in muscular atrophy and weakness of variable severity. Its early-onset form is invariably fatal in early childhood, while milder forms lead to permanent disability, physical deformities and respiratory complications. Recently, two novel revolutionary therapies, antisense oligonucleotides and gene therapy, have been approved, and might prove successful in making long-term survival of these patients likely. In this perspective, a deep understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms and of their impact on the interactions between motor neurons and other cell types within the central nervous system (CNS) is crucial. Studies using SMA animal and cellular models have taught us that the survival and functionality of motor neurons is highly dependent on a whole range of other cell types, namely glial cells, which are responsible for a variety of different functions, such as neuronal trophic support, synaptic remodeling, and immune surveillance. Thus, it emerges that SMA is likely a non-cell autonomous, multifactorial disease in which the interaction of different cell types and disease mechanisms leads to motor neurons failure and loss. This review will introduce the different glial cell types in the CNS and provide an overview of the role of glial cells in motor neuron degeneration in SMA. Furthermore, we will discuss the relevance of these findings so far and the potential impact on the success of available therapies and on the development of novel ones.
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16
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Hoolachan JM, Sutton ER, Bowerman M. Teaching an old drug new tricks: repositioning strategies for spinal muscular atrophy. FUTURE NEUROLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.2217/fnl-2019-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a childhood disorder caused by loss of the SMN gene. Pathological hallmarks are spinal cord motor neuron death, neuromuscular junction dysfunction and muscle atrophy. The first SMN genetic therapy was recently approved and other SMN-dependent treatments are not far behind. However, not all SMA patients will reap their maximal benefit due to limited accessibility, high costs and differential effects depending on timing of administration and disease severity. The repurposing of commercially available drugs is an interesting strategy to ensure more rapid and less expensive access to new treatments. In this mini-review, we will discuss the potential and relevance of repositioning drugs currently used for neurodegenerative, neuromuscular and muscle disorders for SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Hoolachan
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
| | - Emma R Sutton
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
| | - Melissa Bowerman
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
- Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, SY10 7AG, UK
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