1
|
Kim D, Nguyen TTM, Moon Y, Kim JM, Nam H, Cha DS, An YJ, de Guzman ACV, Park S. Time-Resolved Evaluation of L-Dopa Metabolism in Bacteria-Host Symbiotic System and the Effect on Parkinson's Molecular Pathology. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2400469. [PMID: 39058017 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
The gut microbiome influences drug metabolism and therapeutic efficacy. Still, the lack of a general label-free approach for monitoring bacterial or host metabolic contribution hampers deeper insights. Here, a 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) approach is introduced that enables real-time monitoring of the metabolism of Levodopa (L-dopa), an anti-Parkinson drug, in both live bacteria and bacteria-host (Caenorhabditis elegans) symbiotic systems. The quantitative method reveals that discrete Enterococcus faecalis substrains produce different amounts of dopamine in live hosts, even though they are a single species and all have the Tyrosine decarboxylase (TyrDC) gene involved in L-dopa metabolism. The differential bacterial metabolic activity correlates with differing Parkinson's molecular pathology concerning alpha-synuclein aggregation as well as behavioral phenotypes. The gene's existence or expression is not an indicator of metabolic activity is also shown, underscoring the significance of quantitative metabolic estimation in vivo. This simple approach is widely adaptable to any chemical drug to elucidate pharmacomicrobiomic relationships and may help rapidly screen bacterial metabolic effects in drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Doyeon Kim
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Tin Tin Manh Nguyen
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Yechan Moon
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Jin-Mo Kim
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Hoonsik Nam
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Dong Seok Cha
- College of Pharmacy Woosuk University, Jeonbuk, 55338, South Korea
| | - Yong Jin An
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Arvie Camille V de Guzman
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Sunghyouk Park
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Romussi S, Giunti S, Andersen N, De Rosa MJ. C. elegans: a prominent platform for modeling and drug screening in neurological disorders. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:565-585. [PMID: 38509691 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2329103] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases (NDevDs and NDegDs, respectively) encompass a broad spectrum of disorders affecting the nervous system with an increasing incidence. In this context, the nematode C. elegans, has emerged as a benchmark model for biological research, especially in the field of neuroscience. AREAS COVERED The authors highlight the numerous advantages of this tiny worm as a model for exploring nervous system pathologies and as a platform for drug discovery. There is a particular focus given to describing the existing models of C. elegans for the study of NDevDs and NDegDs. Specifically, the authors underscore their strong applicability in preclinical drug development. Furthermore, they place particular emphasis on detailing the common techniques employed to explore the nervous system in both healthy and diseased states. EXPERT OPINION Drug discovery constitutes a long and expensive process. The incorporation of invertebrate models, such as C. elegans, stands as an exemplary strategy for mitigating costs and expediting timelines. The utilization of C. elegans as a platform to replicate nervous system pathologies and conduct high-throughput automated assays in the initial phases of drug discovery is pivotal for rendering therapeutic options more attainable and cost-effective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Romussi
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Giunti
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Natalia Andersen
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - María José De Rosa
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Stillman NH, Joseph JA, Ahmed J, Baysah CZ, Dohoney RA, Ball TD, Thomas AG, Fitch TC, Donnelly CM, Kumar S. Protein mimetic 2D FAST rescues alpha synuclein aggregation mediated early and post disease Parkinson's phenotypes. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3658. [PMID: 38688913 PMCID: PMC11061149 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47980-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Abberent protein-protein interactions potentiate many diseases and one example is the toxic, self-assembly of α-Synuclein in the dopaminergic neurons of patients with Parkinson's disease; therefore, a potential therapeutic strategy is the small molecule modulation of α-Synuclein aggregation. In this work, we develop an Oligopyridylamide based 2-dimensional Fragment-Assisted Structure-based Technique to identify antagonists of α-Synuclein aggregation. The technique utilizes a fragment-based screening of an extensive array of non-proteinogenic side chains in Oligopyridylamides, leading to the identification of NS132 as an antagonist of the multiple facets of α-Synuclein aggregation. We further identify a more cell permeable analog (NS163) without sacrificing activity. Oligopyridylamides rescue α-Synuclein aggregation mediated Parkinson's disease phenotypes in dopaminergic neurons in early and post disease Caenorhabditis elegans models. We forsee tremendous potential in our technique to identify lead therapeutics for Parkinson's disease and other diseases as it is expandable to other oligoamide scaffolds and a larger array of side chains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas H Stillman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Johnson A Joseph
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Jemil Ahmed
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Program, Boettcher West, Room 228, 2050 E. Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
| | - Charles Zuwu Baysah
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Ryan A Dohoney
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Tyler D Ball
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Alexandra G Thomas
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Tessa C Fitch
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Courtney M Donnelly
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA.
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA.
- Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Program, Boettcher West, Room 228, 2050 E. Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Monteiro Neto JR, Lima VDA, Follmer C. Fibrillation of α-synuclein triggered by bacterial endotoxin and lipid vesicles is modulated by N-terminal acetylation and familial Parkinson's disease mutations. FEBS J 2024; 291:1151-1167. [PMID: 38069536 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
It has been hypothesized that --Parkinson's disease (PD) may be initiated in the gastrointestinal tract, before manifesting in the central nervous system. In this respect, it was demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin from gram-negative bacteria, accelerates the in vitro formation of α-synuclein (aSyn) fibrils, whose intracellular deposits is a histological hallmark of the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in PD. Herein, N-terminal acetylation and missense mutations of aSyn (A30P, A53T, E46K, H50Q and G51D) linked to rare, early-onset forms of familial PD were investigated regarding their effect on aSyn aggregation stimulated by either LPS or small unilamellar lipid vesicles (SUVs). Our findings indicated that LPS as well as SUVs induce the fibrillation of N-terminally acetylated wild-type aSyn (Ac-aSyn-WT) more remarkably than the non-acetylated protein, while the LPS-free protein alone did not undergo fibrillation under our assay conditions. In addition, with the exception of A30P, PD mutations increased the fibrillation of Ac-aSyn in the presence of LPS compared with Ac-aSyn-WT. The most pronounced effect of LPS was noticed for A53T, as observed when either Thioflavin-T or JC-1 were used as fluorescent probes for fibrils. Overall, our results suggest for the first time the existence of a synergy between LPS and PD mutations/N-terminal acetylation toward aSyn fibrillation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Raphael Monteiro Neto
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vanderlei de Araújo Lima
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cristian Follmer
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shan L, Heusinkveld HJ, Paul KC, Hughes S, Darweesh SKL, Bloem BR, Homberg JR. Towards improved screening of toxins for Parkinson's risk. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2023; 9:169. [PMID: 38114496 PMCID: PMC10730534 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-023-00615-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive and disabling neurodegenerative disorder. The prevalence of PD has risen considerably over the past decades. A growing body of evidence suggest that exposure to environmental toxins, including pesticides, solvents and heavy metals (collectively called toxins), is at least in part responsible for this rapid growth. It is worrying that the current screening procedures being applied internationally to test for possible neurotoxicity of specific compounds offer inadequate insights into the risk of developing PD in humans. Improved screening procedures are therefore urgently needed. Our review first substantiates current evidence on the relation between exposure to environmental toxins and the risk of developing PD. We subsequently propose to replace the current standard toxin screening by a well-controlled multi-tier toxin screening involving the following steps: in silico studies (tier 1) followed by in vitro tests (tier 2), aiming to prioritize agents with human relevant routes of exposure. More in depth studies can be undertaken in tier 3, with whole-organism (in)vertebrate models. Tier 4 has a dedicated focus on cell loss in the substantia nigra and on the presumed mechanisms of neurotoxicity in rodent models, which are required to confirm or refute the possible neurotoxicity of any individual compound. This improved screening procedure should not only evaluate new pesticides that seek access to the market, but also critically assess all pesticides that are being used today, acknowledging that none of these has ever been proven to be safe from a perspective of PD. Importantly, the improved screening procedures should not just assess the neurotoxic risk of isolated compounds, but should also specifically look at the cumulative risk conveyed by exposure to commonly used combinations of pesticides (cocktails). The worldwide implementation of such an improved screening procedure, would be an essential step for policy makers and governments to recognize PD-related environmental risk factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling Shan
- Department Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Harm J Heusinkveld
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Kimberly C Paul
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Samantha Hughes
- A-LIFE Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Section Environmental Health and Toxicology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sirwan K L Darweesh
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bastiaan R Bloem
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith R Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Nim S, O'Hara DM, Corbi-Verge C, Perez-Riba A, Fujisawa K, Kapadia M, Chau H, Albanese F, Pawar G, De Snoo ML, Ngana SG, Kim J, El-Agnaf OMA, Rennella E, Kay LE, Kalia SK, Kalia LV, Kim PM. Disrupting the α-synuclein-ESCRT interaction with a peptide inhibitor mitigates neurodegeneration in preclinical models of Parkinson's disease. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2150. [PMID: 37076542 PMCID: PMC10115881 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37464-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of α-synuclein into toxic oligomers or fibrils is implicated in dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. Here we performed a high-throughput, proteome-wide peptide screen to identify protein-protein interaction inhibitors that reduce α-synuclein oligomer levels and their associated cytotoxicity. We find that the most potent peptide inhibitor disrupts the direct interaction between the C-terminal region of α-synuclein and CHarged Multivesicular body Protein 2B (CHMP2B), a component of the Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport-III (ESCRT-III). We show that α-synuclein impedes endolysosomal activity via this interaction, thereby inhibiting its own degradation. Conversely, the peptide inhibitor restores endolysosomal function and thereby decreases α-synuclein levels in multiple models, including female and male human cells harboring disease-causing α-synuclein mutations. Furthermore, the peptide inhibitor protects dopaminergic neurons from α-synuclein-mediated degeneration in hermaphroditic C. elegans and preclinical Parkinson's disease models using female rats. Thus, the α-synuclein-CHMP2B interaction is a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Satra Nim
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Darren M O'Hara
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carles Corbi-Verge
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Albert Perez-Riba
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kazuko Fujisawa
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Minesh Kapadia
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hien Chau
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Federica Albanese
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Grishma Pawar
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mitchell L De Snoo
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sophie G Ngana
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jisun Kim
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Omar M A El-Agnaf
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Enrico Rennella
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lewis E Kay
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Suneil K Kalia
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Lorraine V Kalia
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Philip M Kim
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model System to Study Human Neurodegenerative Disorders. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13030478. [PMID: 36979413 PMCID: PMC10046667 DOI: 10.3390/biom13030478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, advances in science and technology have improved our quality of life, enabling us to tackle diseases and increase human life expectancy. However, longevity is accompanied by an accretion in the frequency of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, creating a growing burden, with pervasive social impact for human societies. The cost of managing such chronic disorders and the lack of effective treatments highlight the need to decipher their molecular and genetic underpinnings, in order to discover new therapeutic targets. In this effort, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans serves as a powerful tool to recapitulate several disease-related phenotypes and provides a highly malleable genetic model that allows the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches, in addition to large-scale genetic and pharmacological screens. Its anatomical transparency allows the use of co-expressed fluorescent proteins to track the progress of neurodegeneration. Moreover, the functional conservation of neuronal processes, along with the high homology between nematode and human genomes, render C. elegans extremely suitable for the study of human neurodegenerative disorders. This review describes nematode models used to study neurodegeneration and underscores their contribution in the effort to dissect the molecular basis of human diseases and identify novel gene targets with therapeutic potential.
Collapse
|
8
|
Dong-Chen X, Yong C, Yang X, Chen-Yu S, Li-Hua P. Signaling pathways in Parkinson's disease: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:73. [PMID: 36810524 PMCID: PMC9944326 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01353-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, and its treatment remains a big challenge. The pathogenesis of PD may be related to environmental and genetic factors, and exposure to toxins and gene mutations may be the beginning of brain lesions. The identified mechanisms of PD include α-synuclein aggregation, oxidative stress, ferroptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and gut dysbiosis. The interactions among these molecular mechanisms complicate the pathogenesis of PD and pose great challenges to drug development. At the same time, the diagnosis and detection of PD are also one of obstacles to the treatment of PD due to its long latency and complex mechanism. Most conventional therapeutic interventions for PD possess limited effects and have serious side effects, heightening the need to develop novel treatments for this disease. In this review, we systematically summarized the pathogenesis, especially the molecular mechanisms of PD, the classical research models, clinical diagnostic criteria, and the reported drug therapy strategies, as well as the newly reported drug candidates in clinical trials. We also shed light on the components derived from medicinal plants that are newly identified for their effects in PD treatment, with the expectation to provide the summary and outlook for developing the next generation of drugs and preparations for PD therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xu Dong-Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Chen Yong
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xu Yang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - ShenTu Chen-Yu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Peng Li-Hua
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, P. R. China. .,State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, P. R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Notopoulou S, Gkekas I, Petrakis S. Omics Analyses in a Neural Stem Cell Model of Familial Parkinson's Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1423:149-160. [PMID: 37525039 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-31978-5_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, affecting millions of people worldwide. Despite considerable efforts, the underlying pathological mechanisms remain elusive, and yet, no treatment has been developed to efficiently reverse or modify disease progression. Thus, new experimental models are required to provide insights into the pathology of PD. Small-molecule neural precursor cells (smNPCs) are ideal for the study of neurodegenerative disorders due to their neural identity and stem cell properties. Cytoplasmic aggregates of α-synuclein (αSyn) are considered a hallmark of PD and a point mutation in the gene encoding p.A53T is responsible for a familial PD form with earlier and robust symptom onset. In order to study the cellular pathology of PD, we genetically modified smNPCs to inducibly overexpress EYFP-SNCA A53T. This cellular model was biochemically characterized, while dysregulated biological pathways and key regulators of PD pathology were identified by computational analyses. Our study indicates three novel genes, UBA52, PIP5K1A, and RPS2, which may mediate PD cellular pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ioannis Gkekas
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, CERTH, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Spyros Petrakis
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, CERTH, Thessaloniki, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
SenGupta T, Lefol Y, Lirussi L, Suaste V, Luders T, Gupta S, Aman Y, Sharma K, Fang EF, Nilsen H. Krill oil protects dopaminergic neurons from age-related degeneration through temporal transcriptome rewiring and suppression of several hallmarks of aging. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:8661-8687. [DOI: 10.18632/aging.204375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tanima SenGupta
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo N-0318, Norway
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology, Akershus University Hospital, Nordbyhagen N-1474, Norway
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo N-0318, Norway
| | - Yohan Lefol
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo N-0318, Norway
| | - Lisa Lirussi
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology, Akershus University Hospital, Nordbyhagen N-1474, Norway
| | - Veronica Suaste
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo N-0424, Norway
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo N-0318, Norway
| | - Torben Luders
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo N-0318, Norway
| | - Swapnil Gupta
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology, Akershus University Hospital, Nordbyhagen N-1474, Norway
| | - Yahyah Aman
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo N-0318, Norway
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology, Akershus University Hospital, Nordbyhagen N-1474, Norway
| | - Kulbhushan Sharma
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology, Akershus University Hospital, Nordbyhagen N-1474, Norway
| | - Evandro Fei Fang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo N-0318, Norway
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology, Akershus University Hospital, Nordbyhagen N-1474, Norway
| | - Hilde Nilsen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo N-0318, Norway
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology, Akershus University Hospital, Nordbyhagen N-1474, Norway
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo N-0424, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zommiti M, Connil N, Tahrioui A, Groboillot A, Barbey C, Konto-Ghiorghi Y, Lesouhaitier O, Chevalier S, Feuilloley MGJ. Organs-on-Chips Platforms Are Everywhere: A Zoom on Biomedical Investigation. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:646. [PMID: 36354557 PMCID: PMC9687856 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9110646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the decades, conventional in vitro culture systems and animal models have been used to study physiology, nutrient or drug metabolisms including mechanical and physiopathological aspects. However, there is an urgent need for Integrated Testing Strategies (ITS) and more sophisticated platforms and devices to approach the real complexity of human physiology and provide reliable extrapolations for clinical investigations and personalized medicine. Organ-on-a-chip (OOC), also known as a microphysiological system, is a state-of-the-art microfluidic cell culture technology that sums up cells or tissue-to-tissue interfaces, fluid flows, mechanical cues, and organ-level physiology, and it has been developed to fill the gap between in vitro experimental models and human pathophysiology. The wide range of OOC platforms involves the miniaturization of cell culture systems and enables a variety of novel experimental techniques. These range from modeling the independent effects of biophysical forces on cells to screening novel drugs in multi-organ microphysiological systems, all within microscale devices. As in living biosystems, the development of vascular structure is the salient feature common to almost all organ-on-a-chip platforms. Herein, we provide a snapshot of this fast-evolving sophisticated technology. We will review cutting-edge developments and advances in the OOC realm, discussing current applications in the biomedical field with a detailed description of how this technology has enabled the reconstruction of complex multi-scale and multifunctional matrices and platforms (at the cellular and tissular levels) leading to an acute understanding of the physiopathological features of human ailments and infections in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Zommiti
- Research Unit Bacterial Communication and Anti-infectious Strategies (CBSA, UR4312), University of Rouen Normandie, 27000 Evreux, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marc G. J. Feuilloley
- Research Unit Bacterial Communication and Anti-infectious Strategies (CBSA, UR4312), University of Rouen Normandie, 27000 Evreux, France
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ma L, Li X, Liu C, Yan W, Ma J, Petersen RB, Peng A, Huang K. Modelling Parkinson's Disease in C. elegans: Strengths and Limitations. Curr Pharm Des 2022; 28:3033-3048. [PMID: 36111767 DOI: 10.2174/1381612828666220915103502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that affects the motor system and progressively worsens with age. Current treatment options for PD mainly target symptoms, due to our limited understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of PD. A variety of preclinical models have been developed to study different aspects of the disease. The models have been used to elucidate the pathogenesis and for testing new treatments. These models include cell models, non-mammalian models, rodent models, and non-human primate models. Over the past few decades, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has been widely adopted as a model system due to its small size, transparent body, short generation time and life cycle, fully sequenced genome, the tractability of genetic manipulation and suitability for large scale screening for disease modifiers. Here, we review studies using C. elegans as a model for PD and highlight the strengths and limitations of the C. elegans model. Various C. elegans PD models, including neurotoxin-induced models and genetic models, are described in detail. Moreover, met.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ma
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China.,Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan Hospital for Psychotherapy, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi Li
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chengyu Liu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wanyao Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan Fourth Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinlu Ma
- Human Resources Department, Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China.,Human Resources Department, Wuhan Hospital for Psychotherapy, Wuhan, China
| | - Robert B Petersen
- Foundational Sciences, Central Michigan University College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA
| | - Anlin Peng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Hospital of Wuhan, Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Naranjo-Galindo FJ, Ai R, Fang EF, Nilsen HL, SenGupta T. C. elegans as an Animal Model to Study the Intersection of DNA Repair, Aging and Neurodegeneration. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2022; 3:916118. [PMID: 35821838 PMCID: PMC9261396 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2022.916118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Since its introduction as a genetic model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans has yielded insights into the causes of aging. In addition, it has provided a molecular understanding of mechanisms of neurodegeneration, one of the devastating effects of aging. However, C. elegans has been less popular as an animal model to investigate DNA repair and genomic instability, which is a major hallmark of aging and also a cause of many rare neurological disorders. This article provides an overview of DNA repair pathways in C. elegans and the impact of DNA repair on aging hallmarks, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, telomere maintenance, and autophagy. In addition, we discuss how the combination of biological characteristics, new technical tools, and the potential of following precise phenotypic assays through a natural life-course make C. elegans an ideal model organism to study how DNA repair impact neurodegeneration in models of common age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco José Naranjo-Galindo
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Ruixue Ai
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Evandro Fei Fang
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hilde Loge Nilsen
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- *Correspondence: Hilde Loge Nilsen, ; Tanima SenGupta,
| | - Tanima SenGupta
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- *Correspondence: Hilde Loge Nilsen, ; Tanima SenGupta,
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Vozdek R, Pramstaller PP, Hicks AA. Functional Screening of Parkinson's Disease Susceptibility Genes to Identify Novel Modulators of α-Synuclein Neurotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:806000. [PMID: 35572147 PMCID: PMC9093606 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.806000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons during aging. The pathological hallmark of PD is the Lewy body detected in postmortem brain tissue, which is mainly composed of aggregated α-Synuclein (αSyn). However, it is estimated that 90% of PD cases have unknown pathogenetic triggers. Here, we generated a new transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans PD model eraIs1 expressing green fluorescent protein- (GFP-) based reporter of human αSyn in DA neurons, and exhibited a nice readout of the developed αSyn inclusions in DA neurons, leading to their degeneration during aging. Using these animals in a preliminary reverse genetic screening of >100-PD genome-wide association study- (GWAS-) based susceptibility genes, we identified 28 orthologs of C. elegans and their inactivation altered the phenotype of eraIs1; 10 knockdowns exhibited reduced penetrance of αSyn:Venus inclusions formed in the axons of cephalic (CEP) DA neurons, 18 knockdowns exhibited increased penetrance of disrupted CEP dendrite integrity among which nine knockdowns also exhibited disrupted neuronal morphology independent of the expressed αSyn reporter. Loss-of-function alleles of the five identified genes, such as sac-2, rig-6 or lfe-2, unc-43, and nsf-1, modulated the corresponding eraIs1 phenotype, respectively, and supported the RNA interference (RNAi) data. The Western blot analysis showed that the levels of insoluble αSyn:Venus were not correlated with the observed phenotypes in these mutants. However, RNAi of 12 identified modulators reduced the formation of pro-aggregating polyglutamine Q40:YFP foci in muscle cells, suggesting the possible role of these genes in cellular proteotoxicity. Therefore, modulators identified by their associated biological pathways, such as calcium signaling or vesicular trafficking, represent new potential therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative proteopathies and other diseases associated with aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roman Vozdek
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hughes S, van Dop M, Kolsters N, van de Klashorst D, Pogosova A, Rijs AM. Using a Caenorhabditis elegans Parkinson's Disease Model to Assess Disease Progression and Therapy Efficiency. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:512. [PMID: 35631338 PMCID: PMC9143865 DOI: 10.3390/ph15050512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite Parkinson's Disease (PD) being the second most common neurodegenerative disease, treatment options are limited. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify and screen new therapeutic compounds that slow or reverse the pathology of PD. Unfortunately, few new therapeutics are being produced, partly due to the low throughput and/or poor predictability of the currently used model organisms and in vivo screening methods. Our objective was to develop a simple and affordable platform for drug screening utilizing the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The effect of Levodopa, the "Gold standard" of PD treatment, was explored in nematodes expressing the disease-causing α-synuclein protein. We focused on two key hallmarks of PD: plaque formation and mobility. Exposure to Levodopa ameliorated the mobility defect in C. elegans, similar to people living with PD who take the drug. Further, long-term Levodopa exposure was not detrimental to lifespan. This C. elegans-based method was used to screen a selection of small-molecule drugs for an impact on α-synuclein aggregation and mobility, identifying several promising compounds worthy of further investigation, most notably Ambroxol. The simple methodology means it can be adopted in many labs to pre-screen candidate compounds for a positive impact on disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Hughes
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
- A-LIFE Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Section Environmental Health and Toxicology, Vrije Univeristeit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maritza van Dop
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - Nikki Kolsters
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - David van de Klashorst
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - Anastasia Pogosova
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - Anouk M. Rijs
- Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, AIMMS Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Univeristeit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Marino G, Calabresi P, Ghiglieri V. Alpha-synuclein and cortico-striatal plasticity in animal models of Parkinson disease. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2022; 184:153-166. [PMID: 35034731 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-819410-2.00008-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (α-synuclein) is a small, acidic protein containing 140 amino acids, highly expressed in the brain and primarily localized in the presynaptic terminals. It is found in high concentrations in Lewy Bodies, proteinaceous aggregates that constitute a typical histopathologic hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Altered environmental conditions, genetic mutations and post-translational changes can trigger abnormal aggregation processes with the increased frequency of oligomers, protofibrils, and fibrils formation that perturbs the neuronal homeostasis leading to cell death. Relevant to neuronal activity, a function of α-synuclein that has been extensively detailed is its regulatory actions in the trafficking of synaptic vesicles, including the processes of exocytosis, endocytosis and neurotransmitter release. Most recently, increasing attention has been paid to the possible role that α-synuclein plays at a postsynaptic level by interacting with selective subunits of the glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, altering the corticostriatal plasticity of distinct neuronal populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gioia Marino
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Paolo Calabresi
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; UOC Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Kounakis K, Tavernarakis N. Assessment of Neuronal Cell Death in Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2515:309-317. [PMID: 35776360 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2409-8_19] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful experimental platform for cell biology studies. The molecular mechanisms that mediate cell death and neurodegeneration have been characterized extensively in the nematode. In addition, the availability of a wide arsenal of genetic and molecular tools and methodologies renders C. elegans an organism of choice for modeling human neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, neuronal necrosis can readily be observed and examined in vivo, in the worm. In this chapter, we describe the two main approaches that are routinely used for monitoring and quantifying neuronal cell death in C. elegans. The first is based on direct visualization of dying cells via Nomarski differential interference contrast (DiC) microscopy, and the second on the assessment of neuronal survival by fluorescence microscopy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Kounakis
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas , Crete, Greece
| | - Nektarios Tavernarakis
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Crete, Greece.
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas , Crete, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Chen KS, Menezes K, Rodgers JB, O’Hara DM, Tran N, Fujisawa K, Ishikura S, Khodaei S, Chau H, Cranston A, Kapadia M, Pawar G, Ping S, Krizus A, Lacoste A, Spangler S, Visanji NP, Marras C, Majbour NK, El-Agnaf OMA, Lozano AM, Culotti J, Suo S, Ryu WS, Kalia SK, Kalia LV. Small molecule inhibitors of α-synuclein oligomers identified by targeting early dopamine-mediated motor impairment in C. elegans. Mol Neurodegener 2021; 16:77. [PMID: 34772429 PMCID: PMC8588601 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-021-00497-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parkinson's disease is a disabling neurodegenerative movement disorder characterized by dopaminergic neuron loss induced by α-synuclein oligomers. There is an urgent need for disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson's disease, but drug discovery is challenged by lack of in vivo models that recapitulate early stages of neurodegeneration. Invertebrate organisms, such as the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, provide in vivo models of human disease processes that can be instrumental for initial pharmacological studies. METHODS To identify early motor impairment of animals expressing α-synuclein in dopaminergic neurons, we first used a custom-built tracking microscope that captures locomotion of single C. elegans with high spatial and temporal resolution. Next, we devised a method for semi-automated and blinded quantification of motor impairment for a population of simultaneously recorded animals with multi-worm tracking and custom image processing. We then used genetic and pharmacological methods to define the features of early motor dysfunction of α-synuclein-expressing C. elegans. Finally, we applied the C. elegans model to a drug repurposing screen by combining it with an artificial intelligence platform and cell culture system to identify small molecules that inhibit α-synuclein oligomers. Screen hits were validated using in vitro and in vivo mammalian models. RESULTS We found a previously undescribed motor phenotype in transgenic α-synuclein C. elegans that correlates with mutant or wild-type α-synuclein protein levels and results from dopaminergic neuron dysfunction, but precedes neuronal loss. Together with artificial intelligence-driven in silico and in vitro screening, this C. elegans model identified five compounds that reduced motor dysfunction induced by α-synuclein. Three of these compounds also decreased α-synuclein oligomers in mammalian neurons, including rifabutin which has not been previously investigated for Parkinson's disease. We found that treatment with rifabutin reduced nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration due to α-synuclein in a rat model. CONCLUSIONS We identified a C. elegans locomotor abnormality due to dopaminergic neuron dysfunction that models early α-synuclein-mediated neurodegeneration. Our innovative approach applying this in vivo model to a multi-step drug repurposing screen, with artificial intelligence-driven in silico and in vitro methods, resulted in the discovery of at least one drug that may be repurposed as a disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin S. Chen
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Krystal Menezes
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | | | - Darren M. O’Hara
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Nhat Tran
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Kazuko Fujisawa
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Seiya Ishikura
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Shahin Khodaei
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Hien Chau
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Anna Cranston
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Minesh Kapadia
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Grishma Pawar
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Susan Ping
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Aldis Krizus
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | | | | | - Naomi P. Visanji
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Connie Marras
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Nour K. Majbour
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Omar M. A. El-Agnaf
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Andres M. Lozano
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Joseph Culotti
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Satoshi Suo
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan
| | - William S. Ryu
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Suneil K. Kalia
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- KITE and CRANIA, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Lorraine V. Kalia
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Chandler R, Cogo S, Lewis P, Kevei E. Modelling the functional genomics of Parkinson's disease in Caenorhabditis elegans: LRRK2 and beyond. Biosci Rep 2021; 41:BSR20203672. [PMID: 34397087 PMCID: PMC8415217 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20203672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, Parkinson's disease (PD) cases have been genetically categorised into familial, when caused by mutations in single genes with a clear inheritance pattern in affected families, or idiopathic, in the absence of an evident monogenic determinant. Recently, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed how common genetic variability can explain up to 36% of PD heritability and that PD manifestation is often determined by multiple variants at different genetic loci. Thus, one of the current challenges in PD research stands in modelling the complex genetic architecture of this condition and translating this into functional studies. Caenorhabditis elegans provide a profound advantage as a reductionist, economical model for PD research, with a short lifecycle, straightforward genome engineering and high conservation of PD relevant neural, cellular and molecular pathways. Functional models of PD genes utilising C. elegans show many phenotypes recapitulating pathologies observed in PD. When contrasted with mammalian in vivo and in vitro models, these are frequently validated, suggesting relevance of C. elegans in the development of novel PD functional models. This review will discuss how the nematode C. elegans PD models have contributed to the uncovering of molecular and cellular mechanisms of disease, with a focus on the genes most commonly found as causative in familial PD and risk factors in idiopathic PD. Specifically, we will examine the current knowledge on a central player in both familial and idiopathic PD, Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) and how it connects to multiple PD associated GWAS candidates and Mendelian disease-causing genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Susanna Cogo
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AH, U.K
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35121, Italy
| | - Patrick A. Lewis
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, NW1 0TU, U.K
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, U.K
| | - Eva Kevei
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AH, U.K
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Shadrina M, Slominsky P. Modeling Parkinson's Disease: Not Only Rodents? Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:695718. [PMID: 34421573 PMCID: PMC8377290 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.695718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common chronic progressive multifactorial neurodegenerative disease. In most cases, PD develops as a sporadic idiopathic disease. However, in 10%–15% of all patients, Mendelian inheritance of the disease is observed in an autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive manner. To date, mutations in seven genes have been convincingly confirmed as causative in typical familial forms of PD, i.e., SNCA, LRRK2, VPS35, PRKN, PINK1, GBA, and DJ-1. Family and genome-wide association studies have also identified a number of candidate disease genes and a common genetic variability at 90 loci has been linked to risk for PD. The analysis of the biological function of both proven and candidate genes made it possible to conclude that mitochondrial dysfunction, lysosomal dysfunction, impaired exosomal transport, and immunological processes can play important roles in the development of the pathological process of PD. The mechanisms of initiation of the pathological process and its earliest stages remain unclear. The study of the early stages of the disease (before the first motor symptoms appear) is extremely complicated by the long preclinical period. In addition, at present, the possibility of performing complex biochemical and molecular biological studies familial forms of PD is limited. However, in this case, the analysis of the state of the central nervous system can only be assessed by indirect signs, such as the level of metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid, peripheral blood, and other biological fluids. One of the potential solutions to this problem is the analysis of disease models, in which it is possible to conduct a detailed in-depth study of all aspects of the pathological process, starting from its earliest stages. Many modeling options are available currently. An analysis of studies published in the 2000s suggests that toxic models in rodents are used in the vast majority of cases. However, interesting and important data for understanding the pathogenesis of PD can be obtained from other in vivo models. Within the framework of this review, we will consider various models of PD that were created using various living organisms, from unicellular yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and invertebrate (Nematode and Drosophila) forms to various mammalian species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Shadrina
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, Russia
| | - Petr Slominsky
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Huang X, Wang C, Chen L, Zhang T, Leung KL, Wong G. Human amyloid beta and α-synuclein co-expression in neurons impair behavior and recapitulate features for Lewy body dementia in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166203. [PMID: 34146705 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid β (Aβ), a product of APP, and SNCA (α-synuclein (α-syn)) are two of the key proteins found in lesions associated with the age-related neurodegenerative disorders Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), respectively. Previous clinical studies uncovered Aβ and α-syn co-expression in the brains of patients, which lead to Lewy body dementia (LBD), a disease encompassing Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). To explore the pathogenesis and define the relationship between Aβ and α-syn for LBD, we established a C. elegans model which co-expresses human Aβ and α-syn with alanine 53 to threonine mutant (α-syn(A53T)) in pan-neurons. Compared to α-syn(A53T) single transgenic animals, pan-neuronal Aβ and α-syn(A53T) co-expression further enhanced the thrashing, egg laying, serotonin and cholinergic signaling deficits, and dopaminergic neuron damage in C. elegans. In addition, Aβ increased α-syn expression in transgenic animals. Transcriptome analysis of both Aβ;α-syn(A53T) strains and DLB patients showed common downregulation in lipid metabolism and lysosome function genes, suggesting that a decrease of lysosome function may reduce the clearance ability in DLB, and this may lead to the further pathogenic protein accumulation. These findings suggest that our model can recapitulate some features in LBD and provides a mechanism by which Aβ may exacerbate α-syn pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobing Huang
- Cancer Centre, Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Changliang Wang
- Cancer Centre, Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China; Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Liang Chen
- Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Technology of Ministry of Education, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Tianjiao Zhang
- Cancer Centre, Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Ka Lai Leung
- Cancer Centre, Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Garry Wong
- Cancer Centre, Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Giunti S, Andersen N, Rayes D, De Rosa MJ. Drug discovery: Insights from the invertebrate Caenorhabditis elegans. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 9:e00721. [PMID: 33641258 PMCID: PMC7916527 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic drug development is a long, expensive, and complex process that usually takes 12-15 years. In the early phases of drug discovery, in particular, there is a growing need for animal models that ensure the reduction in both cost and time. Caenorhabditis elegans has been traditionally used to address fundamental aspects of key biological processes, such as apoptosis, aging, and gene expression regulation. During the last decade, with the advent of large-scale platforms for screenings, this invertebrate has also emerged as an essential tool in the pharmaceutical research industry to identify novel drugs and drug targets. In this review, we discuss the reasons why C. elegans has been positioned as an outstanding cost-effective option for drug discovery, highlighting both the advantages and drawbacks of this model. Particular attention is paid to the suitability of this nematode in large-scale genetic and pharmacological screenings. High-throughput screenings in C. elegans have indeed contributed to the breakthrough of a wide variety of candidate compounds involved in extensive fields including neurodegeneration, pathogen infections and metabolic disorders. The versatility of this nematode, which enables its instrumentation as a model of human diseases, is another attribute also herein underscored. As illustrative examples, we discuss the utility of C. elegans models of both human neurodegenerative diseases and parasitic nematodes in the drug discovery industry. Summing up, this review aims to demonstrate the impact of C. elegans models on the drug discovery pipeline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Giunti
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - Natalia Andersen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - Diego Rayes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - María José De Rosa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Perni M, van der Goot A, Limbocker R, van Ham TJ, Aprile FA, Xu CK, Flagmeier P, Thijssen K, Sormanni P, Fusco G, Chen SW, Challa PK, Kirkegaard JB, Laine RF, Ma KY, Müller MBD, Sinnige T, Kumita JR, Cohen SIA, Seinstra R, Kaminski Schierle GS, Kaminski CF, Barbut D, De Simone A, Knowles TPJ, Zasloff M, Nollen EAA, Vendruscolo M, Dobson CM. Comparative Studies in the A30P and A53T α-Synuclein C. elegans Strains to Investigate the Molecular Origins of Parkinson's Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:552549. [PMID: 33829010 PMCID: PMC8019828 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.552549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of α-synuclein is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) and a variety of related neurological disorders. A number of mutations in this protein, including A30P and A53T, are associated with familial forms of the disease. Patients carrying the A30P mutation typically exhibit a similar age of onset and symptoms as sporadic PD, while those carrying the A53T mutation generally have an earlier age of onset and an accelerated progression. We report two C. elegans models of PD (PDA30P and PDA53T), which express these mutational variants in the muscle cells, and probed their behavior relative to animals expressing the wild-type protein (PDWT). PDA30P worms showed a reduced speed of movement and an increased paralysis rate, control worms, but no change in the frequency of body bends. By contrast, in PDA53T worms both speed and frequency of body bends were significantly decreased, and paralysis rate was increased. α-Synuclein was also observed to be less well localized into aggregates in PDA30P worms compared to PDA53T and PDWT worms, and amyloid-like features were evident later in the life of the animals, despite comparable levels of expression of α-synuclein. Furthermore, squalamine, a natural product currently in clinical trials for treating symptomatic aspects of PD, was found to reduce significantly the aggregation of α-synuclein and its associated toxicity in PDA53T and PDWT worms, but had less marked effects in PDA30P. In addition, using an antibody that targets the N-terminal region of α-synuclein, we observed a suppression of toxicity in PDA30P, PDA53T and PDWT worms. These results illustrate the use of these two C. elegans models in fundamental and applied PD research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Perni
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Annemieke van der Goot
- University Medical Centre Groningen, European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Ryan Limbocker
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, United States
| | - Tjakko J. van Ham
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Francesco A. Aprile
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine K. Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Flagmeier
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Thijssen
- University Medical Centre Groningen, European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Pietro Sormanni
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Giuliana Fusco
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Serene W. Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Pavan K. Challa
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Julius B. Kirkegaard
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Romain F. Laine
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology (LMCB) University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kai Yu Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,University Medical Centre Groningen, European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Martin B. D. Müller
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,University Medical Centre Groningen, European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Tessa Sinnige
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Janet R. Kumita
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel I. A. Cohen
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Renée Seinstra
- University Medical Centre Groningen, European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Clemens F. Kaminski
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Denise Barbut
- MedStar-Georgetown Transplant Institute, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Zasloff
- MedStar-Georgetown Transplant Institute, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Ellen A. A. Nollen
- University Medical Centre Groningen, European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Ellen A. A. Nollen
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,Michele Vendruscolo
| | - Christopher M. Dobson
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Murphy D, Patel H, Wimalasena K. Caenorhabditis elegans Model Studies Show MPP + Is a Simple Member of a Large Group of Related Potent Dopaminergic Toxins. Chem Res Toxicol 2021; 34:1275-1285. [PMID: 33496570 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Although the causes of Parkinson's disease (PD) are not fully understood, the consensus is that a combination of genetic and environmental factors plays a major role. The discovery that the synthetic chemical, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-derived N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), recapitulates major pathophysiological characteristics of PD in humans and other mammals has provided the strongest support for this possibility; however, several key aspects of the mechanism remain unclear. In contrast to the widely accepted view that MPP+ is structurally unique and optimal for selective dopaminergic toxicity, previous in vitro studies have suggested that MPP+ is most likely a simple member of a large group of related dopaminergic toxins. Here we provide first in vivo evidence to support the above possibility using Caenorhabditis elegans PD models. We also provide in vivo evidence to show that the inherent predisposition of dopaminergic neurons to produce high oxidative stress and related downstream effects when exposed to MPP+ and related mitochondrial toxins is responsible for their selective vulnerability to these toxins. More significantly, present findings suggest that if this broad group of MPP+ related dopaminergic toxins are present in work places or in the environment, they could cause far-reaching public health consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Murphy
- Department of Chemistry, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas 67260, United States
| | - Harshil Patel
- Department of Chemistry, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas 67260, United States
| | - Kandatege Wimalasena
- Department of Chemistry, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas 67260, United States
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Reverse engineering Lewy bodies: how far have we come and how far can we go? Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:111-131. [PMID: 33432241 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-020-00416-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Lewy bodies (LBs) are α-synuclein (α-syn)-rich intracellular inclusions that are an important pathological hallmark of Parkinson disease and several other neurodegenerative diseases. Increasing evidence suggests that the aggregation of α-syn has a central role in LB formation and is one of the key processes that drive neurodegeneration and pathology progression in Parkinson disease. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the formation of LBs, their biochemical composition and ultrastructural properties, how they evolve and spread with disease progression, and their role in neurodegeneration. In this Review, we discuss current knowledge of α-syn pathology, including the biochemical, structural and morphological features of LBs observed in different brain regions. We also review the most used cellular and animal models of α-syn aggregation and pathology spreading in relation to the extent to which they reproduce key features of authentic LBs. Finally, we provide important insights into molecular and cellular determinants of LB formation and spreading, and highlight the critical need for more detailed and systematic characterization of α-syn pathology, at both the biochemical and structural levels. This would advance our understanding of Parkinson disease and other neurodegenerative diseases and allow the development of more-reliable disease models and novel effective therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
|
26
|
Dominguez-Meijide A, Parrales V, Vasili E, González-Lizárraga F, König A, Lázaro DF, Lannuzel A, Haik S, Del Bel E, Chehín R, Raisman-Vozari R, Michel PP, Bizat N, Outeiro TF. Doxycycline inhibits α-synuclein-associated pathologies in vitro and in vivo. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 151:105256. [PMID: 33429042 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (aSyn). Doxycycline, a tetracyclic antibiotic shows neuroprotective effects, initially proposed to be due to its anti-inflammatory properties. More recently, an additional mechanism by which doxycycline may exert its neuroprotective effects has been proposed as it has been shown that it inhibits amyloid aggregation. Here, we studied the effects of doxycycline on aSyn aggregation in vivo, in vitro and in a cell free system using real-time quaking induced conversion (RT-QuiC). Using H4, SH-SY5Y and HEK293 cells, we found that doxycycline decreases the number and size of aSyn aggregates in cells. In addition, doxycycline inhibits the aggregation and seeding of recombinant aSyn, and attenuates the production of mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species. Finally, we found that doxycycline induces a cellular redistribution of aggregates in a C.elegans animal model of PD, an effect that is associated with a recovery of dopaminergic function. In summary, we provide strong evidence that doxycycline treatment may be an effective strategy against synucleinopathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Dominguez-Meijide
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Experimental Neurology, Dept. of Morphological Sciences, CIMUS, IDIS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Valeria Parrales
- Paris Brain Institute, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Eftychia Vasili
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | | | - Annekatrin König
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Diana F Lázaro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Annie Lannuzel
- Paris Brain Institute, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France; University Hospital of Pointe-à-Pitre, Neurology Department, route de Chauvel, 97139 Abymes, Guadeloupe
| | - Stéphane Haik
- Paris Brain Institute, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France; AP-HP, Cellule Nationale de Référence des Maladies de Creutzfeldt-Jakob, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris F-75013, France
| | - Elaine Del Bel
- Department of Basic and Oral Biology, Faculty of Odontology of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Av do Café s/n, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rosana Chehín
- Instituto de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada (IMMCA) (CONICET-UNT-SIPROSA), Argentina
| | - Rita Raisman-Vozari
- Paris Brain Institute, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Patrick P Michel
- Paris Brain Institute, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Bizat
- Paris Brain Institute, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France; Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Paris University, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, Paris F-75006, France.
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany; Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Liang JJH, McKinnon IA, Rankin CH. The contribution of C. elegans neurogenetics to understanding neurodegenerative diseases. J Neurogenet 2020; 34:527-548. [DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2020.1803302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J. H. Liang
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Issa A. McKinnon
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Catharine H. Rankin
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Biophysical studies of protein misfolding and aggregation in in vivo models of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Q Rev Biophys 2020; 49:e22. [PMID: 32493529 DOI: 10.1017/s0033583520000025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's diseases (PD), are characterised by the formation of aberrant assemblies of misfolded proteins. The discovery of disease-modifying drugs for these disorders is challenging, in part because we still have a limited understanding of their molecular origins. In this review, we discuss how biophysical approaches can help explain the formation of the aberrant conformational states of proteins whose neurotoxic effects underlie these diseases. We discuss in particular models based on the transgenic expression of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau in AD, and α-synuclein in PD. Because biophysical methods have enabled an accurate quantification and a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying protein misfolding and aggregation in vitro, we expect that the further development of these methods to probe directly the corresponding mechanisms in vivo will open effective routes for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
|
29
|
Advances in modelling alpha-synuclein-induced Parkinson’s diseases in rodents: Virus-based models versus inoculation of exogenous preformed toxic species. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 338:108685. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
30
|
Lam I, Hallacli E, Khurana V. Proteome-Scale Mapping of Perturbed Proteostasis in Living Cells. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2020; 12:cshperspect.a034124. [PMID: 30910772 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a034124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Proteinopathies are degenerative diseases in which specific proteins adopt deleterious conformations, leading to the dysfunction and demise of distinct cell types. They comprise some of the most significant diseases of aging-from Alzheimer's disease to Parkinson's disease to type 2 diabetes-for which not a single disease-modifying or preventative strategy exists. Here, we survey approaches in tractable cellular and organismal models that bring us toward a more complete understanding of the molecular consequences of protein misfolding. These include proteome-scale profiling of genetic modifiers, as well as transcriptional and proteome changes. We describe assays that can capture protein interactomes in situ and distinct protein conformational states. A picture of cellular drivers and responders to proteotoxicity emerges from this work, distinguishing general alterations of proteostasis from cellular events that are deeply tied to the intrinsic function of the misfolding protein. These distinctions have consequences for the understanding and treatment of proteinopathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Lam
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Disease, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Erinc Hallacli
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Disease, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Vikram Khurana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Disease, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.,New York Stem Cell Foundation - Robertson Investigator
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Cai Z, Zheng F, Ding Y, Zhan Y, Gong R, Li J, Aschner M, Zhang Q, Wu S, Li H. Nrf2-regulated miR-380-3p Blocks the Translation of Sp3 Protein and Its Mediation of Paraquat-Induced Toxicity in Mouse Neuroblastoma N2a Cells. Toxicol Sci 2019; 171:515-529. [PMID: 31368498 PMCID: PMC6760285 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfz162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Laboratorial and epidemiological research has established a relationship between paraquat (PQ) exposure and a risk for Parkinson's disease. Previously, we have investigated the effects of nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and microRNAs in PQ-induced neurotoxicity, addressing the function of miR-380-3p, a microRNA dysregulated by PQ, as well as Nrf2 deficiency. Nrf2 is known to mediate the expression of a variety of genes, including noncoding genes. By chromatin immunoprecipitation, we identified the relationship between Nrf2 and miR-380-3p in transcriptional regulation. qRT-PCR, Western blots, and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay showed that miR-380-3p blocked the translation of the transcription factor specificity protein-3 (Sp3) in the absence of degradation of Sp3 mRNA. Results based on cell counting analysis, annexin v-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide double-staining assay, and propidium iodide staining showed that overexpression of miR-380-3p inhibited cell proliferation, increased the apoptotic rate, induced cell cycle arrest, and intensified the toxicity of PQ in mouse neuroblastoma (N2a [Neuro2a]) cells. Knockdown of Sp3 inhibited cell proliferation and eclipsed the alterations induced by miR-380-3p in cell proliferation. Two mediators of apoptosis and cell cycle identified in previous studies as Sp3-regulated, namely cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (p21) and calmodulin (CaM), were dysregulated by PQ, but not Sp3 deficiency. In conclusion, Nrf2-regulated miR-380-3p inhibited cell proliferation and enhanced the PQ-induced toxicity in N2a cells potentially by blocking the translation Sp3 mRNA. We conclude that CaM and p21 were involved in PQ-induced toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Cai
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer
- The Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
- Center for Drug Non-Clinical Evaluation
- Research of Guangdong Institute of Applied Bio-resources, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Fuli Zheng
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer
- The Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Yan Ding
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer
- The Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Yanting Zhan
- Department of Management, Fujian Health College, Fuzhou 350101, China
| | - Ruijie Gong
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer
| | - Jing Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461
| | - Qunwei Zhang
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202
| | - Siying Wu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer
- The Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Huangyuan Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer
- The Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Yang J, Xiao Y, Li L, He Q, Li M, Shu Y. Biophysical Properties of Somatic and Axonal Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels in Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:317. [PMID: 31354436 PMCID: PMC6636218 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Spiking activities of midbrain dopaminergic neurons are critical for key brain functions including motor control and affective behaviors. Voltage-gated Na+ channels determine neuronal excitability and action potential (AP) generation. Previous studies on dopaminergic neuron excitability mainly focused on Na+ channels at the somatodendritic compartments. Properties of axonal Na+ channels, however, remain largely unknown. Using patch-clamp recording from somatic nucleated patches and isolated axonal blebs from the axon initial segment (AIS) of dopaminergic neurons in mouse midbrain slices, we found that AIS channel density is approximately 4–9 fold higher than that at the soma. Similar voltage dependence of channel activation and inactivation was observed between somatic and axonal channels in both SNc and VTA cells, except that SNc somatic channels inactivate at more hyperpolarized membrane potentials (Vm). In both SNc and VTA, axonal channels take longer time to inactivate at a subthreshold depolarization Vm level, but are faster to recover from inactivation than somatic channels. Moreover, we found that immunosignals of Nav1.2 accumulate at the AIS of dopaminergic neurons. In contrast, Nav1.1 and Nav1.6 immunosignals are not detectible. Together, our results reveal a high density of Na+ channels at the AIS and their molecular identity. In general, somatic and axonal channels of both SNc and VTA dopaminergic neurons share similar biophysical properties. The relatively delayed inactivation onset and faster recovery from inactivation of axonal Na+ channels may ensure AP initiation at high frequencies and faithful signal conduction along the axon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yujie Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Quansheng He
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Min Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yousheng Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Zhang J, Li X, Li JD. The Roles of Post-translational Modifications on α-Synuclein in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Diseases. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:381. [PMID: 31057362 PMCID: PMC6482271 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Although the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease is not entirely clear, the aberrant aggregation of α-synuclein has long been considered as an important risk factor. Elucidating the mechanisms that influence the aggregation of α-synuclein is essential for developing an effective diagnostic, preventative and therapeutic strategy to treat this devastating disease. The aggregation of α-synuclein is influenced by several post-translational modifications. Here, we summarized the major post-translational modifications (phosphorylation, ubiquitination, truncation, nitration, O-GlcNAcylation) of α-synuclein and the effect of these modifications on α-synuclein aggregation, which may provide potential targets for future therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaming Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Xiaoping Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Jia-Da Li
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Center for Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Ramis R, Ortega-Castro J, Casasnovas R, Mariño L, Vilanova B, Adrover M, Frau J. A Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Approach to the Study of the Intrinsically Disordered Protein α-Synuclein. J Chem Inf Model 2019; 59:1458-1471. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.8b00921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Ramis
- Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Illes Balears (IdISBa), 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Joaquín Ortega-Castro
- Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Illes Balears (IdISBa), 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Casasnovas
- Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Illes Balears (IdISBa), 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Laura Mariño
- Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Illes Balears (IdISBa), 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Bartolomé Vilanova
- Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Illes Balears (IdISBa), 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Miquel Adrover
- Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Illes Balears (IdISBa), 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Juan Frau
- Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut (IUNICS), Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Illes Balears (IdISBa), 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Found in Translation: The Utility of C. elegans Alpha-Synuclein Models of Parkinson's Disease. Brain Sci 2019; 9:brainsci9040073. [PMID: 30925741 PMCID: PMC6523935 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9040073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease in the world, yet the fundamental and underlying causes of the disease are largely unknown, and treatments remain sparse and impotent. Several biological systems have been employed to model the disease but the nematode roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) shows unique promise among these to disinter the elusive factors that may prevent, halt, and/or reverse PD phenotypes. Some of the most salient of these C. elegans models of PD are those that position the misfolding-prone protein alpha-synuclein (α-syn), a hallmark pathological component of PD, as the primary target for scientific interrogation. By transgenic expression of human α-syn in different tissues, including dopamine neurons and muscle cells, the primary cellular phenotypes of PD in humans have been recapitulated in these C. elegans models and have already uncovered multifarious genetic factors and chemical compounds that attenuate dopaminergic neurodegeneration. This review describes the paramount discoveries obtained through the application of different α-syn models of PD in C. elegans and highlights their established utility and respective promise to successfully uncover new conserved genetic modifiers, functional mechanisms, therapeutic targets and molecular leads for PD with the potential to translate to humans.
Collapse
|
36
|
α-Synuclein misfolding and aggregation: Implications in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2019; 1867:890-908. [PMID: 30853581 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2018] [Revised: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-Syn) has been extensively studied for its structural and biophysical properties owing to its pathophysiological role in Parkinson's disease (PD). Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites are the pathological hallmarks of PD and contain α-Syn aggregates as their major component. It was therefore hypothesized that α-Syn aggregation is actively associated with PD pathogenesis. The central role of α-Syn aggregation in PD is further supported by the identification of point mutations in α-Syn protein associated with rare familial forms of PD. However, the correlation between aggregation propensities of α-Syn mutants and their association with PD phenotype is not straightforward. Recent evidence suggested that oligomers, formed during the initial stages of aggregation, are the potent neurotoxic species causing cell death in PD. However, the heterogeneous and unstable nature of these oligomers limit their detailed characterization. α-Syn fibrils, on the contrary, are shown to be the infectious agents and propagate in a prion-like manner. Although α-Syn is an intrinsically disordered protein, it exhibits remarkable conformational plasticity by adopting a range of structural conformations under different environmental conditions. In this review, we focus on the structural and functional aspects of α-Syn and role of potential factors that may contribute to the underlying mechanism of synucleinopathies. This information will help to identify novel targets and develop specific therapeutic strategies to combat Parkinson's and other protein aggregation related neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
|
37
|
Mor DE, Daniels MJ, Ischiropoulos H. The usual suspects, dopamine and alpha-synuclein, conspire to cause neurodegeneration. Mov Disord 2019; 34:167-179. [PMID: 30633814 PMCID: PMC6379109 DOI: 10.1002/mds.27607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is primarily a movement disorder driven by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Early identification of the oxidative properties of dopamine implicated it as a potential source of oxidative stress in PD, yet few studies have investigated dopamine neurotoxicity in vivo. The discovery of PD-causing mutations in α-synuclein and the presence of aggregated α-synuclein in the hallmark Lewy body pathology of PD revealed another important player. Despite extensive efforts, the precise role of α-synuclein aggregation in neurodegeneration remains unclear. We recently manipulated both dopamine levels and α-synuclein expression in aged mice and found that only the combination of these 2 factors caused progressive neurodegeneration of the SN and an associated motor deficit. Dopamine modified α-synuclein aggregation in the SN, resulting in greater abundance of α-synuclein oligomers and unique dopamine-induced oligomeric conformations. Furthermore, disruption of the dopamine-α-synuclein interaction rescued dopaminergic neurons from degeneration in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans models. In this Perspective, we discuss these findings in the context of known α-synuclein and dopamine biology, review the evidence for α-synuclein oligomer toxicity and potential mechanisms, and discuss therapeutic implications. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle E. Mor
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Malcolm J. Daniels
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Harry Ischiropoulos
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Worms on a Chip. Bioanalysis 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-6229-3_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
|
39
|
Breger LS, Fuzzati Armentero MT. Genetically engineered animal models of Parkinson's disease: From worm to rodent. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 49:533-560. [PMID: 30552719 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterised by aberrant accumulation of insoluble proteins, including alpha-synuclein, and a loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The extended neurodegeneration leads to a drop of striatal dopamine levels responsible for disabling motor and non-motor impairments. Although the causes of the disease remain unclear, it is well accepted among the scientific community that the disorder may also have a genetic component. For that reason, the number of genetically engineered animal models has greatly increased over the past two decades, ranging from invertebrates to more complex organisms such as mice and rats. This trend is growing as new genetic variants associated with the disease are discovered. The EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) has promoted the creation of an online database aiming at summarising the different features of experimental models of Parkinson's disease. This review discusses available genetic models of PD and the extent to which they adequately mirror the human pathology and reflects on future development and uses of genetically engineered experimental models for the study of PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ludivine S Breger
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, CNRS UMR 5293, Centre Broca Nouvelle Aquitaine, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux cedex, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Tsai CW, Tsai RT, Liu SP, Chen CS, Tsai MC, Chien SH, Hung HS, Lin SZ, Shyu WC, Fu RH. Neuroprotective Effects of Betulin in Pharmacological and Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans Models of Parkinson's Disease. Cell Transplant 2018; 26:1903-1918. [PMID: 29390878 PMCID: PMC5802634 DOI: 10.1177/0963689717738785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common degenerative disorder of the central nervous system in the elderly. It is characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, as well as by motor dysfunction. Although the causes of PD are not well understood, aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) in neurons contributes to this disease. Current therapeutics for PD provides satisfactory symptom relief but not a cure. Treatment strategies include attempts to identify new drugs that will prevent or arrest the progressive course of PD by correcting disease-specific pathogenic process. Betulin is derived from the bark of birch trees and possesses anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential for betulin to ameliorate PD features in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) models. We demonstrated that betulin diminished α-syn accumulation in the transgenic C. elegans model. Betulin also reduced 6-hydroxydopamine-induced dopaminergic neuron degeneration, reduced food-sensing behavioral abnormalities, and reversed life-span decreases in a pharmacological C. elegans model. Moreover, we found that the enhancement of proteasomes activity by promoting rpn1 expression and downregulation of the apoptosis pathway gene, egl-1, may be the molecular mechanism for betulin-mediated protection against PD pathology. Together, these findings support betulin as a possible treatment for PD and encourage further investigations of betulin as an antineurodegenerative agent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Wen Tsai
- 1 Department of Nutrition, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Rong-Tzong Tsai
- 2 Institute of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ping Liu
- 3 Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,4 Translational Medicine Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Shi Chen
- 5 Department of Biochemical and Molecular Biology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Min-Chen Tsai
- 3 Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Hsuan Chien
- 3 Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Huey-Shan Hung
- 3 Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,4 Translational Medicine Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shinn-Zong Lin
- 6 Bioinnovation Center, Tzu Chi foundation, Department of Neurosurgery, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Woei-Cherng Shyu
- 3 Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,4 Translational Medicine Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ru-Huei Fu
- 3 Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,4 Translational Medicine Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,7 Department of Psychology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Yao V, Kaletsky R, Keyes W, Mor DE, Wong AK, Sohrabi S, Murphy CT, Troyanskaya OG. An integrative tissue-network approach to identify and test human disease genes. Nat Biotechnol 2018; 36:nbt.4246. [PMID: 30346941 PMCID: PMC7021177 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.4246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Effective discovery of causal disease genes must overcome the statistical challenges of quantitative genetics studies and the practical limitations of human biology experiments. Here we developed diseaseQUEST, an integrative approach that combines data from human genome-wide disease studies with in silico network models of tissue- and cell-type-specific function in model organisms to prioritize candidates within functionally conserved processes and pathways. We used diseaseQUEST to predict candidate genes for 25 different diseases and traits, including cancer, longevity, and neurodegenerative diseases. Focusing on Parkinson's disease (PD), a diseaseQUEST-directed Caenhorhabditis elegans behavioral screen identified several candidate genes, which we experimentally verified and found to be associated with age-dependent motility defects mirroring PD clinical symptoms. Furthermore, knockdown of the top candidate gene, bcat-1, encoding a branched chain amino acid transferase, caused spasm-like 'curling' and neurodegeneration in C. elegans, paralleling decreased BCAT1 expression in PD patient brains. diseaseQUEST is modular and generalizable to other model organisms and human diseases of interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Yao
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Rachel Kaletsky
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - William Keyes
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Danielle E Mor
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Aaron K Wong
- Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York, New York, USA
| | - Salman Sohrabi
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Coleen T Murphy
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Olga G Troyanskaya
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Cooper JF, Spielbauer KK, Senchuk MM, Nadarajan S, Colaiácovo MP, Van Raamsdonk JM. α-synuclein expression from a single copy transgene increases sensitivity to stress and accelerates neuronal loss in genetic models of Parkinson's disease. Exp Neurol 2018; 310:58-69. [PMID: 30194957 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and is characterized by the formation of α-synuclein-containing protein aggregates called Lewy bodies within the brain. A crucial role for α-synuclein in the pathogenesis of PD is also suggested by the fact that point mutations, increased copy number, or polymorphisms in the α-synuclein gene SNCA all cause or contribute to the development of PD. In addition to SNCA, an increasing number of other genes have been implicated in PD. While mutations in at least some of these genes have been shown to cause the formation of Lewy bodies, the role of α-synuclein in these genetic forms of PD remains poorly defined. Since C. elegans do not have a homolog of α-synuclein, this organism provides the opportunity to identify synergism between α-synuclein and other genes implicated in PD. To do this, we generated a novel C. elegans model in which wild-type α-synuclein is ubiquitously expressed from a single copy transgene, and examined the resulting effect on phenotypic deficits in PD deletion mutants affecting PARK2/pdr-1, PINK1/pink-1, DJ-1/djr-1.1 and ATP13A2/catp-6. While the PD deletion mutants exhibit only mild phenotypic deficits in absence of α-synuclein, expression of wild-type α-synuclein caused increased sensitivity to multiple stresses, induced deficits in dopamine-dependent behavior, and accelerated loss of dopamine neurons. Overall, these results suggest that the recessive loss of function mutations act together with α-synuclein to cause PD, and that α-synuclein lowering strategies may be effective in genetic forms of PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason F Cooper
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Katie K Spielbauer
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Megan M Senchuk
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | | | | | - Jeremy M Van Raamsdonk
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3J1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Schmeisser K, Parker JA. Nicotinamide-N-methyltransferase controls behavior, neurodegeneration and lifespan by regulating neuronal autophagy. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007561. [PMID: 30192747 PMCID: PMC6191153 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinamide N-methyl-transferase (NNMT) is an essential contributor to various metabolic and epigenetic processes, including the regulating of aging, cellular stress response, and body weight gain. Epidemiological studies show that NNMT is a risk factor for psychiatric diseases like schizophrenia and neurodegeneration, especially Parkinson's disease (PD), but its neuronal mechanisms of action remain obscure. Here, we describe the role of neuronal NNMT using C. elegans. We discovered that ANMT-1, the nematode NNMT ortholog, competes with the methyltransferase LCMT-1 for methyl groups from S-adenosyl methionine. Thereby, it regulates the catalytic capacities of LCMT-1, targeting NPRL-2, a regulator of autophagy. Autophagy is a core cellular, catabolic process for degrading cytoplasmic material, but very little is known about the regulation of autophagy during aging. We report an important role for NNMT in regulation of autophagy during aging, where high neuronal ANMT-1 activity induces autophagy via NPRL-2, which maintains neuronal function in old wild type animals and various disease models, also affecting longevity. In younger animals, however, ANMT-1 activity disturbs neuronal homeostasis and dopamine signaling, causing abnormal behavior. In summary, we provide fundamental insights into neuronal NNMT/ANMT-1 as pivotal regulator of behavior, neurodegeneration, and lifespan by controlling neuronal autophagy, potentially influencing PD and schizophrenia risk in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Schmeisser
- Research Center of the Centre Hospitalier de l‘Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - J. Alex Parker
- Research Center of the Centre Hospitalier de l‘Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Choudhury GR, Daadi MM. Charting the onset of Parkinson-like motor and non-motor symptoms in nonhuman primate model of Parkinson's disease. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202770. [PMID: 30138454 PMCID: PMC6107255 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease increasingly affecting our aging population. Remarkable advances have been made in developing novel therapies to control symptoms, halt or cure the disease, ranging from physiotherapy and small molecules to cell and gene therapy. This progress was enabled by the existence of reliable animal models. The nonhuman primate model of Parkinson’s disease emulates the cardinal symptoms of the disease, including tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability, freezing and cognitive impairment. However, this model is established through the specific loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, while our current knowledge reflects the reality of Parkinson’s disease as a multisystem disease. Parkinson’s disease involves both motor and non-motor symptoms, such as sleep disturbance, olfaction, gastrointestinal dysfunctions, depression and cognitive deficits. Some of the non-motor symptoms emerge earlier at the prodromal phase and worsen with disease progression, yet in basic and translational studies, they are rarely considered as endpoints. In this study, we set to characterize an ensemble of less described motor and non-motor dysfunctions in the marmoset MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) model. We provide evidence that this animal model expresses postural head tremor and a progressive worsening of fine motor skills, movement coordination and cognitive abilities over a 6-month period. We report for the first time a non-invasive approach showing detailed analysis of daytime and nighttime sleep and circadian rhythm disturbance remarkably similar to Parkinson’s disease patients. This study describes the incidence of tremors, motor and non-motor dysfunctions in a preclinical model and highlights the need for their consideration in translating effective new therapeutic approaches for Parkinson’s disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gourav R. Choudhury
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Marcel M. Daadi
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
- Research Imaging Institute, Departments of Radiology, Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Mitochondrial dysfunction in protein conformational disorders. J Genet 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s12041-018-0958-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
46
|
Steiner JA, Quansah E, Brundin P. The concept of alpha-synuclein as a prion-like protein: ten years after. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 373:161-173. [PMID: 29480459 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2814-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is characterized by the loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic signaling and the presence of alpha-synuclein aggregates (also called Lewy bodies and neurites) throughout the brain. In 2003, Braak and colleagues created a staging system for Parkinson's disease describing the connection between the alpha-synuclein pathology and disease severity. Later, they suggested that the pathology might initially be triggered by exogenous insults targeting the gut and olfactory system. In 2008, we and other groups documented Lewy pathology in grafted neurons in people with Parkinson's disease who had been transplanted over a decade prior to autopsy. We proposed that the Lewy pathology in the grafted neurons was the result of permissive templating or prion-like spread of alpha-synuclein pathology from neurons in the host to those in the grafts. During the following ten years, several studies described the transmission of alpha-synuclein pathology between neurons, both in cell culture and in experimental animals. Recent research has also begun to identify underlying molecular mechanisms. Collectively, these experimental studies tentatively support the idea that the progression from one Braak stage to the next is the consequence of prion-like propagation of Lewy pathology. However, definitive proof that intercellular propagation of alpha-synuclein pathology occurs in Parkinson's disease cases has proven difficult to secure. In this review, we highlight several open questions that currently prevent us from concluding with certainty that prion-like transfer of alpha-synuclein contributes to the progression of Parkinson's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Steiner
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA.
| | - Emmanuel Quansah
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Patrik Brundin
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Cooper JF, Van Raamsdonk JM. Modeling Parkinson's Disease in C. elegans. JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2018; 8:17-32. [PMID: 29480229 PMCID: PMC5836411 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-171258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is an adult onset neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by selective degeneration of neurons primarily in the substantia nigra. At present, the pathogenesis of PD is incompletely understood and there are no neuroprotective treatments available. Accurate animal models of PD provide the opportunity to elucidate disease mechanisms and identify therapeutic targets. This review focuses on C. elegans models of PD, including both genetic and toxicant models. This microscopic worm offers several advantages for the study of PD including ease of genetic manipulation, ability to complete experiments rapidly, low cost, and ability to perform large scale screens for disease modifiers. A number of C. elegans models of PD have been generated including transgenic worms that express α-synuclein or LRRK2, and worms with deletions in PRKN/pdr-1, PINK1/pink-1, DJ-1/djr-1.1/djr-1.2 and ATP13A2/catp-6. These worms have been shown to exhibit multiple phenotypic deficits including the loss of dopamine neurons, disruption of dopamine-dependent behaviors, increased sensitivity to stress, age-dependent aggregation, and deficits in movement. As a result, these phenotypes can be used as outcome measures to gain insight into disease pathogenesis and to identify disease modifiers. In this way, C. elegans can be used as an experimental tool to elucidate mechanisms involved in PD and to find novel therapeutic targets that can subsequently be validated in other models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason F. Cooper
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Jeremy M. Van Raamsdonk
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Ma L, Zhao Y, Chen Y, Cheng B, Peng A, Huang K. Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system for target identification and drug screening against neurodegenerative diseases. Eur J Pharmacol 2017; 819:169-180. [PMID: 29208474 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.11.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decades, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has been widely used as a model system because of its small size, transparent body, short generation time and lifespan (~3 days and 3 weeks, respectively), completely sequenced genome and tractability to genetic manipulation. Protein misfolding and aggregation are key pathological features in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Animal models, including C. elegans, have been extensively used to discover and validate new drugs against neurodegenerative diseases. The well-defined and genetically tractable nervous system of C. elegans offers an effective model to explore basic mechanistic pathways of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent progress in high-throughput drug screening also provides a powerful approach for identifying chemical modulators of biological processes. Here, we summarize the latest progress of using C. elegans as a model system for target identification and drug screening in neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ma
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yudan Zhao
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yuchen Chen
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Biao Cheng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430014, China
| | - Anlin Peng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Hospital of Wuhan, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Center for Biomedicine Research, Wuhan Institute of Biotechnology, Wuhan 430075, China.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Maulik M, Mitra S, Bult-Ito A, Taylor BE, Vayndorf EM. Behavioral Phenotyping and Pathological Indicators of Parkinson's Disease in C. elegans Models. Front Genet 2017; 8:77. [PMID: 28659967 PMCID: PMC5468440 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2017.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms that progressively worsen with age. Pathologically, PD is characterized by the aggregation of α-synuclein in cells of the substantia nigra in the brain and loss of dopaminergic neurons. This pathology is associated with impaired movement and reduced cognitive function. The etiology of PD can be attributed to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. A popular animal model, the nematode roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, has been frequently used to study the role of genetic and environmental factors in the molecular pathology and behavioral phenotypes associated with PD. The current review summarizes cellular markers and behavioral phenotypes in transgenic and toxin-induced PD models of C. elegans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Malabika Maulik
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Swarup Mitra
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Abel Bult-Ito
- Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Barbara E Taylor
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long BeachLong Beach, CA, United States
| | - Elena M Vayndorf
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK, United States
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Chalorak P, Jattujan P, Nobsathian S, Poomtong T, Sobhon P, Meemon K. Holothuria scabra extracts exhibit anti-Parkinson potential in C. elegans: A model for anti-Parkinson testing. Nutr Neurosci 2017; 21:427-438. [PMID: 28276260 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2017.1299437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with aggregation of α-synuclein and selective death of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra, thereby leading to cognitive and motor impairments. Nowadays, the drugs commonly used for PD treatment, such as levodopa, provide only symptomatic relief. Therefore, seeking new drugs against PD, especially from plants and marine organisms, is one of the major research areas to be explored. This study aimed to investigate the anti-Parkinson activity of the extracts from the sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, by using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model. METHODS H. scabra was solvent-extracted and subdivided into six fractions including whole body-ethyl acetate (WBEA), body wall-ethyl acetate (BWEA), viscera-ethyl acetate (VIEA), whole body-butanol (WBBU), body wall-butanol (BWBU), and viscera-butanol (VIBU). The extracts were tested in C. elegans BZ555 strain expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) specifically in the DA neurons and NL5901 strain expressing human α-synuclein in the muscle cells. RESULTS WBEA, BWEA, and WBBU fractions of H. scabra extracts at 500 µg/ml significantly attenuated DA neuron-degeneration induced by selective cathecholamine neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in the BZ555 strain. Moreover, the extracts also reduced α-synuclein aggregation and restored lipid content in NL5901, as well as improved food-sensing behavior and prolonged lifespan in the 6-OHDA-treated wild-type strain. DISCUSSION The study indicated that the H. scabra extracts have anti-Parkinson potential in the C. elegans model. These findings encourage further investigations on using the H. scabra extract, as well as its active constituent compounds, as a possible preventive and/or therapeutic intervention against PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pawanrat Chalorak
- a Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science , Mahidol University , Rama VI Road Bangkok, 10400 , Thailand
| | - Prapaporn Jattujan
- a Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science , Mahidol University , Rama VI Road Bangkok, 10400 , Thailand
| | - Saksit Nobsathian
- b Mahidol University , Nakhonsawan Campus, Nakhonsawan 60130 , Thailand
| | - Tanate Poomtong
- c The Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Center , Prachuapkhirikhun 77000 , Thailand
| | - Prasert Sobhon
- a Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science , Mahidol University , Rama VI Road Bangkok, 10400 , Thailand.,d Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Burapha University , Chonburi 20131 , Thailand
| | - Krai Meemon
- a Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science , Mahidol University , Rama VI Road Bangkok, 10400 , Thailand
| |
Collapse
|