1
|
Hana TA, Mousa VG, Lin A, Haj-Hussein RN, Michael AH, Aziz MN, Kamaridinova SU, Basnet S, Ormerod KG. Developmental and physiological impacts of pathogenic human huntingtin protein in the nervous system. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.30.610525. [PMID: 39257834 PMCID: PMC11383668 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.30.610525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Huntington's Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, part of the nine identified inherited polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases. Most commonly, HD pathophysiology manifests in middle-aged adults with symptoms including progressive loss of motor control, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disturbances. Associated with the pathophysiology of HD is the formation of insoluble fragments of the huntingtin protein (htt) that tend to aggregate in the nucleus and cytoplasm of neurons. To track both the intracellular progression of the aggregation phenotype as well as the physiological deficits associated with mutant htt, two constructs of human HTT were expressed with varying polyQ lengths, non-pathogenic-htt (Q15, NP-htt) and pathogenic-htt (Q138, P-htt), with an N-terminal RFP tag for in vivo visualization. P-htt aggregates accumulate in the ventral nerve cord cell bodies as early as 24 hours post hatching and significant aggregates form in the segmental nerve branches at 48 hours post hatching. Organelle trafficking up-and downstream of aggregates formed in motor neurons showed severe deficits in trafficking dynamics. To explore putative downstream deficits of htt aggregation, ultrastructural changes of presynaptic motor neurons and muscles were assessed, but no significant effects were observed. However, the force and kinetics of muscle contractions were severely affected in P-htt animals, reminiscent of human chorea. Reduced muscle force production translated to altered locomotory behavior. A novel HD aggregation model was established to track htt aggregation throughout adulthood in the wing, showing similar aggregation patterns with larvae. Expressing P-htt in the adult nervous system resulted in significantly reduced lifespan, which could be partially rescued by feeding flies the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin. These findings advance our understanding of htt aggregate progression as well the downstream physiological impacts on the nervous system and peripheral tissues.
Collapse
|
2
|
Shirguppe S, Gapinske M, Swami D, Gosstola N, Acharya P, Miskalis A, Joulani D, Szkwarek MG, Bhattacharjee A, Elias G, Stilger M, Winter J, Woods WS, Anand D, Lim CKW, Gaj T, Perez-Pinera P. In vivo CRISPR base editing for treatment of Huntington's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.05.602282. [PMID: 39005280 PMCID: PMC11245100 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.05.602282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited and ultimately fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded polyglutamine-encoding CAG repeat within exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which produces a mutant protein that destroys striatal and cortical neurons. Importantly, a critical event in the pathogenesis of HD is the proteolytic cleavage of the mutant HTT protein by caspase-6, which generates fragments of the N-terminal domain of the protein that form highly toxic aggregates. Given the role that proteolysis of the mutant HTT protein plays in HD, strategies for preventing this process hold potential for treating the disorder. By screening 141 CRISPR base editor variants targeting splice elements in the HTT gene, we identified platforms capable of producing HTT protein isoforms resistant to caspase-6-mediated proteolysis via editing of the splice acceptor sequence for exon 13. When delivered to the striatum of a rodent HD model, these base editors induced efficient exon skipping and decreased the formation of the N-terminal fragments, which in turn reduced HTT protein aggregation and attenuated striatal and cortical atrophy. Collectively, these results illustrate the potential for CRISPR base editing to decrease the toxicity of the mutant HTT protein for HD.
Collapse
|
3
|
Nittari G, Roy P, Martinelli I, Bellitto V, Tomassoni D, Traini E, Tayebati SK, Amenta F. Rodent Models of Huntington's Disease: An Overview. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3331. [PMID: 38137552 PMCID: PMC10741199 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant inherited neurological disorder caused by a genetic mutation in the IT15 gene. This neurodegenerative disorder is caused by a polyglutamine repeat expansion mutation in the widely expressed huntingtin (HTT) protein. HD is characterized by the degeneration of basal ganglia neurons and progressive cell death in intrinsic neurons of the striatum, accompanied by dementia and involuntary abnormal choreiform movements. Animal models have been extensively studied and have proven to be extremely valuable for therapeutic target evaluations. They reveal the hallmark of the age-dependent formation of aggregates or inclusions consisting of misfolded proteins. Animal models of HD have provided a therapeutic strategy to treat HD by suppressing mutant HTT (mHTT). Transgenic animal models have significantly increased our understanding of the molecular processes and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the HD behavioral phenotype. Since effective therapies to cure or interrupt the course of the disease are not yet available, clinical research will have to make use of reliable animal models. This paper reviews the main studies of rodents as HD animal models, highlighting the neurological and behavioral differences between them. The choice of an animal model depends on the specific aspect of the disease to be investigated. Toxin-based models can still be useful, but most experimental hypotheses depend on success in a genetic model, whose choice is determined by the experimental question. There are many animal models showing similar HD symptoms or pathologies. They include chemical-induced HDs and genetic HDs, where cell-free and cell culture, lower organisms (such as yeast, Drosophila, C. elegans, zebrafish), rodents (mice, rats), and non-human primates are involved. These models provide accessible systems to study molecular pathogenesis and test potential treatments. For developing more effective pharmacological treatments, better animal models must be available and used to evaluate the efficacy of drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Nittari
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri, 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (G.N.); (P.R.); (I.M.); (V.B.); (E.T.); (S.K.T.)
| | - Proshanta Roy
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri, 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (G.N.); (P.R.); (I.M.); (V.B.); (E.T.); (S.K.T.)
| | - Ilenia Martinelli
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri, 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (G.N.); (P.R.); (I.M.); (V.B.); (E.T.); (S.K.T.)
| | - Vincenzo Bellitto
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri, 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (G.N.); (P.R.); (I.M.); (V.B.); (E.T.); (S.K.T.)
| | - Daniele Tomassoni
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032 Camerino, Italy;
| | - Enea Traini
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri, 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (G.N.); (P.R.); (I.M.); (V.B.); (E.T.); (S.K.T.)
| | - Seyed Khosrow Tayebati
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri, 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (G.N.); (P.R.); (I.M.); (V.B.); (E.T.); (S.K.T.)
| | - Francesco Amenta
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Madonna Delle Carceri, 9, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (G.N.); (P.R.); (I.M.); (V.B.); (E.T.); (S.K.T.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Thompson LM, Orr HT. HD and SCA1: Tales from two 30-year journeys since gene discovery. Neuron 2023; 111:3517-3530. [PMID: 37863037 PMCID: PMC10842341 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
One of the more transformative findings in human genetics was the discovery that the expansion of unstable nucleotide repeats underlies a group of inherited neurological diseases. A subset of these unstable repeat neurodegenerative diseases is due to the expansion of a CAG trinucleotide repeat encoding a stretch of glutamines, i.e., the polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat neurodegenerative diseases. Among the CAG/polyQ repeat diseases are Huntington's disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), in which the expansions are within widely expressed proteins. Although both HD and SCA1 are autosomal dominantly inherited, and both typically cause mid- to late-life-onset movement disorders with cognitive decline, they each are characterized by distinct clinical characteristics and predominant sites of neuropathology. Importantly, the respective affected proteins, Huntingtin (HTT, HD) and Ataxin 1 (ATXN1, SCA1), have unique functions and biological properties. Here, we review HD and SCA1 with a focus on how their disease-specific and shared features may provide informative insights.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leslie M Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Harry T Orr
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, MN 55455, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Correa BH, Moreira CR, Hildebrand ME, Vieira LB. The Role of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels in Basal Ganglia Neurodegenerative Disorders. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:183-201. [PMID: 35339179 PMCID: PMC10190140 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666220327211156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+) plays a central role in regulating many cellular processes and influences cell survival. Several mechanisms can disrupt Ca2+ homeostasis to trigger cell death, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, autophagy, and apoptosis. Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) act as the main source of Ca2+ entry into electrically excitable cells, such as neurons, and they are also expressed in glial cells such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. The dysregulation of VGCC activity has been reported in both Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's (HD). PD and HD are progressive neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) of the basal ganglia characterized by motor impairment as well as cognitive and psychiatric dysfunctions. This review will examine the putative role of neuronal VGCCs in the pathogenesis and treatment of central movement disorders, focusing on PD and HD. The link between basal ganglia disorders and VGCC physiology will provide a framework for understanding the neurodegenerative processes that occur in PD and HD, as well as a possible path towards identifying new therapeutic targets for the treatment of these debilitating disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo H.M. Correa
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Carlos Roberto Moreira
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Luciene Bruno Vieira
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jia Q, Li S, Li XJ, Yin P. Neuroinflammation in Huntington's disease: From animal models to clinical therapeutics. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1088124. [PMID: 36618375 PMCID: PMC9815700 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1088124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by preferential loss of neurons in the striatum in patients, which leads to motor and cognitive impairments and death that often occurs 10-15 years after the onset of symptoms. The expansion of a glutamine repeat (>36 glutamines) in the N-terminal region of huntingtin (HTT) has been defined as the cause of HD, but the mechanism underlying neuronal death remains unclear. Multiple mechanisms, including inflammation, may jointly contribute to HD pathogenesis. Altered inflammation response is evident even before the onset of classical symptoms of HD. In this review, we summarize the current evidence on immune and inflammatory changes, from HD animal models to clinical phenomenon of patients with HD. The understanding of the impact of inflammation on HD would help develop novel strategies to treat HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Peng Yin
- *Correspondence: Xiao-Jiang Li, ; Peng Yin,
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fienko S, Landles C, Sathasivam K, McAteer SJ, Milton RE, Osborne GF, Smith EJ, Jones ST, Bondulich MK, Danby ECE, Phillips J, Taxy BA, Kordasiewicz HB, Bates GP. Alternative processing of human HTT mRNA with implications for Huntington's disease therapeutics. Brain 2022; 145:4409-4424. [PMID: 35793238 PMCID: PMC9762945 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in exon 1 of the huntingtin gene (HTT) that is translated into a polyglutamine stretch in the huntingtin protein (HTT). We previously showed that HTT mRNA carrying an expanded CAG repeat was incompletely spliced to generate HTT1a, an exon 1 only transcript, which was translated to produce the highly aggregation-prone and pathogenic exon 1 HTT protein. This occurred in all knock-in mouse models of Huntington's disease and could be detected in patient cell lines and post-mortem brains. To extend these findings to a model system expressing human HTT, we took advantage of YAC128 mice that are transgenic for a yeast artificial chromosome carrying human HTT with an expanded CAG repeat. We discovered that the HTT1a transcript could be detected throughout the brains of YAC128 mice. We implemented RNAscope to visualize HTT transcripts at the single molecule level and found that full-length HTT and HTT1a were retained together in large nuclear RNA clusters, as well as being present as single transcripts in the cytoplasm. Homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence analysis demonstrated that the HTT1a transcript had been translated to produce the exon 1 HTT protein. The levels of exon 1 HTT in YAC128 mice, correlated with HTT aggregation, supportive of the hypothesis that exon 1 HTT initiates the aggregation process. Huntingtin-lowering strategies are a major focus of therapeutic development for Huntington's disease. These approaches often target full-length HTT alone and would not be expected to reduce pathogenic exon 1 HTT levels. We have established YAC128 mouse embryonic fibroblast lines and shown that, together with our QuantiGene multiplex assay, these provide an effective screening tool for agents that target HTT transcripts. The effects of current targeting strategies on nuclear RNA clusters are unknown, structures that may have a pathogenic role or alternatively could be protective by retaining HTT1a in the nucleus and preventing it from being translated. In light of recently halted antisense oligonucleotide trials, it is vital that agents targeting HTT1a are developed, and that the effects of HTT-lowering strategies on the subcellular levels of all HTT transcripts and their various HTT protein isoforms are understood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Fienko
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Christian Landles
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Kirupa Sathasivam
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Sean J McAteer
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Rebecca E Milton
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Georgina F Osborne
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Edward J Smith
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Samuel T Jones
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Marie K Bondulich
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Emily C E Danby
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Jemima Phillips
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Bridget A Taxy
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | | | - Gillian P Bates
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Temporal Characterization of Behavioral and Hippocampal Dysfunction in the YAC128 Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061433. [PMID: 35740454 PMCID: PMC9219853 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a genetic neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor, psychiatric, and cognitive symptoms. Emerging evidence suggests that emotional and cognitive deficits seen in HD may be related to hippocampal dysfunction. We used the YAC128 HD mouse model to perform a temporal characterization of the behavioral and hippocampal dysfunctions. Early and late symptomatic YAC128 mice exhibited depressive-like behavior, as demonstrated by increased immobility times in the Tail Suspension Test. In addition, YAC128 mice exhibited cognitive deficits in the Swimming T-maze Test during the late symptomatic stage. Except for a reduction in basal mitochondrial respiration, no significant deficits in the mitochondrial respiratory rates were observed in the hippocampus of late symptomatic YAC128 mice. In agreement, YAC128 animals did not present robust alterations in mitochondrial ultrastructural morphology. However, light and electron microscopy analysis revealed the presence of dark neurons characterized by the intense staining of granule cell bodies and shrunken nuclei and cytoplasm in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) of late symptomatic YAC128 mice. Furthermore, structural alterations in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus were detected in the hippocampal DG of YAC128 mice by electron microscopy. These results clearly show a degenerative process in the hippocampal DG in late symptomatic YAC128 animals.
Collapse
|
9
|
Kotowska-Zimmer A, Przybyl L, Pewinska M, Suszynska-Zajczyk J, Wronka D, Figiel M, Olejniczak M. A CAG repeat-targeting artificial miRNA lowers the mutant huntingtin level in the YAC128 model of Huntington's disease. MOLECULAR THERAPY - NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 28:702-715. [PMID: 35664700 PMCID: PMC9126840 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Among the many proposed therapeutic strategies for Huntington's disease (HD), allele-selective therapies are the most desirable but also the most challenging. RNA interference (RNAi) tools that target CAG repeats selectively reduce the mutant huntingtin level in cellular models of HD. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy, selectivity, and safety of two vector-based RNAi triggers in an animal model of HD. CAG repeat-targeting short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and artificial miRNA (amiRNA) were delivered to the brains of YAC128 mice via intrastriatal injection of AAV5 vectors. Molecular tests demonstrated that both the shRNA and amiRNA reduced the mutant huntingtin level by 50% without influencing endogenous mouse huntingtin. In addition, a concentration-dependent reduction in HTT aggregates in the striatum was observed. In contrast to the shRNA, the amiRNA was well tolerated and did not show signs of toxicity during the course of the experiment up to 20 weeks post injection. Interestingly, amiRNA treatment reduced the spleen weight to values characteristic of healthy (WT) mice and improved motor performance on the static rod test. These preclinical data demonstrate that the CAG-targeting strategy and amiRNA could make an original and valuable contribution to currently used therapeutic approaches for HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kotowska-Zimmer
- Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Lukasz Przybyl
- Laboratory of Mammalian Model Organisms, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marianna Pewinska
- Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Suszynska-Zajczyk
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-632 Poznan, Poland
| | - Dorota Wronka
- Laboratory of Mammalian Model Organisms, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Maciej Figiel
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marta Olejniczak
- Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
- Corresponding author Marta Olejniczak, Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gu X, Richman J, Langfelder P, Wang N, Zhang S, Bañez-Coronel M, Wang HB, Yang L, Ramanathan L, Deng L, Park CS, Choi CR, Cantle JP, Gao F, Gray M, Coppola G, Bates GP, Ranum LPW, Horvath S, Colwell CS, Yang XW. Uninterrupted CAG repeat drives striatum-selective transcriptionopathy and nuclear pathogenesis in human Huntingtin BAC mice. Neuron 2022; 110:1173-1192.e7. [PMID: 35114102 PMCID: PMC9462388 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In Huntington's disease (HD), the uninterrupted CAG repeat length, but not the polyglutamine length, predicts disease onset. However, the underlying pathobiology remains unclear. Here, we developed bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mice expressing human mutant huntingtin (mHTT) with uninterrupted, and somatically unstable, CAG repeats that exhibit progressive disease-related phenotypes. Unlike prior mHTT transgenic models with stable, CAA-interrupted, polyglutamine-encoding repeats, BAC-CAG mice show robust striatum-selective nuclear inclusions and transcriptional dysregulation resembling those in murine huntingtin knockin models and HD patients. Importantly, the striatal transcriptionopathy in HD models is significantly correlated with their uninterrupted CAG repeat length but not polyglutamine length. Finally, among the pathogenic entities originating from mHTT genomic transgenes and only present or enriched in the uninterrupted CAG repeat model, somatic CAG repeat instability and nuclear mHTT aggregation are best correlated with early-onset striatum-selective molecular pathogenesis and locomotor and sleep deficits, while repeat RNA-associated pathologies and repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation may play less selective or late pathogenic roles, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Gu
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Richman
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peter Langfelder
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nan Wang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shasha Zhang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Monica Bañez-Coronel
- Center for Neurogenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute of Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Huei-Bin Wang
- Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lucia Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lalini Ramanathan
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Linna Deng
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chang Sin Park
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher R Choi
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Cantle
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Fuying Gao
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michelle Gray
- Department of Neurology and Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gillian P Bates
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura P W Ranum
- Center for Neurogenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute of Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher S Colwell
- Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - X William Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Mees I, Li S, Beauchamp LC, Barnham KJ, Dutschmann M, Hannan AJ, Renoir T. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies refute the hypothesis that tau protein is causally involved in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:1997-2009. [PMID: 34999772 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein, whose abnormal phosphorylation and deposition in the brain characterizes a range of neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies. Recent clinical (post-mortem) and pre-clinical evidence suggests that Huntington's disease (HD), an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder, could be considered as a tauopathy. Studies have found the presence of hyperphosphorylated tau, altered tau isoform ratio and aggregated tau in HD brains. However, little is known about the implication of tau in the development of HD pathophysiology, which includes motor, cognitive and affective symptoms. To shine a light on the involvement of tau in HD, our present study aimed at (i) knocking out tau expression and (ii) expressing a transgene encoding mutant human tau in the R6/1 mouse model of HD. We hypothesized that expression of the mutant human tau transgene in HD mice would worsen the HD phenotype, while knocking out endogenous mouse tau in HD mice would improve some behavioural deficits display by HD mice. Our data suggests that neither the expression of a tau transgene nor the ablation of tau expression impacted the progression of the HD motor, cognitive and affective phenotypes. Supporting these behavioural findings, we also found that modulating tau expression had no effect on brain weights in HD mice. We also report that expression of the tau transgene increased the weight of WT and HD male mice, whereas tau ablation increased the weight of HD females only. Together, our results indicate that tau might not be as important in regulating the progression of HD symptomatology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isaline Mees
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shanshan Li
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Leah C Beauchamp
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia.,Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kevin J Barnham
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia.,Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mathias Dutschmann
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Thibault Renoir
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hwang YJ, Hyeon SJ, Kim Y, Lim S, Lee MY, Kim J, Londhe AM, Gotina L, Kim Y, Pae AN, Cho YS, Seong J, Seo H, Kim YK, Choo H, Ryu H, Min SJ. Modulation of SETDB1 activity by APQ ameliorates heterochromatin condensation, motor function, and neuropathology in a Huntington's disease mouse model. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 36:856-868. [PMID: 33771089 PMCID: PMC8008885 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2021.1900160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study describes evaluation of epigenetic regulation by a small molecule as the therapeutic potential for treatment of Huntington's disease (HD). We identified 5-allyloxy-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)quinoline (APQ) as a novel SETDB1/ESET inhibitor using a combined in silico and in vitro cell based screening system. APQ reduced SETDB1 activity and H3K9me3 levels in a HD cell line model. In particular, not only APQ reduced H3K9me3 levels in the striatum but it also improved motor function and neuropathological symptoms such as neuronal size and activity in HD transgenic (YAC128) mice with minimal toxicity. Using H3K9me3-ChIP and genome-wide sequencing, we also confirmed that APQ modulates H3K9me3-landscaped epigenomes in YAC128 mice. These data provide that APQ, a novel small molecule SETDB1 inhibitor, coordinates H3K9me-dependent heterochromatin remodelling and can be an epigenetic drug for treating HD, leading with hope in clinical trials of HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Jin Hwang
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Jae Hyeon
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Younghee Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsu Lim
- Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Care System of Dementia, KIST, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Jieun Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ashwini M. Londhe
- Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Care System of Dementia, KIST, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Lizaveta Gotina
- Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Care System of Dementia, KIST, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunha Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ae Nim Pae
- Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Care System of Dementia, KIST, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Seo Cho
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihye Seong
- Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Care System of Dementia, KIST, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyemyung Seo
- Department of Molecular & Life Sciences, Center for Bionano Intelligence Education and Research, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Kyung Kim
- Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Care System of Dementia, KIST, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunah Choo
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoon Ryu
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurology and Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sun-Joon Min
- Department of Chemical & Molecular Engineering/Applied Chemistry, Center for Bionano Intelligence Education and Research, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
C57BL/6 Background Attenuates mHTT Toxicity in the Striatum of YAC128 Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312664. [PMID: 34884469 PMCID: PMC8657915 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse models are frequently used to study Huntington’s disease (HD). The onset and severity of neuronal and behavioral pathologies vary greatly between HD mouse models, which results from different huntingtin expression levels and different CAG repeat length. HD pathology appears to depend also on the strain background of mouse models. Thus, behavioral deficits of HD mice are more severe in the FVB than in the C57BL/6 background. Alterations in medium spiny neuron (MSN) morphology and function have been well documented in young YAC128 mice in the FVB background. Here, we tested the relevance of strain background for mutant huntingtin (mHTT) toxicity on the cellular level by investigating HD pathologies in YAC128 mice in the C57BL/6 background (YAC128/BL6). Morphology, spine density, synapse function and membrane properties were not or only subtly altered in MSNs of 12-month-old YAC128/BL6 mice. Despite the mild cellular phenotype, YAC128/BL6 mice showed deficits in motor performance. More pronounced alterations in MSN function were found in the HdhQ150 mouse model in the C57BL/6 background (HdhQ150/BL6). Consistent with the differences in HD pathology, the number of inclusion bodies was considerably lower in YAC128/BL6 mice than HdhQ150/BL6 mice. This study highlights the relevance of strain background for mHTT toxicity in HD mouse models.
Collapse
|
14
|
Bečanović K, Asghar M, Gadawska I, Sachdeva S, Walker D, Lazarowski ER, Franciosi S, Park KHJ, Côté HCF, Leavitt BR. Age-related mitochondrial alterations in brain and skeletal muscle of the YAC128 model of Huntington disease. NPJ Aging Mech Dis 2021; 7:26. [PMID: 34650085 PMCID: PMC8516942 DOI: 10.1038/s41514-021-00079-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction and bioenergetics failure are common pathological hallmarks in Huntington's disease (HD) and aging. In the present study, we used the YAC128 murine model of HD to examine the effects of mutant huntingtin on mitochondrial parameters related to aging in brain and skeletal muscle. We have conducted a cross-sectional natural history study of mitochondrial DNA changes in the YAC128 mouse. Here, we first show that the mitochondrial volume fraction appears to increase in the axons and dendrite regions adjacent to the striatal neuron cell bodies in old mice. Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) was used as a proxy measure for mitochondrial biogenesis and function. We observed that the mtDNAcn changes significantly with age and genotype in a tissue-specific manner. We found a positive correlation between aging and the mtDNAcn in striatum and skeletal muscle but not in cortex. Notably, the YAC128 mice had lower mtDNAcn in cortex and skeletal muscle. We further show that mtDNA deletions are present in striatal and skeletal muscle tissue in both young and aged YAC128 and WT mice. Tracking gene expression levels cross-sectionally in mice allowed us to identify contributions of age and genotype to transcriptional variance in mitochondria-related genes. These findings provide insights into the role of mitochondrial dynamics in HD pathogenesis in both brain and skeletal muscle, and suggest that mtDNAcn in skeletal muscle tissue may be a potential biomarker that should be investigated further in human HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Bečanović
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada ,grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Muhammad Asghar
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden ,grid.24381.3c0000 0000 9241 5705Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Izabella Gadawska
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Shiny Sachdeva
- grid.416553.00000 0000 8589 2327The James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disease, St Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - David Walker
- grid.416553.00000 0000 8589 2327The James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disease, St Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Eduardo. R. Lazarowski
- grid.410711.20000 0001 1034 1720Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Sonia Franciosi
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Kevin H. J. Park
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada ,grid.253856.f0000 0001 2113 4110Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI USA
| | - Hélène C. F. Côté
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Blair R. Leavitt
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Machiela E, Rudich PD, Traa A, Anglas U, Soo SK, Senchuk MM, Van Raamsdonk JM. Targeting Mitochondrial Network Disorganization is Protective in C. elegans Models of Huntington's Disease. Aging Dis 2021; 12:1753-1772. [PMID: 34631219 PMCID: PMC8460302 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2021.0404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease caused by a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene. While the pathogenesis of HD is incompletely understood, mitochondrial dysfunction is thought to be a key contributor. In this work, we used C. elegans models to elucidate the role of mitochondrial dynamics in HD. We found that expression of a disease-length polyglutamine tract in body wall muscle, either with or without exon 1 of huntingtin, results in mitochondrial fragmentation and mitochondrial network disorganization. While mitochondria in young HD worms form elongated tubular networks as in wild-type worms, mitochondrial fragmentation occurs with age as expanded polyglutamine protein forms aggregates. To correct the deficit in mitochondrial morphology, we reduced levels of DRP-1, the GTPase responsible for mitochondrial fission. Surprisingly, we found that disrupting drp-1 can have detrimental effects, which are dependent on how much expression is decreased. To avoid potential negative side effects of disrupting drp-1, we examined whether decreasing mitochondrial fragmentation by targeting other genes could be beneficial. Through this approach, we identified multiple genetic targets that rescue movement deficits in worm models of HD. Three of these genetic targets, pgp-3, F25B5.6 and alh-12, increased movement in the HD worm model and restored mitochondrial morphology to wild-type morphology. This work demonstrates that disrupting the mitochondrial fission gene drp-1 can be detrimental in animal models of HD, but that decreasing mitochondrial fragmentation by targeting other genes can be protective. Overall, this study identifies novel therapeutic targets for HD aimed at improving mitochondrial health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Machiela
- 1Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids MI 49503, USA
| | - Paige D Rudich
- 2Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada.,3Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Annika Traa
- 2Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada.,3Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Ulrich Anglas
- 2Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada.,3Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Sonja K Soo
- 2Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada.,3Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Megan M Senchuk
- 1Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids MI 49503, USA
| | - Jeremy M Van Raamsdonk
- 1Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids MI 49503, USA.,2Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada.,3Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada.,4Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,5Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kim A, Lalonde K, Truesdell A, Gomes Welter P, Brocardo PS, Rosenstock TR, Gil-Mohapel J. New Avenues for the Treatment of Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168363. [PMID: 34445070 PMCID: PMC8394361 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG expansion in the HD gene. The disease is characterized by neurodegeneration, particularly in the striatum and cortex. The first symptoms usually appear in mid-life and include cognitive deficits and motor disturbances that progress over time. Despite being a genetic disorder with a known cause, several mechanisms are thought to contribute to neurodegeneration in HD, and numerous pre-clinical and clinical studies have been conducted and are currently underway to test the efficacy of therapeutic approaches targeting some of these mechanisms with varying degrees of success. Although current clinical trials may lead to the identification or refinement of treatments that are likely to improve the quality of life of those living with HD, major efforts continue to be invested at the pre-clinical level, with numerous studies testing novel approaches that show promise as disease-modifying strategies. This review offers a detailed overview of the currently approved treatment options for HD and the clinical trials for this neurodegenerative disorder that are underway and concludes by discussing potential disease-modifying treatments that have shown promise in pre-clinical studies, including increasing neurotropic support, modulating autophagy, epigenetic and genetic manipulations, and the use of nanocarriers and stem cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy Kim
- Island Medical Program and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (A.K.); (K.L.)
| | - Kathryn Lalonde
- Island Medical Program and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (A.K.); (K.L.)
| | - Aaron Truesdell
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada;
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Priscilla Gomes Welter
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil; (P.G.W.); (P.S.B.)
| | - Patricia S. Brocardo
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil; (P.G.W.); (P.S.B.)
| | - Tatiana R. Rosenstock
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
- Department of Pharmacology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Joana Gil-Mohapel
- Island Medical Program and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (A.K.); (K.L.)
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-250-472-4597; Fax: +1-250-472-5505
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Deng Y, Wang H, Joni M, Sekhri R, Reiner A. Progression of basal ganglia pathology in heterozygous Q175 knock-in Huntington's disease mice. J Comp Neurol 2021; 529:1327-1371. [PMID: 32869871 PMCID: PMC8049038 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
We used behavioral testing and morphological methods to detail the progression of basal ganglia neuron type-specific pathology and the deficits stemming from them in male heterozygous Q175 mice, compared to age-matched WT males. A rotarod deficit was not present in Q175 mice until 18 months, but increased open field turn rate (reflecting hyperkinesia) and open field anxiety were evident at 6 months. No loss of striatal neurons was seen out to 18 months, but ENK+ and DARPP32+ striatal perikarya were fewer by 6 months, due to diminished expression, with further decline by 18 months. No reduction in SP+ striatal perikarya or striatal interneurons was seen in Q175 mice at 18 months, but cholinergic interneurons showed dendrite attenuation by 6 months. Despite reduced ENK expression in indirect pathway striatal perikarya, ENK-immunostained terminals in globus pallidus externus (GPe) were more abundant at 6 months and remained so out to 18 months. Similarly, SP-immunostained terminals from striatal direct pathway neurons were more abundant in globus pallidus internus and substantia nigra at 6 months and remained so at 18 months. FoxP2+ arkypallidal GPe neurons and subthalamic nucleus neurons were lost by 18 months but not prototypical PARV+ GPe neurons or dopaminergic nigral neurons. Our results show that striatal projection neuron abnormalities and behavioral abnormalities reflecting them develop between 2 and 6 months of age in Q175 male heterozygotes, indicating early effects of the HD mutation. The striatal pathologies resemble those in human HD, but are less severe at 18 months than even in premanifest HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunping Deng
- Department of Anatomy and NeurobiologyThe University of Tennessee Health Science CenterMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Hongbing Wang
- Department of Anatomy and NeurobiologyThe University of Tennessee Health Science CenterMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Marion Joni
- Department of Anatomy and NeurobiologyThe University of Tennessee Health Science CenterMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Radhika Sekhri
- Department of PathologyThe University of Tennessee Health Science CenterMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Anton Reiner
- Department of Anatomy and NeurobiologyThe University of Tennessee Health Science CenterMemphisTennesseeUSA
- Department of OphthalmologyThe University of Tennessee Health Science CenterMemphisTennesseeUSA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Bozzi M, Sciandra F. Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Muscle Wasting in Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218314. [PMID: 33167595 PMCID: PMC7664236 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by pathogenic expansions of the triplet cytosine-adenosine-guanosine (CAG) within the Huntingtin gene. These expansions lead to a prolongation of the poly-glutamine stretch at the N-terminus of Huntingtin causing protein misfolding and aggregation. Huntingtin and its pathological variants are widely expressed, but the central nervous system is mainly affected, as proved by the wide spectrum of neurological symptoms, including behavioral anomalies, cognitive decline and motor disorders. Other hallmarks of HD are loss of body weight and muscle atrophy. This review highlights some key elements that likely provide a major contribution to muscle atrophy, namely, alteration of the transcriptional processes, mitochondrial dysfunction, which is strictly correlated to loss of energy homeostasis, inflammation, apoptosis and defects in the processes responsible for the protein quality control. The improvement of muscular symptoms has proven to slow the disease progression and extend the life span of animal models of HD, underlining the importance of a deep comprehension of the molecular mechanisms driving deterioration of muscular tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Bozzi
- Dipartimento Universitario di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Sezione di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Roma, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Roma, Italy
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta”– SCITEC Sede di Roma, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Roma, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Francesca Sciandra
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta”– SCITEC Sede di Roma, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Roma, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Shanmugaraj K, Sasikumar T, Campos CH, Ilanchelian M, Mangalaraja RV, Torres CC. Colorimetric determination of cysteamine based on the aggregation of polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized silver nanoparticles. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2020; 236:118281. [PMID: 32335419 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2020.118281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A simple, colorimetric and visual method is described for the determination of cysteamine (CA) using polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized silver nanoparticles (PVP-AgNPs) as a colorimetric probe. The sensing method was based on the aggregation of PVP-AgNPs that led to the changes in the color and absorption profile of the probe. The aggregation of PVP-AgNPs in the presence of CA was evidenced by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. A distinct color transition could be observed with the naked eye from pale yellow color of PVP-AgNPs to purple. PVP-AgNPs probe showed an excellent selectivity towards CA versus other interfering biomolecules, cations and anions. Furthermore, the colorimetric probe had a linear response for CA from 0.1 to 1.0 μM concentration range with the limit of detection (LOD) of 4.9 nM. The prepared probe was successfully utilized for the determination of CA in blood serum as biological samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krishnamoorthy Shanmugaraj
- Departamento de Físico-Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Edmundo Larenas 129, Concepción 4070371, Chile.
| | - Thangarasu Sasikumar
- Department of Chemistry, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Cristian H Campos
- Departamento de Físico-Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Edmundo Larenas 129, Concepción 4070371, Chile
| | | | - Ramalinga Viswanathan Mangalaraja
- Advanced Ceramics and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Materials Engineering, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile; Technological Development Unit (UDT), University of Concepción, Coronel Industrial Park, Coronel, Chile
| | - Cecilia C Torres
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andres Bello, Sede Concepción, Autopista Concepción-Talcahuano 7100, Talcahuano 4300866, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Ponzi A, Barton SJ, Bunner KD, Rangel-Barajas C, Zhang ES, Miller BR, Rebec GV, Kozloski J. Striatal network modeling in Huntington's Disease. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007648. [PMID: 32302302 PMCID: PMC7197869 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Medium spiny neurons (MSNs) comprise over 90% of cells in the striatum. In vivo MSNs display coherent burst firing cell assembly activity patterns, even though isolated MSNs do not burst fire intrinsically. This activity is important for the learning and execution of action sequences and is characteristically dysregulated in Huntington's Disease (HD). However, how dysregulation is caused by the various neural pathologies affecting MSNs in HD is unknown. Previous modeling work using simple cell models has shown that cell assembly activity patterns can emerge as a result of MSN inhibitory network interactions. Here, by directly estimating MSN network model parameters from single unit spiking data, we show that a network composed of much more physiologically detailed MSNs provides an excellent quantitative fit to wild type (WT) mouse spiking data, but only when network parameters are appropriate for the striatum. We find the WT MSN network is situated in a regime close to a transition from stable to strongly fluctuating network dynamics. This regime facilitates the generation of low-dimensional slowly varying coherent activity patterns and confers high sensitivity to variations in cortical driving. By re-estimating the model on HD spiking data we discover network parameter modifications are consistent across three very different types of HD mutant mouse models (YAC128, Q175, R6/2). In striking agreement with the known pathophysiology we find feedforward excitatory drive is reduced in HD compared to WT mice, while recurrent inhibition also shows phenotype dependency. We show that these modifications shift the HD MSN network to a sub-optimal regime where higher dimensional incoherent rapidly fluctuating activity predominates. Our results provide insight into a diverse range of experimental findings in HD, including cognitive and motor symptoms, and may suggest new avenues for treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Ponzi
- IBM Research, Computational Biology Center, Thomas J. Watson Research Laboratories, Yorktown Heights, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Scott J. Barton
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Kendra D. Bunner
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Claudia Rangel-Barajas
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Emily S. Zhang
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Benjamin R. Miller
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - George V. Rebec
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - James Kozloski
- IBM Research, Computational Biology Center, Thomas J. Watson Research Laboratories, Yorktown Heights, New York, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Kielar C, Morton AJ. Early Neurodegeneration in R6/2 Mice Carrying the Huntington's Disease Mutation with a Super-Expanded CAG Repeat, Despite Normal Lifespan. J Huntingtons Dis 2019; 7:61-76. [PMID: 29480204 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-170265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The threshold of CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene that causes HD is 36 CAG repeats, although 'superlong' expansions are found in individual neurons in postmortem brains. Previously, we showed that, compared to mice with <250 CAG repeats, onset of disease in R6/2 mice carrying superlong (>440) CAG repeat expansions was delayed, and disease progression was slower. Inclusion pathology also differed from 250 CAG repeat mice, being dominated by a novel kind of extranuclear neuronal inclusion (nENNI) that resembles a class of aggregate seen in patients with the adult onset form of HD. Here, we characterised neuropathology in R6/2 mice with >400 CAG repeats using light and electron microscopy. nENNIs were found with increased frequency and wider distribution with age. Some nENNIs appear to 'mature' as the disease develops, developing a multi-layered cored structure. Mice with superlong CAG repeats do not develop clinical signs until they are around 30-40 weeks of age, and they attain a normal life span (>2 years). Nevertheless, they show brain atrophy and unequivocal neuron loss from the striatum and cortex by 22 weeks of age, an age at which similar pathology is seen in 250 CAG repeat mice. Since this time-point is 'end stage' for a 250 CAG mouse, but very far (at least 18 months) from end stage for a > 440 CAG repeat mouse, our data confirm that the appearance of clinical signs, the formation of inclusions, and neurodegeneration are processes that progress independently. A better understanding of the relationship between CAG repeat length, neurodegenerative pathways, and clinical behavioural signs is essential, if we are to find strategies to delay or reverse the course of this disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Kielar
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - A Jennifer Morton
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Stanek LM, Bu J, Shihabuddin LS. Astrocyte transduction is required for rescue of behavioral phenotypes in the YAC128 mouse model with AAV-RNAi mediated HTT lowering therapeutics. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 129:29-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
|
23
|
Wang Z, Liu H. Lysine methylation regulates nervous system diseases. Neuropeptides 2019; 76:101929. [PMID: 31076097 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Lysine methylation is an important dynamic modification which is essential in the epigenetic regulation of gene transcription. Unlike acetylation markers, lysine methylation signals at gene promoters could be viewed as markers that either activate or silence gene expression in different contexts or states. This article briefly reviews lysine methylation sites involved in nervous system diseases. The methyltransferases and demethylases which cause abnormal methylation signals in nervous system diseases are also discussed. Methylated proteins correlated with nervous system biological processes are extracted from databases and known writer-code-eraser patterns are analyzed, which could provide insight into the design of methylation-based interference peptides for the investigation of nervous system diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Huadong Liu
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Rai SN, Singh BK, Rathore AS, Zahra W, Keswani C, Birla H, Singh SS, Dilnashin H, Singh SP. Quality Control in Huntington's Disease: a Therapeutic Target. Neurotox Res 2019; 36:612-626. [PMID: 31297710 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-019-00087-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal autosomal dominantly inherited brain disease caused by excessively expanded CAG repeats in gene which encodes huntingtin protein. These abnormally encoded huntingtin proteins and their truncated fragments result in disruption of cellular quality mechanism ultimately triggering neuronal death. Despite great efforts, a potential causative agent leading to genetic mutation in HTT, manifesting the neurons more prone to oxidative stress, cellular inflammation, energy depletion and apoptotic death, has not been established yet. Current scenario concentrates on symptomatic pathologies to improvise the disease progression and to better the survival. Most of the therapeutic developments have been converged to rescue the protein homeostasis. In HD, abnormal expansion of glutamine repeats in the protein huntingtin leads to toxic aggregation of huntingtin which in turn impairs the quality control mechanism of cells through damaging the machineries involved in removal of aggregated abnormal protein. Therapeutic approaches to improve the efficiency of aggregate clearance through quality control mechanisms involve protein folding machineries such as chaperones and protein degradation machineries such as proteasome and autophagy. Also, to reduce protein aggregation by enhancing proper folding, to degrade and eliminate the aggregates are suggested to negatively regulate the HD progression associated with the disruption of protein homeostasis. This review focuses on the collection of therapeutic strategies targeting enhancement of protein quality control activity to delay the HD pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sachchida Nand Rai
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Brijesh Kumar Singh
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Centre, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Aaina Singh Rathore
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Walia Zahra
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Chetan Keswani
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Hareram Birla
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Saumitra Sen Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Hagera Dilnashin
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Surya Pratap Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Rangel-Barajas C, Rebec GV. Overview of Huntington's Disease Models: Neuropathological, Molecular, and Behavioral Differences. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 83:e47. [PMID: 30040221 DOI: 10.1002/cpns.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic mouse models of Huntington's disease (HD), a neurodegenerative condition caused by a single gene mutation, have been transformative in their ability to reveal the molecular processes and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the HD behavioral phenotype. Three model categories have been generated depending on the genetic context in which the mutation is expressed: truncated, full-length, and knock-in. No single model, however, broadly replicates the behavioral symptoms and massive neuronal loss that occur in human patients. The disparity between model and patient requires careful consideration of what each model has to offer when testing potential treatments. Although the translation of animal data to the clinic has been limited, each model can make unique contributions toward an improved understanding of the neurobehavioral underpinnings of HD. Thus, conclusions based on data obtained from more than one model are likely to have the most success in the search for new treatment targets. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Rangel-Barajas
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
| | - George V Rebec
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Laquinimod Treatment Improves Myelination Deficits at the Transcriptional and Ultrastructural Levels in the YAC128 Mouse Model of Huntington Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:4464-4478. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1393-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
27
|
Antidepressant Effects of Probucol on Early-Symptomatic YAC128 Transgenic Mice for Huntington's Disease. Neural Plast 2018; 2018:4056383. [PMID: 30186318 PMCID: PMC6112232 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4056383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by a trinucleotide expansion in the HD gene, resulting in an extended polyglutamine tract in the protein huntingtin. HD is traditionally viewed as a movement disorder, but cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms also contribute to the clinical presentation. Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disturbances in HD, present even before manifestation of motor symptoms. Diagnosis and treatment of depression in HD-affected individuals are essential aspects of clinical management in this population, especially owing to the high risk of suicide. This study investigated whether chronic administration of the antioxidant probucol improved motor and affective symptoms as well as hippocampal neurogenic function in the YAC128 transgenic mouse model of HD during the early- to mild-symptomatic stages of disease progression. The motor performance and affective symptoms were monitored using well-validated behavioral tests in YAC128 mice and age-matched wild-type littermates at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, after 1, 3, or 5 months of treatment with probucol (30 mg/kg/day via water supplementation, starting on postnatal day 30). Endogenous markers were used to assess the effect of probucol on cell proliferation (Ki-67 and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)) and neuronal differentiation (doublecortin (DCX)) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). Chronic treatment with probucol reduced the occurrence of depressive-like behaviors in early- and mild-symptomatic YAC128 mice. Functional improvements were not accompanied by increased progenitor cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation. Our findings provide evidence that administration of probucol may be of clinical benefit in the management of early- to mild-symptomatic HD.
Collapse
|
28
|
Rosas-Arellano A, Tejeda-Guzmán C, Lorca-Ponce E, Palma-Tirado L, Mantellero CA, Rojas P, Missirlis F, Castro MA. Huntington's disease leads to decrease of GABA-A tonic subunits in the D2 neostriatal pathway and their relocalization into the synaptic cleft. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 110:142-153. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
|
29
|
da Fonsêca VS, da Silva Colla AR, de Paula Nascimento-Castro C, Plácido E, Rosa JM, Farina M, Gil-Mohapel J, Rodrigues ALS, Brocardo PS. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Prevents Depressive-Like Behaviors in Early-Symptomatic YAC128 Huntington’s Disease Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:7201-7215. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0890-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
30
|
Puigdellívol M, Saavedra A, Pérez-Navarro E. Cognitive dysfunction in Huntington's disease: mechanisms and therapeutic strategies beyond BDNF. Brain Pathol 2018; 26:752-771. [PMID: 27529673 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the main focuses in Huntington's disease (HD) research, as well as in most neurodegenerative diseases, is the development of new therapeutic strategies, as currently there is no treatment to delay or prevent the progression of the disease. Neuronal dysfunction and neuronal death in HD are caused by a combination of interrelated pathogenic processes that lead to motor, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. Understanding how mutant huntingtin impacts on a plethora of cellular functions could help to identify new molecular targets. Although HD has been classically classified as a neurodegenerative disease affecting voluntary movement, lately cognitive dysfunction is receiving increased attention as it is very invalidating for patients. Thus, an ambitious goal in HD research is to find altered molecular mechanisms that contribute to cognitive decline. In this review, we have focused on those findings related to corticostriatal and hippocampal cognitive dysfunction in HD, as well as on the underlying molecular mechanisms, which constitute potential therapeutic targets. These include alterations in synaptic plasticity, transcriptional machinery and neurotrophic and neurotransmitter signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mar Puigdellívol
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Ana Saavedra
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain.,Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Esther Pérez-Navarro
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain.,Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Abstract
The identification of the mutation causing Huntington's disease (HD) has led to the generation of a large number of mouse models. These models are used to further enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the disease, as well as investigating and identifying therapeutic targets for this disorder. Here we review the transgenic, knock-in mice commonly used to model HD, as well those that have been generated to study specific disease mechanisms. We then provide a brief overview of the importance of standardizing the use of HD mice and describe brief protocols used for genotyping the mouse models used within the Bates Laboratory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela P Farshim
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington's Disease Centre and Dementia Research Institute, University College London Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Gillian P Bates
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Huntington's Disease Centre and Dementia Research Institute, University College London Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Rosas-Arellano A, Estrada-Mondragón A, Mantellero CA, Tejeda-Guzmán C, Castro MA. The adjustment of γ-aminobutyric acid A tonic subunits in Huntington's disease: from transcription to translation to synaptic levels into the neostriatum. Neural Regen Res 2018; 13:584-590. [PMID: 29722299 PMCID: PMC5950657 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.230270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), plays a key role in all stages of life, also is considered the main inhibitory neurotransmitter. GABA activates two kind of membrane receptors known as GABAA and GABAB, the first one is responsible to render tonic inhibition by pentameric receptors containing α4−6, β3, δ, or ρ1−3 subunits, they are located at perisynaptic and/or in extrasynaptic regions. The biophysical properties of GABAA tonic inhibition have been related with cellular protection against excitotoxic injury and cell death in presence of excessive excitation. On this basis, GABAA tonic inhibition has been proposed as a potential target for therapeutic intervention of Huntington's disease. Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a genetic mutation of the huntingtin protein. For experimental studies of Huntington's disease mouse models have been developed, such as R6/1, R6/2, HdhQ92, HdhQ150, as well as YAC128. In all of them, some key experimental reports are focused on neostriatum. The neostriatum is considered as the most important connection between cerebral cortex and basal ganglia structures, its cytology display two pathways called direct and indirect constituted by medium sized spiny neurons expressing dopamine D1 and D2 receptors respectively, they display strong expression of many types of GABAA receptors, including tonic subunits. The studies about of GABAA tonic subunits and Huntington's disease into the neostriatum are rising in recent years, suggesting interesting changes in their expression and localization which can be used as a strategy to delay the cellular damage caused by the imbalance between excitation and inhibition, a hallmark of Huntington's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Rosas-Arellano
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile; Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on the Nervous System (CISNe), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Cinvestav del IPN, Ciudad de México, México
| | | | - Carola A Mantellero
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Carlos Tejeda-Guzmán
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Cinvestav del IPN, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Maite A Castro
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias; Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on the Nervous System (CISNe), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Al-Gharaibeh A, Culver R, Stewart AN, Srinageshwar B, Spelde K, Frollo L, Kolli N, Story D, Paladugu L, Anwar S, Crane A, Wyse R, Maiti P, Dunbar GL, Rossignol J. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Stem Cell Transplantations Reduced Behavioral Deficits and Ameliorated Neuropathological Changes in YAC128 Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:628. [PMID: 29209158 PMCID: PMC5701605 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neuronal loss and motor dysfunction. Although there is no effective treatment, stem cell transplantation offers a promising therapeutic strategy, but the safety and efficacy of this approach needs to be optimized. The purpose of this study was to test the potential of intra-striatal transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cells (iPS-NSCs) for treating HD. For this purpose, we developed mouse adenovirus-generated iPSCs, differentiated them into neural stem cells in vitro, labeled them with Hoechst, and transplanted them bilaterally into striata of 10-month old wild type (WT) and HD YAC128 mice. We assessed the efficiency of these transplanted iPS-NSCs to reduce motor deficits in YAC128 mice by testing them on an accelerating rotarod task at 1 day prior to transplantation, and then weekly for 10 weeks. Our results showed an amelioration of locomotor deficits in YAC128 mice that received iPS-NSC transplantations. Following testing, the mice were sacrificed, and their brains were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and Western blot (WB). The results from our histological examinations revealed no signs of tumors and evidence that many iPS-NSCs survived and differentiated into region-specific neurons (medium spiny neurons) in both WT and HD mice, as confirmed by co-labeling of Hoechst-labeled transplanted cells with NeuN and DARPP-32. Also, counts of Hoechst-labeled cells revealed that a higher proportion were co-labeled with DARPP-32 and NeuN in HD-, compared to WT- mice, suggesting a dissimilar differentiation pattern in HD mice. Whereas significant decreases were found in counts of NeuN- and DARPP-32-labeled cells, and for neuronal density measures in striata of HD vehicle controls, such decrements were not observed in the iPS-NSCs-transplanted-HD mice. WB analysis showed increase of BDNF and TrkB levels in striata of transplanted HD mice compared to HD vehicle controls. Collectively, our data suggest that iPS-NSCs may provide an effective option for neuronal replacement therapy in HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abeer Al-Gharaibeh
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Rebecca Culver
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Andrew N Stewart
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Bhairavi Srinageshwar
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Kristin Spelde
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Laura Frollo
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Nivya Kolli
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Darren Story
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Leela Paladugu
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Sarah Anwar
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Andrew Crane
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Robert Wyse
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Panchanan Maiti
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Field Neurosciences Institute, St. Mary's of Michigan, Saginaw, MI, United States
| | - Gary L Dunbar
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Field Neurosciences Institute, St. Mary's of Michigan, Saginaw, MI, United States
| | - Julien Rossignol
- Field Neurosciences Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States.,College of Medicine, Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant, MI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Osmand AP, Bichell TJ, Bowman AB, Bates GP. Embryonic Mutant Huntingtin Aggregate Formation in Mouse Models of Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2017; 5:343-346. [PMID: 27886014 PMCID: PMC5181660 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-160217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The role of aggregate formation in the pathophysiology of Huntington’s disease (HD) remains uncertain. However, the temporal appearance of aggregates tends to correlate with the onset of symptoms and the numbers of neuropil aggregates correlate with the progression of clinical disease. Using highly sensitive immunohistochemical methods we have detected the appearance of diffuse aggregates during embryonic development in the R6/2 and YAC128 mouse models of HD. These are initially seen in developing axonal tracts and appear to spread throughout the cerebrum in the early neonate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander P Osmand
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Terry Jo Bichell
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Aaron B Bowman
- Department of Pediatrics, Neurology, and Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University (VU) and VU Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Gillian P Bates
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Silva AC, Ferreira IL, Hayden MR, Ferreiro E, Rego AC. Characterization of subventricular zone-derived progenitor cells from mild and late symptomatic YAC128 mouse model of Huntington's disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2017; 1864:34-44. [PMID: 28939435 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2017.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by an expansion of CAG repeats in the HTT gene, leading to expression of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) and selective striatal neuronal loss, frequently associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and decreased support of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). New neurons derived from the subventricular zone (SVZ) are apparently not able to rescue HD pathological features. Thus, we analyzed proliferation, migration and differentiation of adult SVZ-derived neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPC) from mild (6month-old (mo)) and late (10mo) symptomatic HD YAC128 mice expressing full-length (FL)-mHTT versus age-matched wild-type (WT) mice. SVZ cells derived from 6mo YAC128 mice exhibited higher migratory capacity and a higher number of MAP2+ and synaptophysin+cells, compared to WT cells; MAP2 labeling was enhanced after exposure to BDNF. However, BDNF-evoked neuronal differentiation was not observed in 10mo YAC128 SVZ-derived cells. Interestingly, 6mo YAC128 SVZ-derived cells showed increased intracellular Ca2+ levels in response to KCl, which was potentiated by BDNF, evidencing the presence of differentiated neurons. In contrast, KCl depolarization-induced intracellular Ca2+ increase in 10mo YAC128 SVZ-derived cells was shown to be increased only in BDNF-treated YAC128 SVZ-derived cells, suggestive of decreased differentiation capacity. In addition, BDNF-untreated NSPC from 10mo YAC128 mice exhibited lower mitochondrial membrane potential and increased mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation, in relation with NSPC from 6mo YAC128 mice. Data evidence age-dependent reduced migration and decreased acquisition of a neuronal phenotype, accompanied by decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in SVZ-derived cells from YAC128 mice through HD symptomatic phases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana C Silva
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ildete L Ferreira
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC), University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Michael R Hayden
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Elisabete Ferreiro
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC), University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - A Cristina Rego
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; FMUC-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Pyk2 modulates hippocampal excitatory synapses and contributes to cognitive deficits in a Huntington's disease model. Nat Commun 2017; 8:15592. [PMID: 28555636 PMCID: PMC5459995 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The structure and function of spines and excitatory synapses are under the dynamic control of multiple signalling networks. Although tyrosine phosphorylation is involved, its regulation and importance are not well understood. Here we study the role of Pyk2, a non-receptor calcium-dependent protein-tyrosine kinase highly expressed in the hippocampus. Hippocampal-related learning and CA1 long-term potentiation are severely impaired in Pyk2-deficient mice and are associated with alterations in NMDA receptors, PSD-95 and dendritic spines. In cultured hippocampal neurons, Pyk2 has autophosphorylation-dependent and -independent roles in determining PSD-95 enrichment and spines density. Pyk2 levels are decreased in the hippocampus of individuals with Huntington and in the R6/1 mouse model of the disease. Normalizing Pyk2 levels in the hippocampus of R6/1 mice rescues memory deficits, spines pathology and PSD-95 localization. Our results reveal a role for Pyk2 in spine structure and synaptic function, and suggest that its deficit contributes to Huntington's disease cognitive impairments.
Collapse
|
37
|
McGregor AL, D'Souza G, Kim D, Tingle MD. Varenicline improves motor and cognitive deficits and decreases depressive-like behaviour in late-stage YAC128 mice. Neuropharmacology 2017; 116:233-246. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
|
38
|
Stavrovskaya AV, Voronkov DN, Yamshchikova NG, Ol’shanskiy AS, Khudoerkov RM, Illarioshkin SN. Experience of experimental modelling of Huntington’s disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1134/s0362119716080120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
|
39
|
Silver nanoparticles modified with thiomalic acid as a colorimetric probe for determination of cystamine. Mikrochim Acta 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00604-016-1991-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
40
|
Bunner KD, Rebec GV. Corticostriatal Dysfunction in Huntington's Disease: The Basics. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:317. [PMID: 27445757 PMCID: PMC4924423 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The main input to the basal ganglia, the corticostriatal pathway, shows some of the earliest signs of neuropathology in Huntington’s disease (HD), an inherited neurodegenerative condition that typically strikes in mid-life with progressively deteriorating cognitive, emotional, and motor symptoms. Although an effective treatment remains elusive, research on transgenic animal models has implicated dysregulation of glutamate (Glu), the excitatory amino acid released by corticostriatal neurons, in HD onset. Abnormalities in the control of Glu transmission at the level of postsynaptic receptors and Glu transport proteins play a critical role in the loss of information flow through downstream circuits that set the stage for the HD behavioral phenotype. Parallel but less-well characterized changes in dopamine (DA), a key modulator of Glu activation, ensure further deficits in neuronal communication throughout the basal ganglia. Continued analysis of corticostriatal Glu transmission and its modulation by DA, including analysis at the neurobehavioral level in transgenic models, is likely to be an effective strategy in the pursuit of HD therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kendra D Bunner
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - George V Rebec
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University Bloomington, IN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Galvan L, André VM, Wang EA, Cepeda C, Levine MS. Functional Differences Between Direct and Indirect Striatal Output Pathways in Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2016; 1:17-25. [PMID: 25063187 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-2012-120009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
There is morphological evidence for differential alterations in striatal medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) giving rise to the direct and indirect output pathways in Huntington's disease (HD). MSNs of the indirect pathway appear to be particularly vulnerable and markers for these neurons are lost early in postmortem brains and in genetic mouse models. In contrast, MSNs of the direct pathway appear to be relatively spared in the early stages. Because of the great morphological and electrophysiological similarities between MSNs of these pathways, until recently it was difficult to tease apart their functional alterations in HD models. The recent use of the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene as a reporter to identify dopamine D1 (direct pathway) and D2 (indirect pathway) receptor-expressing MSNs has made it possible to examine synaptic function in each pathway. The outcomes of such studies demonstrate significant time-dependent changes in the balance of excitatory and inhibitory inputs to both direct and indirect pathway MSNs in HD and emphasize early increases in both excitatory and inhibitory inputs to direct pathway MSNs. There also is a strong influence of alterations in dopamine modulation that possibly cause some of the changes in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the HD models. These changes will markedly alter the output structures, the GPi and the SNr. In the future, the use of combined optogenetics with identified neurons in each pathway will help unravel the next set of questions about how the output nuclei are affected in HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laurie Galvan
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and the Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Véronique M André
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and the Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Wang
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and the Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carlos Cepeda
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and the Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael S Levine
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and the Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Characterization of Behavioral, Neuropathological, Brain Metabolic and Key Molecular Changes in zQ175 Knock-In Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148839. [PMID: 26859386 PMCID: PMC4747517 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by an expansion of the trinucleotide poly (CAG) tract located in exon 1 of the huntingtin (Htt) gene leading to progressive neurodegeneration in selected brain regions, and associated functional impairments in motor, cognitive, and psychiatric domains. Since the discovery of the gene mutation that causes the disease, mouse models have been developed by different strategies. Recently, a new model, the zQ175 knock-in (KI) line, was developed in an attempt to have the Htt gene in a context and causing a phenotype that more closely mimics HD in humans. The behavioral phenotype was characterized across the independent laboratories and important features reminiscent of human HD are observed in zQ175 mice. In the current study, we characterized the zQ175 model housed in an academic laboratory under reversed dark-light cycle, including motor function, in vivo longitudinal structural MRI imaging for brain volume, MRS for striatal metabolites, neuropathology, as well as a panel of key disease marker proteins in the striatum at different ages. Our results suggest that homozygous zQ175 mice exhibited significant brain atrophy before the motor deficits and brain metabolite changes. Altered striatal medium spiny neuronal marker, postsynaptic marker protein and complement component C1qC also characterized zQ175 mice. Our results confirmed that the zQ175 KI model is valuable in understanding of HD-like pathophysiology and evaluation of potential therapeutics. Our data also provide suggestions to select appropriate outcome measurements in preclinical studies using the zQ175 mice.
Collapse
|
43
|
Brocardo PS, McGinnis E, Christie BR, Gil-Mohapel J. Time-Course Analysis of Protein and Lipid Oxidation in the Brains of Yac128 Huntington's Disease Transgenic Mice. Rejuvenation Res 2016; 19:140-8. [PMID: 26371883 DOI: 10.1089/rej.2015.1736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by an expansion of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats within the coding region of the HD gene, which expresses the protein huntingtin and is characterized by selective degeneration of specific neuronal populations, mainly in the striatum and the cortex. The mechanisms that account for this selective neuronal death are multifaceted, but oxidative stress might play an important role in this process. To determine whether changes in the intracellular redox state will result in oxidative damage to cellular macromolecules with disease progression, we analyzed levels of lipid peroxidation (with the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS] assay) and protein carbonyl formation (using the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine reaction) in the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, prefrontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus of the YAC128 HD mouse model at 3, 6, and 12 months of age. With the exception of a transient increase in protein carbonyl levels in the YAC128 prefrontal cortex at 6 months of age, levels of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation were not significantly different between YAC128 mice and their age-matched wild-type counterparts in any of the brain regions analyzed up to 12 months of age. However, age-related increases in oxidative stress were observed in various brain regions. These results suggest that lipid and protein oxidative damage is not a major contributor to neurodegeneration in the YAC128 brain up to 12 months of age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia S Brocardo
- 1 Division of Medical Sciences and UBC Island Medical Program, University of Victoria , Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- 2 Department of Morphological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina , Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Eric McGinnis
- 1 Division of Medical Sciences and UBC Island Medical Program, University of Victoria , Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Brian R Christie
- 1 Division of Medical Sciences and UBC Island Medical Program, University of Victoria , Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- 3 Brain Research Centre and Program in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- 4 Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Joana Gil-Mohapel
- 1 Division of Medical Sciences and UBC Island Medical Program, University of Victoria , Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Szeliga M, Różycka A, Jędrak P, Barańska S, Janik P, Jamrozik Z, Albrecht J. Expression of RNAs Coding for Metal Transporters in Blood of Patients with Huntington's Disease. Neurochem Res 2015; 41:101-6. [PMID: 26471164 PMCID: PMC4773475 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-015-1737-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Revised: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated elevated levels of iron (Fe) in brains of patients with Huntington's disease (HD). Striatal cells carrying mutated Huntingtin presented increased sensitivity to cadmium (Cd) toxicity, decreased sensitivity to manganese (Mn) toxicity and deficits in Mn uptake. The hypothesis arose that the observed alterations result from the altered expression and/or activity of proteins engaged in the transport of these metals, that is: transferrin (TF), transferrin receptor (TFR), divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) and ZIP8 protein. Here we examined the expression levels of genes encoding these proteins in blood of HD patients and control subjects. A decreasing tendency in the level of TF transcript and increasing tendency of SLC11A2 mRNA encoding DMT1 was observed in the blood of HD patients compared to the control subjects, but neither attained statistical significance. No changes were found in the levels of TFRC coding for TFR and SLC39A8 coding for ZIP8 between HD patients and controls. The results indicate that HD-associated changes in metal homeostasis occur are not related to mechanisms other than the expression level of the here analyzed metal transporters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monika Szeliga
- Department of Neurotoxicology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, 5 Pawińskiego Str., 02-106, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Aleksandra Różycka
- Faculty of Horticulture, Biotechnology and Landscape Architecture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 166 Nowoursynowska Str., 02-787, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paulina Jędrak
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza Str., 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Sylwia Barańska
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza Str., 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Piotr Janik
- Department of Neurology, The Wolski Hospital im Dr Anny Gostyńskiej, 17 Kasprzaka Str., 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.,Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, 1 Banacha Str., 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zygmunt Jamrozik
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, 1 Banacha Str., 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Albrecht
- Department of Neurotoxicology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, 5 Pawińskiego Str., 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Paine H. Does loss of the normal protein function contribute to the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/biohorizons/hzv005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
|
46
|
Cisbani G, Drouin-Ouellet J, Gibrat C, Saint-Pierre M, Lagacé M, Badrinarayanan S, Lavallée-Bourget M, Charest J, Chabrat A, Boivin L, Lebel M, Bousquet M, Lévesque M, Cicchetti F. Cystamine/cysteamine rescues the dopaminergic system and shows neurorestorative properties in an animal model of Parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 82:430-444. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Revised: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
|
47
|
Xu Z, Tito AJ, Rui YN, Zhang S. Studying polyglutamine diseases in Drosophila. Exp Neurol 2015; 274:25-41. [PMID: 26257024 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a family of dominantly transmitted neurodegenerative disorders caused by an abnormal expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the protein-coding regions of the respective disease-causing genes. Despite their simple genetic basis, the etiology of these diseases is far from clear. Over the past two decades, Drosophila has proven to be successful in modeling this family of neurodegenerative disorders, including the faithful recapitulation of pathological features such as polyQ length-dependent formation of protein aggregates and progressive neuronal degeneration. Additionally, it has been valuable in probing the pathogenic mechanisms, in identifying and evaluating disease modifiers, and in helping elucidate the normal functions of disease-causing genes. Knowledge learned from this simple invertebrate organism has had a large impact on our understanding of these devastating brain diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Xu
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Antonio Joel Tito
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; Programs in Human and Molecular Genetics and Neuroscience, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Yan-Ning Rui
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Sheng Zhang
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; Programs in Human and Molecular Genetics and Neuroscience, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Pellman JJ, Hamilton J, Brustovetsky T, Brustovetsky N. Ca(2+) handling in isolated brain mitochondria and cultured neurons derived from the YAC128 mouse model of Huntington's disease. J Neurochem 2015; 134:652-67. [PMID: 25963273 PMCID: PMC4516671 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Revised: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
We investigated Ca(2+) handling in isolated brain synaptic and non-synaptic mitochondria and in cultured striatal neurons from the YAC128 mouse model of Huntington's disease. Both synaptic and non-synaptic mitochondria from 2- and 12-month-old YAC128 mice had larger Ca(2+) uptake capacity than mitochondria from YAC18 and wild-type FVB/NJ mice. Synaptic mitochondria from 12-month-old YAC128 mice had further augmented Ca(2+) capacity compared with mitochondria from 2-month-old YAC128 mice and age-matched YAC18 and FVB/NJ mice. This increase in Ca(2+) uptake capacity correlated with an increase in the amount of mutant huntingtin protein (mHtt) associated with mitochondria from 12-month-old YAC128 mice. We speculate that this may happen because of mHtt-mediated sequestration of free fatty acids thereby increasing resistance of mitochondria to Ca(2+)-induced damage. In experiments with striatal neurons from YAC128 and FVB/NJ mice, brief exposure to 25 or 100 μM glutamate produced transient elevations in cytosolic Ca(2+) followed by recovery to near resting levels. Following recovery of cytosolic Ca(2+), mitochondrial depolarization with FCCP produced comparable elevations in cytosolic Ca(2+), suggesting similar Ca(2+) release and, consequently, Ca(2+) loads in neuronal mitochondria from YAC128 and FVB/NJ mice. Together, our data argue against a detrimental effect of mHtt on Ca(2+) handling in brain mitochondria of YAC128 mice. We demonstrate that mutant huntingtin (mHtt) binds to brain synaptic and nonsynaptic mitochondria and the amount of mitochondria-bound mHtt correlates with increased mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake capacity. We propose that this may happen due to mHtt-mediated sequestration of free fatty acids thereby increasing resistance of mitochondria to Ca(2+)-induced damage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J. Pellman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis IN 46202, USA
| | - James Hamilton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis IN 46202, USA
| | - Tatiana Brustovetsky
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis IN 46202, USA
| | - Nickolay Brustovetsky
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis IN 46202, USA
- Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis IN 46202, USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Neuroanatomical Visualization of the Impaired Striatal Connectivity in Huntington's Disease Mouse Model. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:2276-86. [PMID: 25976370 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9214-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a movement disorder characterized by the early selective degeneration of striatum. For motor control, the striatum receives excitatory inputs from multiple brain regions and projects the information to other basal ganglia nuclei. Despite the pathological importance of the striatal degeneration in HD, there are little anatomical data that show impaired striatal connectivity in HD. For the anatomical mapping of the striatum, we injected here a neurotracer DiD to the dorsal striatum of HD mouse model (YAC128). Compared with littermate controls, the number of the traced inputs to the striatum was reduced dramatically in YAC128 mice at 12 months of age suggesting massive destruction of the striatal connections. Basal ganglia inputs were significantly damaged in HD mice by showing 61 % decrease in substantia nigra pars compacta, 85% decrease in thalamic centromedian nucleus, and 55% decrease in thalamic parafascicular nucleus. Cortical inputs were also greatly decreased by 43% in motor cortex, 48% in somatosensory cortex, and 72% in visual cortex. Besides the known striatal connections, the neurotracer DiD also traced inputs from amygdala and the amygdala inputs were decreased by 68% in YAC128 mice. Considering the role of amygdala in emotion processing, the impairment in amygdalostriatal connectivity strongly suggests that emotional disturbances could occur in HD mice. Indeed, open-field tests further indicated that YAC128 mice exhibited changes in emotional behaviors related to symptoms of depression and anxiety. Although onset of HD is clinically determined on the basis of motor abnormality, emotional deficits are also common features of the disease. Therefore, our anatomical connectivity mapping of the striatum provides a new insight to interpret brain dysfunction in HD.
Collapse
|
50
|
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG expansion in the HTT gene. HD is characterized by striatal atrophy and is associated with motor, cognitive and psychiatric deficits. In the presence of the HD mutation, the interactions between huntingtin (HTT) and huntingtin interacting protein 14 (HIP14 or DHHC17) and HIP14-like (DHHC13, a HIP14 orthologue), palmitoyl acyltransferases for HTT, are disturbed, resulting in reduced palmitoylation of HTT. Genetic ablation of either Hip14 or Hip14l recapitulates many features of HD, including striatal atrophy and motor deficits. However, there are no changes in palmitoylation of HTT in either mouse model and, subsequently, the similarities between the phenotypes of these two mouse models and the HD mouse model are believed to result from underpalmitoylation of other HIP14 and HIP14L substrates. HTT acts as a modulator of HIP14 activity such that in the presence of the HD mutation, HIP14 is less active. Consequently, HIP14 substrates are less palmitoylated, leading to neuronal toxicity. This suggests that altered HIP14–HTT and HIP14L–HTT interactions in the presence of the HD mutation reduces palmitoylation and promotes mislocalization of HTT and other HIP14/HIP14L substrates. Ultimately, HD may be, in part, a disease of altered palmitoylation.
Collapse
|