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Chen B, Wang L, Pan X, Jiang S, Hu Y. Adipose-derived stem cells modified by TWIST1 silencing accelerates rat sciatic nerve repair and functional recovery. Hum Cell 2024; 37:1394-1404. [PMID: 38907140 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-024-01087-6] [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: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
The regeneration of peripheral nerves after injury is often slow and impaired, which may be associated with weakened and denervated muscles subsequently leading to atrophy. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are often regarded as cell-based therapeutic candidate due to their regenerative potential. The study aims to assess the therapeutic efficacy of gene-modified ADSCs on sciatic nerve injury. We lentivirally transduced ADSCs with shRNA-TWIST1 and transplanted modified cells to rats undergoing sciatic nerve transection and repair. Results showed that TWIST1 knockdown accelerated functional recovery of rats with sciatic nerve injury as faster nerve conduction velocity and higher wire hang scores obtained by rats transplanted with TWIST1-silenced ADSCs than scramble ADSCs. Although the rats experienced degenerated axons and decreased myelin sheath thickness after sciatic nerve injury 8 weeks after operation, those transplanted with TWIST1-silenced ADSCs exhibited more signs of regenerated nerve fibers surrounded by newly formed myelin sheaths than those with scramble ADSCs. The rats transplanted with TWIST1-silenced ADSCs presented increased expressions of neurotrophic factors including neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the sciatic nerves than those with scramble ADSCs. These results suggest that genetically modifying TWIST1 in ADSCs could facilitate peripheral nerve repair after injury in a more efficient way than that with ADSCs alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Leining Wang
- Department of Surgery of Hand and Foot, Beilun People's Hospital, Ningbo, 315800, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaogui Pan
- Department of Surgery of Hand and Foot, Beilun People's Hospital, Ningbo, 315800, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shuai Jiang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yihe Hu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China.
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2
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Xie X, Yan B, Yang L, Deng L, Xue X, Gao M, Wei H, Chen S, Wu Y, Yang X, Ma P. Prenatal co-exposure to diisodecyl phthalate and ozone contribute to depressive behavior in offspring mice through oxidative stress and TWIST1 participation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 928:172411. [PMID: 38608898 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) during early pregnancy may be a risk factor for depressive behavior in offspring. While ozone (O3) exposure also raises the probability of depressive behavior during the preceding DIDP-induced process. In the present study, we investigated the effects of prenatal exposure to DIDP and O3 on the development of depressive-like behavior in offspring mice. The study found that prenatal exposure to both DIDP and O3 significantly increased depressive-like behavior in the offspring mice compared to either DIDP or O3 alone. Prenatal exposure to DIDP and O3 obviously increased the levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol, and decreased the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) in the brain tissues of offspring mice. Transcriptome analysis further revealed significant alterations in genes related to oxidative stress and TWIST1 (a helix-loop-helix transcription factor) in response to the combined exposure to DIDP and O3. HPA axis activation, dysregulation of neurodevelopmental factors, oxidative stress and TWIST1 involvement, collectively contributed to the development of depression-like behaviors in offspring mice following prenatal exposure to DIDP and O3. Moreover, the study also verified the potential role of oxidative stress using vitamin E as an antioxidant. The findings provide valuable evidence for the relationship between co-exposure to DIDP and O3 and depression, highlighting the importance of considering the combined effects of multiple environmental pollutants in assessing their impact on mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Xie
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Related Diseases and One Health, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, PR China
| | - Biao Yan
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Related Diseases and One Health, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, PR China
| | - Lihua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academic of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Linjing Deng
- School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212000, PR China
| | - Xin Xue
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Related Diseases and One Health, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, PR China
| | - Minmin Gao
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Related Diseases and One Health, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, PR China
| | - Huaqin Wei
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Related Diseases and One Health, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, PR China
| | - Shaohui Chen
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Related Diseases and One Health, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, PR China
| | - Yang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Related Diseases and One Health, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, PR China
| | - Xu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Related Diseases and One Health, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, PR China
| | - Ping Ma
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Related Diseases and One Health, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, PR China.
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Speidell A, Bin Abid N, Yano H. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Dysregulation as an Essential Pathological Feature in Huntington's Disease: Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutics. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2275. [PMID: 37626771 PMCID: PMC10452871 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082275] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a major neurotrophin whose loss or interruption is well established to have numerous intersections with the pathogenesis of progressive neurological disorders. There is perhaps no greater example of disease pathogenesis resulting from the dysregulation of BDNF signaling than Huntington's disease (HD)-an inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, psychiatric, and cognitive impairments associated with basal ganglia dysfunction and the ultimate death of striatal projection neurons. Investigation of the collection of mechanisms leading to BDNF loss in HD highlights this neurotrophin's importance to neuronal viability and calls attention to opportunities for therapeutic interventions. Using electronic database searches of existing and forthcoming research, we constructed a literature review with the overarching goal of exploring the diverse set of molecular events that trigger BDNF dysregulation within HD. We highlighted research that investigated these major mechanisms in preclinical models of HD and connected these studies to those evaluating similar endpoints in human HD subjects. We also included a special focus on the growing body of literature detailing key transcriptomic and epigenetic alterations that affect BDNF abundance in HD. Finally, we offer critical evaluation of proposed neurotrophin-directed therapies and assessed clinical trials seeking to correct BDNF expression in HD individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Speidell
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; (A.S.); (N.B.A.)
| | - Noman Bin Abid
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; (A.S.); (N.B.A.)
| | - Hiroko Yano
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; (A.S.); (N.B.A.)
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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4
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Li J, Wang Y, Yang R, Ma W, Yan J, Li Y, Chen G, Pan J. Pain in Huntington's disease and its potential mechanisms. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1190563. [PMID: 37484692 PMCID: PMC10357841 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1190563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Pain is common and frequent in many neurodegenerative diseases, although it has not received much attention. In Huntington's disease (HD), pain is often ignored and under-researched because attention is more focused on motor and cognitive decline than psychiatric symptoms. In HD progression, pain symptoms are complex and involved in multiple etiologies, particularly mental issues such as apathy, anxiety and irritability. Because of psychiatric issues, HD patients rarely complain of pain, although their bodies show severe pain symptoms, ultimately resulting in insufficient awareness and lack of research. In HD, few studies have focused on pain and pain-related features. A detailed and systemic pain history is crucial to assess and explore pain pathophysiology in HD. This review provides an overview concentrating on pain-related factors in HD, including neuropathology, frequency, features, affecting factors and mechanisms. More attention and studies are still needed in this interesting field in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajie Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Riyun Yang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Wenjun Ma
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - JunGuo Yan
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Center for Basic Medical Research, Medical School of Nantong University, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingying Pan
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
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5
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Morello G, La Cognata V, Guarnaccia M, D'Agata V, Cavallaro S. Cracking the Code of Neuronal Cell Fate. Cells 2023; 12:cells12071057. [PMID: 37048129 PMCID: PMC10093029 DOI: 10.3390/cells12071057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation is fundamental to most biological processes and reverse-engineering programs can be used to decipher the underlying programs. In this review, we describe how genomics is offering a systems biology-based perspective of the intricate and temporally coordinated transcriptional programs that control neuronal apoptosis and survival. In addition to providing a new standpoint in human pathology focused on the regulatory program, cracking the code of neuronal cell fate may offer innovative therapeutic approaches focused on downstream targets and regulatory networks. Similar to computers, where faults often arise from a software bug, neuronal fate may critically depend on its transcription program. Thus, cracking the code of neuronal life or death may help finding a patch for neurodegeneration and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Morello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Valentina La Cognata
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Guarnaccia
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Velia D'Agata
- Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (CNR-IRIB), 95126 Catania, Italy
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6
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Lee YY, Endale M, Wu G, Ruben MD, Francey LJ, Morris AR, Choo NY, Anafi RC, Smith DF, Liu AC, Hogenesch JB. Integration of genome-scale data identifies candidate sleep regulators. Sleep 2023; 46:zsac279. [PMID: 36462188 PMCID: PMC9905783 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsac279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Genetics impacts sleep, yet, the molecular mechanisms underlying sleep regulation remain elusive. In this study, we built machine learning models to predict sleep genes based on their similarity to genes that are known to regulate sleep. METHODS We trained a prediction model on thousands of published datasets, representing circadian, immune, sleep deprivation, and many other processes, using a manually curated list of 109 sleep genes. RESULTS Our predictions fit with prior knowledge of sleep regulation and identified key genes and pathways to pursue in follow-up studies. As an example, we focused on the NF-κB pathway and showed that chronic activation of NF-κB in a genetic mouse model impacted the sleep-wake patterns. CONCLUSION Our study highlights the power of machine learning in integrating prior knowledge and genome-wide data to study genetic regulation of complex behaviors such as sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Yeng Lee
- Divisions of Human Genetics and Immunobiology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Mehari Endale
- Department of Physiology and Aging, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Gang Wu
- Divisions of Human Genetics and Immunobiology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Marc D Ruben
- Divisions of Human Genetics and Immunobiology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Lauren J Francey
- Divisions of Human Genetics and Immunobiology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Andrew R Morris
- Department of Physiology and Aging, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Natalie Y Choo
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Ron C Anafi
- Department of Medicine, Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - David F Smith
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine and the Sleep Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Center for Circadian Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Andrew C Liu
- Department of Physiology and Aging, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - John B Hogenesch
- Divisions of Human Genetics and Immunobiology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Center for Circadian Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
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7
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DNA Methylation in Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312736. [PMID: 34884540 PMCID: PMC8657460 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312736] [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: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylation of cytosine in CpG dinucleotides is the major DNA modification in mammalian cells that is a key component of stable epigenetic marks. This modification, which on the one hand is reversible, while on the other hand, can be maintained through successive rounds of replication plays roles in gene regulation, genome maintenance, transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, and imprinting. Disturbed DNA methylation contributes to a wide array of human diseases from single-gene disorders to sporadic metabolic diseases or cancer. DNA methylation was also shown to affect several neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington's disease (HD), a fatal, monogenic inherited disease. HD is caused by a polyglutamine repeat expansion in the Huntingtin protein that brings about a multifaceted pathogenesis affecting several cellular processes. Research of the last decade found complex, genome-wide DNA methylation changes in HD pathogenesis that modulate transcriptional activity and genome stability. This article reviews current evidence that sheds light on the role of DNA methylation in HD.
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8
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Malla B, Guo X, Senger G, Chasapopoulou Z, Yildirim F. A Systematic Review of Transcriptional Dysregulation in Huntington's Disease Studied by RNA Sequencing. Front Genet 2021; 12:751033. [PMID: 34721539 PMCID: PMC8554124 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.751033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of polyglutamine repeats in exon 1 of the Huntingtin gene. Transcriptional dysregulation accompanied by epigenetic alterations is an early and central disease mechanism in HD yet, the exact mechanisms and regulators, and their associated gene expression programs remain incompletely understood. This systematic review investigates genome-wide transcriptional studies that were conducted using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology in HD patients and models. The review protocol was registered at the Open Science Framework (OSF). The biomedical literature and gene expression databases, PubMed and NCBI BioProject, Array Express, European Nucleotide Archive (ENA), European Genome-Phenome Archive (EGA), respectively, were searched using the defined terms specified in the protocol following the PRISMA guidelines. We conducted a complete literature and database search to retrieve all RNA-seq-based gene expression studies in HD published until August 2020, retrieving 288 articles and 237 datasets from PubMed and the databases, respectively. A total of 27 studies meeting the eligibility criteria were included in this review. Collectively, comparative analysis of the datasets revealed frequent genes that are consistently dysregulated in HD. In postmortem brains from HD patients, DNAJB1, HSPA1B and HSPB1 genes were commonly upregulated across all brain regions and cell types except for medium spiny neurons (MSNs) at symptomatic disease stage, and HSPH1 and SAT1 genes were altered in expression in all symptomatic brain datasets, indicating early and sustained changes in the expression of genes related to heat shock response as well as response to misfolded proteins. Specifically in indirect pathway medium spiny neurons (iMSNs), mitochondria related genes were among the top uniquely dysregulated genes. Interestingly, blood from HD patients showed commonly differentially expressed genes with a number of brain regions and cells, with the highest number of overlapping genes with MSNs and BA9 region at symptomatic stage. We also found the differential expression and predicted altered activity of a set of transcription factors and epigenetic regulators, including BCL6, EGR1, FOSL2 and CREBBP, HDAC1, KDM4C, respectively, which may underlie the observed transcriptional changes in HD. Altogether, our work provides a complete overview of the transcriptional studies in HD, and by data synthesis, reveals a number of common and unique gene expression and regulatory changes across different cell and tissue types in HD. These changes could elucidate new insights into molecular mechanisms of differential vulnerability in HD. Systematic Review Registration: https://osf.io/pm3wq.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bimala Malla
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Xuanzong Guo
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gökçe Senger
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Zoi Chasapopoulou
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ferah Yildirim
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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9
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Blumenstock S, Schulz-Trieglaff EK, Voelkl K, Bolender AL, Lapios P, Lindner J, Hipp MS, Hartl FU, Klein R, Dudanova I. Fluc-EGFP reporter mice reveal differential alterations of neuronal proteostasis in aging and disease. EMBO J 2021; 40:e107260. [PMID: 34410010 PMCID: PMC8488555 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020107260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The cellular protein quality control machinery is important for preventing protein misfolding and aggregation. Declining protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is believed to play a crucial role in age‐related neurodegenerative disorders. However, how neuronal proteostasis capacity changes in different diseases is not yet sufficiently understood, and progress in this area has been hampered by the lack of tools to monitor proteostasis in mammalian models. Here, we have developed reporter mice for in vivo analysis of neuronal proteostasis. The mice express EGFP‐fused firefly luciferase (Fluc‐EGFP), a conformationally unstable protein that requires chaperones for proper folding, and that reacts to proteotoxic stress by formation of intracellular Fluc‐EGFP foci and by reduced luciferase activity. Using these mice, we provide evidence for proteostasis decline in the aging brain. Moreover, we find a marked reaction of the Fluc‐EGFP sensor in a mouse model of tauopathy, but not in mouse models of Huntington’s disease. Mechanistic investigations in primary neuronal cultures demonstrate that different types of protein aggregates have distinct effects on the cellular protein quality control. Thus, Fluc‐EGFP reporter mice enable new insights into proteostasis alterations in different diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Blumenstock
- Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.,Molecular Neurodegeneration Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Kerstin Voelkl
- Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.,Molecular Neurodegeneration Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Bolender
- Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.,Molecular Neurodegeneration Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Paul Lapios
- Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.,Molecular Neurodegeneration Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jana Lindner
- Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Mark S Hipp
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.,Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - F Ulrich Hartl
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Klein
- Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Irina Dudanova
- Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.,Molecular Neurodegeneration Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
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10
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Huntingtin and Its Role in Mechanisms of RNA-Mediated Toxicity. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13070487. [PMID: 34357961 PMCID: PMC8310054 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13070487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by a CAG-repeat expansion mutation in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. It is characterized by progressive psychiatric and neurological symptoms in combination with a progressive movement disorder. Despite the ubiquitous expression of HTT, pathological changes occur quite selectively in the central nervous system. Since the discovery of HD more than 150 years ago, a lot of research on molecular mechanisms contributing to neurotoxicity has remained the focal point. While traditionally, the protein encoded by the HTT gene remained the cynosure for researchers and was extensively reviewed elsewhere, several studies in the last few years clearly indicated the contribution of the mutant RNA transcript to cellular dysfunction as well. In this review, we outline recent studies on RNA-mediated molecular mechanisms that are linked to cellular dysfunction in HD models. These mechanisms include mis-splicing, aberrant translation, deregulation of the miRNA machinery, deregulated RNA transport and abnormal regulation of mitochondrial RNA. Furthermore, we summarize recent therapeutical approaches targeting the mutant HTT transcript. While currently available treatments are of a palliative nature only and do not halt the disease progression, recent clinical studies provide hope that these novel RNA-targeting strategies will lead to better therapeutic approaches.
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11
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Hyeon JW, Kim AH, Yano H. Epigenetic regulation in Huntington's disease. Neurochem Int 2021; 148:105074. [PMID: 34038804 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating and fatal monogenic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of selective neurons in the brain and is caused by an abnormal expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats in a coding exon of the huntingtin (HTT) gene. Progressive gene expression changes that begin at premanifest stages are a prominent feature of HD and are thought to contribute to disease progression. Increasing evidence suggests the critical involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in abnormal transcription in HD. Genome-wide alterations of a number of epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and multiple histone modifications, are associated with HD, suggesting that mutant HTT causes complex epigenetic abnormalities and chromatin structural changes, which may represent an underlying pathogenic mechanism. The causal relationship of specific epigenetic changes to early transcriptional alterations and to disease pathogenesis require further investigation. In this article, we review recent studies on epigenetic regulation in HD with a focus on DNA and histone modifications. We also discuss the contribution of epigenetic modifications to HD pathogenesis as well as potential mechanisms linking mutant HTT and epigenetic alterations. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of epigenetic-based treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Wook Hyeon
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Albert H Kim
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Hiroko Yano
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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He JG, Zhou HY, Xue SG, Lu JJ, Xu JF, Zhou B, Hu ZL, Wu PF, Long LH, Ni L, Jin Y, Wang F, Chen JG. Transcription Factor TWIST1 Integrates Dendritic Remodeling and Chronic Stress to Promote Depressive-like Behaviors. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:615-626. [PMID: 33190845 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficiency in neuronal structural plasticity is involved in the development of major depressive disorder. TWIST1, a helix-loop-helix transcription factor that is essential for morphogenesis and organogenesis, is normally expressed at low levels in mature neurons. However, it is poorly understood what role TWIST1 plays in the brain and whether it is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. METHODS Depressive-like behaviors in C57BL/6J mice were developed by chronic social defeat stress. Genetic and pharmacological approaches were used to investigate the role of the TWIST1-miR-214-PPAR-δ signaling pathway in depressive-like behaviors. Molecular biological and morphological studies were performed to define the molecular mechanisms downstream of TWIST1. RESULTS The expression of TWIST1 was positively correlated with depressive behaviors in humans and mice. Chronic stress elevated TWIST1 expression in the medial prefrontal cortex of mice, which was reversed by fluoxetine treatment. While the overexpression of TWIST1 increased susceptibility to stress, the knockdown of TWIST1 prevented the defective morphogenesis of dendrites of pyramidal neurons in layer II/III of the medial prefrontal cortex and alleviated depressive-like behaviors. Mechanistically, this prodepressant property of TWIST1 was mediated, at least in part, through the repression of miR-214-PPAR-δ signaling and mitochondrial function, which was also mimicked by genetic and pharmacological inhibition of PPAR-δ. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that TWIST1 in the medial prefrontal cortex mediates chronic stress-induced dendritic remodeling and facilitates the occurrence of depressive-like behavior, providing new information for developing drug targets for depression therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Gang He
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Yun Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shi-Ge Xue
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Jing Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Feng Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhuang-Li Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory for Drug Target Research and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng-Fei Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory for Drug Target Research and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Hong Long
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory for Drug Target Research and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lan Ni
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - You Jin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory for Drug Target Research and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases, Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jian-Guo Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory for Drug Target Research and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases, Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
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Inhibition of p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Ameliorates HAP40 Depletion-Induced Toxicity and Proteasomal Defect in Huntington's Disease Model. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:2704-2723. [PMID: 33492644 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02280-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of polyglutamine stretch (polyQ) at the N-terminus of huntingtin (Htt) protein. The abnormally expanded polyQ stretch of mutant Htt makes it prone to aggregate, leading to neuropathology. HAP40 is a 40-kDa huntingtin-associated protein with undefined functions. HAP40 protein has been shown to increase in HD patients and HD mouse model cells. However, recent proteomic analysis provides new evidence that HAP40 protein is decreased in the striatum of HD knockin model mice. In this study, we developed HAP40-specific antibody and showed that both HAP40 mRNA and its encoded protein were reduced in HD striatal neuronal STHDHQ111/Q111 cells. Depletion of endogenous HAP40 led to cytotoxicity that was linked to increased accumulation of aggregated and soluble forms of mutant Htt, which recapitulates HD pathology. Moreover, we found that HAP40 depletion reduced the proteasomal chymotrypsin-like activity and increased the autophagic flux. Importantly, inhibition of p38 MAPK pathway by PD169316 increased chymotrypsin-like activity and reduced accumulation of aggregated and soluble forms of mutant Htt in HAP40-depleted cells to alleviate HAP40-depletion induced cytotoxicity. Taken together, our results suggest that modulation of p38 MAPK-mediated proteasomal peptidase activity may provide a new therapeutic target to restore proteostasis in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Jen WP, Chen HM, Lin YS, Chern Y, Lee YC. Twist1 Plays an Anti-apoptotic Role in Mutant Huntingtin Expression Striatal Progenitor Cells. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 57:1688-1703. [PMID: 31813126 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01836-x] [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: 07/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The Twist basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor 1 (Twist1) has been implicated in embryogenesis and carcinogenesis, due to its effects on cell proliferation and anti-apoptosis signaling. Interestingly, a connection between Twist1 and neurotoxicity was recently made in mutant huntingtin (mHtt)-expressing primary cortical neurons; however, the role of Twist1 in Huntington's disease (HD)-affected striatal neurons remains undescribed. In this study, we evaluated the expression and function of Twist1 in the R6/2 HD mouse model, which expresses the polyQ-expanded N-terminal portion of human HTT protein, and a pair of striatal progenitor cell lines (STHdhQ109 and STHdhQ7), which express polyQ-expanded or non-expanded full-length mouse Htt. We further probed upstream signaling events and Twist1 anti-apoptotic function in the striatal progenitor cell lines. Twist1 was increased in mHtt-expressing striatal progenitor cells (STHdhQ109) and was correlated with disease progression in striatum and cortex brain regions of R6/2 mice. In the cell model, downregulation of Twist1 induced death of STHdhQ109 cells but had no effect on wild-type striatal progenitor cells (STHdhQ7). Twist1 knockdown stimulated caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were increased in HD striatal progenitor cells and acted as an upstream regulator of Twist1. As such, inhibition of STAT3 induced apoptosis in HD striatal progenitor cells. Our results suggest that mHtt upregulates STAT3 to induce Twist1 expression. Upregulated Twist1 inhibits apoptosis, which may protect striatal cells from death during disease progression. Thus, we propose that Twist1 might play a protective role against striatal degeneration in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ping Jen
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, 11490, Taiwan.,Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Mei Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Yow-Sien Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Yijuang Chern
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, 11490, Taiwan.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ching Lee
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, 11490, Taiwan. .,Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
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