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Tenchov R, Sasso JM, Zhou QA. Polyglutamine (PolyQ) Diseases: Navigating the Landscape of Neurodegeneration. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2665-2694. [PMID: 38996083 PMCID: PMC11311141 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00184] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders caused by expanded cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats encoding proteins with abnormally expanded polyglutamine tract. A total of nine polyQ disorders have been identified, including Huntington's disease, six spinocerebellar ataxias, dentatorubral pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). The diseases of this class are each considered rare, yet polyQ diseases constitute the largest group of monogenic neurodegenerative disorders. While each subtype of polyQ diseases has its own causative gene, certain pathologic molecular attributes have been implicated in virtually all of the polyQ diseases, including protein aggregation, proteolytic cleavage, neuronal dysfunction, transcription dysregulation, autophagy impairment, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Although animal models of polyQ disease are available helping to understand their pathogenesis and access disease-modifying therapies, there is neither a cure nor prevention for these diseases, with only symptomatic treatments available. In this paper, we analyze data from the CAS Content Collection to summarize the research progress in the class of polyQ diseases. We examine the publication landscape in the area in effort to provide insights into current knowledge advances and developments. We review the most discussed concepts and assess the strategies to combat these diseases. Finally, we inspect clinical applications of products against polyQ diseases with their development pipelines. The objective of this review is to provide a broad overview of the evolving landscape of current knowledge regarding the class of polyQ diseases, to outline challenges, and evaluate growth opportunities to further efforts in combating the diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rumiana Tenchov
- CAS, a division of the American
Chemical Society, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Janet M. Sasso
- CAS, a division of the American
Chemical Society, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
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Stahl A, Tomchik SM. Modeling neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders in the Drosophila mushroom body. Learn Mem 2024; 31:a053816. [PMID: 38876485 PMCID: PMC11199955 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053816.123] [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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
The common fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster provides a powerful platform to investigate the genetic, molecular, cellular, and neural circuit mechanisms of behavior. Research in this model system has shed light on multiple aspects of brain physiology and behavior, from fundamental neuronal function to complex behaviors. A major anatomical region that modulates complex behaviors is the mushroom body (MB). The MB integrates multimodal sensory information and is involved in behaviors ranging from sensory processing/responses to learning and memory. Many genes that underlie brain disorders are conserved, from flies to humans, and studies in Drosophila have contributed significantly to our understanding of the mechanisms of brain disorders. Genetic mutations that mimic human diseases-such as Fragile X syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease-affect MB structure and function, altering behavior. Studies dissecting the effects of disease-causing mutations in the MB have identified key pathological mechanisms, and the development of a complete connectome promises to add a comprehensive anatomical framework for disease modeling. Here, we review Drosophila models of human neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders via the effects of their underlying mutations on MB structure, function, and the resulting behavioral alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Stahl
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
| | - Seth M Tomchik
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
- Hawk-IDDRC, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
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Bhatnagar A, Parmar V, Barbieri N, Bearoff F, Elefant F, Kortagere S. Novel EAAT2 activators improve motor and cognitive impairment in a transgenic model of Huntington's disease. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1176777. [PMID: 37351153 PMCID: PMC10282606 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1176777] [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: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Glutamate excitotoxicity is causal in striatal neurodegeneration underlying motor dysfunction and cognitive deficits in Huntington's disease (HD). Excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2), the predominant glutamate transporter accounting for >90% of glutamate transport, plays a key role in preventing excitotoxicity by clearing excess glutamate from the intrasynaptic cleft. Accordingly, EAAT2 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for prevention of neuronal excitotoxicity underlying HD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Methods We have previously designed novel EAAT2 positive allosteric modulator GT951, GTS467, and GTS551, with low nanomolar efficacy in glutamate uptake and favorable pharmacokinetic properties. In this study, we test the neuroprotective abilities of these novel EAAT2 activators in vivo using the robust Drosophila HD transgenic model expressing human huntingtin gene with expanded repeats (Htt128Q). Results All three compounds significantly restored motor function impaired under HD pathology over a wide dose range. Additionally, treatment with all three compounds significantly improved HD-associated olfactory associative learning and short-term memory defects, while GT951 and GTS551 also improved middle-term memory in low-performing group. Similarly, treatment with GT951 and GTS551 partially protected against early mortality observed in our HD model. Further, treatment with all three EAAT2 activators induced epigenetic expression of EAAT2 Drosophila homolog and several cognition-associated genes. Conclusion Together, these results highlight the efficacy of GT951, GTS467 and GTS551 in treating motor and cognitive impairments under HD pathology and support their development for treatment of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Bhatnagar
- Department of Biology, Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Visha Parmar
- Department of Biology, Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Nicholas Barbieri
- Department of Biology, Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Frank Bearoff
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Felice Elefant
- Department of Biology, Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sandhya Kortagere
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Reyes-Ortiz AM, Abud EM, Burns MS, Wu J, Hernandez SJ, McClure N, Wang KQ, Schulz CJ, Miramontes R, Lau A, Michael N, Miyoshi E, Van Vactor D, Reidling JC, Blurton-Jones M, Swarup V, Poon WW, Lim RG, Thompson LM. Single-nuclei transcriptome analysis of Huntington disease iPSC and mouse astrocytes implicates maturation and functional deficits. iScience 2023; 26:105732. [PMID: 36590162 PMCID: PMC9800269 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by expanded CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene that alters cellular homeostasis, particularly in the striatum and cortex. Astrocyte signaling that establishes and maintains neuronal functions are often altered under pathological conditions. We performed single-nuclei RNA-sequencing on human HD patient-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes and on striatal and cortical tissue from R6/2 HD mice to investigate high-resolution HD astrocyte cell state transitions. We observed altered maturation and glutamate signaling in HD human and mouse astrocytes. Human HD astrocytes also showed upregulated actin-mediated signaling, suggesting that some states may be cell-autonomous and human specific. In both species, astrogliogenesis transcription factors may drive HD astrocyte maturation deficits, which are supported by rescued climbing deficits in HD drosophila with NFIA knockdown. Thus, dysregulated HD astrocyte states may induce dysfunctional astrocytic properties, in part due to maturation deficits influenced by astrogliogenesis transcription factor dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M. Reyes-Ortiz
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Edsel M. Abud
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Mara S. Burns
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Sarah J. Hernandez
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Nicolette McClure
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Keona Q. Wang
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Corey J. Schulz
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Ricardo Miramontes
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Alice Lau
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Neethu Michael
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Emily Miyoshi
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - David Van Vactor
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Cell Biology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - John C. Reidling
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Mathew Blurton-Jones
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Vivek Swarup
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Wayne W. Poon
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Ryan G. Lim
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Leslie M. Thompson
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
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Benoit I, Di Curzio D, Civetta A, Douville RN. Drosophila as a Model for Human Viral Neuroinfections. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172685. [PMID: 36078091 PMCID: PMC9454636 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172685] [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: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of human neurological infection faces many technical and ethical challenges. While not as common as mammalian models, the use of Drosophila (fruit fly) in the investigation of virus–host dynamics is a powerful research tool. In this review, we focus on the benefits and caveats of using Drosophila as a model for neurological infections and neuroimmunity. Through the examination of in vitro, in vivo and transgenic systems, we highlight select examples to illustrate the use of flies for the study of exogenous and endogenous viruses associated with neurological disease. In each case, phenotypes in Drosophila are compared to those in human conditions. In addition, we discuss antiviral drug screening in flies and how investigating virus–host interactions may lead to novel antiviral drug targets. Together, we highlight standardized and reproducible readouts of fly behaviour, motor function and neurodegeneration that permit an accurate assessment of neurological outcomes for the study of viral infection in fly models. Adoption of Drosophila as a valuable model system for neurological infections has and will continue to guide the discovery of many novel virus–host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilena Benoit
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 599 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2G3, Canada
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, 351 Taché Ave, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada
| | - Domenico Di Curzio
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, 351 Taché Ave, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada
| | - Alberto Civetta
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 599 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2G3, Canada
| | - Renée N. Douville
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 599 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2G3, Canada
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, 351 Taché Ave, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada
- Correspondence:
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Chen ZS, Yan M, Pei W, Yan B, Huang C, Chan HYE. Lignin-carbohydrate complexes suppress SCA3 neurodegeneration via upregulating proteasomal activities. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 218:690-705. [PMID: 35872311 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.07.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs) represent a group of macromolecules with diverse biological functions such as antioxidative properties. Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases such as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) comprise a set of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the formation of polyQ protein aggregates in patient neurons. LCCs have been reported to prevent such protein aggregation. In this study, we identified a potential mechanism underlying the above anti-protein aggregation activity. We isolated and characterized multiple LCC fractions from bamboo and poplar and found that lignin-rich LCCs (BM-LCC-AcOH and PR-LCC-AcOH) effectively eliminated both monomeric and aggregated mutant ataxin-3 (ATXN3polyQ) proteins in neuronal cells and a Drosophila melanogaster SCA3 disease model. In addition, treatment with BM-LCC-AcOH or PR-LCC-AcOH rescued photoreceptor degeneration in vivo. At the mechanistic level, we demonstrated that BM-LCC-AcOH and PR-LCC-AcOH upregulated proteasomal activity. When proteasomal function was impaired, the ability of the LCCs to suppress ATXN3polyQ aggregation was abolished. Thus, we identified a previously undescribed proteasome-inducing function of LCCs and showed that such activity is indispensable for the beneficial effects of LCCs on SCA3 neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhefan Stephen Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Mingqi Yan
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Wenhui Pei
- Co-Innovation Center for Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Department of Bioengineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bowen Yan
- Co-Innovation Center for Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Department of Bioengineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Caoxing Huang
- Co-Innovation Center for Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Department of Bioengineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Ho Yin Edwin Chan
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China; Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China.
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7
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Li Y, Cai J, Du C, Lin Y, Li S, Ma A, Qin Y. Bioinformatic analysis and antiviral effect of Periplaneta americana defensins. Virus Res 2021; 308:198627. [PMID: 34785275 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Due to the lack of an adaptive immune system, insects rely on innate immune mechanisms to fight against pathogenic infections. Two major innate immune pathways, Toll and IMD, orchestrate anti-pathogen responses by regulating the expression of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes. Although the antifungal or antibacterial function of AMPs has been well characterized, the antiviral role of AMPs in insects remains largely unclear. Periplaneta americana (P. americana), or the American cockroach, is used in traditional Chinese medicine as an antiviral agent; however, the underlying mechanism of action of P. americana extracts is unclear. Our previous study showed that the P. americana genome encodes multiple antimicrobial peptide genes. Based on these data, we predicted five novel P. americana defensins (PaDefensins) and analyzed their primary structure, secondary structure, and physicochemical properties. The putative antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, and anticancer activities suggested that PaDefensin5 is a desirable therapeutic candidate against viral diseases. As the first experimental evidence of the antiviral effects of insect defensins, we also showed the antiviral effect of PaDefensin5 in Drosophila Kc cells and Drosophila embryos in vivo . In conclusion, results of both in silico predictions and subsequent antiviral experiments suggested PaDefensin5 a promising antiviral drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Jie Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Chunyu Du
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Yuhua Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Anping Ma
- Insititution of chemical surveillance, Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yiru Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Insititution of chemical surveillance, Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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8
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Li C, Ye Z, Xu Y, Bell SEJ. An overview of therapeutic anticancer drug monitoring based on surface enhanced (resonance) Raman spectroscopy (SE(R)RS). Analyst 2021; 145:6211-6221. [PMID: 32794527 DOI: 10.1039/d0an00891e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is important for many therapeutic regimens and has particular relevance for anticancer drugs which often have serious effects and whose optimum dosage can vary significantly between different patients. Many of the features of surface enhanced (resonance) Raman spectroscopy (SE(R)RS) suggest it should be very suitable for TDM of anticancer drugs and some initial studies which explore the potential of SE(R)RS for TDM of anticancer drugs have been published. This review brings this work together in an attempt to draw some general observations about key aspects of the approach, including the nature of the substrate used, matrix interference effects and factors governing adsorption of the target molecules onto the enhancing surface. There is now sufficient evidence to suggest that none of these pose real difficulties in the context of TDM. However, some issues, particularly the need to carry out multiplex measurements for TDM of combination therapies, have yet to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunchun Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University Belfast, University Road, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK.
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9
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Subhan I, Siddique YH. Modulation of Huntington's disease in Drosophila. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS-DRUG TARGETS 2021; 20:894-903. [PMID: 33845728 DOI: 10.2174/1871527320666210412155508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder which deteriorates the physical and mental abilities of the patients. It is an autosomal dominant disorder and is mainly caused by the expansion of a repeating CAG triplet. A number of animal models ranging from worms, fruit flies, mice and rats to pigs, sheep and monkeys are available which have been helpful in understanding various pathways involved during the progression of the disease. Drosophila is one of the most commonly used model organisms for biomedical science, due to low cost maintenance, short life span and easily implications of genetic tools. The present review provides brief description of HD and the studies carried out for HD to date taking Drosophila as a model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iqra Subhan
- Drosophila Transgenic Laboratory, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002, Uttar Pradesh. India
| | - Yasir Hasan Siddique
- Drosophila Transgenic Laboratory, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002, Uttar Pradesh. India
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10
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Tandon S, Sarkar S. The S6k/4E-BP mediated growth promoting sub-pathway of insulin signalling cascade is essential to restrict pathogenesis of poly(Q) disorders in Drosophila. Life Sci 2021; 275:119358. [PMID: 33744321 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Human neurodegenerative polyglutamine [poly(Q)] disorders, such as Huntington's disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA), are characterised by an abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the affected gene. The mutated proteins misfold and aggregate to form inclusion bodies that sequester important factors involved in cellular transcription, growth, stress and autophagic response and other essential functions. The insulin signalling pathway has been demonstrated as a major modifier and a potential drug target to ameliorate the poly(Q) mediated neurotoxicity in various model systems. Insulin signalling cascade harbours several downstream sub-pathways, which are synergistically involved in discharging indispensable biological functions such as growth and proliferation, metabolism, autophagy, regulation of cell death pathways etc. Hence, it is difficult to conclude whether the mitigation of poly(Q) neurotoxicity is an accumulative outcome of the insulin cascade, or the result of a specific sub-pathway. For the first time, we report that the ligand binding domain of insulin receptor mediated downstream growth promoting sub-pathway plays the pivotal role in operating the rescue event. We show that the growth promoting activity of insulin cascade is essential to minimize the abundance of inclusion bodies, to restrict neurodegeneration, and to restore the cellular transcriptional balance. Subsequently, we noted the involvement of the mTOR/S6k/4E-BP candidates in mitigating poly(Q) mediated neurotoxicity. Due to the conserved cellular functioning of the insulin cascade across species, and availability of several growth promoting molecules, our results in Drosophila poly(Q) models indicate towards a possibility of designing novel therapeutic strategies to restrict the pathogenesis of devastating human poly(Q) disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Tandon
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110 021, India
| | - Surajit Sarkar
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110 021, India.
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11
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Xu F, Kula-Eversole E, Iwanaszko M, Hutchison AL, Dinner A, Allada R. Circadian Clocks Function in Concert with Heat Shock Organizing Protein to Modulate Mutant Huntingtin Aggregation and Toxicity. Cell Rep 2020; 27:59-70.e4. [PMID: 30943415 PMCID: PMC7237104 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases commonly involve the disruption of circadian rhythms. Studies indicate that mutant Huntingtin (mHtt), the cause of Huntington’s disease (HD), disrupts circadian rhythms often before motor symptoms are evident. Yet little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which mHtt impairs circadian rhythmicity and whether circadian clocks can modulate HD pathogenesis. To address this question, we used a Drosophila HD model. We found that both environmental and genetic perturbations of the circadian clock alter mHtt-mediated neurodegeneration. To identify potential genetic pathways that mediate these effects, we applied a behavioral platform to screen for clock-regulated HD suppressors, identifying a role for Heat Shock Protein 70/90 Organizing Protein (Hop). Hop knockdown paradoxically reduces mHtt aggregation and toxicity. These studies demonstrate a role for the circadian clock in a neurodegenerative disease model and reveal a clock-regulated molecular and cellular pathway that links clock function to neurodegenerative disease. Disruption of circadian rhythms is frequently observed across a range of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, Xu et al. demonstrate that perturbation of circadian clocks alters the toxicity of the mutant Huntingtin protein, the cause of Huntington’s disease (HD). Moreover, they reveal a key mechanistic link between the clock and HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangke Xu
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | | | - Marta Iwanaszko
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alan L Hutchison
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Aaron Dinner
- James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ravi Allada
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
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12
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A standardized method for incorporation of drugs into food for use with Drosophila melanogaster. Anal Biochem 2020; 599:113740. [PMID: 32320689 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2020.113740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
With any in vivo model, diet plays an important role, even in an organism as simple as the fruit fly - Drosophila melanogaster. Flies serve as good surrogates to study human diseases as approximately 77% of human disease genes are orthologous in the fly. Though breeding and caring for fruit flies is simple, the use of this organism in drug discovery is wide-ranging, especially in the administration of drugs to flies, via their food. We present a standard method for preparing fly food containing drugs for administration to Drosophila melanogaster, from a chemist's perspective.
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13
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Shim KH, Kim SH, Hur J, Kim DH, Demirev AV, Yoon SY. Small-molecule drug screening identifies drug Ro 31-8220 that reduces toxic phosphorylated tau in Drosophila melanogaster. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 130:104519. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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14
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Singh V, Patel KA, Sharma RK, Patil PR, Joshi AS, Parihar R, Athilingam T, Sinha N, Ganesh S, Sinha P, Roy I, Thakur AK. Discovery of Arginine Ethyl Ester as Polyglutamine Aggregation Inhibitor: Conformational Transitioning of Huntingtin N-Terminus Augments Aggregation Suppression. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:3969-3985. [PMID: 31460743 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic disorder caused by a CAG expansion mutation in the huntingtin gene leading to polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the N-terminal part of huntingtin (Httex1). Expanded polyQ, through a complex aggregation pathway, forms aggregates in neurons and presents a potential therapeutic target. Here we show Httex1 aggregation suppression by arginine and arginine ethyl ester (AEE) in vitro, as well as in yeast and mammalian cell models of HD, bearing expanded polyQ. These molecules also rescue locomotion dysfunction in HD Drosophila model. Both molecules alter the hydrogen bonding network of polyQ to enhance its aqueous solubility and delay aggregation. AEE shows direct binding with the NT17 part of Httex1 to induce structural changes to impart an enhanced inhibitory effect. This study provides a platform for the development of better arginine based therapeutic molecules against polyQ-rich Httex1 aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virender Singh
- Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Kinjal A. Patel
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160062, India
| | - Raj Kumar Sharma
- Centre of Biomedical Research, SGPGIMS Campus, Raibarelly Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226014, India
| | - Pratik R. Patil
- Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Abhayraj S. Joshi
- Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Rashmi Parihar
- Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Thamarailingam Athilingam
- Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Neeraj Sinha
- Centre of Biomedical Research, SGPGIMS Campus, Raibarelly Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226014, India
| | - Subramaniam Ganesh
- Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Pradip Sinha
- Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Ipsita Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160062, India
| | - Ashwani Kumar Thakur
- Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
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15
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Verma AK, Khan E, Bhagwat SR, Kumar A. Exploring the Potential of Small Molecule-Based Therapeutic Approaches for Targeting Trinucleotide Repeat Disorders. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 57:566-584. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01724-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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16
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Zhunina OA, Yabbarov NG, Orekhov AN, Deykin AV. Modern approaches for modelling dystonia and Huntington's disease in vitro and in vivo. Int J Exp Pathol 2019; 100:64-71. [PMID: 31090117 DOI: 10.1111/iep.12320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Dystonia associated with Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease or other neurodegenerative diseases substantially affects patients' quality of life and is a major health problem worldwide. The above-mentioned diseases are characterized by neurodegeneration accompanied by motor and cognitive impairment and often have complex aetiology. A frequent feature of these conditions is the abnormal accumulation of protein aggregates within specific neuronal populations in the affected brain regions. Familial neurodegenerative diseases are associated with a number of genetic mutations. Identification of these mutations allowed creation of modern model systems for studying neurodegeneration, either in cultured cells or in model animals. Animal models, especially mouse models, have contributed considerably to improving our understanding of the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. These models have allowed study of the pathogenic mechanisms and development of new disease-modifying strategies and therapeutic approaches. However, due to the complex nature of these pathologies and the irreversible damage that they cause to the neural tissue, effective therapies against neurodegeneration remain to be elaborated. In this review, we provide an overview of cellular and animal models developed for studying neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease and dystonia of different origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Zhunina
- JSC "Russian Research Center for Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy", Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikita G Yabbarov
- JSC "Russian Research Center for Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy", Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander N Orekhov
- Laboratory of Angiopathology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russia.,Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, Skolkovo Innovative Center, Moscow, Russia
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17
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Joshi AS, Singh V, Gahane A, Thakur AK. Biodegradable Nanoparticles Containing Mechanism Based Peptide Inhibitors Reduce Polyglutamine Aggregation in Cell Models and Alleviate Motor Symptoms in a Drosophila Model of Huntington's Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:1603-1614. [PMID: 30452227 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Detailed study of the molecular mechanism behind the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease (HD) suggests that polyglutamine aggregation is one of the fundamental reasons for HD. Despite the discovery of many potential molecules, HD therapy is still limited to symptomatic relief. Among these molecules, few mechanism based peptide inhibitors of polyglutamine aggregation (QBP1, NT17 and PGQ9P2) have shown promising activity; however, poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, low bioavailability, and low half-life may hinder their therapeutic potential. Hence, to deliver them to the brain for assessing their efficacy, we have designed and synthesized peptide loaded poly-d,l-lactide- co-glycolide (PLGA) nanoparticles of less than 200 nm in size by carbodiimide chemistry and nanoprecipitation protocols. For brain delivery, PLGA nanoparticles were coated with polysorbate 80 which aids receptor mediated internalization. Using the in vitro BBB model of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells and healthy mice, the translocation of polysorbate 80 coated fluorescent nanoparticles was confirmed. Moreover, QBP1, NT17, and PGQ9P2 loaded PLGA nanoparticles showed dose dependent inhibition of polyglutamine aggregation in cell models of HD (Neuro 2A and PC12 cells) and improved motor performance in Drosophila model of HD. Additionally, no toxicity in cells and animals confirmed biocompatibility of the nanoparticulate formulations. Based on this work, future studies can be designed in higher animal models to test peptide loaded nanoparticles in HD and other polyglutamine expansion related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhayraj S. Joshi
- Department of Biological Sciences & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 208016
| | - Virender Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 208016
| | - Avinash Gahane
- Department of Biological Sciences & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 208016
| | - Ashwani Kumar Thakur
- Department of Biological Sciences & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 208016
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18
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Johnson TB, Cain JT, White KA, Ramirez-Montealegre D, Pearce DA, Weimer JM. Therapeutic landscape for Batten disease: current treatments and future prospects. Nat Rev Neurol 2019; 15:161-178. [PMID: 30783219 PMCID: PMC6681450 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-019-0138-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Batten disease (also known as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses) constitutes a family of devastating lysosomal storage disorders that collectively represent the most common inherited paediatric neurodegenerative disorders worldwide. Batten disease can result from mutations in 1 of 13 genes. These mutations lead to a group of diseases with loosely overlapping symptoms and pathology. Phenotypically, patients with Batten disease have visual impairment and blindness, cognitive and motor decline, seizures and premature death. Pathologically, Batten disease is characterized by lysosomal accumulation of autofluorescent storage material, glial reactivity and neuronal loss. Substantial progress has been made towards the development of effective therapies and treatments for the multiple forms of Batten disease. In 2017, cerliponase alfa (Brineura), a tripeptidyl peptidase enzyme replacement therapy, became the first globally approved treatment for CLN2 Batten disease. Here, we provide an overview of the promising therapeutic avenues for Batten disease, highlighting current FDA-approved clinical trials and prospective future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler B Johnson
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Jacob T Cain
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Katherine A White
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | | | - David A Pearce
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
| | - Jill M Weimer
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
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19
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Single-Layered Microfluidic Network-Based Combinatorial Dilution for Standard Simplex Lattice Design. MICROMACHINES 2018; 9:mi9100489. [PMID: 30424422 PMCID: PMC6215202 DOI: 10.3390/mi9100489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we presented a straightforward strategy to generate 15 combinations of three samples based on an experimental simplex lattice design using a single-layer microfluidic network. First, we investigated the performances of the plain structural and the groove structural combinatorial devices by computational simulation (CFD-ACE+). The simulated output concentrations were extremely close to the desirable values within an absolute error of less than 1%. Based on the simulated designs, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) devices were fabricated with soft lithography and tested with fluorescent dye (sodium salt). The mixing results for 15 combinations showed good performance, with an absolute error of less than 4%. We also investigated two liquid handling methods (bottom⁻up and top⁻down) for high-throughput screening and assay. The liquid-handling methods were successfully accomplished by adding the systematic structured groove sets on the mixing channels.
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20
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Boland B, Yu WH, Corti O, Mollereau B, Henriques A, Bezard E, Pastores GM, Rubinsztein DC, Nixon RA, Duchen MR, Mallucci GR, Kroemer G, Levine B, Eskelinen EL, Mochel F, Spedding M, Louis C, Martin OR, Millan MJ. Promoting the clearance of neurotoxic proteins in neurodegenerative disorders of ageing. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2018; 17:660-688. [PMID: 30116051 DOI: 10.1038/nrd.2018.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 335] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders of ageing (NDAs) such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis represent a major socio-economic challenge in view of their high prevalence yet poor treatment. They are often called 'proteinopathies' owing to the presence of misfolded and aggregated proteins that lose their physiological roles and acquire neurotoxic properties. One reason underlying the accumulation and spread of oligomeric forms of neurotoxic proteins is insufficient clearance by the autophagic-lysosomal network. Several other clearance pathways are also compromised in NDAs: chaperone-mediated autophagy, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, extracellular clearance by proteases and extrusion into the circulation via the blood-brain barrier and glymphatic system. This article focuses on emerging mechanisms for promoting the clearance of neurotoxic proteins, a strategy that may curtail the onset and slow the progression of NDAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry Boland
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Wai Haung Yu
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Taub Institute for Alzheimer's Disease Research, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Olga Corti
- ICM Institute for Brain and Spinal Cord, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Erwan Bezard
- CNRS, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Bordeaux, France
| | - Greg M Pastores
- Department of Metabolic Diseases, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David C Rubinsztein
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge and UK Dementia Research Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ralph A Nixon
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA.,Departments of Psychiatry and Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael R Duchen
- UCL Consortium for Mitochondrial Research and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Giovanna R Mallucci
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France.,Equipe 11 labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.,INSERM U1138, Paris, France.,Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,Karolinska Institute, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Pôle de Biologie, Hopitâl Européen George Pompidou (AP-HP), Paris, France
| | - Beth Levine
- Center for Autophagy Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Fanny Mochel
- INSERM U 1127, Brain and Spine Institute, Paris, France
| | | | - Caroline Louis
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation in Neuropsychiatry, IDR Servier, 78290 Croissy sur Seine, France
| | - Olivier R Martin
- Université d'Orléans & CNRS, Institut de Chimie Organique et Analytique (ICOA), Orléans, France
| | - Mark J Millan
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation in Neuropsychiatry, IDR Servier, 78290 Croissy sur Seine, France
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21
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Varga J, Dér NP, Zsindely N, Bodai L. Green tea infusion alleviates neurodegeneration induced by mutant Huntingtin in Drosophila. Nutr Neurosci 2018; 23:183-189. [PMID: 29973113 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2018.1484021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Green tea infusion contains a complex mixture of polyphenolic compounds that were shown to provide health benefits. It was previously demonstrated that (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, one of the major polyphenols present in green tea, has a suppressing effect on various aspects of pathogenesis in models of Huntington's disease (HD), an inherited neurodegenerative disorder. In this study, we aimed to investigate, whether green tea infusion prepared as for human consumption has similar positive effects.Methods: We used a transgenic Drosophila model of HD to study the effects of green tea on mutant Huntingtin induced phenotypes. We tested the effects of green tea infusion on mutant Huntingtin induced neurodegeneration, impaired motor performance, reduced viability and lifespan by pseudopupil assay, climbing assay, eclosion and survival tests, respectively. We used immunoblots to measure Huntingtin protein levels and tested generic health benefits of green tea by longevity analysis.Results: We found that green tea supplementation reduced mutant Huntingtin induced neurodegeneration in Drosophila and positively impacted the longevity of mutant Huntingtin expressing flies. However, green tea did not rescue reduced viability of Drosophila expressing mutant Huntingtin or increased longevity of wild-type fruit flies.Discussion: Our results indicate that green tea consumption might have a modest positive effect on symptoms of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlia Varga
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,Doctoral School in Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Petra Dér
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Nóra Zsindely
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Bodai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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22
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Saavedra A, García-Díaz Barriga G, Pérez-Navarro E, Alberch J. Huntington's disease: novel therapeutic perspectives hanging in the balance. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2018; 22:385-399. [PMID: 29671352 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2018.1465930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Huntington's disease (HD), an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene, has long been characterized by the presence of motor symptoms due to the loss of striatal projection neurons. Cognitive dysfunction and neuropsychiatric symptoms are also present and they occur in the absence of cell death in most mouse models, pointing to neuronal dysfunction and abnormal synaptic plasticity as causative mechanisms. Areas covered: Here, we focus on those common mechanisms altered by the presence of mutant huntingtin affecting corticostriatal and hippocampal function as therapeutic targets that could prove beneficial to ameliorate both cognitive and motor function in HD. Specifically, we discuss the importance of reestablishing the balance in (1) synaptic/extrasynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor signaling, (2) mitochondrial dynamics/trafficking, (3) TrkB/p75NTR signaling, and (4) transcriptional activity. Expert opinion: Mutant huntingtin has a broad impact on multiple cellular processes, which makes it very challenging to design a curative therapeutic strategy. As we point out here, novel therapeutic interventions should look for multi-purpose drugs targeting common and early affected processes leading to corticostriatal and hippocampal dysfunction that additionally operate in a feedforward vicious cycle downstream the activation of extrasynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Saavedra
- a Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Institut de Neurociències , Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.,b Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) , Barcelona , Spain.,c Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) , Spain
| | - Gerardo García-Díaz Barriga
- a Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Institut de Neurociències , Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.,b Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) , Barcelona , Spain.,c Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) , Spain
| | - Esther Pérez-Navarro
- a Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Institut de Neurociències , Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.,b Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) , Barcelona , Spain.,c Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) , Spain
| | - Jordi Alberch
- a Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Institut de Neurociències , Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.,b Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) , Barcelona , Spain.,c Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) , Spain
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23
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Basso M, Chen HH, Tripathy D, Conte M, Apperley KYP, De Simone A, Keillor JW, Ratan R, Nebbioso A, Sarno F, Altucci L, Milelli A. Designing Dual Transglutaminase 2/Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Effective at Halting Neuronal Death. ChemMedChem 2018; 13:227-230. [PMID: 29286587 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 12/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
In recent years there has been a clear consensus that neurodegenerative conditions can be better treated through concurrent modulation of different targets. Herein we report that combined inhibition of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) synergistically protects against toxic stimuli mediated by glutamate. Based on these findings, we designed and synthesized a series of novel dual TG2-HDAC binding agents. Compound 3 [(E)-N-hydroxy-5-(3-(4-(3-oxo-3-(pyridin-3-yl)prop-1-en-1-yl)phenyl)thioureido)pentanamide] emerged as the most interesting of the series, being able to inhibit TG2 and HDACs both in vitro (TG2 IC50 =13.3±1.5 μm, HDAC1 IC50 =3.38±0.14 μm, HDAC6 IC50 =4.10±0.13 μm) and in cell-based assays. Furthermore, compound 3 does not exert any toxic effects in cortical neurons up to 50 μm and protects neurons against toxic insults induced by glutamate (5 mm) with an EC50 value of 3.7±0.5 μm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Basso
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive n. 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Huan Huan Chen
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Corso d'Augusto 237, 47921, Rimini, Italy
| | - Debasmita Tripathy
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive n. 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Kim Y P Apperley
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, 10 Marie-Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Angela De Simone
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Corso d'Augusto 237, 47921, Rimini, Italy
| | - Jeffrey W Keillor
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, 10 Marie-Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Rajiv Ratan
- Burke Medical Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, White Plains, NY, 10605, USA
| | - Angela Nebbioso
- Dipartimento di Biochimica, Biofisica e Patologia generale, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Vico L. De Crecchio 7, 80138, Napoli, Italy
| | - Federica Sarno
- Dipartimento di Biochimica, Biofisica e Patologia generale, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Vico L. De Crecchio 7, 80138, Napoli, Italy
| | - Lucia Altucci
- Dipartimento di Biochimica, Biofisica e Patologia generale, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Vico L. De Crecchio 7, 80138, Napoli, Italy
| | - Andrea Milelli
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Corso d'Augusto 237, 47921, Rimini, Italy
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24
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Cabirol-Pol MJ, Khalil B, Rival T, Faivre-Sarrailh C, Besson MT. Glial lipid droplets and neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model of complex I deficiency. Glia 2017; 66:874-888. [PMID: 29285794 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial defects associated with respiratory chain complex I deficiency lead to heterogeneous fatal syndromes. While the role of NDUFS8, an essential subunit of the core assembly of the complex I, is established in mitochondrial diseases, the mechanisms underlying neuropathology are poorly understood. We developed a Drosophila model of NDUFS8 deficiency by knocking down the expression of its fly homologue in neurons or in glial cells. Downregulating ND23 in neurons resulted in shortened lifespan, and decreased locomotion. Although total brain ATP levels were decreased, histological analysis did not reveal any signs of neurodegeneration except for photoreceptors of the retina. Interestingly, ND23 deficiency-associated phenotypes were rescued by overexpressing the glucose transporter hGluT3 demonstrating that boosting glucose metabolism in neurons was sufficient to bypass altered mitochondrial functions and to confer neuroprotection. We then analyzed the consequences of ND23 knockdown in glial cells. In contrast to neuronal knockdown, loss of ND23 in glia did not lead to significant behavioral defects nor to reduced lifespan, but induced brain degeneration, as visualized by numerous vacuoles found all over the nervous tissue. This phenotype was accompanied by the massive accumulation of lipid droplets at the cortex-neuropile boundaries, suggesting an alteration of lipid metabolism in glia. These results demonstrate that complex I deficiency triggers metabolic alterations both in neurons and glial cells which may contribute to the neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bilal Khalil
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, CRN2M-UMR7286, 13344 Marseille cedex 15, Marseille, France.,Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, Florida
| | - Thomas Rival
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM UMR 7288, Marseille, France
| | | | - Marie Thérèse Besson
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, CRN2M-UMR7286, 13344 Marseille cedex 15, Marseille, France
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25
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Edenharter O, Clement J, Schneuwly S, Navarro JA. Overexpression of Drosophila frataxin triggers cell death in an iron-dependent manner. J Neurogenet 2017; 31:189-202. [PMID: 28838288 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2017.1363200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is the most important autosomal recessive ataxia in the Caucasian population. FRDA patients display severe neurological and cardiac symptoms that reflect a strong cellular and axonal degeneration. FRDA is caused by a loss of function of the mitochondrial protein frataxin which impairs the biosynthesis of iron-sulfur clusters and in turn the catalytic activity of several enzymes in the Krebs cycle and the respiratory chain leading to a diminished energy production. Although FRDA is due to frataxin depletion, overexpression might also be very helpful to better understand cellular functions of frataxin. In this work, we have increased frataxin expression in neurons to elucidate specific roles that frataxin might play in these tissues. Using molecular, biochemical, histological and behavioral methods, we report that frataxin overexpression is sufficient to increase oxidative phosphorylation, modify mitochondrial morphology, alter iron homeostasis and trigger oxidative stress-dependent cell death. Interestingly, genetic manipulation of mitochondrial iron metabolism by silencing mitoferrin successfully improves cell survival under oxidative-attack conditions, although enhancing antioxidant defenses or mitochondrial fusion failed to ameliorate frataxin overexpression phenotypes. This result suggests that cell degeneration is directly related to enhanced incorporation of iron into the mitochondria. Drosophila frataxin overexpression might also provide an alternative approach to identify processes that are important in FRDA such as changes in mitochondrial morphology and oxidative stress induced cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Edenharter
- a Institute of Zoology , University of Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
| | - Janik Clement
- a Institute of Zoology , University of Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
| | - Stephan Schneuwly
- a Institute of Zoology , University of Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
| | - Juan A Navarro
- a Institute of Zoology , University of Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
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Brookheart RT, Duncan JG. Modeling dietary influences on offspring metabolic programming in Drosophila melanogaster. Reproduction 2017; 152:R79-90. [PMID: 27450801 DOI: 10.1530/rep-15-0595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The influence of nutrition on offspring metabolism has become a hot topic in recent years owing to the growing prevalence of maternal and childhood obesity. Studies in mammals have identified several factors correlating with parental and early offspring dietary influences on progeny health; however, the molecular mechanisms that underlie these factors remain undiscovered. Mammalian metabolic tissues and pathways are heavily conserved in Drosophila melanogaster, making the fly an invaluable genetic model organism for studying metabolism. In this review, we discuss the metabolic similarities between mammals and Drosophila and present evidence supporting its use as an emerging model of metabolic programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita T Brookheart
- Department of PediatricsWashington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jennifer G Duncan
- Department of PediatricsWashington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
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Singh V, Sharma RK, Athilingam T, Sinha P, Sinha N, Thakur AK. NMR Spectroscopy-based Metabolomics of Drosophila Model of Huntington's Disease Suggests Altered Cell Energetics. J Proteome Res 2017; 16:3863-3872. [PMID: 28871787 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.7b00491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder induced by aggregation of the pathological form of Huntingtin protein that has expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) repeats. In the Drosophila model, for instance, expression of transgenes with polyQ repeats induces HD-like pathologies, progressively correlating with the increasing lengths of these repeats. Previous studies on both animal models and clinical samples have revealed metabolite imbalances during HD progression. To further explore the physiological processes linked to metabolite imbalances during HD, we have investigated the 1D 1H NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomics profile of Drosophila HD model. Using multivariate analysis (PCA and PLS-DA) of metabolites obtained from methanolic extracts of fly heads displaying retinal deformations due to polyQ overexpression, we show that the metabolite imbalance during HD is likely to affect cell energetics. Six out of the 35 metabolites analyzed, namely, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), lactate, pyruvate, succinate, sarcosine, and acetoin, displayed segregation with progressive severity of HD. Specifically, HD progression was seen to be associated with reduction in NAD and increase in lactate-to-pyruvate ratio. Furthermore, comparative analysis of fly HD metabolome with those of mouse HD model and HD human patients revealed comparable metabolite imbalances, suggesting altered cellular energy homeostasis. These findings thus raise the possibility of therapeutic interventions for HD via modulation of cellular energetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virender Singh
- Biological Science and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur , Kanpur 208016, India
| | - Raj Kumar Sharma
- Centre of Biomedical Research, SGPGIMS Campus , Lucknow 226014, India
| | | | - Pradip Sinha
- Biological Science and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur , Kanpur 208016, India
| | - Neeraj Sinha
- Centre of Biomedical Research, SGPGIMS Campus , Lucknow 226014, India
| | - Ashwani Kumar Thakur
- Biological Science and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur , Kanpur 208016, India
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Broderick KE, Potluri P, Zhuang S, Scheffler IE, Sharma VS, Pilz RB, Boss GR. Cyanide Detoxification by the Cobalamin Precursor Cobinamide. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2016; 231:641-9. [PMID: 16636313 DOI: 10.1177/153537020623100519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanide is a highly toxic agent that inhibits mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase, thereby depleting cellular ATP. it contributes to smoke inhalation deaths in fires and could be used as a weapon of mass destruction. Cobalamin (vitamin B12) binds cyanide with a relatively high affinity and is used in Europe to treat smoke inhalation victims. Cobinamide, the penultimate compound in cobalamin biosynthesis, binds cyanide with about 1010 greater affinity than cobalamin, and we found It was several-fold more effective than cobalamin in (i) reversing cyanide inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation in mammalian cells; (ii) rescuing mammalian cells and Drosophila melanogaster from cyanide toxicity; and (iii) reducing cyanide inhibition of Drosophila Malpighian tubule secretion. Cobinamide could be delivered by oral ingestion, inhalation, or injection to Drosophila, and it was as effective when administered up to 5 mins post-cyanide exposure as when given preexposure. We conclude that cobinamide is an effective cyanide detoxifying agent that has potential use as a cyanide antidote, both in smoke inhalation victims and in persons exposed to cyanide used as a weapon of mass destruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate E Broderick
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0652, USA
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29
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Brookheart RT, Duncan JG. Drosophila melanogaster: An emerging model of transgenerational effects of maternal obesity. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2016; 435:20-28. [PMID: 26687062 PMCID: PMC4903087 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Revised: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity in the world is endemic with one rapidly growing health concern being maternal obesity. Obesity during pregnancy increases the risk of gestational diabetes, miscarriage, and preeclampsia, while rendering offspring susceptible to developmental anomalies and long-term metabolic complications including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Several studies in humans and rodents demonstrate a correlation between the risks of maternal overnutrition and factors such as epigenetics, mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, ER stress, and immune system disruption. At present, the molecular mechanisms connecting these factors to maternal obesity are unknown. This review focuses on the use of Drosophila melanogaster to study human metabolic diseases, including obesity, and its emerging use to elucidate the mechanisms of maternal overnutrition and the impact on offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita T Brookheart
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jennifer G Duncan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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30
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Sontag EM, Lotz GP, Yang G, Sontag CJ, Cummings BJ, Glabe CG, Muchowski PJ, Thompson LM. Detection of Mutant Huntingtin Aggregation Conformers and Modulation of SDS-Soluble Fibrillar Oligomers by Small Molecules. J Huntingtons Dis 2016; 1:119-32. [PMID: 24086178 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-2012-129004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The Huntington's disease (HD) mutation leads to a complex process of Huntingtin (Htt) aggregation into multimeric species that eventually form visible inclusions in cytoplasm, nuclei and neuronal processes. One hypothesis is that smaller, soluble forms of amyloid proteins confer toxic effects and contribute to early cell dysfunction. However, analysis of mutant Htt aggregation intermediates to identify conformers that may represent toxic forms of the protein and represent potential drug targets remains difficult. We performed a detailed analysis of aggregation conformers in multiple in vitro, cell and ex vivo models of HD. Conformation-specific antibodies were used to identify and characterize aggregation species, allowing assessment of multiple conformers present during the aggregation process. Using a series of assays together with these antibodies, several forms could be identified. Fibrillar oligomers, defined as having a β-sheet rich conformation, are observed in vitro using recombinant protein and in protein extracts from cells in culture or mouse brain and shown to be globular, soluble and non-sedimentable structures. Compounds previously described to modulate visible inclusion body formation and reduce toxicity in HD models were also tested and consistently found to alter the formation of fibrillar oligomers. Interestingly, these compounds did not alter the rate of visible inclusion formation, indicating that fibrillar oligomers are not necessarily the rate limiting step of inclusion body formation. Taken together, we provide insights into the structure and formation of mutant Htt fibrillar oligomers that are modulated by small molecules with protective potential in HD models.
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31
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Curcumin modulates cell death and is protective in Huntington's disease model. Sci Rep 2016; 6:18736. [PMID: 26728250 PMCID: PMC4700531 DOI: 10.1038/srep18736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive, dominantly inherited neurological disorder caused by an abnormal expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat within the Huntingtin (Htt) protein with no disease modifying treatments. In a Drosophila model of HD, expression of mutant Huntingtin (Htt) protein with expanded polyQ leads to formation of inclusion bodies (IBs), increase in cellular toxicity, progression of motor disabilities and reduced viability. Multiple cellular events such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation and transcriptional dysregulation are reported to contribute to pathology, however, till date there are no disease-modifying treatments with least side effects. Therefore, we investigated effect of the phytochemical curcumin on HD pathogenesis. Curcumin, a phytochemical and commonly used ingredient in Asian food has a wide spectrum of anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrilogenic properties. In this study, we provide evidence that curcumin significantly ameliorates disease symptoms in a Drosophila model of HD by suppressing cell death and can be a key to halting the progression of Huntington’s disease with least side effects.
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32
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Smalley JL, Breda C, Mason RP, Kooner G, Luthi-Carter R, Gant TW, Giorgini F. Connectivity mapping uncovers small molecules that modulate neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease models. J Mol Med (Berl) 2015; 94:235-45. [PMID: 26428929 PMCID: PMC4762922 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-015-1344-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic disease caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion encoding a polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin (HTT) protein, ultimately leading to neuronal loss and consequent cognitive decline and death. As no treatments for HD currently exist, several chemical screens have been performed using cell-based models of mutant HTT toxicity. These screens measured single disease-related endpoints, such as cell death, but had low 'hit rates' and limited dimensionality for therapeutic detection. Here, we have employed gene expression microarray analysis of HD samples--a snapshot of the expression of 25,000 genes--to define a gene expression signature for HD from publically available data. We used this information to mine a database for chemicals positively and negatively correlated to the HD gene expression signature using the Connectivity Map, a tool for comparing large sets of gene expression patterns. Chemicals with negatively correlated expression profiles were highly enriched for protective characteristics against mutant HTT fragment toxicity in in vitro and in vivo models. This study demonstrates the potential of using gene expression to mine chemical activity, guide chemical screening, and detect potential novel therapeutic compounds. KEY MESSAGES Single-endpoint chemical screens have low therapeutic discovery hit-rates. In the context of HD, we guided a chemical screen using gene expression data. The resulting chemicals were highly enriched for suppressors of mutant HTT fragment toxicity. This study provides a proof of concept for wider usage in all chemical screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua L Smalley
- Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK.,MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7HB, UK
| | - Carlo Breda
- Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Robert P Mason
- Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Gurdeep Kooner
- Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Ruth Luthi-Carter
- Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Timothy W Gant
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7HB, UK.,Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Flaviano Giorgini
- Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK.
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McGurk L, Berson A, Bonini NM. Drosophila as an In Vivo Model for Human Neurodegenerative Disease. Genetics 2015; 201:377-402. [PMID: 26447127 PMCID: PMC4596656 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.115.179457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 207] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
With the increase in the ageing population, neurodegenerative disease is devastating to families and poses a huge burden on society. The brain and spinal cord are extraordinarily complex: they consist of a highly organized network of neuronal and support cells that communicate in a highly specialized manner. One approach to tackling problems of such complexity is to address the scientific questions in simpler, yet analogous, systems. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has been proven tremendously valuable as a model organism, enabling many major discoveries in neuroscientific disease research. The plethora of genetic tools available in Drosophila allows for exquisite targeted manipulation of the genome. Due to its relatively short lifespan, complex questions of brain function can be addressed more rapidly than in other model organisms, such as the mouse. Here we discuss features of the fly as a model for human neurodegenerative disease. There are many distinct fly models for a range of neurodegenerative diseases; we focus on select studies from models of polyglutamine disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that illustrate the type and range of insights that can be gleaned. In discussion of these models, we underscore strengths of the fly in providing understanding into mechanisms and pathways, as a foundation for translational and therapeutic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leeanne McGurk
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Amit Berson
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Nancy M Bonini
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
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34
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Abstract
Experimental model systems have long been used to probe the causes, consequences and mechanisms of pathology leading to human disease. Ideally, such information can be exploited to inform the development of therapeutic strategies or treatments to combat disease progression. In the case of protein misfolding diseases, a wide range of model systems have been developed to investigate different aspects of disorders including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Utility of these systems broadly correlates with evolutionary complexity: small animal models such as rodents and the fruit fly are appropriate for pharmacological modeling and cognitive/behavioral assessment, the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans allows analysis of tissue-specific disease features, and unicellular organisms such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the bacterium Escherichia coli are ideal for molecular studies. In this chapter, we highlight key advances in our understanding of protein misfolding/unfolding disease provided by model systems.
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35
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Xu Z, Tito AJ, Rui YN, Zhang S. Studying polyglutamine diseases in Drosophila. Exp Neurol 2015; 274:25-41. [PMID: 26257024 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a family of dominantly transmitted neurodegenerative disorders caused by an abnormal expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the protein-coding regions of the respective disease-causing genes. Despite their simple genetic basis, the etiology of these diseases is far from clear. Over the past two decades, Drosophila has proven to be successful in modeling this family of neurodegenerative disorders, including the faithful recapitulation of pathological features such as polyQ length-dependent formation of protein aggregates and progressive neuronal degeneration. Additionally, it has been valuable in probing the pathogenic mechanisms, in identifying and evaluating disease modifiers, and in helping elucidate the normal functions of disease-causing genes. Knowledge learned from this simple invertebrate organism has had a large impact on our understanding of these devastating brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Xu
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Antonio Joel Tito
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; Programs in Human and Molecular Genetics and Neuroscience, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Yan-Ning Rui
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Sheng Zhang
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; Programs in Human and Molecular Genetics and Neuroscience, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
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36
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Histone Deacetylases Inhibitors in the Treatment of Retinal Degenerative Diseases: Overview and Perspectives. J Ophthalmol 2015; 2015:250812. [PMID: 26137316 PMCID: PMC4468288 DOI: 10.1155/2015/250812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal degenerative diseases are one of the important refractory ophthalmic diseases, featured with apoptosis of photoreceptor cells. Histone acetylation and deacetylation can regulate chromosome assembly, gene transcription, and posttranslational modification, which are regulated by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), respectively. The histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) have the ability to cause hyperacetylation of histone and nonhistone proteins, resulting in a variety of effects on cell proliferation, differentiation, anti-inflammation, and anti-apoptosis. Several HDACis have been approved for clinical trials to treat cancer. Studies have shown that HDACis have neuroprotective effects in nervous system damage. In this paper, we will summarize the neuroprotective effects of common HDACis in retinal degenerative diseases and make a prospect to the applications of HDACis in the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases in the future.
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37
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Smith HL, Li W, Cheetham ME. Molecular chaperones and neuronal proteostasis. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2015; 40:142-52. [PMID: 25770416 PMCID: PMC4471145 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Revised: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is essential for maintaining the functionality of the proteome. The disruption of proteostasis, due to genetic mutations or an age-related decline, leads to aberrantly folded proteins that typically lose their function. The accumulation of misfolded and aggregated protein is also cytotoxic and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Neurons have developed an intrinsic protein quality control network, of which molecular chaperones are an essential component. Molecular chaperones function to promote efficient folding and target misfolded proteins for refolding or degradation. Increasing molecular chaperone expression can suppress protein aggregation and toxicity in numerous models of neurodegenerative disease; therefore, molecular chaperones are considered exciting therapeutic targets. Furthermore, mutations in several chaperones cause inherited neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we focus on the importance of molecular chaperones in neurodegenerative diseases, and discuss the advances in understanding their protective mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Smith
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Wenwen Li
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
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38
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Mason RP, Breda C, Kooner GS, Mallucci GR, Kyriacou CP, Giorgini F. Modeling Huntington Disease in Yeast and Invertebrates. Mov Disord 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-405195-9.00033-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Inhibition of transglutaminase exacerbates polyglutamine-induced neurotoxicity by increasing the aggregation of mutant ataxin-3 in an SCA3 Drosophila model. Neurotox Res 2014; 27:259-67. [PMID: 25501875 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-014-9506-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Transglutaminases (TGs) comprise a family of Ca(2+)-dependent enzymes that catalyze protein cross-linking, which include nine family members in humans but only a single homolog in Drosophila with three conserved domains. Drosophila Tg plays important roles in cuticle morphogenesis, hemolymph clotting, and innate immunity. Mammalian tissue TG (TG2) is involved in polyglutamine diseases (polyQ diseases), and TG6 has been identified as a causative gene of a novel spinocerebellar ataxia, SCA35. Using a well-established SCA3 fly model, we found that RNA interference-mediated suppression of Tg aggravated polyQ-induced neurodegenerative phenotypes. The administration of cystamine, a known effective Tg inhibitor, enhanced ommatidial degeneration in SCA3 flies. We also demonstrated that the aggregates of pathogenic ataxin-3 increased greatly, when the Tg activity was repressed. These findings indicate that Tg is crucial for polyQ-induced neurotoxicity because Tg ablation resulted in more severe neurodegeneration due to the elevated accumulation of insoluble ataxin-3 complexes in the SCA3 Drosophila model.
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40
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Barbaro BA, Lukacsovich T, Agrawal N, Burke J, Bornemann DJ, Purcell JM, Worthge SA, Caricasole A, Weiss A, Song W, Morozova OA, Colby DW, Marsh JL. Comparative study of naturally occurring huntingtin fragments in Drosophila points to exon 1 as the most pathogenic species in Huntington's disease. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:913-25. [PMID: 25305076 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although Huntington's disease is caused by the expansion of a CAG triplet repeat within the context of the 3144-amino acid huntingtin protein (HTT), studies reveal that N-terminal fragments of HTT containing the expanded PolyQ region can be produced by proteolytic processing and/or aberrant splicing. N-terminal HTT fragments are also prevalent in postmortem tissue, and expression of some of these fragments in model organisms can cause pathology. This has led to the hypothesis that N-terminal peptides may be critical modulators of disease pathology, raising the possibility that targeting aberrant splicing or proteolytic processing may present attractive therapeutic targets. However, many factors can contribute to pathology, including genetic background and differential expression of transgenes, in addition to intrinsic differences between fragments and their cellular effects. We have used Drosophila as a model system to determine the relative toxicities of different naturally occurring huntingtin fragments in a system in which genetic background, transgene expression levels and post-translational proteolytic processing can be controlled. These studies reveal that among the naturally occurring N-terminal HTT peptides, the exon 1 peptide is exceptionally pathogenic and exhibits unique structural and biophysical behaviors that do not appear to be incremental changes compared with other fragments. If this proves correct, efforts to specifically reduce the levels of exon 1 peptides or to target toxicity-influencing post-translational modifications that occur with the exon 1 context are likely to have the greatest impact on pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett A Barbaro
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA
| | - Tamas Lukacsovich
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA
| | - Namita Agrawal
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - John Burke
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA
| | - Doug J Bornemann
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA
| | - Judith M Purcell
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA
| | - Shane A Worthge
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA
| | | | | | - Wan Song
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA
| | - Olga A Morozova
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - David W Colby
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - J Lawrence Marsh
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA,
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Ribeiro FM, Hamilton A, Doria JG, Guimaraes IM, Cregan SP, Ferguson SS. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 as a potential therapeutic target in Huntington's disease. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2014; 18:1293-304. [PMID: 25118797 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2014.948419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the amino-terminal region of the huntingtin (htt) protein, which underlies the loss of striatal and cortical neurons. Glutamate has been implicated in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, and several studies suggest that the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) may represent a target for the treatment of HD. AREAS COVERED The main goal of this review is to discuss the current data in the literature regarding the role of mGluR5 in HD and evaluate the potential of mGluR5 as a therapeutic target for the treatment of HD. mGluR5 is highly expressed in the brain regions affected in HD and is involved in movement control. Moreover, mGluR5 interacts with htt and mutated htt profoundly affects mGluR5 signaling. However, mGluR5 stimulation can activate both neuroprotective and neurotoxic signaling pathways, depending on the context of activation. EXPERT OPINION Although the data published so far strongly indicate that mGluR5 plays a major role in HD-associated neurodegeneration, htt aggregation and motor symptoms, it is not clear whether mGluR5 stimulation can diminish or intensify neuronal cell loss and HD progression. Thus, future experiments will be necessary to further investigate the outcome of drugs acting on mGluR5 for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola M Ribeiro
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Bioquimica e Imunologia, ICB , Belo Horizonte 31270-901 , Brazil
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Ribeiro FM, Camargos ERDS, de Souza LC, Teixeira AL. Animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 2014; 35 Suppl 2:S82-91. [PMID: 24271230 DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2013-1157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), increases with age, and the number of affected patients is expected to increase worldwide in the next decades. Accurately understanding the etiopathogenic mechanisms of these diseases is a crucial step for developing disease-modifying drugs able to preclude their emergence or at least slow their progression. Animal models contribute to increase the knowledge on the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. These models reproduce different aspects of a given disease, as well as the histopathological lesions and its main symptoms. The purpose of this review is to present the main animal models for AD, PD, and Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabíola Mara Ribeiro
- Neurobiochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo HorizonteMG, Brazil
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Kakkar V, Meister-Broekema M, Minoia M, Carra S, Kampinga HH. Barcoding heat shock proteins to human diseases: looking beyond the heat shock response. Dis Model Mech 2014; 7:421-34. [PMID: 24719117 PMCID: PMC3974453 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.014563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There are numerous human diseases that are associated with protein misfolding and the formation of toxic protein aggregates. Activating the heat shock response (HSR)--and thus generally restoring the disturbed protein homeostasis associated with such diseases--has often been suggested as a therapeutic strategy. However, most data on activating the HSR or its downstream targets in mouse models of diseases associated with aggregate formation have been rather disappointing. The human chaperonome consists of many more heat shock proteins (HSPs) that are not regulated by the HSR, however, and researchers are now focusing on these as potential therapeutic targets. In this Review, we summarize the existing literature on a set of aggregation diseases and propose that each of them can be characterized or 'barcoded' by a different set of HSPs that can rescue specific types of aggregation. Some of these 'non-canonical' HSPs have demonstrated effectiveness in vivo, in mouse models of protein-aggregation disease. Interestingly, several of these HSPs also cause diseases when mutated--so-called chaperonopathies--which are also discussed in this Review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaishali Kakkar
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Cell Biology, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Melanie Meister-Broekema
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Cell Biology, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Melania Minoia
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Cell Biology, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Serena Carra
- Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Metaboliche e Neuroscienze, via G. Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Harm H. Kampinga
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Cell Biology, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Ghezzi A, Liebeskind BJ, Thompson A, Atkinson NS, Zakon HH. Ancient association between cation leak channels and Mid1 proteins is conserved in fungi and animals. Front Mol Neurosci 2014; 7:15. [PMID: 24639627 PMCID: PMC3945613 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2014.00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal resting potential can tune the excitability of neural networks, affecting downstream behavior. Sodium leak channels (NALCN) play a key role in rhythmic behaviors by helping set, or subtly changing neuronal resting potential. The full complexity of these newly described channels is just beginning to be appreciated, however. NALCN channels can associate with numerous subunits in different tissues and can be activated by several different peptides and second messengers. We recently showed that NALCN channels are closely related to fungal calcium channels, which they functionally resemble. Here, we use this relationship to predict a family of NALCN-associated proteins in animals on the basis of homology with the yeast protein Mid1, the subunit of the yeast calcium channel. These proteins all share a cysteine-rich region that is necessary for Mid1 function in yeast. We validate this predicted association by showing that the Mid1 homolog in Drosophila, encoded by the CG33988 gene, is coordinately expressed with NALCN, and that knockdown of either protein creates identical phenotypes in several behaviors associated with NALCN function. The relationship between Mid1 and leak channels has therefore persisted over a billion years of evolution, despite drastic changes to both proteins and the organisms in which they exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Ghezzi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA
| | | | - Ammon Thompson
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin TX, USA
| | - Nigel S Atkinson
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA
| | - Harold H Zakon
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA ; Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin TX, USA ; Marine Biological Laboratory, The Josephine Bay Paul Center Woods Hole, MA, USA
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Zhang Y, Casas-Tinto S, Rincon-Limas DE, Fernandez-Funez P. Combined pharmacological induction of Hsp70 suppresses prion protein neurotoxicity in Drosophila. PLoS One 2014; 9:e88522. [PMID: 24523910 PMCID: PMC3921213 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are rare and aggressive neurodegenerative disorders caused by the accumulation of misfolded, toxic conformations of the prion protein (PrP). Therapeutic strategies directed at reducing the levels of PrP offer the best chance of delaying or halting disease progression. The challenge, though, is to define pharmacologic targets that result in reduced PrP levels. We previously reported that expression of wild type hamster PrP in flies induces progressive locomotor dysfunction and accumulation of pathogenic PrP conformations, while co-expression of human Hsp70 delayed these changes. To validate the therapeutic potential of Hsp70, we treated flies with drugs known to induce Hsp70 expression, including the Hsp90 inhibitor 17-DMAG and the glucocorticoid dexamethasone. Although the individual treatment with these compounds produced no significant benefits, their combination significantly increased the level of inducible Hsp70, decreased the level of total PrP, reduced the accumulation of pathogenic PrP conformers, and improved locomotor activity. Thus, the combined action of two pharmacological activators of Hsp70 with distinct targets results in sustained high levels of inducible Hsp70 with improved behavioral output. These findings can have important therapeutic applications for the devastating prion diseases and other related proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Sergio Casas-Tinto
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and developmental Neurobiology, Instituto Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego E. Rincon-Limas
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Neurosciences, Genetics Institute, and Center for Translational Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DERL); (PFF)
| | - Pedro Fernandez-Funez
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Neurosciences, Genetics Institute, and Center for Translational Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DERL); (PFF)
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dTGS: Method for Effective Components Identification from Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula and Mechanism Analysis. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2014; 2013:840427. [PMID: 24454516 PMCID: PMC3878852 DOI: 10.1155/2013/840427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2013] [Revised: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Because of the complexity of the components in Traditional Chinese Medicine formula (TCM formula), it is still a challenge to identify its effective components, to elucidate the mechanism of the components, and to discover the relationship between components and therapy objectives. In this paper, a method called directed TCM grammar systems (dTGS) for effective component identification was proposed using entity grammar systems (EGS) as the theoretical framework. The component-disease relationship of a TCM formula (i.e., Bai-Hu decoction plus Wasting-Thirsting formula, BHDWT) and one disease (i.e., type 2 diabetes mellitus) treated with it was studied, and the effective component groups (ECGs) were identified. 19 compounds were found acting on 20 proteins in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) disease network, and 15 compounds were determined as the candidate effective components. Results indicated that this method can be used to identify the effective components and provide an innovative way to elucidate the molecular mechanism of TCM formulas.
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Long Z, Tang B, Jiang H. Alleviating neurodegeneration in Drosophila models of PolyQ diseases. CEREBELLUM & ATAXIAS 2014; 1:9. [PMID: 26331033 PMCID: PMC4552282 DOI: 10.1186/2053-8871-1-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a group of neurodegenerative conditions, induced from CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion within causative gene respectively. Generation of toxic proteins, containing polyQ-expanded tract, is the key process to cause neurodegeneration. Till now, although polyQ diseases remain uncurable, numerous therapeutic strategies with great potential have been examined and have been proven to be effective against polyQ diseases, including diverse small biological molecules and many pharmacological compounds mainly through prevention on formation of aggregates and inclusions, acceleration on degradation of toxic proteins and regulation of cellular function. We review promising therapeutic strategies by using Drosophila models of polyQ diseases including HD, SCA1, SCA3 and SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Long
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya road, Changsha, 410008 Hunan China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya road, Changsha, 410008 Hunan China ; Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, 87 Xiangya road, Changsha, 410008 Hunan China ; State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, 110 Xiangyaroad, Changsha, 410078 Hunan China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya road, Changsha, 410008 Hunan China ; Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, 87 Xiangya road, Changsha, 410008 Hunan China ; State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, 110 Xiangyaroad, Changsha, 410078 Hunan China
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Hu Y, Hu Z, Wang S, Dong X, Xiao C, Jiang M, Lv A, Zhang W, Liu R. Protective effects of Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang and its component group on collagen-induced arthritis in rats. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2013; 150:1137-1144. [PMID: 24212076 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Revised: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang is a famous Traditional Chinese medicine consisting of Rhizoma coptidis (Coptis chinensis Franch, Ranunculaceae), Radix scutellariae (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Labiatae), Cortex phellodendri (Phellodendron amurense Rupr. Rutaceae) and Fructus gardeniae (Gardenia jasminoide Ellis, Rubiaceae) in a weight ratio of 3:2:2:3.This formula was described by Wang Tao (in the Chinese Tang Dynasty) in his treatise "Wai Tai Mi Yao". It has been used to treat inflammation, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, and liver and cerebrovascular diseases in the clinical practice of Traditional Chinese medicine, especially in treating inflammation for nearly two thousand years. However, the essential compounds in it have not been identified, and the mechanisms remain to be addressed. To investigate the protective effects of HLJDT and its component group (HLJDT-CG) on collagen-induced arthritis in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS CIA was established in male Wistar rats with subcutaneous injection of type II bovine collagen at the base of the tail of animals. CIA rats were treated daily with oral administration of HLJDT aqueous extracts (270 mg/kg) or HLJDT-CG (40 mg/kg) once per day from day 6 to day 28. Rats in normal and vehicle control groups were given an equal volume of vehicle (0.9% saline) and 0.025 mg/kg Dexamethasone was given to the Standard group at the same time. The protective effect of them were assessed by measuring arthritis index, swelling, the cytokines such as TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17 in serum, type II collagen antibodies, splenocyte proliferation and so on. RESULTS The results demonstrated that treatment of CIA rat with either HLJDT aqueous extracts or HLJDT-CG not only ameliorated the symptoms of arthritis, prevented joint damage but also reduced the serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17 in CIA rats. Anti-CII antibodies showed the similar trend except that of IgG1. Furthermore, HLJDT aqueous extracts and HLJDT-CG administration also suppressed CII-induced proliferative response of splenocytes. More importantly, HLJDT-CG exhibited similar pharmacological activities as HLJDT aqueous extracts in all aforementioned experiments. CONCLUSIONS HLJDT aqueous extracts and HLJDT-CG could effectively ameliorate CII-induced arthritis and significantly suppress the immune response against CII with similar pharmacological efficacy. These findings suggest that HLJDT has therapeutic potential in RA treatment and HLJDT-CG can represent the effective-composite of HLJDT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaohua Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
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Massai L, Petricca L, Magnoni L, Rovetini L, Haider S, Andre R, Tabrizi SJ, Süssmuth SD, Landwehrmeyer BG, Caricasole A, Pollio G, Bernocco S. Development of an ELISA assay for the quantification of soluble huntingtin in human blood cells. BMC BIOCHEMISTRY 2013; 14:34. [PMID: 24274906 PMCID: PMC4221641 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2091-14-34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background Huntington’s disease (HD) is a monogenic disorder caused by an aberrant expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene (HTT). Pathogenesis is associated with expression of the mutant (mHTT) protein in the CNS, with its levels most likely related to disease progression and symptom severity. Since non-invasive methods to quantify HTT in the CNS do not exist, measuring amount of soluble HTT in peripheral cells represents an important step in development of disease-modifying interventions in HD. Results An ELISA assay using commercially available antibodies was developed to quantify HTT levels in complex matrices like mammalian cell cultures lysates and human samples. The immunoassay was optimized using a recombinant full-length HTT protein, and validated both on wild-type and mutant HTT species. The ability of the assay to detect significant variations of soluble HTT levels was evaluated using an HSP90 inhibitor that is known to enhance HTT degradation. Once optimized, the bioassay was applied to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HD patients, demonstrating good potential in tracking the disease course. Conclusions The method described here represents a validated, simple and rapid bio-molecular assay to evaluate soluble HTT levels in blood cells as useful tool in disease and pharmacodynamic marker identification for observational and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Massai
- Pharmacology Department, Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo, 35, 53100 Siena, Italy.
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Park JE, Lee ST, Im WS, Kim M. Growth Hormone Deteriorates the Functional Outcome in an Experimental Model of Huntington's Disease Induced by 3-Nitropionic Acid. J Mov Disord 2013; 6:28-33. [PMID: 24868423 PMCID: PMC4027642 DOI: 10.14802/jmd.13007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2011] [Revised: 06/14/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Growth hormone (GH) has been frequently used to control the aging process in healthy individuals, probably due to its slowing effect on senescence-associated degeneration. Mitochondrial dysfunction is related to the aging process, and one of the chemical models of Huntington’s disease is that it can be induced by mitochondrial toxin. To investigate the potential application of GH to modify the progression of Huntington’s disease (HD), we examined whether GH can protect the functional deterioration by striatal damage induced by 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP). Methods: 3NP (63 mg/kg/day) was delivered to Lewis rats by osmotic pumps for five consecutive days, and the rats received intraperitoneal administration of GH or vehicle (saline) throughout the experiment. Neurological deficits and body weight were monitored. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was performed to further determine the mitochondrial activity in cultured N18TG2 neuroblastoma cells in vitro. Results: 3NP-treated rats showed progressive neurologic deficits with striatal damage. Application of GH accelerated behavioral deterioration, particularly between day 3 and day 5, resulting in reduced survival outcome. The body weights of rats given 3NP were decreased, but GH did not affect such decrease compared to the non-treated control group. The effect of GH on cultured neuronal cells was a decrease in the MTT absorbance, suggesting a lower number of cells in a dose dependent pattern. Conclusions: Those results suggest that application of GH to a 3NP-induced experimental model of HD deteriorates the progress of functional deficits, possibly disturbing mitochondrial activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Eun Park
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea ; Program in Neuroscience, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Soon-Tae Lee
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea ; Program in Neuroscience, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Woo-Seok Im
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Manho Kim
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea ; Program in Neuroscience, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
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