1
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Lazo PA. Nuclear functions regulated by the VRK1 kinase. Nucleus 2024; 15:2353249. [PMID: 38753965 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2024.2353249] [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: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
In the nucleus, the VRK1 Ser-Thr kinase is distributed in nucleoplasm and chromatin, where it has different roles. VRK1 expression increases in response to mitogenic signals. VRK1 regulates cyclin D1 expression at G0 exit and facilitates chromosome condensation at the end of G2 and G2/M progression to mitosis. These effects are mediated by the phosphorylation of histone H3 at Thr3 by VRK1, and later in mitosis by haspin. VRK1 regulates the apigenetic patterns of histones in processes requiring chromating remodeling, such as transcription, replication and DNA repair. VRK1 is overexpressed in tumors, facilitating tumor progression and resistance to genotoxic treatments. VRK1 also regulates the organization of Cajal bodies assembled on coilin, which are necessary for the assembly of different types of RNP complexes. VRK1 pathogenic variants cuase defects in Cajal bodies, functionally altering neurons with long axons and leading to neurological diseases, such as amyotrophic laterla sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, distal hereditay motor neuropathies and Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro A Lazo
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) - Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
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2
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Goswami A, Carra S. PML nuclear bodies: new players in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal dementia? Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1875-1876. [PMID: 38227505 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.391183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anand Goswami
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Serena Carra
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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3
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Clayton EL, Huggon L, Cousin MA, Mizielinska S. Synaptopathy: presynaptic convergence in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain 2024; 147:2289-2307. [PMID: 38451707 PMCID: PMC11224618 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae074] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are common forms of neurodegenerative disease that share overlapping genetics and pathologies. Crucially, no significantly disease-modifying treatments are available for either disease. Identifying the earliest changes that initiate neuronal dysfunction is important for designing effective intervention therapeutics. The genes mutated in genetic forms of frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have diverse cellular functions, and multiple disease mechanisms have been proposed for both. Identification of a convergent disease mechanism in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis would focus research for a targetable pathway, which could potentially effectively treat all forms of frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (both familial and sporadic). Synaptopathies are diseases resulting from physiological dysfunction of synapses, and define the earliest stages in multiple neuronal diseases, with synapse loss a key feature in dementia. At the presynapse, the process of synaptic vesicle recruitment, fusion and recycling is necessary for activity-dependent neurotransmitter release. The unique distal location of the presynaptic terminal means the tight spatio-temporal control of presynaptic homeostasis is dependent on efficient local protein translation and degradation. Recently, numerous publications have shown that mutations associated with frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis present with synaptopathy characterized by presynaptic dysfunction. This review will describe the complex local signalling and membrane trafficking events that occur at the presynapse to facilitate neurotransmission and will summarize recent publications linking frontotemporal dementia/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis genetic mutations to presynaptic function. This evidence indicates that presynaptic synaptopathy is an early and convergent event in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and illustrates the need for further research in this area, to identify potential therapeutic targets with the ability to impact this convergent pathomechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Clayton
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Laura Huggon
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Michael A Cousin
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Sarah Mizielinska
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London SE5 9RT, UK
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4
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Dashtmian AR, Darvishi FB, Arnold WD. Chronological and Biological Aging in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and the Potential of Senolytic Therapies. Cells 2024; 13:928. [PMID: 38891059 PMCID: PMC11171952 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110928] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a group of sporadic and genetic neurodegenerative disorders that result in losses of upper and lower motor neurons. Treatment of ALS is limited, and survival is 2-5 years after disease onset. While ALS can occur in younger individuals, the risk significantly increases with advancing age. Notably, both sporadic and genetic forms of ALS share pathophysiological features overlapping hallmarks of aging including genome instability/DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, proteostasis, and cellular senescence. This review explores chronological and biological aging in the context of ALS onset and progression. Age-related muscle weakness and motor unit loss mirror aspects of ALS pathology and coincide with peak ALS incidence, suggesting a potential link between aging and disease development. Hallmarks of biological aging, including DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular senescence, are implicated in both aging and ALS, offering insights into shared mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, senescence-associated secretory phenotype and senolytic treatments emerge as promising avenues for ALS intervention, with the potential to mitigate neuroinflammation and modify disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Roshani Dashtmian
- NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (A.R.D.); (F.B.D.)
- NextGen Precision Health, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Fereshteh B. Darvishi
- NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (A.R.D.); (F.B.D.)
- NextGen Precision Health, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - William David Arnold
- NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (A.R.D.); (F.B.D.)
- NextGen Precision Health, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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5
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Neacșu SM, Mititelu M, Ozon EA, Musuc AM, Iuga IDM, Manolescu BN, Petrescu S, Pandele Cusu J, Rusu A, Surdu VA, Oprea E, Lupuliasa D, Popescu IA. Comprehensive Analysis of Novel Synergistic Antioxidant Formulations: Insights into Pharmacotechnical, Physical, Chemical, and Antioxidant Properties. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:690. [PMID: 38931357 PMCID: PMC11206646 DOI: 10.3390/ph17060690] [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: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes, highlighting the pressing need for effective antioxidant interventions. (2) Methods: In this study, we aimed to develop and characterise two novel antioxidant formulations, F3 and F4, as therapeutic interventions for oxidative stress-related conditions. (3) Results: The physicochemical characterisation, preformulation analysis, formulation, preparation of filling powders for capsules, capsule content evaluation, and antioxidant activity assessment of the two novel antioxidant formulations were assessed. These formulations comprise a combination of well-established antioxidants like quercetin, biotin, coenzyme Q10, and resveratrol. Through comprehensive testing, the formulations' antioxidant efficacy, stability, and potential synergistic interactions were evaluated. (4) Conclusions: The findings underscore the promising potential of these formulations as therapeutic interventions for oxidative stress-related disorders and highlight the significance of antioxidant interventions in mitigating their progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sorinel Marius Neacșu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020945 Bucharest, Romania; (S.M.N.); (D.L.); (I.A.P.)
| | - Magdalena Mititelu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Food Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020945 Bucharest, Romania; (M.M.); (I.D.M.I.)
| | - Emma Adriana Ozon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020945 Bucharest, Romania; (S.M.N.); (D.L.); (I.A.P.)
| | - Adina Magdalena Musuc
- Institute of Physical Chemistry—Ilie Murgulescu, Romanian Academy, 202 Spl. Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (S.P.); (J.P.C.); (A.R.)
| | - Izabela Dana Maria Iuga
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Food Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020945 Bucharest, Romania; (M.M.); (I.D.M.I.)
| | - Bogdan Nicolae Manolescu
- “C. Nenitescu” Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Science of Materials, National University for Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 1–7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Simona Petrescu
- Institute of Physical Chemistry—Ilie Murgulescu, Romanian Academy, 202 Spl. Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (S.P.); (J.P.C.); (A.R.)
| | - Jeanina Pandele Cusu
- Institute of Physical Chemistry—Ilie Murgulescu, Romanian Academy, 202 Spl. Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (S.P.); (J.P.C.); (A.R.)
| | - Adriana Rusu
- Institute of Physical Chemistry—Ilie Murgulescu, Romanian Academy, 202 Spl. Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (S.P.); (J.P.C.); (A.R.)
| | - Vasile-Adrian Surdu
- Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University for Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 1–7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Eliza Oprea
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 1–3 Portocalilor Way, 060101 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Dumitru Lupuliasa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020945 Bucharest, Romania; (S.M.N.); (D.L.); (I.A.P.)
| | - Ioana Andreea Popescu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020945 Bucharest, Romania; (S.M.N.); (D.L.); (I.A.P.)
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6
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Mitra J, Dharmalingam P, Kodavati MM, Guerrero EN, Rao KS, Garruto R, Hegde ML. Endogenous TDP-43 mislocalization in a novel knock-in mouse model reveals DNA repair impairment, inflammation, and neuronal senescence. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3879966. [PMID: 38343852 PMCID: PMC10854316 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3879966/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
TDP-43 mislocalization and aggregation are key pathological features of motor neuron diseases (MND) including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, transgenic hTDP-43 WT or ∆NLS-overexpression animal models mainly capture late-stages TDP-43 proteinopathy, and do not provide a complete understanding of early motor neuron-specific pathology during pre-symptomatic phases. We have now addressed this shortcoming by generating a new endogenous knock-in (KI) mouse model using a combination of CRISPR/Cas9 and FLEX Cre-switch strategy for the conditional expression of a mislocalized Tdp-43∆NLS variant of mouse Tdp-43. This variant is either expressed conditionally in whole mice or specifically in the motor neurons. The mice exhibit loss of nuclear Tdp-43 concomitant with its cytosolic accumulation and aggregation in targeted cells, leading to increased DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), signs of inflammation and DNA damage-associated cellular senescence. Notably, unlike WT Tdp43 which functionally interacts with Xrcc4 and DNA Ligase 4, the key DSB repair proteins in the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway, the Tdp-43∆NLS mutant sequesters them into cytosolic aggregates, exacerbating neuronal damage in mice brain. The mutant mice also exhibit myogenic degeneration in limb muscles and distinct motor deficits, consistent with the characteristics of MND. Our findings reveal progressive degenerative mechanisms in motor neurons expressing endogenous Tdp-43∆NLS mutant, independent of TDP-43 overexpression or other confounding etiological factors. Thus, this unique Tdp-43 KI mouse model, which displays key molecular and phenotypic features of Tdp-43 proteinopathy, offers a significant opportunity to further characterize the early-stage progression of MND and also opens avenues for developing DNA repair-targeted approaches for treating TDP-43 pathology-linked neurodegenerative diseases.
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7
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Maliar NL, Talbot EJ, Edwards AR, Khoronenkova SV. Microglial inflammation in genome instability: A neurodegenerative perspective. DNA Repair (Amst) 2024; 135:103634. [PMID: 38290197 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2024.103634] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The maintenance of genome stability is crucial for cell homeostasis and tissue integrity. Numerous human neuropathologies display chronic inflammation in the central nervous system, set against a backdrop of genome instability, implying a close interplay between the DNA damage and immune responses in the context of neurological disease. Dissecting the molecular mechanisms of this crosstalk is essential for holistic understanding of neuroinflammatory pathways in genome instability disorders. Non-neuronal cell types, specifically microglia, are major drivers of neuroinflammation in the central nervous system with neuro-protective and -toxic capabilities. Here, we discuss how persistent DNA damage affects microglial homeostasis, zooming in on the cytosolic DNA sensing cGAS-STING pathway and the downstream inflammatory response, which can drive neurotoxic outcomes in the context of genome instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina L Maliar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emily J Talbot
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Abigail R Edwards
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
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8
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Talbot EJ, Joshi L, Thornton P, Dezfouli M, Tsafou K, Perkinton M, Khoronenkova S. cGAS-STING signalling regulates microglial chemotaxis in genome instability. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:1188-1206. [PMID: 38084916 PMCID: PMC10853792 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Defective DNA damage signalling and repair is a hallmark of age-related and genetic neurodegenerative disease. One mechanism implicated in disease progression is DNA damage-driven neuroinflammation, which is largely mediated by tissue-resident immune cells, microglia. Here, we utilise human microglia-like cell models of persistent DNA damage and ATM kinase deficiency to investigate how genome instability shapes microglial function. We demonstrate that upon DNA damage the cytosolic DNA sensing cGAS-STING axis drives chronic inflammation and a robust chemokine response, exemplified by production of CCL5 and CXCL10. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that cell migratory pathways were highly enriched upon IFN-β treatment of human iPSC-derived microglia, indicating that the chemokine response to DNA damage mirrors type I interferon signalling. Furthermore, we find that STING deletion leads to a defect in microglial chemotaxis under basal conditions and upon ATM kinase loss. Overall, this work provides mechanistic insights into cGAS-STING-dependent neuroinflammatory mechanisms and consequences of genome instability in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Talbot
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lisha Joshi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter Thornton
- Neuroscience, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mahya Dezfouli
- Translational Genomics, Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Mölndal, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kalliopi Tsafou
- Department of Data Sciences & Quantitative Biology, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
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9
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Dey B, Kumar A, Patel AB. Pathomechanistic Networks of Motor System Injury in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:1778-1806. [PMID: 37622689 PMCID: PMC11284732 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230824091601] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is the most common, adult-onset, progressive motor neurodegenerative disorder that results in death within 3 years of the clinical diagnosis. Due to the clinicopathological heterogeneity, any reliable biomarkers for diagnosis or prognosis of ALS have not been identified till date. Moreover, the only three clinically approved treatments are not uniformly effective in slowing the disease progression. Over the last 15 years, there has been a rapid advancement in research on the complex pathomechanistic landscape of ALS that has opened up new avenues for successful clinical translation of targeted therapeutics. Multiple studies suggest that the age-dependent interaction of risk-associated genes with environmental factors and endogenous modifiers is critical to the multi-step process of ALS pathogenesis. In this review, we provide an updated discussion on the dysregulated cross-talk between intracellular homeostasis processes, the unique molecular networks across selectively vulnerable cell types, and the multisystemic nature of ALS pathomechanisms. Importantly, this work highlights the alteration in epigenetic and epitranscriptomic landscape due to gene-environment interactions, which have been largely overlooked in the context of ALS pathology. Finally, we suggest that precision medicine research in ALS will be largely benefitted from the stratification of patient groups based on the clinical phenotype, onset and progression, genome, exposome, and metabolic identities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bedaballi Dey
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India
- AcSIR-Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Arvind Kumar
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India
- AcSIR-Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Anant Bahadur Patel
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India
- AcSIR-Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
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10
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Zolzaya S, Narumoto A, Katsuyama Y. Genomic variation in neurons. Dev Growth Differ 2024; 66:35-42. [PMID: 37855730 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12898] [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: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Neurons born during the fetal period have extreme longevity and survive until the death of the individual because the human brain has highly limited tissue regeneration. The brain is comprised of an enormous variety of neurons each exhibiting different morphological and physiological characteristics and recent studies have further reported variations in their genome including chromosomal abnormalities, copy number variations, and single nucleotide mutations. During the early stages of brain development, the increasing number of neurons generated at high speeds has been proposed to lead to chromosomal instability. Additionally, mutations in the neuronal genome can occur in the mature brain. This observed genomic mosaicism in the brain can be produced by multiple endogenous and environmental factors and careful analyses of these observed variations in the neuronal genome remain central for our understanding of the genetic basis of neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunjidmaa Zolzaya
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Anatomy, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Ayano Narumoto
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Anatomy, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Yu Katsuyama
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Anatomy, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
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11
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Gomes BC, Peixinho N, Pisco R, Gromicho M, Pronto-Laborinho AC, Rueff J, de Carvalho M, Rodrigues AS. Differential Expression of miRNAs in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:7104-7117. [PMID: 37531027 PMCID: PMC10657797 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03520-7] [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: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive motor neuron disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control, muscle atrophy and in later stages, death. Diagnosis has an average delay of 1 year after symptoms onset, which impairs early management. The identification of a specific disease biomarker could help decrease the diagnostic delay. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression levels have been proposed as ALS biomarkers, and altered function has been reported in ALS pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess the differential expression of plasma miRNAs in ALS patients and two control populations (healthy controls and ALS-mimic disorders). For that, 16 samples from each group were pooled, and then 1008 miRNAs were assessed through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). From these, ten candidate miRNAs were selected and validated in 35 ALS patients, 16 ALS-mimic disorders controls and 15 healthy controls. We also assessed the same miRNAs in two different time points of disease progression. Although we were unable to determine a miRNA signature to use as disease or condition marker, we found that miR-7-2-3p, miR-26a-1-3p, miR-224-5p and miR-206 are good study candidates to understand the pathophysiology of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Costa Gomes
- Instituto de Fisiologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
- ToxOmics, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Nuno Peixinho
- ToxOmics, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita Pisco
- ToxOmics, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Marta Gromicho
- Instituto de Fisiologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Catarina Pronto-Laborinho
- Instituto de Fisiologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - José Rueff
- ToxOmics, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mamede de Carvalho
- Instituto de Fisiologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital de Santa Maria CHULN, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - António Sebastião Rodrigues
- ToxOmics, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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12
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Fang M, Deibler SK, Nana AL, Vatsavayai SC, Banday S, Zhou Y, Almeida S, Weiss A, Brown RH, Seeley WW, Gao FB, Green MR. Loss of TDP-43 function contributes to genomic instability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1251228. [PMID: 37849894 PMCID: PMC10577185 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1251228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
A common pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation of the DNA/RNA-binding protein TDP-43, but how loss of nuclear TDP-43 function contributes to ALS and FTD pathogenesis remains largely unknown. Here, using large-scale RNAi screening, we identify TARDBP, which encodes TDP-43, as a gene whose loss-of-function results in elevated DNA mutation rate and genomic instability. Consistent with this finding, we observe increased DNA damage in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC-derived post-mitotic neurons generated from ALS patients harboring TARDBP mutations. We find that the increase in DNA damage in ALS iPSC-derived neurons is due to defects in two major pathways for DNA double-strand break repair: non-homologous end joining and homologous recombination. Cells with defects in DNA repair are sensitive to DNA damaging agents and, accordingly, we find that ALS iPSC-derived neurons show a marked reduction in survival following treatment with a DNA damaging agent. Importantly, we find that increased DNA damage is also observed in neurons with nuclear TDP-43 depletion from ALS/FTD patient brain tissues. Collectively, our results demonstrate that ALS neurons with loss of nuclear TDP-43 function have elevated levels of DNA damage and contribute to the idea that genomic instability is a defining pathological feature of ALS/FTD patients with TDP-43 pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minggang Fang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Sara K. Deibler
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Alissa L. Nana
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Sarat C. Vatsavayai
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Shahid Banday
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - You Zhou
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Sandra Almeida
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Alexandra Weiss
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Robert H. Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - William W. Seeley
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Fen-Biao Gao
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Michael R. Green
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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13
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Gerovska D, Noer JB, Qin Y, Ain Q, Januzi D, Schwab M, Witte OW, Araúzo-Bravo MJ, Kretz A. A distinct circular DNA profile intersects with proteome changes in the genotoxic stress-related hSOD1 G93A model of ALS. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:170. [PMID: 37705092 PMCID: PMC10498603 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01116-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous genes, including SOD1, mutated in familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (f/sALS) share a role in DNA damage and repair, emphasizing genome disintegration in ALS. One possible outcome of chromosomal instability and repair processes is extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) formation. Therefore, eccDNA might accumulate in f/sALS with yet unknown function. METHODS We combined rolling circle amplification with linear DNA digestion to purify eccDNA from the cervical spinal cord of 9 co-isogenic symptomatic hSOD1G93A mutants and 10 controls, followed by deep short-read sequencing. We mapped the eccDNAs and performed differential analysis based on the split read signal of the eccDNAs, referred as DifCir, between the ALS and control specimens, to find differentially produced per gene circles (DPpGC) in the two groups. Compared were eccDNA abundances, length distributions and genic profiles. We further assessed proteome alterations in ALS by mass spectrometry, and matched the DPpGCs with differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in ALS. Additionally, we aligned the ALS-specific DPpGCs to ALS risk gene databases. RESULTS We found a six-fold enrichment in the number of unique eccDNAs in the genotoxic ALS-model relative to controls. We uncovered a distinct genic circulome profile characterized by 225 up-DPpGCs, i.e., genes that produced more eccDNAs from distinct gene sequences in ALS than under control conditions. The inter-sample recurrence rate was at least 89% for the top 6 up-DPpGCs. ALS proteome analyses revealed 42 corresponding DEPs, of which 19 underlying genes were itemized for an ALS risk in GWAS databases. The up-DPpGCs and their DEP tandems mainly impart neuron-specific functions, and gene set enrichment analyses indicated an overrepresentation of the adenylate cyclase modulating G protein pathway. CONCLUSIONS We prove, for the first time, a significant enrichment of eccDNA in the ALS-affected spinal cord. Our triple circulome, proteome and genome approach provide indication for a potential importance of certain eccDNAs in ALS neurodegeneration and a yet unconsidered role as ALS biomarkers. The related functional pathways might open up new targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Gerovska
- Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Julie B Noer
- Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yating Qin
- Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Quratul Ain
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, 07747, Jena, Thuringia, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Hepatology, Jena University Hospital, 07747, Jena, Thuringia, Germany
| | - Donjetë Januzi
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, 07747, Jena, Thuringia, Germany
| | - Matthias Schwab
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, 07747, Jena, Thuringia, Germany
| | - Otto W Witte
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, 07747, Jena, Thuringia, Germany
- Jena Center for Healthy Ageing, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Thuringia, Germany
| | - Marcos J Araúzo-Bravo
- Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014, San Sebastian, Spain.
- Basque Foundation for Science, IKERBASQUE, 48013, Bilbao, Spain.
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Group, 48149, Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940, Leioa, Spain.
| | - Alexandra Kretz
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, 07747, Jena, Thuringia, Germany.
- Jena Center for Healthy Ageing, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Thuringia, Germany.
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14
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Lazo PA, Morejón-García P. VRK1 variants at the cross road of Cajal body neuropathogenic mechanisms in distal neuropathies and motor neuron diseases. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 183:106172. [PMID: 37257665 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Distal hereditary neuropathies and neuro motor diseases are complex neurological phenotypes associated with pathogenic variants in a large number of genes, but in some the origin is unknown. Recently, rare pathogenic variants of the human VRK1 gene have been associated with these neurological phenotypes. All VRK1 pathogenic variants are recessive, and their clinical presentation occurs in either homozygous or compound heterozygous patients. The pathogenic VRK1 gene pathogenic variants are located in three clusters within the protein sequence. The main, and initial, shared clinical phenotype among VRK1 pathogenic variants is a distal progressive loss of motor and/or sensory function, which includes diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and hereditary spastic paraplegia. In most cases, symptoms start early in infancy, or in utero, and are slowly progressive. Additional neurological symptoms vary among non-related patients, probably because of their different VRK1 variants and their genetic background. The underlying common pathogenic mechanism, by its functional impairment, is a likely consequence of the roles that the VRK1 protein plays in the regulation on the stability and assembly of Cajal bodies, which affect RNA maturation and processing, neuronal migration of RNPs along axons, and DNA-damage responses. Alterations of these processes are associated with several neuro sensory or motor syndromes. The clinical heterogeneity of the neurological phenotypes associated with VRK1 is a likely consequence of the protein complexes in which VRK1 is integrated, which include several proteins known to be associated with Cajal bodies and DNA damage responses. Several hereditary distal neurological diseases are a consequence of pathogenic variants in genes that alter these cellular functions. We conclude that VRK1-related distal hereditary neuropathies and motor neuron diseases represent a novel subgroup of Cajal body related neurological syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro A Lazo
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) - Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Patricia Morejón-García
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) - Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
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15
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Ziff OJ, Neeves J, Mitchell J, Tyzack G, Martinez-Ruiz C, Luisier R, Chakrabarti AM, McGranahan N, Litchfield K, Boulton SJ, Al-Chalabi A, Kelly G, Humphrey J, Patani R. Integrated transcriptome landscape of ALS identifies genome instability linked to TDP-43 pathology. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2176. [PMID: 37080969 PMCID: PMC10119258 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37630-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) causes motor neuron degeneration, with 97% of cases exhibiting TDP-43 proteinopathy. Elucidating pathomechanisms has been hampered by disease heterogeneity and difficulties accessing motor neurons. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons (iPSMNs) offer a solution; however, studies have typically been limited to underpowered cohorts. Here, we present a comprehensive compendium of 429 iPSMNs from 15 datasets, and 271 post-mortem spinal cord samples. Using reproducible bioinformatic workflows, we identify robust upregulation of p53 signalling in ALS in both iPSMNs and post-mortem spinal cord. p53 activation is greatest with C9orf72 repeat expansions but is weakest with SOD1 and FUS mutations. TDP-43 depletion potentiates p53 activation in both post-mortem neuronal nuclei and cell culture, thereby functionally linking p53 activation with TDP-43 depletion. ALS iPSMNs and post-mortem tissue display enrichment of splicing alterations, somatic mutations, and gene fusions, possibly contributing to the DNA damage response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver J Ziff
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
| | - Jacob Neeves
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Jamie Mitchell
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Giulia Tyzack
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Carlos Martinez-Ruiz
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Raphaelle Luisier
- Genomics and Health Informatics Group, Idiap Research Institute, Martigny, Switzerland
| | | | - Nicholas McGranahan
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Kevin Litchfield
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Simon J Boulton
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Gavin Kelly
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Jack Humphrey
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rickie Patani
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
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16
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Shadfar S, Parakh S, Jamali MS, Atkin JD. Redox dysregulation as a driver for DNA damage and its relationship to neurodegenerative diseases. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:18. [PMID: 37055865 PMCID: PMC10103468 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00350-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Redox homeostasis refers to the balance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and their elimination by antioxidants. It is linked to all important cellular activities and oxidative stress is a result of imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidant species. Oxidative stress perturbs many cellular activities, including processes that maintain the integrity of DNA. Nucleic acids are highly reactive and therefore particularly susceptible to damage. The DNA damage response detects and repairs these DNA lesions. Efficient DNA repair processes are therefore essential for maintaining cellular viability, but they decline considerably during aging. DNA damage and deficiencies in DNA repair are increasingly described in age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington's disease. Furthermore, oxidative stress has long been associated with these conditions. Moreover, both redox dysregulation and DNA damage increase significantly during aging, which is the biggest risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. However, the links between redox dysfunction and DNA damage, and their joint contributions to pathophysiology in these conditions, are only just emerging. This review will discuss these associations and address the increasing evidence for redox dysregulation as an important and major source of DNA damage in neurodegenerative disorders. Understanding these connections may facilitate a better understanding of disease mechanisms, and ultimately lead to the design of better therapeutic strategies based on preventing both redox dysregulation and DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Shadfar
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Sonam Parakh
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Md Shafi Jamali
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
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17
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Wang ZX, Li YL, Pu JL, Zhang BR. DNA Damage-Mediated Neurotoxicity in Parkinson’s Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076313. [PMID: 37047285 PMCID: PMC10093980 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease around the world; however, its pathogenesis remains unclear so far. Recent advances have shown that DNA damage and repair deficiency play an important role in the pathophysiology of PD. There is growing evidence suggesting that DNA damage is involved in the propagation of cellular damage in PD, leading to neuropathology under different conditions. Here, we reviewed the current work on DNA damage repair in PD. First, we outlined the evidence and causes of DNA damage in PD. Second, we described the potential pathways by which DNA damage mediates neurotoxicity in PD and discussed the precise mechanisms that drive these processes by DNA damage. In addition, we looked ahead to the potential interventions targeting DNA damage and repair. Finally, based on the current status of research, key problems that need to be addressed in future research were proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jia-Li Pu
- Correspondence: (J.-L.P.); (B.-R.Z.); Tel./Fax: +86-571-87784752 (J.-L.P. & B.-R.Z.)
| | - Bao-Rong Zhang
- Correspondence: (J.-L.P.); (B.-R.Z.); Tel./Fax: +86-571-87784752 (J.-L.P. & B.-R.Z.)
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18
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Vasilopoulou C, McDaid-McCloskey SL, McCluskey G, Duguez S, Morris AP, Duddy W. Genome-Wide Gene-Set Analysis Identifies Molecular Mechanisms Associated with ALS. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:4021. [PMID: 36835433 PMCID: PMC9966913 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044021] [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: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal late-onset motor neuron disease characterized by the loss of the upper and lower motor neurons. Our understanding of the molecular basis of ALS pathology remains elusive, complicating the development of efficient treatment. Gene-set analyses of genome-wide data have offered insight into the biological processes and pathways of complex diseases and can suggest new hypotheses regarding causal mechanisms. Our aim in this study was to identify and explore biological pathways and other gene sets having genomic association to ALS. Two cohorts of genomic data from the dbGaP repository were combined: (a) the largest available ALS individual-level genotype dataset (N = 12,319), and (b) a similarly sized control cohort (N = 13,210). Following comprehensive quality control pipelines, imputation and meta-analysis, we assembled a large European descent ALS-control cohort of 9244 ALS cases and 12,795 healthy controls represented by genetic variants of 19,242 genes. Multi-marker analysis of genomic annotation (MAGMA) gene-set analysis was applied to an extensive collection of 31,454 gene sets from the molecular signatures database (MSigDB). Statistically significant associations were observed for gene sets related to immune response, apoptosis, lipid metabolism, neuron differentiation, muscle cell function, synaptic plasticity and development. We also report novel interactions between gene sets, suggestive of mechanistic overlaps. A manual meta-categorization and enrichment mapping approach is used to explore the overlap of gene membership between significant gene sets, revealing a number of shared mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Vasilopoulou
- Personalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Ulster University, Londonderry BT47 6SB, UK
| | | | - Gavin McCluskey
- Personalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Ulster University, Londonderry BT47 6SB, UK
| | - Stephanie Duguez
- Personalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Ulster University, Londonderry BT47 6SB, UK
| | - Andrew P. Morris
- Centre for Genetics and Genomics Versus Arthritis, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - William Duddy
- Personalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Ulster University, Londonderry BT47 6SB, UK
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19
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Mitochondrial DNA Repair in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Ageing. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911391. [PMID: 36232693 PMCID: PMC9569545 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are the only organelles, along with the nucleus, that have their own DNA. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a double-stranded circular molecule of ~16.5 kbp that can exist in multiple copies within the organelle. Both strands are translated and encode for 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, and 13 proteins. mtDNA molecules are anchored to the inner mitochondrial membrane and, in association with proteins, form a structure called nucleoid, which exerts a structural and protective function. Indeed, mitochondria have evolved mechanisms necessary to protect their DNA from chemical and physical lesions such as DNA repair pathways similar to those present in the nucleus. However, there are mitochondria-specific mechanisms such as rapid mtDNA turnover, fission, fusion, and mitophagy. Nevertheless, mtDNA mutations may be abundant in somatic tissue due mainly to the proximity of the mtDNA to the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system and, consequently, to the reactive oxygen species (ROS) formed during ATP production. In this review, we summarise the most common types of mtDNA lesions and mitochondria repair mechanisms. The second part of the review focuses on the physiological role of mtDNA damage in ageing and the effect of mtDNA mutations in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Considering the central role of mitochondria in maintaining cellular homeostasis, the analysis of mitochondrial function is a central point for developing personalised medicine.
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20
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Dash BP, Freischmidt A, Weishaupt JH, Hermann A. Downstream Effects of Mutations in SOD1 and TARDBP Converge on Gene Expression Impairment in Patient-Derived Motor Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179652. [PMID: 36077049 PMCID: PMC9456253 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease marked by death of motor neurons (MNs) present in the spinal cord, brain stem and motor cortex. Despite extensive research, the reason for neurodegeneration is still not understood. To generate novel hypotheses of putative underlying molecular mechanisms, we used human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSCs)-derived motor neurons (MNs) from SOD1- and TARDBP (TDP-43 protein)-mutant-ALS patients and healthy controls to perform high-throughput RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq). An integrated bioinformatics approach was employed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and key pathways underlying these familial forms of the disease (fALS). In TDP43-ALS, we found dysregulation of transcripts encoding components of the transcriptional machinery and transcripts involved in splicing regulation were particularly affected. In contrast, less is known about the role of SOD1 in RNA metabolism in motor neurons. Here, we found that many transcripts relevant for mitochondrial function were specifically altered in SOD1-ALS, indicating that transcriptional signatures and expression patterns can vary significantly depending on the causal gene that is mutated. Surprisingly, however, we identified a clear downregulation of genes involved in protein translation in SOD1-ALS suggesting that ALS-causing SOD1 mutations shift cellular RNA abundance profiles to cause neural dysfunction. Altogether, we provided here an extensive profiling of mRNA expression in two ALS models at the cellular level, corroborating the major role of RNA metabolism and gene expression as a common pathomechanism in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banaja P. Dash
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht-Kossel”, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | | | - Jochen H. Weishaupt
- Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht-Kossel”, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
- Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock, University Medical Center Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, 18147 Rostock, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)381-494-9541; Fax: +49-(0)381-494-9542
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21
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Farrow SL, Schierding W, Gokuladhas S, Golovina E, Fadason T, Cooper AA, O’Sullivan JM. Establishing gene regulatory networks from Parkinson's disease risk loci. Brain 2022; 145:2422-2435. [PMID: 35094046 PMCID: PMC9373962 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The latest meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies identified 90 independent variants across 78 genomic regions associated with Parkinson's disease, yet the mechanisms by which these variants influence the development of the disease remains largely elusive. To establish the functional gene regulatory networks associated with Parkinson's disease risk variants, we utilized an approach combining spatial (chromosomal conformation capture) and functional (expression quantitative trait loci) data. We identified 518 genes subject to regulation by 76 Parkinson's variants across 49 tissues, whicih encompass 36 peripheral and 13 CNS tissues. Notably, one-third of these genes were regulated via trans-acting mechanisms (distal; risk locus-gene separated by >1 Mb, or on different chromosomes). Of particular interest is the identification of a novel trans-expression quantitative trait loci-gene connection between rs10847864 and SYNJ1 in the adult brain cortex, highlighting a convergence between familial studies and Parkinson's disease genome-wide association studies loci for SYNJ1 (PARK20) for the first time. Furthermore, we identified 16 neurodevelopment-specific expression quantitative trait loci-gene regulatory connections within the foetal cortex, consistent with hypotheses suggesting a neurodevelopmental involvement in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Through utilizing Louvain clustering we extracted nine significant and highly intraconnected clusters within the entire gene regulatory network. The nine clusters are enriched for specific biological processes and pathways, some of which have not previously been associated with Parkinson's disease. Together, our results not only contribute to an overall understanding of the mechanisms and impact of specific combinations of Parkinson's disease variants, but also highlight the potential impact gene regulatory networks may have when elucidating aetiological subtypes of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie L Farrow
- Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- The Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - William Schierding
- Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- The Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Evgeniia Golovina
- Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Tayaza Fadason
- Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- The Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Antony A Cooper
- Australian Parkinson’s Mission, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- St Vincent’s Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Justin M O’Sullivan
- Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- The Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Australian Parkinson’s Mission, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Brain Research New Zealand, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, UK
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22
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Pun FW, Liu BHM, Long X, Leung HW, Leung GHD, Mewborne QT, Gao J, Shneyderman A, Ozerov IV, Wang J, Ren F, Aliper A, Bischof E, Izumchenko E, Guan X, Zhang K, Lu B, Rothstein JD, Cudkowicz ME, Zhavoronkov A. Identification of Therapeutic Targets for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Using PandaOmics – An AI-Enabled Biological Target Discovery Platform. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:914017. [PMID: 35837482 PMCID: PMC9273868 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.914017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe neurodegenerative disease with ill-defined pathogenesis, calling for urgent developments of new therapeutic regimens. Herein, we applied PandaOmics, an AI-driven target discovery platform, to analyze the expression profiles of central nervous system (CNS) samples (237 cases; 91 controls) from public datasets, and direct iPSC-derived motor neurons (diMNs) (135 cases; 31 controls) from Answer ALS. Seventeen high-confidence and eleven novel therapeutic targets were identified and will be released onto ALS.AI (http://als.ai/). Among the proposed targets screened in the c9ALS Drosophila model, we verified 8 unreported genes (KCNB2, KCNS3, ADRA2B, NR3C1, P2RY14, PPP3CB, PTPRC, and RARA) whose suppression strongly rescues eye neurodegeneration. Dysregulated pathways identified from CNS and diMN data characterize different stages of disease development. Altogether, our study provides new insights into ALS pathophysiology and demonstrates how AI speeds up the target discovery process, and opens up new opportunities for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank W. Pun
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Bonnie Hei Man Liu
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xi Long
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hoi Wing Leung
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Geoffrey Ho Duen Leung
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Quinlan T. Mewborne
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Junli Gao
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Anastasia Shneyderman
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ivan V. Ozerov
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ju Wang
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Feng Ren
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Alexander Aliper
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Evelyne Bischof
- College of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
- International Center for Multimorbidity and Complexity in Medicine (ICMC), Universität Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Evgeny Izumchenko
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Xiaoming Guan
- 4B Technologies Limited, Suzhou BioBay, Suzhou, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Bai Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jeffrey D. Rothstein
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Merit E. Cudkowicz
- Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Merit E. Cudkowicz,
| | - Alex Zhavoronkov
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, United States
- Alex Zhavoronkov,
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23
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Konopka A, Atkin JD. DNA Damage, Defective DNA Repair, and Neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:786420. [PMID: 35572138 PMCID: PMC9093740 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.786420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA is under constant attack from both endogenous and exogenous sources, and when damaged, specific cellular signalling pathways respond, collectively termed the “DNA damage response.” Efficient DNA repair processes are essential for cellular viability, although they decline significantly during aging. Not surprisingly, DNA damage and defective DNA repair are now increasingly implicated in age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS affects both upper and lower motor neurons in the brain, brainstem and spinal cord, leading to muscle wasting due to denervation. DNA damage is increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of ALS, and interestingly, the number of DNA damage or repair proteins linked to ALS is steadily growing. This includes TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43), a DNA/RNA binding protein that is present in a pathological form in almost all (97%) cases of ALS. Hence TDP-43 pathology is central to neurodegeneration in this condition. Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) bears structural and functional similarities to TDP-43 and it also functions in DNA repair. Chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) is also fundamental to ALS because mutations in C9orf72 are the most frequent genetic cause of both ALS and related condition frontotemporal dementia, in European and North American populations. Genetic variants encoding other proteins involved in the DNA damage response (DDR) have also been described in ALS, including FUS, SOD1, SETX, VCP, CCNF, and NEK1. Here we review recent evidence highlighting DNA damage and defective DNA repair as an important mechanism linked to neurodegeneration in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Konopka
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Macquarie Medical School, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Anna Konopka,
| | - Julie D. Atkin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Macquarie Medical School, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Julie D. Atkin,
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24
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Genome Integrity and Neurological Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084142. [PMID: 35456958 PMCID: PMC9025063 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurological complications directly impact the lives of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. While the precise molecular mechanisms that underlie neuronal cell loss remain under debate, evidence indicates that the accumulation of genomic DNA damage and consequent cellular responses can promote apoptosis and neurodegenerative disease. This idea is supported by the fact that individuals who harbor pathogenic mutations in DNA damage response genes experience profound neuropathological manifestations. The review article here provides a general overview of the nervous system, the threats to DNA stability, and the mechanisms that protect genomic integrity while highlighting the connections of DNA repair defects to neurological disease. The information presented should serve as a prelude to the Special Issue “Genome Stability and Neurological Disease”, where experts discuss the role of DNA repair in preserving central nervous system function in greater depth.
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25
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Palminha NM, Dos Santos Souza C, Griffin J, Liao C, Ferraiuolo L, El-Khamisy SF. Defective repair of topoisomerase I induced chromosomal damage in Huntington's disease. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:160. [PMID: 35224690 PMCID: PMC8882575 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04204-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Topoisomerase1 (TOP1)-mediated chromosomal breaks are endogenous sources of DNA damage that affect neuronal genome stability. Whether TOP1 DNA breaks are sources of genomic instability in Huntington's disease (HD) is unknown. Here, we report defective 53BP1 recruitment in multiple HD cell models, including striatal neurons derived from HD patients. Defective 53BP1 recruitment is due to reduced H2A ubiquitination caused by the limited RNF168 activity. The reduced availability of RNF168 is caused by an increased interaction with p62, a protein involved in selective autophagy. Depletion of p62 or disruption of the interaction between RNAF168 and p62 was sufficient to restore 53BP1 enrichment and subsequent DNA repair in HD models, providing new opportunities for therapeutic interventions. These findings are reminiscent to what was described for p62 accumulation caused by C9orf72 expansion in ALS/FTD and suggest a common mechanism by which protein aggregation perturb DNA repair signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelma M Palminha
- School of Biosciences, Firth Court, Healthy Lifespan and Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Cleide Dos Santos Souza
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Jon Griffin
- School of Biosciences, Firth Court, Healthy Lifespan and Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Chunyan Liao
- School of Biosciences, Firth Court, Healthy Lifespan and Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Laura Ferraiuolo
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Sherif F El-Khamisy
- School of Biosciences, Firth Court, Healthy Lifespan and Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.
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26
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Shadfar S, Brocardo M, Atkin JD. The Complex Mechanisms by Which Neurons Die Following DNA Damage in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052484. [PMID: 35269632 PMCID: PMC8910227 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cells are exposed to numerous exogenous and endogenous insults every day. Unlike other molecules, DNA cannot be replaced by resynthesis, hence damage to DNA can have major consequences for the cell. The DNA damage response contains overlapping signalling networks that repair DNA and hence maintain genomic integrity, and aberrant DNA damage responses are increasingly described in neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, DNA repair declines during aging, which is the biggest risk factor for these conditions. If unrepaired, the accumulation of DNA damage results in death to eliminate cells with defective genomes. This is particularly important for postmitotic neurons because they have a limited capacity to proliferate, thus they must be maintained for life. Neuronal death is thus an important process in neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, the inability of neurons to divide renders them susceptible to senescence or re-entry to the cell cycle. The field of cell death has expanded significantly in recent years, and many new mechanisms have been described in various cell types, including neurons. Several of these mechanisms are linked to DNA damage. In this review, we provide an overview of the cell death pathways induced by DNA damage that are relevant to neurons and discuss the possible involvement of these mechanisms in neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Shadfar
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; (S.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Mariana Brocardo
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; (S.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Julie D. Atkin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; (S.S.); (M.B.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
- Correspondence:
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27
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Wang H, Kodavati M, Britz GW, Hegde ML. DNA Damage and Repair Deficiency in ALS/FTD-Associated Neurodegeneration: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Implication. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:784361. [PMID: 34975400 PMCID: PMC8716463 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.784361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging studies reveal that neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), are commonly linked to DNA damage accumulation and repair deficiency. Neurons are particularly vulnerable to DNA damage due to their high metabolic activity, relying primarily on oxidative phosphorylation, which leads to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and subsequent DNA damage. Efficient and timely repair of such damage is critical for guarding the integrity of genomic DNA and for cell survival. Several genes predominantly associated with RNA/DNA metabolism have been implicated in both ALS and FTD, suggesting that the two diseases share a common underlying pathology with varied clinical manifestations. Recent studies reveal that many of the gene products, including RNA/DNA binding proteins (RBPs) TDP-43 and FUS are involved in diverse DNA repair pathways. A key question in the etiology of the ALS/FTD spectrum of neurodegeneration is the mechanisms and pathways involved in genome instability caused by dysfunctions/mutations of those RBP genes and their consequences in the central nervous system. The understanding of such converging molecular mechanisms provides insights into the underlying etiology of the rapidly progressing neurodegeneration in ALS/FTD, while also revealing novel DNA repair target avenues for therapeutic development. In this review, we summarize the common mechanisms of neurodegeneration in ALS and FTD, with a particular emphasis on the DNA repair defects induced by ALS/FTD causative genes. We also highlight the consequences of DNA repair defects in ALS/FTD and the therapeutic potential of DNA damage repair-targeted amelioration of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience Research at Neurological Surgery, Weill Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Manohar Kodavati
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Gavin W. Britz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience Research at Neurological Surgery, Weill Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Muralidhar L. Hegde
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience Research at Neurological Surgery, Weill Medical College, New York, NY, United States
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28
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Anoar S, Woodling NS, Niccoli T. Mitochondria Dysfunction in Frontotemporal Dementia/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Lessons From Drosophila Models. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:786076. [PMID: 34899176 PMCID: PMC8652125 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.786076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by declining motor and cognitive functions. Even though these diseases present with distinct sets of symptoms, FTD and ALS are two extremes of the same disease spectrum, as they show considerable overlap in genetic, clinical and neuropathological features. Among these overlapping features, mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with both FTD and ALS. Recent studies have shown that cells derived from patients' induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)s display mitochondrial abnormalities, and similar abnormalities have been observed in a number of animal disease models. Drosophila models have been widely used to study FTD and ALS because of their rapid generation time and extensive set of genetic tools. A wide array of fly models have been developed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of toxicity for mutations associated with FTD/ALS. Fly models have been often instrumental in understanding the role of disease associated mutations in mitochondria biology. In this review, we discuss how mutations associated with FTD/ALS disrupt mitochondrial function, and we review how the use of Drosophila models has been pivotal to our current knowledge in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharifah Anoar
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nathaniel S Woodling
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Teresa Niccoli
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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29
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Kok JR, Palminha NM, Dos Santos Souza C, El-Khamisy SF, Ferraiuolo L. DNA damage as a mechanism of neurodegeneration in ALS and a contributor to astrocyte toxicity. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5707-5729. [PMID: 34173837 PMCID: PMC8316199 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03872-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence supports the involvement of DNA damage in several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Elevated levels of DNA damage are consistently observed in both sporadic and familial forms of ALS and may also play a role in Western Pacific ALS, which is thought to have an environmental cause. The cause of DNA damage in ALS remains unclear but likely differs between genetic subgroups. Repeat expansion in the C9ORF72 gene is the most common genetic cause of familial ALS and responsible for about 10% of sporadic cases. These genetic mutations are known to cause R-loops, thus increasing genomic instability and DNA damage, and generate dipeptide repeat proteins, which have been shown to lead to DNA damage and impairment of the DNA damage response. Similarly, several genes associated with ALS including TARDBP, FUS, NEK1, SQSTM1 and SETX are known to play a role in DNA repair and the DNA damage response, and thus may contribute to neuronal death via these pathways. Another consistent feature present in both sporadic and familial ALS is the ability of astrocytes to induce motor neuron death, although the factors causing this toxicity remain largely unknown. In this review, we summarise the evidence for DNA damage playing a causative or secondary role in the pathogenesis of ALS as well as discuss the possible mechanisms involved in different genetic subtypes with particular focus on the role of astrocytes initiating or perpetuating DNA damage in neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannigje Rachel Kok
- University of Sheffield, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Sheffield, UK
| | - Nelma M Palminha
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The Healthy Lifespan Institute, Sheffield, UK
- The Institute of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Cleide Dos Santos Souza
- University of Sheffield, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Sheffield, UK
| | - Sherif F El-Khamisy
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The Healthy Lifespan Institute, Sheffield, UK.
- The Institute of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
- The Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, West Yorkshire, UK.
| | - Laura Ferraiuolo
- University of Sheffield, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Sheffield, UK.
- The Institute of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
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30
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Predicted Cellular Interactors of the Endogenous Retrovirus-K Integrase Enzyme. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9071509. [PMID: 34361946 PMCID: PMC8303831 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9071509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Integrase (IN) enzymes are found in all retroviruses and are crucial in the retroviral integration process. Many studies have revealed how exogenous IN enzymes, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) IN, contribute to altered cellular function. However, the same consideration has not been given to viral IN originating from symbionts within our own DNA. Endogenous retrovirus-K (ERVK) is pathologically associated with neurological and inflammatory diseases along with several cancers. The ERVK IN interactome is unknown, and the question of how conserved the ERVK IN protein-protein interaction motifs are as compared to other retroviral integrases is addressed in this paper. The ERVK IN protein sequence was analyzed using the Eukaryotic Linear Motif (ELM) database, and the results are compared to ELMs of other betaretroviral INs and similar eukaryotic INs. A list of putative ERVK IN cellular protein interactors was curated from the ELM list and submitted for STRING analysis to generate an ERVK IN interactome. KEGG analysis was used to identify key pathways potentially influenced by ERVK IN. It was determined that the ERVK IN potentially interacts with cellular proteins involved in the DNA damage response (DDR), cell cycle, immunity, inflammation, cell signaling, selective autophagy, and intracellular trafficking. The most prominent pathway identified was viral carcinogenesis, in addition to select cancers, neurological diseases, and diabetic complications. This potentiates the role of ERVK IN in these pathologies via protein-protein interactions facilitating alterations in key disease pathways.
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31
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Guardians of the genome: DNA damage and repair. Essays Biochem 2021; 64:683-685. [PMID: 33094811 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20200109] [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: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This collection of reviews aims to summarise our current understanding of a fundamental question: how do we deal with DNA damage? After identifying key players that are important for this process, we are now starting to reveal the dynamic organisation of detecting and repairing DNA damage. Reviews in this issue provide an update on the exciting research progress that is happening now in this field and also initiate discussion about future challenges and directions that we are heading to.
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32
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Klaric JA, Wüst S, Panier S. New Faces of old Friends: Emerging new Roles of RNA-Binding Proteins in the DNA Double-Strand Break Response. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:668821. [PMID: 34026839 PMCID: PMC8138124 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.668821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are highly cytotoxic DNA lesions. To protect genomic stability and ensure cell homeostasis, cells mount a complex signaling-based response that not only coordinates the repair of the broken DNA strand but also activates cell cycle checkpoints and, if necessary, induces cell death. The last decade has seen a flurry of studies that have identified RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) as novel regulators of the DSB response. While many of these RBPs have well-characterized roles in gene expression, it is becoming increasingly clear that they also have non-canonical functions in the DSB response that go well beyond transcription, splicing and mRNA processing. Here, we review the current understanding of how RBPs are integrated into the cellular response to DSBs and describe how these proteins directly participate in signal transduction, amplification and repair at damaged chromatin. In addition, we discuss the implications of an RBP-mediated DSB response for genome instability and age-associated diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Klaric
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Stas Wüst
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Stephanie Panier
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany.,Cologne Cluster of Excellence in Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) Research Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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