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Qin Y, Chen L, Zhu W, Song J, Lin J, Li Y, Zhang J, Song X, Xing T, Guo T, Duan X, Zhang Y, Ruan E, Wang Q, Li B, Yang W, Yin P, Yan XX, Li S, Li XJ, Yang S. TRIM37 is a primate-specific E3 ligase for Huntingtin and accounts for the striatal degeneration in Huntington's disease. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl2036. [PMID: 38758800 PMCID: PMC11100560 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl2036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease characterized by preferential neuronal loss in the striatum. The mechanism underlying striatal selective neurodegeneration remains unclear, making it difficult to develop effective treatments for HD. In the brains of nonhuman primates, we examined the expression of Huntingtin (HTT), the gene responsible for HD. We found that HTT protein is highly expressed in striatal neurons due to its slow degradation in the striatum. We also identified tripartite motif-containing 37 (TRIM37) as a primate-specific protein that interacts with HTT and is selectively reduced in the primate striatum. TRIM37 promotes the ubiquitination and degradation of mutant HTT (mHTT) in vitro and modulates mHTT aggregation in mouse and monkey brains. Our findings suggest that nonhuman primates are crucial for understanding the mechanisms of human diseases such as HD and support TRIM37 as a potential therapeutic target for treating HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Qin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Laiqiang Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenzhen Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiahong Song
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingpan Lin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuwei Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiawei Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xichen Song
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Xing
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Guo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuezhi Duan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiran Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Eshu Ruan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weili Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Yin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Xin Yan
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Su Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Bahat A, Itzhaki E, Weiss B, Tolmasov M, Tsoory M, Kuperman Y, Brandis A, Shurrush KA, Dikstein R. Lowering mutant huntingtin by small molecules relieves Huntington's disease symptoms and progression. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:523-546. [PMID: 38374466 PMCID: PMC10940305 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-023-00020-y] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an incurable inherited disorder caused by a repeated expansion of glutamines in the huntingtin gene (Htt). The mutant protein causes neuronal degeneration leading to severe motor and psychological symptoms. Selective downregulation of the mutant Htt gene expression is considered the most promising therapeutic approach for HD. We report the identification of small molecule inhibitors of Spt5-Pol II, SPI-24 and SPI-77, which selectively lower mutant Htt mRNA and protein levels in HD cells. In the BACHD mouse model, their direct delivery to the striatum diminished mutant Htt levels, ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction, restored BDNF expression, and improved motor and anxiety-like phenotypes. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed that these SPIs pass the blood-brain-barrier. Prolonged subcutaneous injection or oral administration to early-stage mice significantly delayed disease deterioration. SPI-24 long-term treatment had no side effects or global changes in gene expression. Thus, lowering mutant Htt levels by small molecules can be an effective therapeutic strategy for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anat Bahat
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
| | - Elad Itzhaki
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Benjamin Weiss
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Michael Tolmasov
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life-Sciences and The Leslie & Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Michael Tsoory
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Yael Kuperman
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Alexander Brandis
- Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Khriesto A Shurrush
- The Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Rivka Dikstein
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
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3
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Ferlazzo GM, Gambetta AM, Amato S, Cannizzaro N, Angiolillo S, Arboit M, Diamante L, Carbognin E, Romani P, La Torre F, Galimberti E, Pflug F, Luoni M, Giannelli S, Pepe G, Capocci L, Di Pardo A, Vanzani P, Zennaro L, Broccoli V, Leeb M, Moro E, Maglione V, Martello G. Genome-wide screening in pluripotent cells identifies Mtf1 as a suppressor of mutant huntingtin toxicity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3962. [PMID: 37407555 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39552-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG-repeat expansions in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. The resulting mutant HTT (mHTT) protein induces toxicity and cell death via multiple mechanisms and no effective therapy is available. Here, we employ a genome-wide screening in pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to identify suppressors of mHTT toxicity. Among the identified suppressors, linked to HD-associated processes, we focus on Metal response element binding transcription factor 1 (Mtf1). Forced expression of Mtf1 counteracts cell death and oxidative stress caused by mHTT in mouse ESCs and in human neuronal precursor cells. In zebrafish, Mtf1 reduces malformations and apoptosis induced by mHTT. In R6/2 mice, Mtf1 ablates motor defects and reduces mHTT aggregates and oxidative stress. Our screening strategy enables a quick in vitro identification of promising suppressor genes and their validation in vivo, and it can be applied to other monogenic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Maria Ferlazzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, Campus Levi-Montalcini, 37135, Verona, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Gambetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Sonia Amato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Via Belzoni, 160, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Noemi Cannizzaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Angiolillo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Mattia Arboit
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Linda Diamante
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Carbognin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Patrizia Romani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Federico La Torre
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Galimberti
- Max Perutz Laboratories Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Dr Bohr Gasse 9, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Pflug
- Max Perutz Laboratories Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Dr Bohr Gasse 9, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mirko Luoni
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Giannelli
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Paola Vanzani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Lucio Zennaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Vania Broccoli
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, 20854, Vedrano al Lambro, Italy
| | - Martin Leeb
- Max Perutz Laboratories Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Dr Bohr Gasse 9, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Enrico Moro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Graziano Martello
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy.
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Massy E, Roudier J, Balandraud N. Case report: Polyarthritis as a new manifestation for Huntington's disease? Joint Bone Spine 2023; 90:105530. [PMID: 36690064 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2023.105530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Massy
- Service de rhumatologie, AP-HM, Marseille, France; Inserm UMRs1097, Autoimmune Arthritis (AA), Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France.
| | - Jean Roudier
- Service de rhumatologie, AP-HM, Marseille, France; Inserm UMRs1097, Autoimmune Arthritis (AA), Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Nathalie Balandraud
- Service de rhumatologie, AP-HM, Marseille, France; Inserm UMRs1097, Autoimmune Arthritis (AA), Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
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Ahamad S, Bhat SA. The Emerging Landscape of Small-Molecule Therapeutics for the Treatment of Huntington's Disease. J Med Chem 2022; 65:15993-16032. [PMID: 36490325 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene (HTT). The new insights into HD's cellular and molecular pathways have led to the identification of numerous potent small-molecule therapeutics for HD therapy. The field of HD-targeting small-molecule therapeutics is accelerating, and the approval of these therapeutics to combat HD may be expected in the near future. For instance, preclinical candidates such as naphthyridine-azaquinolone, AN1, AN2, CHDI-00484077, PRE084, EVP4593, and LOC14 have shown promise for further optimization to enter into HD clinical trials. This perspective aims to summarize the advent of small-molecule therapeutics at various stages of clinical development for HD therapy, emphasizing their structure and design, therapeutic effects, and specific mechanisms of action. Further, we have highlighted the key drivers involved in HD pathogenesis to provide insights into the basic principle for designing promising anti-HD therapeutic leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakir Ahamad
- Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh202002, India
| | - Shahnawaz A Bhat
- Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh202002, India
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Dhankhar J, Agrawal N, Shrivastava A. Pan-neuronal expression of human mutant huntingtin protein in Drosophila impairs immune response of hemocytes. J Neuroimmunol 2021; 363:577801. [PMID: 34973473 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577801] [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: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a late-onset; progressive, dominantly inherited neurological disorder marked by an abnormal expansion of polyglutamine (poly Q) repeats in Huntingtin (HTT) protein. The pathological effects of mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) are not restricted to the nervous system but systemic abnormalities including immune dysregulation have been evidenced in clinical and experimental settings of HD. Indeed, mHTT is ubiquitously expressed and could induce cellular toxicity by directly acting on immune cells. However, it is still unclear if selective expression of mHTT exon1 in neurons could induce immune responses and hemocytes' function. In the present study, we intended to monitor perturbations in the hemocytes' population and their physiological functions in Drosophila, caused by pan-neuronal expression of mHTT protein. A measure of hemocyte count and their physiological activities caused by pan-neuronal expression of mHTT protein highlighted the extent of immune dysregulation occurring with disease progression. We found that pan-neuronal expression of mHTT significantly alters crystal cells and plasmatocyte count in larvae and adults with disease progression. Interestingly, plasmatocytes isolated from diseased conditions exhibit a gradual decline in phagocytic activity ex vivo at progressive stages of the disease as compared to age-matched control groups. In addition, diseased flies displayed elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in circulating plasmatocytes at the larval stage and in sessile plasmatocytes of hematopoietic pockets at terminal stages of disease. These findings strongly implicate that neuronal expression of mHTT alone is sufficient to induce non-cell-autonomous immune dysregulation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Dhankhar
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India
| | - Namita Agrawal
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India.
| | - Anju Shrivastava
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India.
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7
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Pradeep S, Mehanna R. Gastrointestinal disorders in hyperkinetic movement disorders and ataxia. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2021; 90:125-133. [PMID: 34544654 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2021.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders have been thoroughly investigated in hypokinetic disorders such as Parkinson's disease, but much less is known about GI disorders in hyperkinetic movement disorders and ataxia. The aim of this review is to draw attention to the GI disorders that are associated with these movement disorders. METHODS References for this systematic review were identified by searches of PubMed through May 2020. Only publications in English were reviewed. RESULTS Data from 249 articles were critically reviewed, compared, and integrated. The most frequently reported GI symptoms overall in hyperkinetic movement disorders and ataxia are dysphagia, sialorrhea, weight changes, esophago-gastritis, gastroparesis, constipation, diarrhea, and malabsorption. We report in detail on the frequency, characteristics, pathophysiology, and management of GI symptoms in essential tremor, restless legs syndrome, chorea, and spinocerebellar ataxias. The limited available data on GI disorders in dystonias, paroxysmal movement disorders, tardive dyskinesias, myoclonus, and non-SCA ataxias are also summarized. CONCLUSION The purpose of our systematic review is to draw attention that, although primarily motor disorders, hyperkinetic movement disorders and ataxia can involve the GI system. Raising awareness about the GI symptom burden in hyperkinetic movement disorders and ataxia could contribute to a new research interest in that field, as well as improved patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Pradeep
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Raja Mehanna
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
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Croce KR, Yamamoto A. Dissolving the Complex Role Aggregation Plays in Neurodegenerative Disease. Mov Disord 2021; 36:1061-1069. [PMID: 33755257 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Prominent neuropathological hallmarks of many adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases include the deposition and accumulation of misfolded proteins or conformers; however, their role in pathogenesis has remained unclear. This is in part due to the deceptive simplicity of the question and our limited understanding of how protein homeostasis is maintained in the compartmentalized cells of the central nervous system, especially in the context of the adult brain. Building on studies from simple cell-based systems and invertebrate animals, we recently identified a protein central to the specific and selective turnover of aggregated proteins in the adult brain, the autophagy-linked FYVE protein (Alfy)/Wdfy3. Depletion of Alfy levels in a mouse model of Huntington's disease showed that it accelerated the accumulation of the aggregated mutant huntingtin protein, as well as the onset of behavioral deficits. Although the motor dysfunction was accelerated in the model, this was in the absence of increasing overt cell loss, implicating protein aggregates as a modifier of circuit dysfunction rather than driving degeneration per se. We discuss these findings in the context of what is known about protein accumulation and how we can use proteins such as Alfy to determine if protein accumulation is a shared pathogenic event across different adult-onset diseases. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R Croce
- Doctoral Program in Pathobiology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ai Yamamoto
- Departments of Neurology, Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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Romer SH, Metzger S, Peraza K, Wright MC, Jobe DS, Song LS, Rich MM, Foy BD, Talmadge RJ, Voss AA. A mouse model of Huntington's disease shows altered ultrastructure of transverse tubules in skeletal muscle fibers. J Gen Physiol 2021; 153:211860. [PMID: 33683318 PMCID: PMC7931643 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202012637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal and progressive condition with severe debilitating motor defects and muscle weakness. Although classically recognized as a neurodegenerative disorder, there is increasing evidence of cell autonomous toxicity in skeletal muscle. We recently demonstrated that skeletal muscle fibers from the R6/2 model mouse of HD have a decrease in specific membrane capacitance, suggesting a loss of transverse tubule (t-tubule) membrane in R6/2 muscle. A previous report also indicated that Cav1.1 current was reduced in R6/2 skeletal muscle, suggesting defects in excitation–contraction (EC) coupling. Thus, we hypothesized that a loss and/or disruption of the skeletal muscle t-tubule system contributes to changes in EC coupling in R6/2 skeletal muscle. We used live-cell imaging with multiphoton confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to assess the t-tubule architecture in late-stage R6/2 muscle and found no significant differences in the t-tubule system density, regularity, or integrity. However, electron microscopy images revealed that the cross-sectional area of t-tubules at the triad were 25% smaller in R6/2 compared with age-matched control skeletal muscle. Computer simulation revealed that the resulting decrease in the R6/2 t-tubule luminal conductance contributed to, but did not fully explain, the reduced R6/2 membrane capacitance. Analyses of bridging integrator-1 (Bin1), which plays a primary role in t-tubule formation, revealed decreased Bin1 protein levels and aberrant splicing of Bin1 mRNA in R6/2 muscle. Additionally, the distance between the t-tubule and sarcoplasmic reticulum was wider in R6/2 compared with control muscle, which was associated with a decrease in junctophilin 1 and 2 mRNA levels. Altogether, these findings can help explain dysregulated EC coupling and motor impairment in Huntington’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon H Romer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, OH.,Odyssey Systems, Environmental Health Effects Laboratory, Navy Medical Research Unit, Dayton, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH
| | - Sabrina Metzger
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Physiology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH
| | - Kristiana Peraza
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA
| | - Matthew C Wright
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA
| | - D Scott Jobe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, OH
| | - Long-Sheng Song
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
| | - Mark M Rich
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Physiology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH
| | - Brent D Foy
- Department of Physics, Wright State University, Dayton, OH
| | - Robert J Talmadge
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA
| | - Andrew A Voss
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, OH
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10
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Dridi H, Liu X, Yuan Q, Reiken S, Yehia M, Sittenfeld L, Apostolou P, Buron J, Sicard P, Matecki S, Thireau J, Menuet C, Lacampagne A, Marks AR. Role of defective calcium regulation in cardiorespiratory dysfunction in Huntington's disease. JCI Insight 2020; 5:140614. [PMID: 32897880 PMCID: PMC7566717 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.140614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive, autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder affecting striatal neurons beginning in young adults with loss of muscle coordination and cognitive decline. Less appreciated is the fact that patients with HD also exhibit cardiac and respiratory dysfunction, including pulmonary insufficiency and cardiac arrhythmias. The underlying mechanism for these symptoms is poorly understood. In the present study we provide insight into the cause of cardiorespiratory dysfunction in HD and identify a potentially novel therapeutic target. We now show that intracellular calcium (Ca2+) leak via posttranslationally modified ryanodine receptor/intracellular calcium release (RyR) channels plays an important role in HD pathology. RyR channels were oxidized, PKA phosphorylated, and leaky in brain, heart, and diaphragm both in patients with HD and in a murine model of HD (Q175). HD mice (Q175) with endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ leak exhibited cognitive dysfunction, decreased parasympathetic tone associated with cardiac arrhythmias, and reduced diaphragmatic contractile function resulting in impaired respiratory function. Defects in cognitive, motor, and respiratory functions were ameliorated by treatment with a novel Rycal small-molecule drug (S107) that fixes leaky RyR. Thus, leaky RyRs likely play a role in neuronal, cardiac, and diaphragmatic pathophysiology in HD, and RyRs are a potential novel therapeutic target. This study explores the role of ryanodine receptor calcium channels in the brain, the heart, and the diaphragm and central versus peripheral pathophysiological mechanisms in Huntington’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haikel Dridi
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Qi Yuan
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Steve Reiken
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mohamad Yehia
- PHYMEDEXP, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, CHRU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Leah Sittenfeld
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Panagiota Apostolou
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Julie Buron
- Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée, INMED UMR1249, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre Sicard
- PHYMEDEXP, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, CHRU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Stefan Matecki
- PHYMEDEXP, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, CHRU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jérome Thireau
- PHYMEDEXP, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, CHRU Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,LIA MusCaRyR, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Clement Menuet
- Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée, INMED UMR1249, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Alain Lacampagne
- PHYMEDEXP, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, CHRU Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,LIA MusCaRyR, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Andrew R Marks
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
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11
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Tomczyk M, Glaser T, Ulrich H, Slominska EM, Smolenski RT. Huntingtin protein maintains balanced energetics in mouse cardiomyocytes. NUCLEOSIDES NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 41:231-238. [PMID: 32933349 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2020.1815769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Huntingtin (HTT) is a multifunctional protein crucial for proper embryogenesis and nervous system development. Mutation of a single allele in gene coded this protein results in the Huntington׳s disease (HD). There is growing evidence of cardiovascular system pathologies coexisting with the neurological symptoms in HD patients. Thus, this study aims to establish the role of huntingtin protein in cardiomyocytes cellular energy and nucleotides metabolism. We used HTT KO mice embryonic stem cells (ESC) obtained with CRISPR method, wild type mice ESC treated by CRISPR with Scramble control sequence (SCR) as well as wild type (WT) mice ESC and differentiate it into cardiomyocytes. Analysis of intracellular concentration of ATP, ADP, and NAD+, as well as nucleotide catabolites were performed with HPLC. We noted that HTT null cardiomyocytes showed diminished intracellular ATP (4.9 ± 0.5; 6.7 ± 0.4 nmol/mg protein HTT KO vs. SCR) and NAD+ (0.9 ± 0.1; 1.6 ± 0.1 nmol/mg HTT KO vs. SCR). We noted also reduced cellular medium concentration of total purines pool (17.1 ± 1.7; 24.7 ± 2.7 nmol/ml HTT KO vs. SCR) as well as IMP concentration (7.7 ± 0.6; 10.2 ± 0.4 nmol/ml HTT KO vs. SCR). This study indicates that HTT plays an important role in cellular energy balance as well as in nucleotide metabolism in cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, our findings underline that the deterioration in energy metabolism observed in HD may be caused not only by cellular mutant HTT accumulation but also by the loss of HTT function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Tomczyk
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Talita Glaser
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ewa M Slominska
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
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12
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Kojer K, Hering T, Bazenet C, Weiss A, Herrmann F, Taanman JW, Orth M. Huntingtin Aggregates and Mitochondrial Pathology in Skeletal Muscle but not Heart of Late-Stage R6/2 Mice. J Huntingtons Dis 2020; 8:145-159. [PMID: 30814364 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-180324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cell or tissue specific background may influence the consequences of expressing the Huntington's disease (HD) mutation. Aggregate formation is known to occur in skeletal muscle, but not heart of the R6/2 fragment HD model. OBJECTIVE We asked whether aggregate formation and the expression and subcellular localization of huntingtin species was associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. METHODS We analyzed levels of soluble HTT and HTT aggregates, as well as important fission and fusion proteins and mitochondrial respiratory chain activities, in quadriceps and heart of the R6/2 N-terminal fragment mouse model (12 weeks, 160±10 CAG repeats). RESULTS Soluble mutant HTT was present in both tissues with expression higher in cytoplasmic/mitochondrial than nuclear fractions. HTT aggregates were only detectable in R6/2 quadriceps, in association with increased levels of the pro-fission factor DRP1 and its phosphorylated active form, and decreased levels of the pro-fusion factor MFN2. In addition, respiratory chain complex activities were decreased. In heart that was without detectable HTT aggregates, we found no evidence for mitochondrial dysfunction. CONCLUSION Tissue specific factors may exist that protect the R6/2 heart from HTT aggregate formation and mitochondrial pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Kojer
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tanja Hering
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Jan-Willem Taanman
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Michael Orth
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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13
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Lakra P, Aditi K, Agrawal N. Peripheral Expression of Mutant Huntingtin is a Critical Determinant of Weight Loss and Metabolic Disturbances in Huntington's Disease. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10127. [PMID: 31300691 PMCID: PMC6626032 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46470-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Deteriorating weight loss in patients with Huntington's disease (HD) is a complicated peripheral manifestation and the cause remains poorly understood. Studies suggest that body weight strongly influences the clinical progression rate of HD and thereby offers a valuable target for therapeutic interventions. Mutant huntingtin (mHTT) is ubiquitously expressed and could induce toxicity by directly acting in the peripheral tissues. We investigated the effects of selective expression of mHTT exon1 in fat body (FB; functionally equivalent to human adipose tissue and liver) using transgenic Drosophila. We find that FB-autonomous expression of mHTT exon1 is intrinsically toxic and causes chronic weight loss in the flies despite progressive hyperphagia, and early adult death. Moreover, flies exhibit loss of intracellular lipid stores, and decline in the systemic levels of lipids and carbohydrates which aggravates over time, representing metabolic defects. At the cellular level, besides impairment, cell death also occurs with the formation of mHTT aggregates in the FB. These findings indicate that FB-autonomous expression of mHTT alone is sufficient to cause metabolic abnormalities and emaciation in vivo without any neurodegenerative cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Lakra
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Kumari Aditi
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Namita Agrawal
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India.
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14
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Castilhos RMD, Santos JAD, Augustin MC, Pedroso JL, Barsottini O, Saba R, Ferraz HB, Godeiro Junior C, Vargas FR, Salarini DZ, Furtado GV, Polese-Bonatto M, Rodrigues LP, Sena LS, Saraiva-Pereira ML, Jardim LB. Minimal prevalence of Huntington's disease in the South of Brazil and instability of the expanded CAG tract during intergenerational transmissions. Genet Mol Biol 2019; 42:329-336. [PMID: 31259362 PMCID: PMC6726154 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2018-0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is due to dominant expansions of the CAG repeat of the
HTT gene. Meiotic instability of the (CAG)n
might impact the disorder frequency. We report on HD minimal prevalence in Rio
Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil, and on intergenerational instability of the
(CAG)n in HD families. Symptomatic and at-risk subjects from 179
HD families were ascertained between 2013 and 2016. Clinical, molecular and
family history data were obtained. Expanded (CAG)n length differences
between parent and child (delta-expanded-(CAG)n) were calculated.
Effect of parental age on the (CAG)n instability upon transmission
was inferred by correlating delta-expanded-(CAG)n between siblings to
their age differences. HD minimal prevalence in RS state was estimated as
1.85:100,000 inhabitants. Alleles with (CAG)27-35 were found on
21/384 non-disease associated chromosomes (5.5%); among 253 expanded alleles,
four (1.6%) were within reduced penetrance range with (CAG)36-39. In
32 direct transmissions, mean instability was larger among paternal than
maternal transmissions. In direct transmissions and in 51 sibling pairs,
parental age at the time of child birth were not correlated with
delta-expanded-(CAG)n. Briefly, HD prevalence in RS state was
lower than those reported for European populations. Expanded (CAG)n
transmissions were unstable and not associated to parental age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Machado de Castilhos
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Rede Neurogenética, Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Genética Médica Populacional (INAGEMP), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - José Augusto Dos Santos
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Rede Neurogenética, Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Marina Coutinho Augustin
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Rede Neurogenética, Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - José Luiz Pedroso
- Disciplina de Neurologia Clínica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Orlando Barsottini
- Disciplina de Neurologia Clínica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Roberta Saba
- Disciplina de Neurologia Clínica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Henrique Ballalai Ferraz
- Disciplina de Neurologia Clínica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Clécio Godeiro Junior
- Departamento de Medicina Integrada, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Fernando Regla Vargas
- Hospital Graffrée e Guinle, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Laboratório de Epidemiologia de Malformações Congênitas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriel Vasata Furtado
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Rede Neurogenética, Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Marcia Polese-Bonatto
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Rede Neurogenética, Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Luiza Paulsen Rodrigues
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Rede Neurogenética, Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Lucas Schenatto Sena
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Maria Luiza Saraiva-Pereira
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Laboratório de Identificação Genética, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Rede Neurogenética, Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Laura Bannach Jardim
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Laboratório de Identificação Genética, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Rede Neurogenética, Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Genética Médica Populacional (INAGEMP), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | -
- Rede Neurogenética, Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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15
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Imbert M, Blandel F, Leumann C, Garcia L, Goyenvalle A. Lowering Mutant Huntingtin Using Tricyclo-DNA Antisense Oligonucleotides As a Therapeutic Approach for Huntington's Disease. Nucleic Acid Ther 2019; 29:256-265. [PMID: 31184975 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2018.0775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the first exon of huntingtin gene (HTT) encoding for a toxic polyglutamine protein. This disease is characterized by motor, psychiatric, and cognitive impairments. Currently, there is no disease modifying treatment. However, reducing the expression of the huntingtin protein (HTT) using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) has been shown as a promising therapeutic strategy. In this study, we explore the therapeutic potential of ASO made of tricyclo-DNA (tcDNA), a conformationally constrained DNA analog, to silence HTT. We used a gapmer ASO, containing central DNA nucleotides flanked by tcDNA modifications on 5' and 3' ends, allowing the recruitment of RNAse H and subsequent degradation of the messenger RNA. After transfection of tcDNA-ASO in patient-derived fibroblast cell lines, we show a strong decrease of HTT mRNA and protein levels. As a control, 2'O-methyl-RNA targeting the same region of HTT was also tested and did not induce a significant effect. tcDNA-ASO were also evaluated in vivo in the YAC128 mice, containing the full-length human HTT gene with 128 CAG repeat expansion. Single intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of tcDNA induce a significant decrease of HTT messenger and protein levels in the cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum of treated mice. tcDNA-ASO were found well distributed in the central nervous system (CNS) and show long lasting effect with protein levels still low, 12 weeks after a single ICV injection. This proof of concept study suggests the therapeutic potential of gapmer tcDNA ASO to downregulate huntingtin in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Imbert
- U1179 INSERM, UFR des Sciences de la Santé-LIA BAHN CSM, Université de Versailles St-Quentin, Montigny le Bretonneux, France
| | - Florence Blandel
- U1179 INSERM, UFR des Sciences de la Santé-LIA BAHN CSM, Université de Versailles St-Quentin, Montigny le Bretonneux, France
| | - Christian Leumann
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Luis Garcia
- U1179 INSERM, UFR des Sciences de la Santé-LIA BAHN CSM, Université de Versailles St-Quentin, Montigny le Bretonneux, France
| | - Aurelie Goyenvalle
- U1179 INSERM, UFR des Sciences de la Santé-LIA BAHN CSM, Université de Versailles St-Quentin, Montigny le Bretonneux, France
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16
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Hartlage-Rübsamen M, Ratz V, Zeitschel U, Finzel L, Machner L, Köppen J, Schulze A, Demuth HU, von Hörsten S, Höfling C, Roßner S. Endogenous mouse huntingtin is highly abundant in cranial nerve nuclei, co-aggregates to Abeta plaques and is induced in reactive astrocytes in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:79. [PMID: 31109380 PMCID: PMC6526682 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0726-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic variants of the huntingtin (HTT) protein and their aggregation have been investigated in great detail in brains of Huntington's disease patients and HTT-transgenic animals. However, little is known about the physiological brain region- and cell type-specific HTT expression pattern in wild type mice and a potential recruitment of endogenous HTT to other pathogenic protein aggregates such as amyloid plaques in cross seeding events. Employing a monoclonal anti-HTT antibody directed against the HTT mid-region and using brain tissue of three different mouse strains, we detected prominent immunoreactivity in a number of brain areas, particularly in cholinergic cranial nerve nuclei, while ubiquitous neuronal staining appeared faint. The region-specific distribution of endogenous HTT was found to be comparable in wild type rat and hamster brain. In human amyloid precursor protein transgenic Tg2576 mice with amyloid plaque pathology, similar neuronal HTT expression patterns and a distinct association of HTT with Abeta plaques were revealed by immunohistochemical double labelling. Additionally, the localization of HTT in reactive astrocytes was demonstrated for the first time in a transgenic Alzheimer's disease animal model. Both, plaque association of HTT and occurrence in astrocytes appeared to be age-dependent. Astrocytic HTT gene and protein expression was confirmed in primary cultures by RT-qPCR and by immunocytochemistry. We provide the first detailed analysis of physiological HTT expression in rodent brain and, under pathological conditions, demonstrate HTT aggregation in proximity to Abeta plaques and Abeta-induced astrocytic expression of endogenous HTT in Tg2576 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Veronika Ratz
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Preclinical Experimental Center, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Zeitschel
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lukas Finzel
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lisa Machner
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Janett Köppen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Anja Schulze
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Demuth
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Molecular Drug Design and Target Validation, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Preclinical Experimental Center, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Corinna Höfling
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Steffen Roßner
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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17
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Tousley A, Iuliano M, Weisman E, Sapp E, Richardson H, Vodicka P, Alexander J, Aronin N, DiFiglia M, Kegel-Gleason KB. Huntingtin associates with the actin cytoskeleton and α-actinin isoforms to influence stimulus dependent morphology changes. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212337. [PMID: 30768638 PMCID: PMC6377189 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
One response of cells to growth factor stimulus involves changes in morphology driven by the actin cytoskeleton and actin associated proteins which regulate functions such as cell adhesion, motility and in neurons, synaptic plasticity. Previous studies suggest that Huntingtin may be involved in regulating morphology however, there has been limited evidence linking endogenous Huntingtin localization or function with cytoplasmic actin in cells. We found that depletion of Huntingtin in human fibroblasts reduced adhesion and altered morphology and these phenotypes were made worse with growth factor stimulation, whereas the presence of the Huntington's Disease mutation inhibited growth factor induced changes in morphology and increased numbers of vinculin-positive focal adhesions. Huntingtin immunoreactivity localized to actin stress fibers, vinculin-positive adhesion contacts and membrane ruffles in fibroblasts. Interactome data from others has shown that Huntingtin can associate with α-actinin isoforms which bind actin filaments. Mapping studies using a cDNA encoding α-actinin-2 showed that it interacts within Huntingtin aa 399-969. Double-label immunofluorescence showed Huntingtin and α-actinin-1 co-localized to stress fibers, membrane ruffles and lamellar protrusions in fibroblasts. Proximity ligation assays confirmed a close molecular interaction between Huntingtin and α-actinin-1 in human fibroblasts and neurons. Huntingtin silencing with siRNA in fibroblasts blocked the recruitment of α-actinin-1 to membrane foci. These studies support the idea that Huntingtin is involved in regulating adhesion and actin dependent functions including those involving α-actinin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelaide Tousley
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Maria Iuliano
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Weisman
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ellen Sapp
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Heather Richardson
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Petr Vodicka
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Alexander
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Neil Aronin
- Department of Medicine and Cell Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Marian DiFiglia
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kimberly B. Kegel-Gleason
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Croce KR, Yamamoto A. A role for autophagy in Huntington's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 122:16-22. [PMID: 30149183 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The lysosome-mediated degradation pathway known as macroautophagy is the most versatile means through which cells can eliminate and recycle unwanted materials. Through both selective and non-selective means, macroautophagy can degrade a wide range of cargoes from bulk cytosol to organelles and aggregated proteins. Although studies of disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis suggest that autophagic and lysosomal dysfunction directly contributes to disease, this had not been the case for the polyglutamine disorder Huntington's disease (HD), for which there was little indication of a disruption in the autophagic-lysosomal system. This supported the possibility of targeting autophagy as a much needed therapeutic approach to combat this disease. Possibly challenging this view, however, are a recent set of studies suggesting that the protein affected in Huntington's disease, huntingtin, might mechanistically contribute to macroautophagy. In this review, we will explore how autophagy might impact or be impacted by HD pathogenesis, and whether a therapeutic approach centering on autophagy may be possible for this yet incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R Croce
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Ai Yamamoto
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States; Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States.
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19
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Abstract
Huntington disease is a monogenic neurodegenerative disorder that displays an autosomal-dominant pattern of inheritance. It is characterized by motor, psychiatric, and cognitive symptoms that progress over 15-20 years. Since the identification of the causative genetic mutation in 1993 much has been discovered about the underlying pathogenic mechanisms, but as yet there are no disease-modifying therapies available. This chapter reviews the epidemiology, genetic basis, pathogenesis, presentation, and clinical management of Huntington disease. The principles of genetic testing are explained. We also describe recent developments in the ongoing search for therapeutics and for biomarkers to track disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhia Ghosh
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom.
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20
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Park M, Min B, Jeon K, Cho S, Park JS, Kim J, Jeon J, Song J, Kim S, Jeong S, Seo H, Kang YK. Age-associated chromatin relaxation is enhanced in Huntington's disease mice. Aging (Albany NY) 2017; 9:803-822. [PMID: 28288000 PMCID: PMC5391233 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Expansion of polyglutamine stretch in the huntingtin (HTT) protein is a major cause of Huntington's disease (HD). The polyglutamine part in HTT interacts with various proteins implicated in epigenetic regulation of genes, suggesting that mutant HTT may disturb the integrity of the epigenetic system. Here, we used a PCRseq-based method to examine expression profile of 395 exonic segments from 260 “epi-driver” genes in splenic T lymphocytes from aged HD mice. We identified 67 exonic segments differentially expressed between young and aged HD mice, most of them upregulated in the aged. Polycomb-repressive complex (PRC)-regulated genes (PRGs) were markedly upregulated in aged HD mice, consistent with downregulation of PRC genes. Epi-driver gene categories of lysine-methylation, lysine-demethylation, arginine-methylation, and PRG showed differential age-associated changes between HD and control. Analyzing the pattern of change in epi-driver gene expressions hinted at an enhanced shift in HD chromatin to a more accessible state with age, which was experimentally demonstrated by DNase-I-hypersensitivity sequencing showing increased chromatin accessibility in HD cells compared to control. We suggest the global change can potentially relieve chromatin-induced repression of many genes, and the unintended expressions of some detrimental proteins could alter T cell function to a greater degree in aged HD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myungsun Park
- Development and Differentiation Research Center, KRIBB, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea
| | - Byungkuk Min
- Development and Differentiation Research Center, KRIBB, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea
| | - Kyuheum Jeon
- Development and Differentiation Research Center, KRIBB, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea.,Department of Functional Genomics, University of Science and Technology (UST), Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-350, South Korea
| | - Sunwha Cho
- Development and Differentiation Research Center, KRIBB, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea
| | - Jung Sun Park
- Development and Differentiation Research Center, KRIBB, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea.,Aging Research Institute, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea
| | - Jisun Kim
- Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Hanyang University, Sangnok-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, South Korea
| | - Jeha Jeon
- Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Hanyang University, Sangnok-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, South Korea
| | - Jinhoi Song
- Aging Research Institute, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea
| | - Seokho Kim
- Aging Research Institute, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea
| | - Sangkyun Jeong
- Mibyeong Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM), Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-811, South Korea
| | - Hyemyung Seo
- Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Hanyang University, Sangnok-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, South Korea
| | - Yong-Kook Kang
- Development and Differentiation Research Center, KRIBB, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea.,Aging Research Institute, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea.,Department of Functional Genomics, University of Science and Technology (UST), Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-350, South Korea
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21
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Huang ZN, Chung HM, Fang SC, Her LS. Adhesion Regulating Molecule 1 Mediates HAP40 Overexpression-Induced Mitochondrial Defects. Int J Biol Sci 2017; 13:1420-1437. [PMID: 29209146 PMCID: PMC5715525 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.20742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Striatal neuron death in Huntington's disease is associated with abnormal mitochondrial dynamics and functions. However, the mechanisms for this mitochondrial dysregulation remain elusive. Increased accumulation of Huntingtin-associated protein 40 (HAP40) has been shown to be associated with Huntington's disease. However, the link between increased HAP40 and Huntington's disease remains largely unknown. Here we show that HAP40 overexpression causes mitochondrial dysfunction and reduces cell viability in the immortalized mouse striatal neurons. HAP40-associated mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with reduction of adhesion regulating molecule 1 (ADRM1) protein. Consistently, depletion of ADRM1 by shRNAs impaired mitochondrial functions and increased mitochondrial fragmentation in mouse striatal cells. Moreover, reducing ADRM1 levels enhanced activity of fission factor dynamin-related GTPase protein 1 (Drp1) via increased phosphorylation at serine 616 of Drp1 (Drp1Ser616). Restoring ADRM1 protein levels was able to reduce HAP40-induced ROS levels and mitochondrial fragmentation and improved mitochondrial functions and cell viability. Moreover, reducing Drp1 activity by Drp1 inhibitor, Mdivi-1, ameliorates both HAP40 overexpression- and ADRM1 depletion-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Taken together, our studies suggest that HAP40-mediated reduction of ADRM1 alters the mitochondrial fission activity and results in mitochondrial fragmentation and mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zih-Ning Huang
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Her Min Chung
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Su-Chiung Fang
- Biotechnology Center in Southern Taiwan, Academia Sinica, Tainan 741, Taiwan.,Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Lu-Shiun Her
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
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22
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Paré MF, Jasmin BJ. Chronic 5-Aminoimidazole-4-Carboxamide-1-β-d-Ribofuranoside Treatment Induces Phenotypic Changes in Skeletal Muscle, but Does Not Improve Disease Outcomes in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. Front Neurol 2017; 8:516. [PMID: 29021780 PMCID: PMC5623671 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative genetic disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms. It is well established that regular physical activity supports brain health, benefiting cognitive function, mental health as well as brain structure and plasticity. Exercise mimetics (EMs) are a group of drugs and small molecules that target signaling pathways in skeletal muscle known to be activated by endurance exercise. The EM 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR) has been shown to induce cognitive benefits in healthy mice. Since AICAR does not readily cross the blood–brain barrier, its beneficial effect on the brain has been ascribed to its impact on skeletal muscle. Our objective, therefore, was to examine the effect of chronic AICAR treatment on the muscular and neurological pathology in a mouse model of HD. To this end, R6/2 mice were treated with AICAR for 8 weeks and underwent regular neurobehavioral testing. Under our conditions, AICAR increased expression of PGC-1α, a powerful phenotypic modifier of muscle, and induced the expected shift toward a more oxidative muscle phenotype in R6/2 mice. However, this treatment failed to induce benefits on HD progression. Indeed, neurobehavioral deficits, striatal, and muscle mutant huntingtin aggregate density, as well as muscle atrophy were not mitigated by the chronic administration of AICAR. Although the muscle adaptations seen in HD mice following AICAR treatment may still provide therapeutically relevant benefits to patients with limited mobility, our findings indicate that under our experimental conditions, AICAR had no effect on several hallmarks of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-France Paré
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Bernard J Jasmin
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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23
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Interaction of misfolded proteins and mitochondria in neurodegenerative disorders. Biochem Soc Trans 2017; 45:1025-1033. [PMID: 28733489 DOI: 10.1042/bst20170024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The number of the people affected by neurodegenerative disorders is growing dramatically due to the ageing of population. The major neurodegenerative diseases share some common pathological features including the involvement of mitochondria in the mechanism of pathology and misfolding and the accumulation of abnormally aggregated proteins. Neurotoxicity of aggregated β-amyloid, tau, α-synuclein and huntingtin is linked to the effects of these proteins on mitochondria. All these misfolded aggregates affect mitochondrial energy metabolism by inhibiting diverse mitochondrial complexes and limit ATP availability in neurones. β-Amyloid, tau, α-synuclein and huntingtin are shown to be involved in increased production of reactive oxygen species, which can be generated in mitochondria or can target this organelle. Most of these aggregated proteins are capable of deregulating mitochondrial calcium handling that, in combination with oxidative stress, lead to opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Despite some of the common features, aggregated β-amyloid, tau, α-synuclein and huntingtin have diverse targets in mitochondria that can partially explain neurotoxic effect of these proteins in different brain regions.
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24
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Abstract
The incidence and prevalence of cardiac diseases, which are the main cause of death worldwide, are likely to increase because of population ageing. Prevailing theories about the mechanisms of ageing feature the gradual derailment of cellular protein homeostasis (proteostasis) and loss of protein quality control as central factors. In the heart, loss of protein patency, owing to flaws in genetically-determined design or because of environmentally-induced 'wear and tear', can overwhelm protein quality control, thereby triggering derailment of proteostasis and contributing to cardiac ageing. Failure of protein quality control involves impairment of chaperones, ubiquitin-proteosomal systems, autophagy, and loss of sarcomeric and cytoskeletal proteins, all of which relate to induction of cardiomyocyte senescence. Targeting protein quality control to maintain cardiac proteostasis offers a novel therapeutic strategy to promote cardiac health and combat cardiac disease. Currently marketed drugs are available to explore this concept in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Henning
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca J J M Brundel
- Department of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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25
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Shin A, Shin B, Shin JW, Kim KH, Atwal RS, Hope JM, Gillis T, Leszyk JD, Shaffer SA, Lee R, Kwak S, MacDonald ME, Gusella JF, Seong IS, Lee JM. Novel allele-specific quantification methods reveal no effects of adult onset CAG repeats on HTT mRNA and protein levels. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:1258-1267. [PMID: 28165127 PMCID: PMC6075029 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) reflects dominant consequences of a CAG repeat expansion mutation in HTT. Expanded CAG repeat size is the primary determinant of age at onset and age at death in HD. Although HD pathogenesis is driven by the expanded CAG repeat, whether the mutation influences the expression levels of mRNA and protein from the disease allele is not clear due to the lack of sensitive allele-specific quantification methods and the presence of confounding factors. To determine the impact of CAG expansion at the molecular level, we have developed novel allele-specific HTT mRNA and protein quantification methods based on principles of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and targeted MS/MS parallel reaction monitoring, respectively. These assays, exhibiting high levels of specificity and sensitivity, were designed to distinguish allelic products based upon expressed polymorphic variants in HTT, including rs149 109 767. To control for other cis-haplotype variations, we applied allele-specific quantification assays to a panel of HD lymphoblastoid cell lines, each carrying the major European disease haplotype (i.e. hap.01) on the mutant chromosome. We found that steady state levels of HTT mRNA and protein were not associated with expanded CAG repeat length. Rather, the products of mutant and normal alleles, both mRNA and protein, were balanced, thereby arguing that a cis-regulatory effect of the expanded CAG repeat is not a critical component of the underlying mechanism of HD. These robust allele-specific assays could prove valuable for monitoring the impact of allele-specific gene silencing strategies currently being explored as therapeutic interventions in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aram Shin
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Baehyun Shin
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jun Wan Shin
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kyung-Hee Kim
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ranjit S. Atwal
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jennifer M. Hope
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Tammy Gillis
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - John D. Leszyk
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Scott A. Shaffer
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Ramee Lee
- CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Seung Kwak
- CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Marcy E. MacDonald
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, The Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - James F. Gusella
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, The Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ihn Sik Seong
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jong-Min Lee
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, The Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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26
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Valadão PAC, de Aragão BC, Andrade JN, Magalhães-Gomes MPS, Foureaux G, Joviano-Santos JV, Nogueira JC, Ribeiro FM, Tapia JC, Guatimosim C. Muscle atrophy is associated with cervical spinal motoneuron loss in BACHD mouse model for Huntington's disease. Eur J Neurosci 2017; 45:785-796. [PMID: 27992085 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Involuntary choreiform movements are clinical hallmark of Huntington's disease, an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an increased number of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the huntingtin gene. Involuntary movements start with an impairment of facial muscles and then affect trunk and limbs muscles. Huntington's disease symptoms are caused by changes in cortex and striatum neurons induced by mutated huntingtin protein. However, little is known about the impact of this abnormal protein in spinal cord motoneurons that control movement. Therefore, in this study we evaluated abnormalities in the motor unit (spinal cervical motoneurons, motor axons, neuromuscular junctions and muscle) in a mouse model for Huntington's disease (BACHD). Using light, fluorescence, confocal, and electron microscopy, we showed significant changes such as muscle fibers atrophy, fragmentation of neuromuscular junctions, axonal alterations, and motoneurons death in BACHD mice. Noteworthy, the surviving motoneurons from BACHD spinal cords were smaller than WT. We suggest that this loss of larger putative motoneurons is accompanied by a decrease in the expression of fast glycolytic muscle fibers in this model for Huntington's disease. These observations show spinal cord motoneurons loss in BACHD that might help to understand neuromuscular changes in Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Aparecida Costa Valadão
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Campos de Aragão
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Neves Andrade
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Matheus Proença S Magalhães-Gomes
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Giselle Foureaux
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | | | - José Carlos Nogueira
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Fabíola Mara Ribeiro
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Juan Carlos Tapia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Cristina Guatimosim
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
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27
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The Ubiquitin Receptor ADRM1 Modulates HAP40-Induced Proteasome Activity. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:7382-7400. [PMID: 27815841 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-0247-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/23/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by an N-terminal expansion of polyglutamine stretch (polyQ) of huntingtin (Htt) protein. HAP40 is a huntingtin-associated protein with unknown cellular functions. Increased HAP40 expression has been reported in the brain of HD patients and HD mouse model. However, the relationship between the elevation of HAP40 and HD etiology remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrated that overexpression of HAP40 enhanced accumulation of mutant Htt aggregates and caused defects in proteasome function. Specifically, excess HAP40 interfered with adhesion-regulating molecule 1 (ADRM1), a proteasome ubiquitin receptor, to regulate the proteasome-dependent pathway. Increasing ADRM1 in the presence of excess HAP40 alleviated mutant Htt aggregates and at the same time, restored the cell viability. Reducing ADRM1 in the absence of excess HAP40; on the other hand, increased mutant Htt aggregates and decreased the cell viability. Our data provide compelling evidence to support that ADRM1 plays an important role in mediating removal of mutant Htt aggregates when excess HAP40 is present. ADRM1-dependent ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) may be a general mechanism to guard cells from mutant Htt toxicity.
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28
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Hubers AA, Hamming A, Giltay EJ, von Faber M, Roos RA, van der Mast RC, van Duijn E. Suicidality in Huntington’s Disease: A Qualitative Study on Coping Styles and Support Strategies. J Huntingtons Dis 2016; 5:185-98. [DOI: 10.3233/jhd-160188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna A.M. Hubers
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Annette Hamming
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Erik J. Giltay
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Margaret von Faber
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Raymund A.C. Roos
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rose C. van der Mast
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Erik van Duijn
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Center for Mental Health Care Delfland, Delft, The Netherlands
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29
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Bowles KR, Brooks SP, Dunnett SB, Jones L. Huntingtin Subcellular Localisation Is Regulated by Kinase Signalling Activity in the StHdhQ111 Model of HD. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144864. [PMID: 26660732 PMCID: PMC4679340 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised primarily by motor abnormalities, and is caused by an expanded polyglutamine repeat in the huntingtin protein. Huntingtin dynamically shuttles between subcellular compartments, and the mutant huntingtin protein is mislocalised to cell nuclei, where it may interfere with nuclear functions, such as transcription. However, the mechanism by which mislocalisation of mutant huntingtin occurs is currently unknown. An immortalised embryonic striatal cell model of HD (StHdhQ111) was stimulated with epidermal growth factor in order to determine whether the subcellular localisation of huntingtin is dependent on kinase signalling pathway activation. Aberrant phosphorylation of AKT and MEK signalling pathways was identified in cells carrying mutant huntingtin. Activity within these pathways was found to contribute to the regulation of huntingtin and mutant huntingtin localisation, as well as to the expression of immediate-early genes. We propose that altered kinase signalling is a phenotype of Huntington's disease that occurs prior to cell death; specifically, that altered kinase signalling may influence huntingtin localisation, which in turn may impact upon nuclear processes such as transcriptional regulation. Aiming to restore the balance of activity between kinase signalling networks may therefore prove to be an effective approach to delaying Huntington's disease symptom development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn R. Bowles
- Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Hadyn Ellis building, Maindy Road, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Simon P. Brooks
- The Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen B. Dunnett
- The Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Lesley Jones
- Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Hadyn Ellis building, Maindy Road, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, Wales, United Kingdom
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30
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Huntingtin is required for ciliogenesis and neurogenesis during early Xenopus development. Dev Biol 2015; 408:305-15. [PMID: 26192473 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from the abnormal expansion of poly-glutamine (polyQ) repeats in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. Although HTT has been linked to a variety of cellular events, it is still not clear what the physiological functions of the protein are. Because of its critical role during mouse embryonic mouse development, we investigated the functions of Htt during early Xenopus embryogenesis. We find that reduction of Htt levels affects cilia polarity and function and causes whole body paralysis. Moreover, Htt loss of function leads to abnormal development of trigeminal and motor neurons. Interestingly, these phenotypes are partially rescued by either wild-type or expanded HTT. These results show that the Htt activity is required for normal embryonic development, and highlight the usefulness of the Xenopus system for investigating proteins involved in human diseases.
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31
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Zielonka D, Piotrowska I, Marcinkowski JT, Mielcarek M. Skeletal muscle pathology in Huntington's disease. Front Physiol 2014; 5:380. [PMID: 25339908 PMCID: PMC4186279 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 09/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine stretch within the huntingtin protein (HTT). The neurological symptoms, that involve motor, cognitive and psychiatric disturbances, are caused by neurodegeneration that is particularly widespread in the basal ganglia and cereberal cortex. HTT is ubiquitously expressed and in recent years it has become apparent that HD patients experience a wide array of peripheral organ dysfunction including severe metabolic phenotype, weight loss, HD-related cardiomyopathy and skeletal muscle wasting. Although skeletal muscles pathology became a hallmark of HD, the mechanisms underlying muscular atrophy in this disorder are unknown. Skeletal muscles account for approximately 40% of body mass and are highly adaptive to physiological and pathological conditions that may result in muscle hypertrophy (due to increased mechanical load) or atrophy (inactivity, chronic disease states). The atrophy is caused by degeneration of myofibers and their replacement by fibrotic tissue is the major pathological feature in many genetic muscle disorders. Under normal physiological conditions the muscle function is orchestrated by a network of intrinsic hypertrophic and atrophic signals linked to the functional properties of the motor units that are likely to be imbalanced in HD. In this article, we highlight the emerging field of research with particular focus on the recent studies of the skeletal muscle pathology and the identification of new disease-modifying treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Zielonka
- Department of Social Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan, Poland
| | | | - Jerzy T Marcinkowski
- Department of Social Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan, Poland
| | - Michal Mielcarek
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London London, UK
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32
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Bouwens JA, Hubers AAM, van Duijn E, Cobbaert CM, Roos RAC, van der Mast RC, Giltay EJ. Acute-phase proteins in relation to neuropsychiatric symptoms and use of psychotropic medication in Huntington's disease. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2014; 24:1248-56. [PMID: 24957738 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2013] [Revised: 05/01/2014] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Activation of the innate immune system has been postulated in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease (HD). We studied serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and low albumin as positive and negative acute-phase proteins in HD. Multivariate linear and logistic regression was used to study the association between acute-phase protein levels in relation to clinical, neuropsychiatric, cognitive, and psychotropic use characteristics in a cohort consisting of 122 HD mutation carriers and 42 controls at first biomarker measurement, and 85 HD mutation carriers and 32 controls at second biomarker measurement. Significant associations were found between acute-phase protein levels and Total Functioning Capacity (TFC) score, severity of apathy, cognitive impairment, and the use of antipsychotics. Interestingly, all significant results with neuropsychiatric symptoms disappeared after additional adjusting for antipsychotic use. High sensitivity CRP levels were highest and albumin levels were lowest in mutation carriers who continuously used antipsychotics during follow-up versus those that had never used antipsychotics (mean difference for CRP 1.4 SE mg/L; P=0.04; mean difference for albumin 3 SE g/L; P<0.001). The associations found between acute-phase proteins and TFC score, apathy, and cognitive impairment could mainly be attributed to the use of antipsychotics. This study provides evidence that HD mutation carriers who use antipsychotics are prone to develop an acute-phase response.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Bouwens
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
| | - A A M Hubers
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - E van Duijn
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands; Center for Mental Health Care Delfland, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - C M Cobbaert
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - R A C Roos
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - R C van der Mast
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - E J Giltay
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
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Hubers AAM, van Duijn E, Roos RAC, Craufurd D, Rickards H, Bernhard Landwehrmeyer G, van der Mast RC, Giltay EJ. Suicidal ideation in a European Huntington's disease population. J Affect Disord 2013; 151:248-58. [PMID: 23876196 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Revised: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 06/01/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies indicate increased prevalences of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and completed suicide in Huntington's disease (HD) compared with the general population. This study investigates correlates and predictors of suicidal ideation in HD. METHODS The study cohort consisted of 2106 HD mutation carriers, all participating in the REGISTRY study of the European Huntington's Disease Network. Of the 1937 participants without suicidal ideation at baseline, 945 had one or more follow-up measurements. Participants were assessed for suicidal ideation by the behavioural subscale of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS). Correlates of suicidal ideation were analyzed using logistic regression analysis and predictors were analyzed using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS At baseline, 169 (8.0%) mutation carriers endorsed suicidal ideation. Disease duration (odds ratio [OR]=0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9-1.0), anxiety (OR=2.14; 95%CI: 1.4-3.3), aggression (OR=2.41; 95%CI: 1.5-3.8), a previous suicide attempt (OR=3.95; 95%CI: 2.4-6.6), and a depressed mood (OR=13.71; 95%CI: 6.7-28.0) were independently correlated to suicidal ideation at baseline. The 4-year cumulative incidence of suicidal ideation was 9.9%. Longitudinally, the presence of a depressed mood (hazard ratio [HR]=2.05; 95%CI: 1.1-4.0) and use of benzodiazepines (HR=2.44; 95%CI: 1.2-5.0) at baseline were independent predictors of incident suicidal ideation, whereas a previous suicide attempt was not predictive. LIMITATIONS As suicidal ideation was assessed by only one item, and participants were a selection of all HD mutation carriers, the prevalence of suicidal ideation was likely underestimated. CONCLUSIONS Suicidal ideation in HD frequently occurs. Assessment of suicidal ideation is a priority in mutation carriers with a depressed mood and in those using benzodiazepines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A M Hubers
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Antisense therapy in neurology. J Pers Med 2013; 3:144-76. [PMID: 25562650 PMCID: PMC4251390 DOI: 10.3390/jpm3030144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2013] [Revised: 07/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense therapy is an approach to fighting diseases using short DNA-like molecules called antisense oligonucleotides. Recently, antisense therapy has emerged as an exciting and promising strategy for the treatment of various neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders. Previous and ongoing pre-clinical and clinical trials have provided encouraging early results. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Huntington’s disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD), dysferlinopathy (including limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 2B; LGMD2B, Miyoshi myopathy; MM, and distal myopathy with anterior tibial onset; DMAT), and myotonic dystrophy (DM) are all reported to be promising targets for antisense therapy. This paper focuses on the current progress of antisense therapies in neurology.
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Jadhav S, Zilka N, Novak M. Protein truncation as a common denominator of human neurodegenerative foldopathies. Mol Neurobiol 2013; 48:516-32. [PMID: 23516100 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-013-8440-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative foldopathies are characterized by aberrant folding of diseased modified proteins, which are major constituents of the intracellular and extracellular lesions. These lesions correlate with the cognitive and/or motor impairment seen in these diseases. The majority of the disease modified proteins in neurodegenerative foldopathies belongs to the group of proteins termed as intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Several independent studies have showed that abnormal protein processing constitutes the key pathological feature of these disorders. The current review focuses on protein truncation as a common denominator of neurodegenerative foldopathies, which is considered to be the major driving force behind the pathological metamorphosis of brain IDPs. The aim of the review is to emphasize the key role of the protein truncation in the pathogenic pathways of neurodegenerative diseases. A deeper understanding of the complex downstream processing of the IDPs, resulting in the generation of pathologically modified proteins might be a prerequisite for the successful therapeutic strategies of several fatal neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Jadhav
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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Cannabinoid receptor 2 signaling in peripheral immune cells modulates disease onset and severity in mouse models of Huntington's disease. J Neurosci 2013; 32:18259-68. [PMID: 23238740 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4008-12.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Peripheral immune cells and brain microglia exhibit an activated phenotype in premanifest Huntington's disease (HD) patients that persists chronically and correlates with clinical measures of neurodegeneration. However, whether activation of the immune system contributes to neurodegeneration in HD, or is a consequence thereof, remains unclear. Signaling through cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB(2)) dampens immune activation. Here, we show that the genetic deletion of CB(2) receptors in a slowly progressing HD mouse model accelerates the onset of motor deficits and increases their severity. Treatment of mice with a CB(2) receptor agonist extends life span and suppresses motor deficits, synapse loss, and CNS inflammation, while a peripherally restricted CB(2) receptor antagonist blocks these effects. CB(2) receptors regulate blood interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and IL-6 neutralizing antibodies partially rescue motor deficits and weight loss in HD mice. These findings support a causal link between CB(2) receptor signaling in peripheral immune cells and the onset and severity of neurodegeneration in HD, and they provide a novel therapeutic approach to treat HD.
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Moreira Sousa C, McGuire JR, Thion MS, Gentien D, de la Grange P, Tezenas du Montcel S, Vincent-Salomon A, Durr A, Humbert S. The Huntington disease protein accelerates breast tumour development and metastasis through ErbB2/HER2 signalling. EMBO Mol Med 2013; 5:309-25. [PMID: 23300147 PMCID: PMC3569645 DOI: 10.1002/emmm.201201546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2012] [Revised: 11/19/2012] [Accepted: 11/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In Huntington disease (HD), polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin protein causes specific neuronal death. The consequences of the presence of mutant huntingtin in other tissues are less well understood. Here we propose that mutant huntingtin influences breast cancer progression. Indeed, we show that mammary tumours appear earlier in mouse breast cancer models expressing mutant huntingtin as compared to control mice expressing wild-type huntingtin. Tumours bearing mutant huntingtin have a modified gene expression pattern that reflects enhanced aggressiveness with the overexpression of genes favouring invasion and metastasis. In agreement, mutant huntingtin accelerates epithelial to mesenchymal transition and enhances cell motility and invasion. Also, lung metastasis is higher in HD conditions than in control mice. Finally, we report that in HD, the dynamin dependent endocytosis of the ErbB2/HER2 receptor tyrosine kinase is reduced. This leads to its accumulation and to subsequent increases in cell motility and proliferation. Our study may thus have important implications for both cancer and HD.
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Desmond CR, Atwal RS, Xia J, Truant R. Identification of a karyopherin β1/β2 proline-tyrosine nuclear localization signal in huntingtin protein. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:39626-33. [PMID: 23012356 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.412379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the known pathways of protein nuclear import, the karyopherin β2/transportin pathway is only the second to have a defined nuclear localization signal (NLS) consensus. Huntingtin, a 350-kDa protein, has defined roles in the nucleus, as well as a CRM1/exportin-dependent nuclear export signal; however, the NLS and exact pathway of import have remained elusive. Here, using a live cell assay and affinity chromatography, we show that huntingtin has a karyopherin β2-dependent proline-tyrosine (PY)-NLS in the amino terminus of the protein. This NLS comprises three consensus components: a basic charged sequence, a downstream conserved arginine, and a PY sequence. Unlike the classic PY-NLS, which has an unstructured intervening sequence between the consensus components, we show that a β sheet structured region separating the consensus elements is critical for huntingtin NLS function. The huntingtin PY-NLS is also capable of import through the importin/karyopherin β1 pathway but was not functional in all cell types tested. We propose that this huntingtin PY-NLS may comprise a new class of multiple import factor-dependent NLSs with an internal structural component that may regulate NLS activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly R Desmond
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N3Z5
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Kordasiewicz HB, Stanek LM, Wancewicz EV, Mazur C, McAlonis MM, Pytel KA, Artates JW, Weiss A, Cheng SH, Shihabuddin LS, Hung G, Bennett CF, Cleveland DW. Sustained therapeutic reversal of Huntington's disease by transient repression of huntingtin synthesis. Neuron 2012; 74:1031-44. [PMID: 22726834 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 553] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The primary cause of Huntington's disease (HD) is expression of huntingtin with a polyglutamine expansion. Despite an absence of consensus on the mechanism(s) of toxicity, diminishing the synthesis of mutant huntingtin will abate toxicity if delivered to the key affected cells. With antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that catalyze RNase H-mediated degradation of huntingtin mRNA, we demonstrate that transient infusion into the cerebrospinal fluid of symptomatic HD mouse models not only delays disease progression but mediates a sustained reversal of disease phenotype that persists longer than the huntingtin knockdown. Reduction of wild-type huntingtin, along with mutant huntingtin, produces the same sustained disease reversal. Similar ASO infusion into nonhuman primates is shown to effectively lower huntingtin in many brain regions targeted by HD pathology. Rather than requiring continuous treatment, our findings establish a therapeutic strategy for sustained HD disease reversal produced by transient ASO-mediated diminution of huntingtin synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly B Kordasiewicz
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Bayram-Weston Z, Jones L, Dunnett SB, Brooks SP. Light and electron microscopic characterization of the evolution of cellular pathology in HdhQ92 Huntington's disease knock-in mice. Brain Res Bull 2012; 88:171-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2011.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2010] [Revised: 03/15/2011] [Accepted: 03/18/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Culver BP, Savas JN, Park SK, Choi JH, Zheng S, Zeitlin SO, Yates JR, Tanese N. Proteomic analysis of wild-type and mutant huntingtin-associated proteins in mouse brains identifies unique interactions and involvement in protein synthesis. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:21599-614. [PMID: 22556411 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.359307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat amplification in the gene huntingtin (HTT) that is reflected by a polyglutamine expansion in the Htt protein. Nearly 20 years of research have uncovered roles for Htt in a wide range of cellular processes, and many of these discoveries stemmed from the identification of Htt-interacting proteins. However, no study has employed an impartial and comprehensive strategy to identify proteins that differentially associate with full-length wild-type and mutant Htt in brain tissue, the most relevant sample source to the disease condition. We analyzed Htt affinity-purified complexes from wild-type and HTT mutant juvenile mouse brain from two different biochemical fractions by tandem mass spectrometry. We compared variations in protein spectral counts relative to Htt to identify those proteins that are the most significantly contrasted between wild-type and mutant Htt purifications. Previously unreported Htt interactions with Myo5a, Prkra (PACT), Gnb2l1 (RACK1), Rps6, and Syt2 were confirmed by Western blot analysis. Gene Ontology analysis of these and other Htt-associated proteins revealed a statistically significant enrichment for proteins involved in translation among other categories. Furthermore, Htt co-sedimentation with polysomes in cytoplasmic mouse brain extracts is dependent upon the presence of intact ribosomes. Finally, wild-type or mutant Htt overexpression inhibits cap-dependent translation of a reporter mRNA in an in vitro system. Cumulatively, these data support a new role for Htt in translation and provide impetus for further study into the link between protein synthesis and Huntington disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brady P Culver
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
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42
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Huntington's disease. Neurogenetics 2012. [DOI: 10.1017/cbo9781139087711.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Jeitner TM, Battaile K, Cooper AJL. γ-Glutamylamines and neurodegenerative diseases. Amino Acids 2012; 44:129-42. [PMID: 22407484 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-011-1209-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2011] [Accepted: 12/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Transglutaminases catalyze the formation of γ-glutamylamines utilizing glutamyl residues and amine-bearing compounds such as lysyl residues and polyamines. These γ-glutamylamines can be released from proteins by proteases in an intact form. The free γ-glutamylamines can be catabolized to 5-oxo-L-proline and the free amine by γ-glutamylamine cyclotransferase. Free γ-glutamylamines, however, accumulate in the CSF and affected areas of Huntington Disease brain. This observation suggests transglutaminase-derived γ-glutamylamines may play a more significant role in neurodegeneration than previously thought. The following monograph reviews the metabolism of γ-glutamylamines and examines the possibility that these species contribute to neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M Jeitner
- Neurosciences, Biomedical Research Core, Winthrop University Hospital, 222 Station Plaza North, Mineola, USA.
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Hubers AAM, Reedeker N, Giltay EJ, Roos RAC, van Duijn E, van der Mast RC. Suicidality in Huntington's disease. J Affect Disord 2012; 136:550-7. [PMID: 22119091 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2011] [Revised: 10/25/2011] [Accepted: 10/25/2011] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Huntington's disease (HD) the risk of suicide is increased. Since suicidality may precede suicide, this study investigates prevalence, clinical associations and predictors of suicidality in HD. METHODS Suicidality was investigated in 152 mutation carriers and 56 non-carriers, and was considered present if the score on the item 'suicidal ideation' of the Problem Behaviours Assessment (PBA) was >1 point. After 2 years, 100 mutation carriers who were free of suicidality at baseline were re-assessed. Associations and predictors of suicidality were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Eleven (20%) pre-motor and 20 (20%) motor symptomatic mutation carriers were considered suicidal compared to none of the non-carriers. Cross-sectionally, suicidal mutation carriers were more likely to use antidepressants (odds ratio=5.3), were more often apathetic (OR=2.8), more often had a depressed mood according to the PBA (OR=5.9), and were more often diagnosed with a DSM-IV depression diagnosis (OR=4.7). Independent associations were more frequent use of antidepressants (OR=4.0) and presence of a depressed mood (OR=4.2). Longitudinally, depressed mood (OR=10.6) at baseline was the only independent predictor of suicidality at follow-up. LIMITATIONS Selection bias might have occurred which could have affected the suicidality rate. CONCLUSION It is important to screen both pre-motor and motor symptomatic HD mutation carriers for suicidality. The presence of a depressed mood is both associated with and predictive of suicidality in HD and assessment of depressed mood can help to identify individuals with increased risk for suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A M Hubers
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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van der Burg JM, Winqvist A, Aziz NA, Maat-Schieman ML, Roos RA, Bates GP, Brundin P, Björkqvist M, Wierup N. Gastrointestinal dysfunction contributes to weight loss in Huntington's disease mice. Neurobiol Dis 2011; 44:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2011.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2010] [Revised: 04/14/2011] [Accepted: 05/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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Hughes A, Jones L. Huntingtin localisation studies - a technical review. PLOS CURRENTS 2011; 3:RRN1211. [PMID: 21339845 PMCID: PMC3037564 DOI: 10.1371/currents.rrn1211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/01/2011] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
It is well recognised that there are pitfalls when defining the subcellular localisation of a protein with immunocytochemistry. Accurate protein localisation to particular cellular micro-architecture is crucial in defining its role within the cell. Huntingtin (HTT), the protein mutated in the neurodegenerative disorder Huntington’s disease (HD) is a large protein of ill-defined function. Bearing little resemblance to other proteins, its function has been difficult to assign, therefore localising this protein with precision within the cell may provide further clues as to its normal and pathological function. Lack of consistency between methods employed in different studies has resulted in varying conclusions as to its subcellular localisation. This technical review investigates the effects that different immunocytological methods can have upon the apparent subcellular localisation of the huntingtin protein, and discusses the implications this may have.
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Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease with complete penetrance. Although the understanding of the cellular mechanisms that drive neurodegeneration in HD and account for the characteristic pattern of neuronal vulnerability is incomplete, defects in energy metabolism, particularly mitochondrial function, represent a common thread in studies of HD pathogenesis in humans and animal models. Here we review the clinical, biochemical, and molecular evidence of an energy deficit in HD and discuss the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial and related alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Mochel
- INSERM UMR S975, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle,
AP-HP, Département de Génétique, and
Unité Fonctionnelle Neurométabolique, Hôpital La Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and VA North Texas Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Neuromuscular Center, Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Ronald G. Haller
- INSERM UMR S975, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle,
AP-HP, Département de Génétique, and
Unité Fonctionnelle Neurométabolique, Hôpital La Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and VA North Texas Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Neuromuscular Center, Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, Texas, USA
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Abstract
It has been more than 17 years since the causative mutation for Huntington's disease was discovered as the expansion of the triplet repeat in the N-terminal portion of the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. In the intervening time, researchers have discovered a great deal about Huntingtin's involvement in a number of cellular processes. However, the role of Huntingtin in the key pathogenic mechanism leading to neurodegeneration in the disease process has yet to be discovered. Here, we review the body of knowledge that has been uncovered since gene discovery and include discussions of the HTT gene, CAG triplet repeat expansion, HTT expression, protein features, posttranslational modifications, and many of its known protein functions and interactions. We also highlight potential pathogenic mechanisms that have come to light in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen N McFarland
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, USA.
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van der Burg JMM, Björkqvist M, Brundin P. Beyond the brain: widespread pathology in Huntington's disease. Lancet Neurol 2009; 8:765-74. [DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(09)70178-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Abstract
UNLABELLED Role of basal ganglia: Vesalius and Piccolomini distinguished subcortical nuclei from cortex and white matter in the 16th century. Willis' mistaken concept in the late 17th century that the corpus striatum was the seat of motor power persisted for 200 years and formed the basis of mid-19th-century localizations of movement disorders to the striatum (chorea by Broadbent and Jackson, and athetosis by Hammond). By the late 19th century, many movement disorders were described but for most no pathologic correlate was known. Tremor: Descriptions of tremors progressed from Galen's definition in the 2nd century; to Galileo's physiologic tremor in 1610; separation of involuntary movements during action and at rest in the 17th and 18th centuries by de la Boë Sylvius and van Sweiten; description of Parkinson's disease by Parkinson, discrimination of the rest tremor of Parkinson's disease from the intention tremor of multiple sclerosis by Charcot, and recognition of familial action tremors by Dana and others in the late 19th century; and recognition of autosomal dominant essential tremor in the mid-20th century. Parkinsonism: Pathologic changes in Parkinson's disease were recognized in the substantia nigra by Blocq and Marinescu in the late 19th century, and around 1920 Trértiakoff established Lewy bodies in the substantia nigra as a pathologic hallmark while the Vogts instead emphasized pathologic changes in the striatum; it was only in the mid-1960s that a nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway was demonstrated and found to be critical to pathogenesis. Early treatment approaches with anticholinergic medications or crude neurosurgical ablation procedures were eclipsed in the 1960s by the advent of L-DOPA therapy due to the work of Carlsson and colleagues, Birkmayer and Hornykiewicz, Barbeau, and Cotzias. Later progress in understanding and treating Parkinson's disease included recognition of neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism beginning in the 1950s, development of dopamine agonists and elaboration of different dopamine receptors beginning in the 1960s, recognition of MPTP-induced parkinsonism in 1982 and subsequent development of experimental models of MPTP-induced parkinsonism. Since the 1980s, stereotactic neurosurgical ablation procedures such as stereotactic pallidotomy were revisited and improved, and stimulation or ablation procedures that modulate subthalamic nucleus activity were developed. Since 1990, rare genetic forms of Parkinson's disease were discovered, which accelerated progress in understanding pathogenesis, and established roles for alpha synuclein and the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic system. Separation of atypical forms of parkinsonism (e.g. Wilson's disease, multisystem atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration) from Parkinson's disease in the 20th century also led to important discoveries of basal ganglia function, and in the case of Wilson's disease to recognition of genetic mutations and effective treatments. Choreoathetosis: Since the middle ages, the term chorea has been used to describe both organic and psychological disorders of motor control. Paracelcus introduced the concept of chorea as an organic medical condition in the 16th century. Sydenham's description of childhood chorea (1686) was followed by recognition in the 19th and 20th centuries that Sydenham's chorea was a manifestation of rheumatic fever; by the 1930s, rheumatic fever was recognized as a sequel of group A streptococcal pharyngitis, which could be effectively prevented with sulfonamides. Athetosis was described by Hammond (1871) and later linked by him to a malignant growth in the contralateral corpus striatum; nevertheless, athetosis has been controversial and often dismissed as a form of post-hemiplegic chorea or part of a continuum between chorea and dystonia. Huntington's classic description of adult-onset hereditary chorea (1872) was followed a century later by demonstration that Huntington's disease is caused by an unstable CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the Huntington disease gene on chromosome 4; this triggered a surge in research, development of various animal models, and numerous important discoveries of cell function and disease pathogenesis. Hemiballismus and the subthalamic nucleus: The relationship between a lesion of the subthalamic nucleus of Luys and contralateral hemiballismus was first convincingly demonstrated by Martin in 1927; this led 20 years later to development of an animal model by Whittier and Mettler, who produced experimental hemichorea-hemiballismus in monkeys by lesioning the contralateral subthalamic nucleus. Since the late 1980s, the neurochemistry and neurophysiology of the subthalamic nucleus have been substantially revised with the demonstration that the subthalamic nucleus is not fundamentally inhibitory but instead provides excitatory glutaminergic inputs to the globus pallidus, and appreciation that the subthalamic nucleus serves an important role in both hyperkinetic and hypokinetic movement disorders. Dystonia: Dystonias were often interpreted in psychological or psychiatric terms since the original descriptions of generalized dystonia by Barraquer Roviralta (1897), and familial forms of generalized primary tortion dystonia by Schwalbe (1908) and Oppenheim (1911). Although Oppenheim had first insisted that dystonia was an organic disease, it was only in the late-20th century that an organic framework was firmly established with the identification of genetic mutations in some families with dystonia and with the demonstration that the basal ganglia were often damaged contralateral to acquired hemidystonia. Focal and segmental forms of dystonia, including writer's cramp, other occupational dystonias, and torticollis, were also recognized in the 19th century. Writer's cramp was clearly described in the 1830s by Bell and Kopp, and increasingly recognized in the late 19th century due in part to Solly's influential lectures on "scriviner's palsy" in the 1860s, and to increasing prevalence because of the increase in writing using primitive writing instruments. Myoclonus: In 1903, Lundborg proposed a classification of myoclonus that remains in use, with primary (essential), epileptic, and secondary or symptomatic categories: essential myoclonus was described by Friedrich in 1881; forms of myoclonic epilepsy were described beginning in the late 19th century by West (1861), Unverricht (1891), and Lundberg (1903); and secondary multifocal myoclonus was recognized in a wide variety of disorders beginning in the 1920s. Asterixis was described in patients with hepatic encephalopathy by Adams and Foley in 1949 and found to result from electrically silent pauses in muscle activity, which led to the concept of negative myoclonus in the 1980s. Posthypoxic action myoclonus (Lance-Adams syndrome) was described by Lance and Adams in 1963 and found to incorporate both positive and negative components. Startle syndromes: Early descriptions of pathologic startle syndromes included Beard's description of the jumping Frenchmen of Maine (1878) and Hammond's description of miryachit (1884), both of which may have had psychological origins. In contrast, hyperekplexia or "startle disease" was described in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and genetic forms were later found to result from various mutations affecting glycinergic synapses. Tics: Tic disorders were described by Itard (1825) and Trousseau (1873), but only gained wider recognition in the late 19th century after Charcot presented cases before his classroom audiences and after Gilles de la Tourette's classic description in 1885. Gilles de la Tourette and Charcot initially considered tic disorders and startle syndromes to be similar if not identical, but these disorders were later recognized as distinct. Psychodynamic and psychological theories or etiology gave way in the 1960s to biological theories supporting an important role for dopamine in pathogenesis, particularly with the discovery that neuroleptic medications could be useful in treatment. CONCLUSION In the last two centuries, neuroscientists and clinicians contributed greatly to our understanding of basal ganglia anatomy and physiology, as well as to movement disorder semiology, pathophysiology, treatment, and prevention. The development of animal models, and the increasing use of genetic and molecular biological techniques will lead to further advances in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas J Lanska
- Department of Neurology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tomah, WI 54660, USA.
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