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Langerscheidt F, Wied T, Al Kabbani MA, van Eimeren T, Wunderlich G, Zempel H. Genetic forms of tauopathies: inherited causes and implications of Alzheimer's disease-like TAU pathology in primary and secondary tauopathies. J Neurol 2024; 271:2992-3018. [PMID: 38554150 PMCID: PMC11136742 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12314-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Tauopathies are a heterogeneous group of neurologic diseases characterized by pathological axodendritic distribution, ectopic expression, and/or phosphorylation and aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein TAU, encoded by the gene MAPT. Neuronal dysfunction, dementia, and neurodegeneration are common features of these often detrimental diseases. A neurodegenerative disease is considered a primary tauopathy when MAPT mutations/haplotypes are its primary cause and/or TAU is the main pathological feature. In case TAU pathology is observed but superimposed by another pathological hallmark, the condition is classified as a secondary tauopathy. In some tauopathies (e.g. MAPT-associated frontotemporal dementia (FTD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD)) TAU is recognized as a significant pathogenic driver of the disease. In many secondary tauopathies, including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD), TAU is suggested to contribute to the development of dementia, but in others (e.g. Niemann-Pick disease (NPC)) TAU may only be a bystander. The genetic and pathological mechanisms underlying TAU pathology are often not fully understood. In this review, the genetic predispositions and variants associated with both primary and secondary tauopathies are examined in detail, assessing evidence for the role of TAU in these conditions. We highlight less common genetic forms of tauopathies to increase awareness for these disorders and the involvement of TAU in their pathology. This approach not only contributes to a deeper understanding of these conditions but may also lay the groundwork for potential TAU-based therapeutic interventions for various tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Langerscheidt
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tamara Wied
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Natural Sciences, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Von-Liebig-Str. 20, 53359, Rheinbach, Germany
| | - Mohamed Aghyad Al Kabbani
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thilo van Eimeren
- Multimodal Neuroimaging Group, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gilbert Wunderlich
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hans Zempel
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
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Buchholz S, Zempel H. The six brain-specific TAU isoforms and their role in Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative dementia syndromes. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:3606-3628. [PMID: 38556838 PMCID: PMC11095451 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alternative splicing of the human MAPT gene generates six brain-specific TAU isoforms. Imbalances in the TAU isoform ratio can lead to neurodegenerative diseases, underscoring the need for precise control over TAU isoform balance. Tauopathies, characterized by intracellular aggregates of hyperphosphorylated TAU, exhibit extensive neurodegeneration and can be classified by the TAU isoforms present in pathological accumulations. METHODS A comprehensive review of TAU and related dementia syndromes literature was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and preprint server. RESULTS While TAU is recognized as key driver of neurodegeneration in specific tauopathies, the contribution of the isoforms to neuronal function and disease development remains largely elusive. DISCUSSION In this review we describe the role of TAU isoforms in health and disease, and stress the importance of comprehending and studying TAU isoforms in both, physiological and pathological context, in order to develop targeted therapeutic interventions for TAU-associated diseases. HIGHLIGHTS MAPT splicing is tightly regulated during neuronal maturation and throughout life. TAU isoform expression is development-, cell-type and brain region specific. The contribution of TAU to neurodegeneration might be isoform-specific. Ineffective TAU-based therapies highlight the need for specific targeting strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Buchholz
- Institute of Human GeneticsFaculty of Medicine and University Hospital CologneUniversity of CologneCologneGermany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC)University of CologneCologneGermany
- Present address:
Department Schaefer, Neurobiology of AgeingMax Planck Institute for Biology of AgeingCologneGermany
| | - Hans Zempel
- Institute of Human GeneticsFaculty of Medicine and University Hospital CologneUniversity of CologneCologneGermany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC)University of CologneCologneGermany
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Farhat NY, Alexander D, McKee K, Iben J, Rodriguez-Gil JL, Wassif CA, Cawley NX, Balch WE, Porter FD. Sterol O-Acyltransferase 1 ( SOAT1): A Genetic Modifier of Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C1. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4217. [PMID: 38673803 PMCID: PMC11050712 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NPC1) is a lysosomal disorder due to impaired intracellular cholesterol transport out of the endolysosomal compartment.. Marked heterogeneity has been observed in individuals with the same NPC1 genotype, thus suggesting a significant effect of modifier genes. Prior work demonstrated that decreased SOAT1 activity decreased disease severity in an NPC1 mouse model. Thus, we hypothesized that a polymorphism associated with decreased SOAT1 expression might influence the NPC1 phenotype. Phenotyping and genomic sequencing of 117 individuals with NPC1 was performed as part of a Natural History trial. Phenotyping included determination of disease severity and disease burden. Significant clinical heterogeneity is present in individuals homozygous for the NPC1I1061T variant and in siblings. Analysis of the SOAT1 polymorphism, rs1044925 (A>C), showed a significant association of the C-allele with earlier age of neurological onset. The C-allele may be associated with a higher Annualized Severity Index Score as well as increased frequency of liver disease and seizures. A polymorphism associated with decreased expression of SOAT1 appears to be a genetic modifier of the NPC1 phenotype. This finding is consistent with prior data showing decreased phenotypic severity in Npc1-/-:Soat1-/- mice and supports efforts to investigate the potential of SOAT1 inhibitors as a potential therapy for NPC1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Y. Farhat
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (N.Y.F.); (D.A.); (K.M.); (C.A.W.); (N.X.C.)
| | - Derek Alexander
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (N.Y.F.); (D.A.); (K.M.); (C.A.W.); (N.X.C.)
| | - Kyli McKee
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (N.Y.F.); (D.A.); (K.M.); (C.A.W.); (N.X.C.)
| | - James Iben
- Molecular Genomics Core, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Jorge L. Rodriguez-Gil
- Division of Medical Genetics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA;
| | - Christopher A. Wassif
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (N.Y.F.); (D.A.); (K.M.); (C.A.W.); (N.X.C.)
| | - Niamh X. Cawley
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (N.Y.F.); (D.A.); (K.M.); (C.A.W.); (N.X.C.)
| | - William E. Balch
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;
| | - Forbes D. Porter
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (N.Y.F.); (D.A.); (K.M.); (C.A.W.); (N.X.C.)
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Zempel H. Genetic and sporadic forms of tauopathies-TAU as a disease driver for the majority of patients but the minority of tauopathies. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:66-70. [PMID: 37795931 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Ageing-associated tauopathies like frontotemporal dementia (FTD), variants thereof (like progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), pick diseases (PiD), corticobasal degeneration (CBD)), and of course the most prevalent form of dementia, Alzheimer Disease (AD), are widely recognized forms of tauopathies. The list of tauopathies is expanding. We now include: (i) tauopathies where the disease cause or trigger is clearly either physical, such as in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and (ii) genetic diseases that result in tauopathy but have pathogenic genetic variants in genes not related to TAU. Examples of the latter are myotonic dystrophy Type 1 and Type 2 (DM1, DM2, due to pathogenic genetic variants in the genes DMPK and CNBP, respectively), Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPD, due to mutations in NPC1 or NPC2), Kufs Disease (CLN6), Christianson Syndrome (SLC9A6), familial forms of Parkinson Disease (PD), and many others. In terms of affected brain regions and cell types, intracellular distribution of TAU pathology/aggregates, age of disease onset, velocity of disease progression and spreading of TAU pathology, there is, however, little in common in most of these disease entities. Here, I reason that TAU/MAPT is causative for the minority of tauopathies (e.g., MAPT-related FTD/PSP and Vacuolar Tauopathy (VCP)) and a critical mediator for others, like shown by overwhelming evidence for AD. However, TAU may also be a mere bystander or even protective in other settings. Improved understanding of rare tauopathies is necessary to develop specific treatments, but also to improve our understanding of the pathomechanistic role of TAU and to identify diseases that may profit from TAU-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Zempel
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Pfrieger FW. The Niemann-Pick type diseases – A synopsis of inborn errors in sphingolipid and cholesterol metabolism. Prog Lipid Res 2023; 90:101225. [PMID: 37003582 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2023.101225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Disturbances of lipid homeostasis in cells provoke human diseases. The elucidation of the underlying mechanisms and the development of efficient therapies represent formidable challenges for biomedical research. Exemplary cases are two rare, autosomal recessive, and ultimately fatal lysosomal diseases historically named "Niemann-Pick" honoring the physicians, whose pioneering observations led to their discovery. Acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD) and Niemann-Pick type C disease (NPCD) are caused by specific variants of the sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 (SMPD1) and NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 1 (NPC1) or NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 2 (NPC2) genes that perturb homeostasis of two key membrane components, sphingomyelin and cholesterol, respectively. Patients with severe forms of these diseases present visceral and neurologic symptoms and succumb to premature death. This synopsis traces the tortuous discovery of the Niemann-Pick diseases, highlights important advances with respect to genetic culprits and cellular mechanisms, and exposes efforts to improve diagnosis and to explore new therapeutic approaches.
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Kraus D, Abdelrahim H, Waisbourd-Zinman O, Domin E, Zeharia A, Staretz-Chacham O. Elevated Alpha-Fetoprotein in Infantile-Onset Niemann-Pick Type C Disease with Liver Involvement. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9040545. [PMID: 35455589 PMCID: PMC9032157 DOI: 10.3390/children9040545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is a rare autosomal recessive neuro-visceral lipid storage disease. We describe nine cases of infantile-onset NPC with various genetic mutations in the NPC1 gene, which presented with neonatal cholestasis. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were obtained as part of their workup during the first four months of life. In eight of nine (89%) patients, serum AFP demonstrated elevated levels. Seven infants displayed marked elevations, ranging from 4 to 300 times the upper limit for age-adjusted norms. In most patients, AFP levels peaked during the initial test and declined over time as cholestasis resolved. We conclude that elevated AFP levels are a common, although non-specific, marker for NPC-associated liver disease. These findings demonstrate the benefit of including AFP levels in the workup of neonatal liver disease, especially if there is accompanied cholestasis and if NPC is suspected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dror Kraus
- Institute of Neurology, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petach-Tikva 4920235, Israel; (D.K.); (H.A.)
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; (O.W.-Z.); (A.Z.)
| | - Huda Abdelrahim
- Institute of Neurology, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petach-Tikva 4920235, Israel; (D.K.); (H.A.)
| | - Orith Waisbourd-Zinman
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; (O.W.-Z.); (A.Z.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Nutrition and Liver Diseases, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petach-Tikva 4920235, Israel
| | - Elena Domin
- Clinical Biochemistry (Metabolic) Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel;
| | - Avraham Zeharia
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; (O.W.-Z.); (A.Z.)
- Day Hospitalization Department, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petach-Tikva 4920235, Israel
| | - Orna Staretz-Chacham
- Pediatric Metabolic Clinic, Pediatric Division, Soroka Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheva 8480101, Israel
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +972-8-6400508; Fax: +972-8-6400545
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Defective Cystinosin, Aberrant Autophagy−Endolysosome Pathways, and Storage Disease: Towards Assembling the Puzzle. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030326. [PMID: 35159136 PMCID: PMC8834619 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial cells that form the kidney proximal tubule (PT) rely on an intertwined ecosystem of vesicular membrane trafficking pathways to ensure the reabsorption of essential nutrients—a key requisite for homeostasis. The endolysosome stands at the crossroads of this sophisticated network, internalizing molecules through endocytosis, sorting receptors and nutrient transporters, maintaining cellular quality control via autophagy, and toggling the balance between PT differentiation and cell proliferation. Dysregulation of such endolysosome-guided trafficking pathways might thus lead to a generalized dysfunction of PT cells, often causing chronic kidney disease and life-threatening complications. In this review, we highlight the biological functions of endolysosome-residing proteins from the perspectives of understanding—and potentially reversing—the pathophysiology of rare inherited diseases affecting the kidney PT. Using cystinosis as a paradigm of endolysosome disease causing PT dysfunction, we discuss how the endolysosome governs the homeostasis of specialized epithelial cells. This review also provides a critical analysis of the molecular mechanisms through which defects in autophagy pathways can contribute to PT dysfunction, and proposes potential interventions for affected tissues. These insights might ultimately accelerate the discovery and development of new therapeutics, not only for cystinosis, but also for other currently intractable endolysosome-related diseases, eventually transforming our ability to regulate homeostasis and health.
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Fonseca Cabral G, Schaan AP, Cavalcante GC, Sena-dos-Santos C, de Souza TP, Souza Port’s NM, dos Santos Pinheiro JA, Ribeiro-dos-Santos Â, Vidal AF. Nuclear and Mitochondrial Genome, Epigenome and Gut Microbiome: Emerging Molecular Biomarkers for Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9839. [PMID: 34576000 PMCID: PMC8471599 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parkinson's disease (PD) is currently the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, burdening about 10 million elderly individuals worldwide. The multifactorial nature of PD poses a difficult obstacle for understanding the mechanisms involved in its onset and progression. Currently, diagnosis depends on the appearance of clinical signs, some of which are shared among various neurologic disorders, hindering early diagnosis. There are no effective tools to prevent PD onset, detect the disease in early stages or accurately report the risk of disease progression. Hence, there is an increasing demand for biomarkers that may identify disease onset and progression, as treatment-based medicine may not be the best approach for PD. Over the last few decades, the search for molecular markers to predict susceptibility, aid in accurate diagnosis and evaluate the progress of PD have intensified, but strategies aimed to improve individualized patient care have not yet been established. CONCLUSIONS Genomic variation, regulation by epigenomic mechanisms, as well as the influence of the host gut microbiome seem to have a crucial role in the onset and progress of PD, thus are considered potential biomarkers. As such, the human nuclear and mitochondrial genome, epigenome, and the host gut microbiome might be the key elements to the rise of personalized medicine for PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gleyce Fonseca Cabral
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Universidade Federal do Pará, R. Augusto Correa, Belém 66075-110, Brazil; (G.F.C.); (A.P.S.); (G.C.C.); (C.S.-d.-S.); (T.P.d.S.); (J.A.d.S.P.)
| | - Ana Paula Schaan
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Universidade Federal do Pará, R. Augusto Correa, Belém 66075-110, Brazil; (G.F.C.); (A.P.S.); (G.C.C.); (C.S.-d.-S.); (T.P.d.S.); (J.A.d.S.P.)
| | - Giovanna C. Cavalcante
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Universidade Federal do Pará, R. Augusto Correa, Belém 66075-110, Brazil; (G.F.C.); (A.P.S.); (G.C.C.); (C.S.-d.-S.); (T.P.d.S.); (J.A.d.S.P.)
| | - Camille Sena-dos-Santos
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Universidade Federal do Pará, R. Augusto Correa, Belém 66075-110, Brazil; (G.F.C.); (A.P.S.); (G.C.C.); (C.S.-d.-S.); (T.P.d.S.); (J.A.d.S.P.)
| | - Tatiane Piedade de Souza
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Universidade Federal do Pará, R. Augusto Correa, Belém 66075-110, Brazil; (G.F.C.); (A.P.S.); (G.C.C.); (C.S.-d.-S.); (T.P.d.S.); (J.A.d.S.P.)
| | - Natacha M. Souza Port’s
- Laboratório de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Jhully Azevedo dos Santos Pinheiro
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Universidade Federal do Pará, R. Augusto Correa, Belém 66075-110, Brazil; (G.F.C.); (A.P.S.); (G.C.C.); (C.S.-d.-S.); (T.P.d.S.); (J.A.d.S.P.)
| | - Ândrea Ribeiro-dos-Santos
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Universidade Federal do Pará, R. Augusto Correa, Belém 66075-110, Brazil; (G.F.C.); (A.P.S.); (G.C.C.); (C.S.-d.-S.); (T.P.d.S.); (J.A.d.S.P.)
- Núcleo de Pesquisas em Oncologia, Universidade Federal do Pará–R. dos Mundurucus, Belém 66073-000, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Pará, R. Augusto Correa, Belém 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Amanda F. Vidal
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Universidade Federal do Pará, R. Augusto Correa, Belém 66075-110, Brazil; (G.F.C.); (A.P.S.); (G.C.C.); (C.S.-d.-S.); (T.P.d.S.); (J.A.d.S.P.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Pará, R. Augusto Correa, Belém 66075-110, Brazil
- ITVDS—Instituto Tecnológico Vale Desenvolvimento Sustentável–R. Boaventura da Silva, Belém 66055-090, Brazil
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Griñán-Ferré C, Companys-Alemany J, Jarné-Ferrer J, Codony S, González-Castillo C, Ortuño-Sahagún D, Vilageliu L, Grinberg D, Vázquez S, Pallàs M. Inhibition of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Ameliorates Phenotype and Cognitive Abilities in a Murine Model of Niemann Pick Type C Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3409. [PMID: 33810307 PMCID: PMC8036710 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a rare autosomal recessive inherited childhood neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of cholesterol and glycosphingolipids, involving the autophagy-lysosome system. Inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), an enzyme that metabolizes epoxy fatty acids (EpFAs) to 12-diols, exerts beneficial effects in modulating inflammation and autophagy, critical features of the NPC disease. This study aims to evaluate the effects of UB-EV-52, an sEH inhibitor (sEHi), in an NPC mouse model (Npc) by administering it for 4 weeks (5 mg/kg/day). Behavioral and cognitive tests (open-field test (OF)), elevated plus maze (EPM), novel object recognition test (NORT) and object location test (OLT) demonstrated that the treatment produced an improvement in short- and long-term memory as well as in spatial memory. Furthermore, UB-EV-52 treatment increased body weight and lifespan by 25% and reduced gene expression of the inflammatory markers (i.e., Il-1β and Mcp1) and enhanced oxidative stress (OS) markers (iNOS and Hmox1) in the treated Npc mice group. As for autophagic markers, surprisingly, we found significantly reduced levels of LC3B-II/LC3B-I ratio and significantly reduced brain protein levels of lysosomal-associated membrane protein-1 (LAMP-1) in treated Npc mice group compared to untreated ones in hippocampal tissue. Lipid profile analysis showed a significant reduction of lipid storage in the liver and some slight changes in homogenated brain tissue in the treated NPC mice compared to the untreated groups. Therefore, our results suggest that pharmacological inhibition of sEH ameliorates most of the characteristic features of NPC mice, demonstrating that sEH can be considered a potential therapeutic target for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Griñán-Ferré
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Section and Institute of Neuroscience, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (C.G.-F.); (J.C.-A.); (J.J.-F.)
| | - Júlia Companys-Alemany
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Section and Institute of Neuroscience, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (C.G.-F.); (J.C.-A.); (J.J.-F.)
| | - Júlia Jarné-Ferrer
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Section and Institute of Neuroscience, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (C.G.-F.); (J.C.-A.); (J.J.-F.)
| | - Sandra Codony
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC, Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (S.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Celia González-Castillo
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Campus Guadalajara, Zapopan, 45201 Jalisco, Mexico;
| | - Daniel Ortuño-Sahagún
- Laboratorio de Neuroinmunobiología Molecular, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas (IICB), Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, Mexico;
| | - Lluïsa Vilageliu
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.V.); (D.G.)
- Institut de Biomedicina de la UB (IBUB)-Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Grinberg
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.V.); (D.G.)
- Institut de Biomedicina de la UB (IBUB)-Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Santiago Vázquez
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC, Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (S.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Mercè Pallàs
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Section and Institute of Neuroscience, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (C.G.-F.); (J.C.-A.); (J.J.-F.)
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10
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Wang ZY, Liu J, Zhu Z, Su CF, Sreenivasmurthy SG, Iyaswamy A, Lu JH, Chen G, Song JX, Li M. Traditional Chinese medicine compounds regulate autophagy for treating neurodegenerative disease: A mechanism review. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 133:110968. [PMID: 33189067 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are common chronic diseases related to progressive damage of the nervous system. Globally, the number of people with an ND is dramatically increasing consistent with the fast aging of society and one of the common features of NDs is the abnormal aggregation of diverse proteins. Autophagy is the main process by which misfolded proteins and damaged organelles are removed from cells. It has been found that the impairment of autophagy is associated with many NDs, suggesting that autophagy has a vital role in the neurodegeneration process. Recently, more and more studies have reported that autophagy inducers display a protective role in different ND experimental models, suggesting that enhancement of autophagy could be a potential therapy for NDs. In this review, the evidence for beneficial effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) regulate autophagy in the models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and other NDs are presented and common autophagy-related mechanisms are identified. The results demonstrate that TCM which regulate autophagy are potential therapeutic candidates for ND treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Ying Wang
- Mr. and Mrs. Ko Chi Ming Centre for Parkinson's Disease Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Interdisciplinary Institute for Personalized Medicine in Brain Disorders, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Mr. and Mrs. Ko Chi Ming Centre for Parkinson's Disease Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Zhou Zhu
- Mr. and Mrs. Ko Chi Ming Centre for Parkinson's Disease Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Cheng-Fu Su
- Mr. and Mrs. Ko Chi Ming Centre for Parkinson's Disease Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | | | - Ashok Iyaswamy
- Mr. and Mrs. Ko Chi Ming Centre for Parkinson's Disease Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Jia-Hong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China; Interdisciplinary Institute for Personalized Medicine in Brain Disorders, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ju-Xian Song
- Mr. and Mrs. Ko Chi Ming Centre for Parkinson's Disease Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Medical College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Min Li
- Mr. and Mrs. Ko Chi Ming Centre for Parkinson's Disease Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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11
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Cougnoux A, Yerger JC, Fellmeth M, Serra-Vinardell J, Wassif CA, Cawley NX, Porter FD. Toll-like receptor mediated lysozyme expression in Niemann-pick disease, type C1. Mol Genet Metab 2020; 131:364-366. [PMID: 33129690 PMCID: PMC7736542 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2020.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) is a rare neurodegenerative disease. In NPC1 mouse cerebella, the antibacterial enzyme, lysozyme (Lyz2), is significantly increased in multiple cell types. Due to its possible role in toxic fibril deposition, we confirmed Lyz2 overexpression in culture in different control and NPC1 cell types including human NPC1 fibroblasts. Lyz2 expression is induced by Toll-like receptors potentially in response to lipid storage but does not play a functional role in NPC disease pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antony Cougnoux
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Julia C Yerger
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mason Fellmeth
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jenny Serra-Vinardell
- Human Biochemical Genetics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher A Wassif
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Niamh X Cawley
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Forbes D Porter
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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12
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Haploinsufficiency of tau decreases survival of the mouse model of Niemann-Pick disease type C1 but does not alter tau phosphorylation. J Appl Genet 2020; 61:567-570. [PMID: 32794098 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-020-00572-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) mouse models show neurofibrillary tangles as do human patients. A previous study in NPC1/tau double-null mutant mice showed that tau knockout nulls and heterozygotes unexpectedly had decreased survival when compared with NPC1 single mutants (Pacheco et al., Hum Molec Genetics 18:956-965, 2009). This was done in a null model of NPC1 (Npc1-/-). We have extended these results to a hypomorphic model (Npc1nmf164) and additionally studied tau phosphorylation, which has not been previously done in a tau heterozygote. As before, NPC1/tau double-mutant mice had shortened survival when compared with the NPC1 single mutant. Tau dosage was not affected by the Npc1 mutation. The increased phosphorylation of tau-ser396 previously noted in NPC1 mouse models was also present, but unaffected by the tau knockout, indicating that changes in tau phosphorylation are not the cause of decreased survival in NPC1/tau double mutants. Thus, the reason for shortened survival of NPC1 mouse models with concomitant tau haploinsufficiency is uncertain.
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13
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Single Cell Transcriptome Analysis of Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C1 Cerebella. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155368. [PMID: 32731618 PMCID: PMC7432835 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 (NPC1) is a lysosomal disease characterized by endolysosomal storage of unesterified cholesterol and decreased cellular cholesterol bioavailability. A cardinal symptom of NPC1 is cerebellar ataxia due to Purkinje neuron loss. To gain an understanding of the cerebellar neuropathology we obtained single cell transcriptome data from control (Npc1+/+) and both three-week-old presymptomatic and seven-week-old symptomatic mutant (Npc1-/-) mice. In seven-week-old Npc1-/- mice, differential expression data was obtained for neuronal, glial, vascular, and myeloid cells. As anticipated, we observed microglial activation and increased expression of innate immunity genes. We also observed increased expression of innate immunity genes by other cerebellar cell types, including Purkinje neurons. Whereas neuroinflammation mediated by microglia may have both neuroprotective and neurotoxic components, the contribution of increased expression of these genes by non-immune cells to NPC1 pathology is not known. It is possible that dysregulated expression of innate immunity genes by non-immune cells is neurotoxic. We did not anticipate a general lack of transcriptomic changes in cells other than microglia from presymptomatic three-week-old Npc1-/- mice. This observation suggests that microglia activation precedes neuronal dysfunction. The data presented in this paper will be useful for generating testable hypotheses related to disease progression and Purkinje neurons loss as well as providing insight into potential novel therapeutic interventions.
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14
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Papanikolopoulou K, Skoulakis EMC. Altered Proteostasis in Neurodegenerative Tauopathies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1233:177-194. [PMID: 32274757 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-38266-7_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Tauopathies are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative dementias involving perturbations in the levels, phosphorylation or mutations of the neuronal microtubule-binding protein Tau. Tauopathies are characterized by accumulation of hyperphosphorylated Tau leading to formation of a range of aggregates including macromolecular ensembles such as Paired Helical filaments and Neurofibrilary Tangles whose morphology characterizes and differentiates these disease states. Why nonphysiological Tau proteins elude the surveillance normal proteostatic mechanisms and eventually form these macromolecular assemblies is a central mostly unresolved question of cardinal importance for diagnoses and potential therapeutic interventions. We discuss the response of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome system, autophagy and the Endoplasmic Reticulum-Unfolded Protein response in Tauopathy models and patients, revealing interactions of components of these systems with Tau, but also of the effects of pathological Tau on these systems which eventually lead to Tau aggregation and accumulation. These interactions point to potential disease biomarkers and future potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Papanikolopoulou
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre "Alexander Fleming", Vari, Greece
| | - Efthimios M C Skoulakis
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre "Alexander Fleming", Vari, Greece.
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15
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Guix FX. The interplay between aging‐associated loss of protein homeostasis and extracellular vesicles in neurodegeneration. J Neurosci Res 2019; 98:262-283. [DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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16
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Alméciga-Diaz CJ, Hidalgo OA, Olarte-Avellaneda S, Rodríguez-López A, Guzman E, Garzón R, Pimentel-Vera LN, Puentes-Tellez MA, Rojas-Rodriguez AF, Gorshkov K, Li R, Zheng W. Identification of Ezetimibe and Pranlukast as Pharmacological Chaperones for the Treatment of the Rare Disease Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IVA. J Med Chem 2019; 62:6175-6189. [PMID: 31188588 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA (MPS IVA) is a rare disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding the lysosomal enzyme N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase (GALNS). We report here two GALNS pharmacological chaperones, ezetimibe and pranlukast, identified by molecular docking-based virtual screening. These compounds bound to the active cavity of GALNS and increased its thermal stability as well as the production of recombinant GALNS in bacteria, yeast, and HEK293 cells. MPS IVA fibroblasts treated with these chaperones exhibited increases in GALNS protein and enzyme activity and reduced the size of enlarged lysosomes. Abnormalities in autophagy markers p62 and LC3B-II were alleviated by ezetimibe and pranlukast. Combined treatment of recombinant GALNS with ezetimibe or pranlukast produced an additive effect. Altogether, the results demonstrate that ezetimibe and pranlukast can increase the yield of recombinant GALNS and be used as a monotherapy or combination therapy to improve the therapeutic efficacy of MPS IVA enzyme replacement therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sergio Olarte-Avellaneda
- Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Science , Universidad Nacional de Colombia , Bogotá D.C. 111321 , Colombia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kirill Gorshkov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences , National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , Maryland 20892 , United States
| | - Rong Li
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences , National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , Maryland 20892 , United States
| | - Wei Zheng
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences , National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , Maryland 20892 , United States
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17
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Fiorenza MT, Moro E, Erickson RP. The pathogenesis of lysosomal storage disorders: beyond the engorgement of lysosomes to abnormal development and neuroinflammation. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 27:R119-R129. [PMID: 29718288 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that the complex clinical manifestations of lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are not fully explained by the engorgement of the endosomal-autophagic-lysosomal system. In this review, we explore current knowledge of common pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for the early onset of tissue abnormalities of two LSDs, Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPSII) and Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) diseases. In particular, perturbations of the homeostasis of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and cholesterol (Chol) in MPSII and NPC diseases, respectively, affect key biological processes, including morphogen signaling. Both GAGs and Chol finely regulate the release, reception and tissue distribution of Shh. Hence, not surprisingly, developmental processes depending on correct Shh signaling have been found altered in both diseases. Besides abnormal signaling, exaggerated activation of microglia and impairment of autophagy and mitophagy occur in both diseases, largely before the appearance of typical pathological signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Fiorenza
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and "Daniel Bovet" Neurobiology Research Center, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Moro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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18
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Sulforaphane metabolites inhibit migration and invasion via microtubule-mediated Claudins dysfunction or inhibition of autolysosome formation in human non-small cell lung cancer cells. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:259. [PMID: 30874545 PMCID: PMC6420664 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1489-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Both sulforaphane-cysteine (SFN-Cys) and sulforaphane-N-acetyl-l-cysteine (SFN-NAC) inhibited cancer migration and invasion, but the underlying mechanisms were not clear. Here we uncovered via tissue microarray assay that high expression of invasion-associated Claudin-5 was correlated to malignant grades in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Further, SFN-Cys (10 µM) induced the accumulated phosphorylation of ERK1/2, leading to downregulation of Claudin-5 and upregulation of Claudin-7, and the decrease of Claudin-1 in SK-1 cells and increase of Claudin-1 in A549 cells; knockdown of Claudin-5 significantly reduced invasion, whereas knockdown of Claudin-7 increased invasion; knockdown of Claudin-1 reduced invasion in SK-1 cells, whereas it increased invasion in A549 cells, indicating that SFN-Cys regulated Claudins and inhibited invasion depending on Claudin isotypes and cell types. Furthermore, immunofluorescence staining showed that SFN-Cys triggered microtubule disruption and knockdown of α-tubulin downregulated Claudin-1, 5, and 7, and inhibited migration and invasion, indicating that microtubule disruption contributed to invasive inhibition. Co-immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy observation showed that SFN-Cys lowered the interaction between α-tubulin and Claudin-1 or 5, or 7. Meanwhile, Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining showed that SFN-NAC (15 µM) downregulated α-tubulin resulting in microtubule disruption; knockdown of α-tubulin increased SFN-NAC-induced LC3 II accumulation in SK-1 cells. Combined with the inhibitor of autolysosome formation, Bafilomycin A1 (100 nM), SFN-NAC inhibited invasion via accumulating LC3 II and blocking formation of autolysosome. Further, SFN-NAC upregulated microtubule-stabilizing protein Tau; knockdown of Tau reduced LC3 II/LC3 I inhibiting migration and invasion. These results indicated that SFN-Cys inhibited invasion via microtubule-mediated Claudins dysfunction, but SFN-NAC inhibited invasion via microtubule-mediated inhibition of autolysosome formation in human NSCLC cells.
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19
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Do GWAS and studies of heterozygotes for NPC1 and/or NPC2 explain why NPC disease cases are so rare? J Appl Genet 2018; 59:441-447. [PMID: 30209687 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-018-0465-2] [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] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Early onset Niemann-Pick C diseases are extremely rare, especially Niemann-Pick C2. Perhaps unusually for autosomal recessive diseases, heterozygotes for mutations in NPC1 manifest many biological variations. NPC2 deficiency has large effects on fertility. These features of NPC1 and NPC2 are reviewed in regard to possible negative selection for heterozygotes carrying null and hypomorphic alleles.
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20
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Obergasteiger J, Frapporti G, Pramstaller PP, Hicks AA, Volta M. A new hypothesis for Parkinson's disease pathogenesis: GTPase-p38 MAPK signaling and autophagy as convergence points of etiology and genomics. Mol Neurodegener 2018; 13:40. [PMID: 30071902 PMCID: PMC6090926 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-018-0273-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The combination of genetics and genomics in Parkinson´s disease has recently begun to unveil molecular mechanisms possibly underlying disease onset and progression. In particular, catabolic processes such as autophagy have been increasingly gaining relevance as post-mortem evidence and experimental models suggested a participation in neurodegeneration and alpha-synuclein Lewy body pathology. In addition, familial Parkinson´s disease linked to LRRK2 and alpha-synuclein provided stronger correlation between etiology and alterations in autophagy. More detailed cellular pathways are proposed and genetic risk factors that associate with idiopathic Parkinson´s disease provide further clues in dissecting contributions of single players. Nevertheless, the fine-tuning of these processes remains elusive, as the initial stages of the pathways are not yet clarified.In this review, we collect literature evidence pointing to autophagy as the common, downstream target of Parkinsonian dysfunctions and augment current knowledge on the factors that direct the subsequent steps. Cell and molecular biology evidence indicate that p38 signaling underlies neurodegeneration and autoptic observations suggest a participation in neuropathology. Moreover, alpha-synuclein and LRRK2 also appear involved in the p38 pathway with additional roles in the regulation of GTPase signaling. Small GTPases are critical modulators of p38 activation and thus, their functional interaction with aSyn and LRRK2 could explain much of the detailed mechanics of autophagy in Parkinson´s disease.We propose a novel hypothesis for a more comprehensive working model where autophagy is controlled by upstream pathways, such as GTPase-p38, that have been so far underexplored in this context. In addition, etiological factors (LRRK2, alpha-synuclein) and risk loci might also combine in this common mechanism, providing a powerful experimental setting to dissect the cause of both familial and idiopathic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Obergasteiger
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research – Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Giulia Frapporti
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research – Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Peter P. Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research – Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Neurology, General Central Hospital, Via Böhler 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee, 23538 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Andrew A. Hicks
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research – Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Mattia Volta
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research – Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
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21
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Uddin MS, Stachowiak A, Mamun AA, Tzvetkov NT, Takeda S, Atanasov AG, Bergantin LB, Abdel-Daim MM, Stankiewicz AM. Autophagy and Alzheimer's Disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Implications. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:04. [PMID: 29441009 PMCID: PMC5797541 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 256] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of progressive dementia in the elderly. It is characterized by a progressive and irreversible loss of cognitive abilities and formation of senile plaques, composed mainly of amyloid β (Aβ), and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), composed of tau protein, in the hippocampus and cortex of afflicted humans. In brains of AD patients the metabolism of Aβ is dysregulated, which leads to the accumulation and aggregation of Aβ. Metabolism of Aβ and tau proteins is crucially influenced by autophagy. Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent, homeostatic process, in which organelles and proteins are degraded and recycled into energy. Thus, dysfunction of autophagy is suggested to lead to the accretion of noxious proteins in the AD brain. In the present review, we describe the process of autophagy and its importance in AD. Additionally, we discuss mechanisms and genes linking autophagy and AD, i.e., the mTOR pathway, neuroinflammation, endocannabinoid system, ATG7, BCL2, BECN1, CDK5, CLU, CTSD, FOXO1, GFAP, ITPR1, MAPT, PSEN1, SNCA, UBQLN1, and UCHL1. We also present pharmacological agents acting via modulation of autophagy that may show promise in AD therapy. This review updates our knowledge on autophagy mechanisms proposing novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Sahab Uddin
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Anna Stachowiak
- Department of Experimental Embryology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Magdalenka, Poland
| | | | - Nikolay T Tzvetkov
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular Biology "Roumen Tsanev", Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Shinya Takeda
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Tottori University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Tottori, Japan
| | - Atanas G Atanasov
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Magdalenka, Poland.,Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leandro B Bergantin
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mohamed M Abdel-Daim
- Department of Pharmacology, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.,Department of Ophthalmology and Micro-technology, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Adrian M Stankiewicz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Magdalenka, Poland
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22
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Dougherty M, Lazar J, Klein JC, Diaz K, Gobillot T, Grunblatt E, Hasle N, Lawrence D, Maurano M, Nelson M, Olson G, Srivatsan S, Shendure J, Keene CD, Bird T, Horwitz MS, Marshall DA. Genome sequencing in a case of Niemann-Pick type C. Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud 2017; 2:a001222. [PMID: 27900365 PMCID: PMC5111003 DOI: 10.1101/mcs.a001222] [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: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult-onset Niemann–Pick disease type C (NPC) is an infrequent presentation of a rare neurovisceral lysosomal lipid storage disorder caused by autosomal recessive mutations in NPC1 (∼95%) or NPC2 (∼5%). Our patient was diagnosed at age 33 when he presented with a 10-yr history of difficulties in judgment, concentration, speech, and coordination. A history of transient neonatal jaundice and splenomegaly with bone marrow biopsy suggesting a lipid storage disorder pointed to NPC; biochemical (“variant” level cholesterol esterification) and ultrastructural studies in adulthood confirmed the diagnosis. Genetic testing revealed two different missense mutations in the NPC1 gene—V950M and N1156S. Symptoms progressed over >20 yr to severe ataxia and spasticity, dementia, and dysphagia with aspiration leading to death. Brain autopsy revealed mild atrophy of the cerebrum and cerebellum. Microscopic examination showed diffuse gray matter deposition of balloon neurons, mild white matter loss, extensive cerebellar Purkinje cell loss with numerous “empty baskets,” and neurofibrillary tangles predominantly in the hippocampal formation and transentorhinal cortex. We performed whole-genome sequencing to examine whether the patient harbored variants outside of the NPC1 locus that could have contributed to his late-onset phenotype. We focused analysis on genetic modifiers in pathways related to lipid metabolism, longevity, and neurodegenerative disease. We identified no rare coding variants in any of the pathways examined nor was the patient enriched for genome-wide association study (GWAS) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with longevity or altered lipid metabolism. In light of these findings, this case provides support for the V950M variant being sufficient for adult-onset NPC disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Dougherty
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
| | - John Lazar
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
| | - Jason C Klein
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
| | - Karina Diaz
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Theodore Gobillot
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Eli Grunblatt
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Nicholas Hasle
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Daniel Lawrence
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Megan Maurano
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Maria Nelson
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Gregory Olson
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Sanjay Srivatsan
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Jay Shendure
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA;; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - C Dirk Keene
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Thomas Bird
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA;; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Marshall S Horwitz
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Desiree A Marshall
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
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23
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Piroth T, Boelmans K, Amtage F, Rijntjes M, Wierciochin A, Musacchio T, Weiller C, Volkmann J, Klebe S. Adult-Onset Niemann-Pick Disease Type C: Rapid Treatment Initiation Advised but Early Diagnosis Remains Difficult. Front Neurol 2017; 8:108. [PMID: 28421028 PMCID: PMC5378773 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick type C disease (NP-C) presents with heterogeneous neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Adult onset is rare and possibly underdiagnosed due to frequent lack of specific and obvious key symptoms. For both early and adolescent/adult onset, the available data from studies and case reports describe a positive effect of Miglustat (symptom relief or stabilization). However, due to the low frequency of NP-C, experience with this therapy is still limited. We describe two adult-onset cases of NP-C. In both cases, vertical supranuclear gaze palsy was not recognized at symptom onset. Correct diagnosis was delayed from onset of symptoms by more than 10 years. The video demonstrates the broad spectrum of symptoms in later stages of the disease. Compared with published data, the treatment outcome observed in our cases after delayed initiation of Miglustat therapy was disappointing, with continuing disease progression in both cases. Thus, early treatment initiation could be necessary to achieve a good symptomatic effect. Hence, early biochemical testing for NP-C should be considered in patients suffering from atypical neurological/neuropsychological and psychiatric symptoms, even in cases of uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Piroth
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Kai Boelmans
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Florian Amtage
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Michel Rijntjes
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Anna Wierciochin
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Musacchio
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Cornelius Weiller
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Jens Volkmann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Klebe
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Lloyd-Evans E, Haslett LJ. The lysosomal storage disease continuum with ageing-related neurodegenerative disease. Ageing Res Rev 2016; 32:104-121. [PMID: 27516378 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Revised: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Lysosomal storage diseases and diseases of ageing share many features both at the physiological level and with respect to the mechanisms that underlie disease pathogenesis. Although the exact pathophysiology is not exactly the same, it is astounding how many similar pathways are altered in all of these diseases. The aim of this review is to provide a summary of the shared disease mechanisms, outlining the similarities and differences and how genetics, insight into rare diseases and functional research has changed our perspective on the causes underlying common diseases of ageing. The lysosome should no longer be considered as just the stomach of the cell or as a suicide bag, it has an emerging role in cellular signalling, nutrient sensing and recycling. The lysosome is of fundamental importance in the pathophysiology of diseases of ageing and by comparing against the LSDs we not only identify common pathways but also therapeutic targets so that ultimately more effective treatments can be developed for all neurodegenerative diseases.
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25
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Wu Y, Zhong W, Cui N, Johnson CM, Xing H, Zhang S, Jiang C. Characterization of Rett Syndrome-like phenotypes in Mecp2-knockout rats. J Neurodev Disord 2016; 8:23. [PMID: 27313794 PMCID: PMC4910223 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-016-9156-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disease caused by the disruption of the MECP2 gene. Several mouse models of RTT have been developed with Mecp2 disruptions. Although the mouse models are widely used in RTT research, results obtained need to be validated in other species. Therefore, we performed these studies to characterize phenotypes of a novel Mecp2−/Y rat model and compared them with the Mecp2tm1.1Bird mouse model of RTT. Methods RTT-like phenotypes were systematically studied and compared between Mecp2−/Y rats and Mecp2−/Y mice. In-cage conditions of the rats were monitored. Grip strength and spontaneous locomotion were used to evaluate the motor function. Three-chamber test was performed to show autism-type behaviors. Breathing activity was recorded with the plethysmograph. Individual neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) were studied in the whole-cell current clamp. The lifespan of the rats was determined with their survival time. Results Mecp2−/Y rats displayed growth retardation, malocclusion, and lack of movements, while hindlimb clasping was not seen. They had weaker forelimb grip strength and a lower rate of locomotion than the WT littermates. Defects in social interaction with other rats were obvious. Breathing frequency variation and apnea in the null rats were significantly higher than in the WT. LC neurons in the null rats showed excessive firing activity. A half of the null rats died in 2 months. Most of the RTT-like symptoms were comparable to those seen in Mecp2−/Y mice, while some appeared more or less severe. The findings that most RTT-like symptoms exist in the rat model with moderate variations and differences from the mouse models support the usefulness of both Mecp2−/Y rodent models. Conclusions The novel Mecp2−/Y rat model recapitulated numerous RTT-like symptoms as Mecp2−/Y mouse models did, which makes it a valuable alternative model in the RTT studies when the body size matters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wu
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 50 Decatur Street, Atlanta, GA 30302 USA
| | - Weiwei Zhong
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 50 Decatur Street, Atlanta, GA 30302 USA
| | - Ningren Cui
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 50 Decatur Street, Atlanta, GA 30302 USA
| | - Christopher M Johnson
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 50 Decatur Street, Atlanta, GA 30302 USA
| | - Hao Xing
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 50 Decatur Street, Atlanta, GA 30302 USA
| | - Shuang Zhang
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 50 Decatur Street, Atlanta, GA 30302 USA
| | - Chun Jiang
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 50 Decatur Street, Atlanta, GA 30302 USA
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26
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Dardis A, Zampieri S, Canterini S, Newell KL, Stuani C, Murrell JR, Ghetti B, Fiorenza MT, Bembi B, Buratti E. Altered localization and functionality of TAR DNA Binding Protein 43 (TDP-43) in niemann- pick disease type C. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2016; 4:52. [PMID: 27193329 PMCID: PMC4870731 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-016-0325-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by the occurrence of visceral and neurological symptoms. At present, the molecular mechanisms causing neurodegeneration in this disease are unknown. Here we report the altered expression and/or mislocalization of the TAR-DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) in both NPC mouse and in a human neuronal model of the disease. We also report the neuropathologic study of a NPC patient’s brain, showing that while TDP-43 is below immunohistochemical detection in nuclei of cerebellar Purkinje cells, it has a predominant localization in the cytoplasm of these cells. From a functional point of view, the TDP-43 mislocalization, that occurs in a human experimental neuronal model system, is associated with specific alterations in TDP-43 controlled genes. Most interestingly, treatment with N-Acetyl-cysteine (NAC) or beta-cyclodextrin (CD) can partially restore TDP-43 nuclear localization. Taken together, the results of these studies extend the role of TDP-43 beyond the Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/frontotemporal dementia (FTD)/Alzheimer disease (AD) spectrum. These findings may open novel research/therapeutic avenues for a better understanding of both NPC disease and the TDP-43 proteinopathy disease mechanism.
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27
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Yoon SY, Kim DH. Alzheimer's disease genes and autophagy. Brain Res 2016; 1649:201-209. [PMID: 27016058 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy is a process to degrade and recycle cellular constituents via the lysosome for regulating cellular homeostasis. Its dysfunction is now considered to be involved in many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. Many features reflecting autophagy impairment, such as autophagosome accumulation and lysosomal dysfunction, have been also revealed to be involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent genetic studies such as genome-wide association studies in AD have identified a number of novel genes associated with AD. Some of the identified genes have demonstrated dysfunction in autophagic processes in AD, while others remain under investigation. Since autophagy is strongly regarded to be one of the major pathogenic mechanisms of AD, it is necessary to review how the AD-associated genes are related to autophagy. We anticipate our current review to be a starting point for future studies regarding AD-associated genes and autophagy. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI:Autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Yong Yoon
- Alzheimer's Disease Experts Lab (ADEL), Asan Institute of Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Brain Science, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Bio-Medical Institute of Technology (BMIT), University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cell Dysfunction Research Center (CDRC), University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dong-Hou Kim
- Alzheimer's Disease Experts Lab (ADEL), Asan Institute of Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Brain Science, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Bio-Medical Institute of Technology (BMIT), University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cell Dysfunction Research Center (CDRC), University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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28
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Tommasino C, Marconi M, Ciarlo L, Matarrese P, Malorni W. Autophagic flux and autophagosome morphogenesis require the participation of sphingolipids. Apoptosis 2015; 20:645-57. [PMID: 25697338 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-015-1102-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Apoptosis and autophagy are two evolutionary conserved processes that exert a critical role in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. While apoptosis is a tightly regulated cell program implicated in the removal of damaged or unwanted cells, autophagy is a cellular catabolic pathway that is involved in the lysosomal degradation and recycling of proteins and organelles, and is thereby considered an important cytoprotection mechanism. Sphingolipids (SLs), which are ubiquitous membrane lipids in eukaryotes, participate in the generation of various membrane structures, including lipid rafts and caveolae, and contribute to a number of cellular functions such as cell proliferation, apoptosis and, as suggested more recently, autophagy. For instance, SLs are hypothesized to be involved in several intracellular processes, including organelle membrane scrambling, whilst at the plasma membrane lipid rafts, acting as catalytic domains, strongly contribute to the ignition of critical signaling pathways determining cell fate. In particular, by targeting several shared regulators, ceramide, sphingosine-1-phosphate, dihydroceramide, sphingomyelin and gangliosides seem able to differentially regulate the autophagic pathway and/or contribute to the autophagosome formation. This review illustrates recent studies on this matter, particularly lipid rafts, briefly underscoring the possible implication of SLs and their alterations in the autophagy disturbances and in the pathogenesis of some human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Tommasino
- Section of Cell Aging and Degeneration, Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
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29
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Soga M, Ishitsuka Y, Hamasaki M, Yoneda K, Furuya H, Matsuo M, Ihn H, Fusaki N, Nakamura K, Nakagata N, Endo F, Irie T, Era T. HPGCD Outperforms HPBCD as a Potential Treatment for Niemann-Pick Disease Type C During Disease Modeling with iPS Cells. Stem Cells 2015; 33:1075-88. [DOI: 10.1002/stem.1917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Minami Soga
- Department of Cell Modulation; Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics
| | - Yoichi Ishitsuka
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Informatics; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Makoto Hamasaki
- Department of Cell Modulation; Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics
| | - Kaori Yoneda
- Department of Pediatrics; Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | - Hirokazu Furuya
- Department of Neurology, Neuro-Muscular Center; National Omuta Hospital; Omuta Fukuoka Japan
| | - Muneaki Matsuo
- Department of Pediatrics; Saga University, Faculty of Medicine; Saga Japan
| | - Hironobu Ihn
- Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery; Faculty of Life Sciences
| | - Noemi Fusaki
- DNAVEC Corporation, 6 Ookubo; Tsukuba Ibaragi Japan
- Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO); Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST); Kawaguchi Saitama Japan
| | | | - Naomi Nakagata
- Division of Reproductive Engineering, Center for Animal Resources and Development; Kumamoto University; Kumamoto Japan
| | - Fumio Endo
- Department of Pediatrics; Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | - Tetsumi Irie
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Informatics; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Takumi Era
- Department of Cell Modulation; Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics
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30
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Orr ME, Garbarino VR, Salinas A, Buffenstein R. Sustained high levels of neuroprotective, high molecular weight, phosphorylated tau in the longest-lived rodent. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36:1496-504. [PMID: 25576082 PMCID: PMC4869521 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Revised: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Tau protein is primarily expressed in neuronal axons and modulates microtubule stability. Tau phosphorylation, aggregation, and subcellular mislocalization coincide with neurodegeneration in numerous diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). During AD pathogenesis, tau misprocessing accompanies Aß accumulation; however, AD animal models, despite elevated Aß, fail to develop tauopathy. To assess whether lack of tau pathology is linked to short life span common to most AD models, we examined tau processing in extraordinarily long-lived, mouse-sized naked mole-rats (NMRs; approximately 32 years), which express appreciable levels of Aß throughout life. We found that NMRs, like other mammals, display highest tau phosphorylation during brain development. Although tau phosphorylation decreases with aging, unexpectedly adult NMRs have higher levels than transgenic mice overexpressing mutant human tau. However, in sharp contrast with the somatodendritic accumulation of misprocessed tau in the transgenic mice, NMRs maintain axonal tau localization. Intriguingly, the adult NMR tau protein is 88 kDa, much larger than 45-68 kDa tau expressed in other mammals. We propose that this 88 kDa tau protein may offer exceptional microtubule stability and neuroprotection against lifelong, elevated Aß.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda E Orr
- Department of Physiology and The Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Valentina R Garbarino
- Department of Physiology and The Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Angelica Salinas
- Department of Physiology and The Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Rochelle Buffenstein
- Department of Physiology and The Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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31
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Corsetti V, Florenzano F, Atlante A, Bobba A, Ciotti MT, Natale F, Della Valle F, Borreca A, Manca A, Meli G, Ferraina C, Feligioni M, D'Aguanno S, Bussani R, Ammassari-Teule M, Nicolin V, Calissano P, Amadoro G. NH2-truncated human tau induces deregulated mitophagy in neurons by aberrant recruitment of Parkin and UCHL-1: implications in Alzheimer's disease. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:3058-81. [PMID: 25687137 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Disarrangement in functions and quality control of mitochondria at synapses are early events in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathobiology. We reported that a 20-22 kDa NH2-tau fragment mapping between 26 and 230 amino acids of the longest human tau isoform (aka NH2htau): (i) is detectable in cellular and animal AD models, as well in synaptic mitochondria and cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) from human AD subjects; (ii) is neurotoxic in primary hippocampal neurons; (iii) compromises the mitochondrial biology both directly, by inhibiting the ANT-1-dependent ADP/ATP exchange, and indirectly, by impairing their selective autophagic clearance (mitophagy). Here, we show that the extensive Parkin-dependent turnover of mitochondria occurring in NH2htau-expressing post-mitotic neurons plays a pro-death role and that UCHL-1, the cytosolic Ubiquitin-C-terminal hydrolase L1 which directs the physiological remodeling of synapses by controlling ubiquitin homeostasis, critically contributes to mitochondrial and synaptic failure in this in vitro AD model. Pharmacological or genetic suppression of improper mitophagy, either by inhibition of mitochondrial targeting to autophagosomes or by shRNA-mediated silencing of Parkin or UCHL-1 gene expression, restores synaptic and mitochondrial content providing partial but significant protection against the NH2htau-induced neuronal death. Moreover, in mitochondria from human AD synapses, the endogenous NH2htau is stably associated with Parkin and with UCHL-1. Taken together, our studies show a causative link between the excessive mitochondrial turnover and the NH2htau-induced in vitro neuronal death, suggesting that pathogenetic tau truncation may contribute to synaptic deterioration in AD by aberrant recruitment of Parkin and UCHL-1 to mitochondria making them more prone to detrimental autophagic clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Corsetti
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT) - National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100-00133, Rome, Italy
| | - F Florenzano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - A Atlante
- Institute of Biomembranes and Bioenergetics (IBBE)-CNR, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - A Bobba
- Institute of Biomembranes and Bioenergetics (IBBE)-CNR, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - M T Ciotti
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neuroscience (IBCN)-CNR, IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - F Natale
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neuroscience (IBCN)-CNR, IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - F Della Valle
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neuroscience (IBCN)-CNR, IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - A Borreca
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neuroscience (IBCN)-CNR, IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - A Manca
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - G Meli
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - C Ferraina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - M Feligioni
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - S D'Aguanno
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neuroscience (IBCN)-CNR, IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - R Bussani
- UCO Pathological Anatomy and Histopathology Unit, Cattinara Hospital Strada di Fiume 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy and
| | - M Ammassari-Teule
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neuroscience (IBCN)-CNR, IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - V Nicolin
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Science, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume 449, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - P Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - G Amadoro
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT) - National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100-00133, Rome, Italy European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
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Gan-Or Z, Dion PA, Rouleau GA. Genetic perspective on the role of the autophagy-lysosome pathway in Parkinson disease. Autophagy 2015; 11:1443-57. [PMID: 26207393 PMCID: PMC4590678 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2015.1067364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson disease (PD), once considered as a prototype of a sporadic disease, is now known to be considerably affected by various genetic factors, which interact with environmental factors and the normal process of aging, leading to PD. Large studies determined that the hereditary component of PD is at least 27%, and in some populations, single genetic factors are responsible for more than 33% of PD patients. Interestingly, many of these genetic factors, such as LRRK2, GBA, SMPD1, SNCA, PARK2, PINK1, PARK7, SCARB2, and others, are involved in the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP). Some of these genes encode lysosomal enzymes, whereas others correspond to proteins that are involved in transport to the lysosome, mitophagy, or other autophagic-related functions. Is it possible that all these factors converge into a single pathway that causes PD? In this review, we will discuss these genetic findings and the role of the ALP in the pathogenesis of PD and will try to answer this question. We will suggest a novel hypothesis for the pathogenic mechanism of PD that involves the lysosome and the different autophagy pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziv Gan-Or
- The Department of Human Genetics; McGill University; Montreal, QC Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute; McGill University; Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Patrick A Dion
- The Department of Human Genetics; McGill University; Montreal, QC Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute; McGill University; Montreal, QC Canada
- The Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery; McGill University; Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Guy A Rouleau
- The Department of Human Genetics; McGill University; Montreal, QC Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute; McGill University; Montreal, QC Canada
- The Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery; McGill University; Montreal, QC Canada
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33
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Abstract
Epidemiologic and experimental data suggest the involvement of cholesterol metabolism in the development and progression of Alzheimer disease and Niemann-Pick type C disease, but not of frontotemporal dementias. In these 3 neurodegenerative diseases, however, protein tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation into neurofibrillary tangles are observed. To elucidate the relationship between cholesterol and tau, we compared sterol levels of neurons burdened with neurofibrillary tangles with those of their unaffected neighbors using semiquantitative filipin fluorescence microscopy in mice expressing P301L mutant human tau (a well-described model of FTDP-17) and in P301L transgenic mice lacking apolipoprotein E (the major cholesterol transporter in the brain). Cellular unesterified cholesterol was higher in neurons affected by tau pathology irrespective of apolipoprotein E deficiency. This argues for an impact of tau pathology on cellular cholesterol homeostasis. We suggest that there is a bidirectional mode of action: Disturbances in cellular cholesterol metabolism may promote tau pathology, but tau pathology may also alter neuronal cholesterol homeostasis; once it is established, a vicious cycle may promote neurofibrillary tangle formation.
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Lonskaya I, Hebron M, Chen W, Schachter J, Moussa C. Tau deletion impairs intracellular β-amyloid-42 clearance and leads to more extracellular plaque deposition in gene transfer models. Mol Neurodegener 2014; 9:46. [PMID: 25384392 PMCID: PMC4247762 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1326-9-46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Tau is an axonal protein that binds to and regulates microtubule function. Hyper-phosphorylation of Tau reduces its binding to microtubules and it is associated with β-amyloid deposition in Alzheimer’s disease. Paradoxically, Tau reduction may prevent β-amyloid pathology, raising the possibility that Tau mediates intracellular Aβ clearance. The current studies investigated the role of Tau in autophagic and proteasomal intracellular Aβ1-42 clearance and the subsequent effect on plaque deposition. Results Tau deletion impaired Aβ clearance via autophagy, but not the proteasome, while introduction of wild type human Tau into Tau−/− mice partially restored autophagic clearance of Aβ1-42, suggesting that exogenous Tau expression can support autophagic Aβ1-42 clearance. Tau deletion impaired autophagic flux and resulted in Aβ1-42 accumulation in pre-lysosomal autophagic vacuoles, affecting Aβ1-42 deposition into the lysosome. This autophagic defect was associated with decreased intracellular Aβ1-42 and increased plaque load in Tau−/− mice, which displayed less cell death. Nilotinib, an Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor that promotes autophagic clearance mechanisms, reduced Aβ1-42 only when exogenous human Tau was expressed in Tau−/− mice. Conclusions These studies demonstrate that Tau deletion affects intracellular Aβ1-42 clearance, leading to extracellular plaque. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1750-1326-9-46) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Charbel Moussa
- Department of Neuroscience, Laboratory for Dementia and Parkinsonism, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3970 Reservoir RD, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
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Malnar M, Hecimovic S, Mattsson N, Zetterberg H. Bidirectional links between Alzheimer's disease and Niemann-Pick type C disease. Neurobiol Dis 2014; 72 Pt A:37-47. [PMID: 24907492 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2014.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Revised: 05/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease are progressive neurodegenerative diseases with very different epidemiology and etiology. AD is a common cause of dementia with a complex polyfactorial etiology, including both genetic and environmental risk factors, while NPC is a very rare autosomal recessive disease. However, the diseases share some disease-related molecular pathways, including abnormal cholesterol metabolism, and involvement of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau pathology. Here we review recent studies on these pathological traits, focusing on studies of Aβ and tau pathology in NPC, and the importance of the NPC1 gene in AD. Further studies of similarities and differences between AD and NPC may be useful to increase the understanding of both these devastating neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Malnar
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Silva Hecimovic
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Niklas Mattsson
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Gothenburg, Sweden; Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIND), San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Gothenburg, Sweden; UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
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Casado P, Bilanges B, Rajeeve V, Vanhaesebroeck B, Cutillas PR. Environmental stress affects the activity of metabolic and growth factor signaling networks and induces autophagy markers in MCF7 breast cancer cells. Mol Cell Proteomics 2014; 13:836-48. [PMID: 24425749 PMCID: PMC3945912 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m113.034751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2013] [Revised: 12/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphoproteomic techniques are contributing to our understanding of how signaling pathways interact and regulate biological processes. This technology is also being used to characterize how signaling networks are remodeled during disease progression and to identify biomarkers of signaling pathway activity and of responses to cancer therapy. A potential caveat in these studies is that phosphorylation is a very dynamic modification that can substantially change during the course of an experiment or the retrieval and processing of cellular samples. Here, we investigated how exposure of cells to ambient conditions modulates phosphorylation and signaling pathway activity in the MCF7 breast cancer cell line. About 1.5% of 3,500 sites measured showed a significant change in phosphorylation extent upon exposure of cells to ambient conditions for 15 min. The effects of this perturbation in modifying phosphorylation patterns did not involve random changes due to stochastic activation of kinases and phosphatases. Instead, exposure of cells to ambient conditions elicited an environmental stress reaction that involved a coordinated response to a metabolic stress situation, which included: (1) the activation of AMPK; (2) the inhibition of PI3K, AKT, and ERK; (3) an increase in markers of protein synthesis inhibition at the level of translation elongation; and (4) an increase in autophagy markers. We also observed that maintaining cells in ice modified but did not completely abolish this metabolic stress response. In summary, exposure of cells to ambient conditions affects the activity of signaling networks previously implicated in metabolic and growth factor signaling. Mass spectrometry data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD000472.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Casado
- From the ‡Analytical Signalling Group and
- ¶ Current affiliation: Integrative Cell Signaling and Proteomics Group, Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry
| | - Benoit Bilanges
- §Cell Signalling Group, Centre for Cell Signalling, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London EC1B 6BQ, UK
| | - Vinothini Rajeeve
- From the ‡Analytical Signalling Group and
- ¶ Current affiliation: Integrative Cell Signaling and Proteomics Group, Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry
| | - Bart Vanhaesebroeck
- §Cell Signalling Group, Centre for Cell Signalling, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London EC1B 6BQ, UK
| | - Pedro R. Cutillas
- From the ‡Analytical Signalling Group and
- ¶ Current affiliation: Integrative Cell Signaling and Proteomics Group, Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry
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37
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Emerging role of autophagy in pediatric neurodegenerative and neurometabolic diseases. Pediatr Res 2014; 75:217-26. [PMID: 24165736 DOI: 10.1038/pr.2013.185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 06/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of diseases that result from specific genetic and biochemical defects. In recent years, studies have revealed a wide spectrum of abnormal cellular functions that include impaired proteolysis, abnormal lipid trafficking, accumulation of lysosomal content, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Within neurons, elaborated degradation pathways such as the ubiquitin-proteasome system and the autophagy-lysosomal pathway are critical for maintaining homeostasis and normal cell function. Recent evidence suggests a pivotal role for autophagy in major adult and pediatric neurodegenerative diseases. We herein review genetic, pathological, and molecular evidence for the emerging link between autophagy dysfunction and lysosomal storage disorders such as Niemann-Pick type C, progressive myoclonic epilepsies such as Lafora disease, and leukodystrophies such as Alexander disease. We also discuss the recent discovery of genetically deranged autophagy in Vici syndrome, a multisystem disorder, and the implications for the role of autophagy in development and disease. Deciphering the exact mechanism by which autophagy contributes to disease pathology may open novel therapeutic avenues to treat neurodegeneration. To this end, an outlook on novel therapeutic approaches targeting autophagy concludes this review.
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Amadoro G, Corsetti V, Florenzano F, Atlante A, Ciotti MT, Mongiardi MP, Bussani R, Nicolin V, Nori SL, Campanella M, Calissano P. AD-linked, toxic NH2 human tau affects the quality control of mitochondria in neurons. Neurobiol Dis 2013; 62:489-507. [PMID: 24411077 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2013.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Revised: 09/10/2013] [Accepted: 10/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional as well as structural alterations in mitochondria size, shape and distribution are precipitating, early events in progression of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). We reported that a 20-22kDa NH2-tau fragment (aka NH2htau), mapping between 26 and 230 amino acids of the longest human tau isoform, is detected in cellular and animal AD models and is neurotoxic in hippocampal neurons. The NH2htau -but not the physiological full-length protein- interacts with Aβ at human AD synapses and cooperates with it in inhibiting the mitochondrial ANT-1-dependent ADP/ATP exchange. Here we show that the NH2htau also adversely affects the interplay between the mitochondria dynamics and their selective autophagic clearance. Fragmentation and perinuclear mislocalization of mitochondria with smaller size and density are early found in dying NH2htau-expressing neurons. The specific effect of NH2htau on quality control of mitochondria is accompanied by (i) net reduction in their mass in correlation with a general Parkin-mediated remodeling of membrane proteome; (ii) their extensive association with LC3 and LAMP1 autophagic markers; (iii) bioenergetic deficits and (iv) in vitro synaptic pathology. These results suggest that NH2htau can compromise the mitochondrial biology thereby contributing to AD synaptic deficits not only by ANT-1 inactivation but also, indirectly, by impairing the quality control mechanism of these organelles.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Amadoro
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100-00133, Rome, Italy; European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65-00143, Rome, Italy.
| | - V Corsetti
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65-00143, Rome, Italy
| | - F Florenzano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65-00143, Rome, Italy; Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology (IBCN), CNR, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65-00143, Rome, Italy
| | - A Atlante
- Insitute of Biomembrane and Bioenergetic (IBBE), CNR, Via Amendola 165/A-70126, Bari, Italy
| | - M T Ciotti
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology (IBCN), CNR, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65-00143, Rome, Italy
| | - M P Mongiardi
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Neurobiology (IBCN), CNR, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65-00143, Rome, Italy
| | - R Bussani
- UCO Anatomy and Pathological Histology, Hospital of Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 447-34149, Trieste Italy
| | - V Nicolin
- University of Trieste, Clinical Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Science-section of Human Morphology, Via Manzoni 16-34138, Trieste, Italy
| | - S L Nori
- University of Salerno, Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences (FARMABIOMED), NANOMATES, Via Ponte don Melillo 1-85084, Fisciano (SA), Italy
| | - M Campanella
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65-00143, Rome, Italy; Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, and Consortium for Mitochondrial Research, University College London, Royal College Street, NW1 0TU, United Kingdom
| | - P Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64-65-00143, Rome, Italy
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Walter J, van Echten-Deckert G. Cross-talk of membrane lipids and Alzheimer-related proteins. Mol Neurodegener 2013; 8:34. [PMID: 24148205 PMCID: PMC4016522 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1326-8-34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2013] [Accepted: 09/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is neuropathologically characterized by the combined occurrence of extracellular β-amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. While plaques contain aggregated forms of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ), tangles are formed by fibrillar forms of the microtubule associated protein tau. All mutations identified so far to cause familial forms of early onset AD (FAD) are localized close to or within the Aβ domain of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) or in the presenilin proteins that are essential components of a protease complex involved in the generation of Aβ. Mutations in the tau gene are not associated with FAD, but can cause other forms of dementia. The genetics of FAD together with biochemical and cell biological data, led to the formulation of the amyloid hypothesis, stating that accumulation and aggregation of Aβ is the primary event in the pathogenesis of AD, while tau might mediate its toxicity and neurodegeneration. The generation of Aβ involves sequential proteolytic cleavages of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by enzymes called β-and γ-secretases. Notably, APP itself as well as the secretases are integral membrane proteins. Thus, it is very likely that membrane lipids are involved in the regulation of subcellular transport, activity, and metabolism of AD related proteins. Indeed, several studies indicate that membrane lipids, including cholesterol and sphingolipids (SLs) affect Aβ generation and aggregation. Interestingly, APP and other AD associated proteins, including β-and γ-secretases can, in turn, influence lipid metabolic pathways. Here, we review the close connection of cellular lipid metabolism and AD associated proteins and discuss potential mechanisms that could contribute to initiation and progression of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jochen Walter
- Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str, 25, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
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Alterations in gene expression in mutant amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice lacking Niemann-Pick type C1 protein. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54605. [PMID: 23382922 PMCID: PMC3558508 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2012] [Accepted: 12/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease, a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused mostly by mutation in NPC1 gene, is pathologically characterized by the accumulation of free cholesterol in brain and other tissues. This is accompanied by gliosis and loss of neurons in selected brain regions, including the cerebellum. Recent studies have shown that NPC disease exhibits intriguing parallels with Alzheimer’s disease, including the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and increased levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP)-derived β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides in vulnerable brain neurons. To evaluate the role of Aβ in NPC disease, we determined the gene expression profile in selected brain regions of our recently developed bigenic ANPC mice, generated by crossing APP transgenic (Tg) mice with heterozygous Npc1-deficient mice. The ANPC mice exhibited exacerbated neuronal and glial pathology compared to other genotypes [i.e., APP-Tg, double heterozygous (Dhet), Npc1-null and wild-type mice]. Analysis of expression profiles of 86 selected genes using real-time RT-PCR arrays showed a wide-spectrum of alterations in the four genotypes compared to wild-type controls. The changes observed in APP-Tg and Dhet mice are limited to only few genes involved mostly in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism, whereas Npc1-null and ANPC mice showed alterations in the expression profiles of a number of genes regulating cholesterol homeostasis, APP metabolism, vesicular trafficking and cell death mechanism in both hippocampus and cerebellum compared to wild-type mice. Intriguingly, ANPC and Npc1-null mice, with some exceptions, exhibited similar changes, although more genes were differentially expressed in the affected cerebellum than the relatively spared hippocampus. The altered gene profiles were found to match with the corresponding protein levels. These results suggest that lack of Npc1 protein can alter the expression profile of selected transcripts as well as proteins, and APP overexpression influences cerebral pathology by enhancing changes triggered by Npc1 deficiency in the bigenic line.
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van Echten-Deckert G, Walter J. Sphingolipids: Critical players in Alzheimer’s disease. Prog Lipid Res 2012; 51:378-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2012.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2012] [Accepted: 07/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Macroautophagy deficiency mediates age-dependent neurodegeneration through a phospho-tau pathway. Mol Neurodegener 2012; 7:48. [PMID: 22998728 PMCID: PMC3544596 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1326-7-48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2012] [Accepted: 09/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Macroautophagy is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for bulk intracellular degradation of proteins and organelles. Pathological studies have implicated macroautophagy defects in human neurodegenerative disorders of aging including Alzheimer’s disease and tauopathies. Neuronal deficiency of macroautophagy throughout mouse embryonic development results in neurodevelopmental defects and early postnatal mortality. However, the role of macroautophagy in mature CNS neurons, and the relationship with human disease neuropathology, remains unclear. Here we describe mice deficient in an essential macroautophagy component, Atg7, specifically within postnatal CNS neurons. Results Postnatal forebrain-specific Atg7 conditional knockout (cKO) mice displayed age-dependent neurodegeneration and ubiquitin- and p62-positive inclusions. Phosphorylated tau was significantly accumulated in Atg7 cKO brains, but neurofibrillary tangles that typify end-stage human tauopathy were not apparent. A major tau kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), was also accumulated in Atg7 cKO brains. Chronic pharmacological inhibition of tau phosphorylation, or genetic deletion of tau, significantly rescued Atg7-deficiency-mediated neurodegeneration, but did not suppress inclusion formation. Conclusions These data elucidate a role for macroautophagy in the long-term survival and physiological function of adult CNS neurons. Neurodegeneration in the context of macroautophagy deficiency is mediated through a phospho-tau pathway.
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Elrick MJ, Yu T, Chung C, Lieberman AP. Impaired proteolysis underlies autophagic dysfunction in Niemann-Pick type C disease. Hum Mol Genet 2012; 21:4876-87. [PMID: 22872701 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/dds324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick type C disease (NPC) is a childhood onset neurodegenerative disorder arising from lipid-trafficking defects caused by mutations in the NPC1 or NPC2 gene. Marked accumulation of autophagosomes is a prominent feature of NPC cells, yet a detailed understanding of the disease-associated alterations in autophagy and their role in pathogenesis has been lacking. Prior studies have shown that lipid storage in NPC disease induces autophagy. Here, we additionally show that the clearance of autophagosomes in NPC1 deficiency is impaired due to inhibition of lysosomal protease activity by stored lipids. We also demonstrate that the autophagic pathway is a source of stored cholesterol in the NPC lysosome, thus creating a positive feedback loop wherein autophagy induction exacerbates the disease via increased lipid storage. Inhibition of autophagy reduces cholesterol storage and restores normal lysosomal proteolysis in NPC1-deficient cells, supporting a model in which activation of the autophagic pathway promotes disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Elrick
- Department of Pathology, Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Maulik M, Ghoshal B, Kim J, Wang Y, Yang J, Westaway D, Kar S. Mutant human APP exacerbates pathology in a mouse model of NPC and its reversal by a β-cyclodextrin. Hum Mol Genet 2012; 21:4857-75. [PMID: 22869680 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/dds322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease, an autosomal recessive disorder caused primarily by loss-of-function mutations in NPC1 gene, is characterized neuropathologically by intracellular cholesterol accumulation, gliosis and neuronal loss in selected brain regions. Recent studies have shown that NPC disease exhibits intriguing parallels with Alzheimer's disease (AD), including the presence of tau-positive neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and β-amyloid (Aβ)-related peptides in vulnerable brain regions. Since enhanced cholesterol level, which acts as a risk factor for AD, can increase Aβ production by regulating amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism, it is possible that APP overexpression can influence cholesterol-regulated NPC pathology. We have addressed this issue in a novel bigenic mice (ANPC) generated by crossing heterozygous Npc1-deficient mice with mutant human APP transgenic mice. These mice exhibited decreased lifespan, early object memory and motor impairments, and exacerbated glial pathology compared with other littermates. Neurodegeneration observed in the cerebellum of ANPC mice was found to be accelerated along with a selective increase in the phosphorylation/cleavage of tau protein. Additionally, enhanced levels/activity of cytosolic cathepsin D together with cytochrome c and Bcl-2-associated X protein suggest a role for the lysosomal enzyme in the caspase-induced degeneration of neurons in ANPC mice. The reversal of cholesterol accretion by 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (2-HPC) treatment increased longevity and attenuated behavioral/pathological abnormalities in ANPC mice. Collectively, our results reveal that overexpression of APP in Npc1-deficient mice can negatively influence longevity and a wide spectrum of behavioral/neuropathological abnormalities, thus raising the possibility that APP and NPC1 may interact functionally to regulate the development of AD and NPC pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahua Maulik
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Abstract
Both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are characterized by the deposition of hyperphosphorylated forms of the microtubule-associated protein tau in neurons and/or glia. This unifying pathology led to the umbrella term “tauopathies” for these conditions, also emphasizing the central role of tau in AD and FTD. Generation of transgenic mouse models expressing human tau in the brain has contributed to the understanding of the pathomechanistic role of tau in disease. To reveal the physiological functions of tau in vivo, several knockout mouse strains with deletion of the tau-encoding MAPT gene have been established over the past decade, using different gene targeting constructs. Surprisingly, when initially introduced tau knockout mice presented with no overt phenotype or malformations. The number of publications using tau knockout mice has recently markedly increased, and both behavioural changes and motor deficits have been identified in aged mice of certain strains. Moreover, tau knockout mice have been instrumental in identifying novel functions of tau, both in cultured neurons and in vivo. Importantly, tau knockout mice have significantly contributed to the understanding of the pathophysiological interplay between Aβ and tau in AD. Here, we review the literature that involves tau knockout mice to summarize what we have learned so far from depleting tau in vivo.
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Abstract
Degradation in the lysosome/vacuole is not the final step of autophagy. In particular, for starvation-induced autophagy it is necessary to release the breakdown products back into the cytosol. However, some researchers ignore this last step and simply refer to the endpoint of autophagy as degradation, or perhaps even cargo delivery. In many cases this is not a serious issue; however, the analysis of autophagy's role in certain diseases makes clear that this can be a significant error.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohta Shimada
- Department of Gene Therapy, Institute of DNA Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Lieberman AP, Puertollano R, Raben N, Slaugenhaupt S, Walkley SU, Ballabio A. Autophagy in lysosomal storage disorders. Autophagy 2012; 8:719-30. [PMID: 22647656 PMCID: PMC3378416 DOI: 10.4161/auto.19469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 296] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Lysosomes are ubiquitous intracellular organelles that have an acidic internal pH, and play crucial roles in cellular clearance. Numerous functions depend on normal lysosomes, including the turnover of cellular constituents, cholesterol homeostasis, downregulation of surface receptors, inactivation of pathogenic organisms, repair of the plasma membrane and bone remodeling. Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are characterized by progressive accumulation of undigested macromolecules within the cell due to lysosomal dysfunction. As a consequence, many tissues and organ systems are affected, including brain, viscera, bone and cartilage. The progressive nature of phenotype development is one of the hallmarks of LSDs. In recent years biochemical and cell biology studies of LSDs have revealed an ample spectrum of abnormalities in a variety of cellular functions. These include defects in signaling pathways, calcium homeostasis, lipid biosynthesis and degradation and intracellular trafficking. Lysosomes also play a fundamental role in the autophagic pathway by fusing with autophagosomes and digesting their content. Considering the highly integrated function of lysosomes and autophagosomes it was reasonable to expect that lysosomal storage in LSDs would have an impact upon autophagy. The goal of this review is to provide readers with an overview of recent findings that have been obtained through analysis of the autophagic pathway in several types of LSDs, supporting the idea that LSDs could be seen primarily as "autophagy disorders."
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI USA
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48
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Roberson ED, Hope OA, Martin RC, Schmidt D. Geriatric epilepsy: research and clinical directions for the future. Epilepsy Behav 2011; 22:103-11. [PMID: 21596624 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2011.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2011] [Accepted: 04/01/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing awareness of the need for improved treatment and care of older adults with epilepsy. The present review article highlights key clinical and research issues in the emerging field of geriatric epilepsy. Drs. Martin and Schmidt explore the scope of the problems in the field, outline topic areas including cognitive health/dementia, and diagnostic challenges, and also present important research questions that should be considered for the future. As part of this presentation, we will highlight the work of two promising young investigators whose work holds great promise for the field of geriatric epilepsy. Dr. Roberson will discuss his work focusing on the relationship of epilepsy and cognitive impairment, particularly as it relates to Alzheimer's disease pathology including tau and its role in epileptiform activity. Dr. Hope will outline key issues, as well as her work, relating to defining and measuring quality care in geriatric epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik D Roberson
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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Abstract
While the microtubule-binding capacity of the protein tau has been known for many years, new functions of tau in signaling and cytoskeletal organization have recently emerged. In this review, we highlight these functions and the potential roles of tau in neurodegenerative disease. We also discuss the therapeutic potential of drugs targeting various aspects of tau biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan Morris
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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Ando K, Leroy K, Héraud C, Yilmaz Z, Authelet M, Suain V, De Decker R, Brion JP. Accelerated human mutant tau aggregation by knocking out murine tau in a transgenic mouse model. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2011; 178:803-16. [PMID: 21281813 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2010.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2010] [Revised: 10/22/2010] [Accepted: 10/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Many models of human tauopathies have been generated in mice by expression of a human mutant tau with maintained expression of mouse endogenous tau. Because murine tau might interfere with the toxic effects of human mutant tau, we generated a model in which a pathogenic human tau protein is expressed in the absence of wild-type tau protein, with the aim of facilitating the study of the pathogenic role of the mutant tau and to reproduce more faithfully a human tauopathy. The Tg30 line is a tau transgenic mouse model overexpressing human 1N4R double-mutant tau (P301S and G272V) that develops Alzheimer's disease-like neurofibrillary tangles in an age-dependent manner. By crossing Tg30 mice with mice invalidated for their endogenous tau gene, we obtained Tg30xtau(-/-) mice that express only exogenous human double-mutant 1N4R tau. Although Tg30xtau(-/-) mice express less tau protein compared with Tg30, they exhibit signs of decreased survival, increased proportion of sarkosyl-insoluble tau in the brain and in the spinal cord, increased number of Gallyas-positive neurofibrillary tangles in the hippocampus, increased number of inclusions in the spinal cord, and a more severe motor phenotype. Deletion of murine tau accelerated tau aggregation during aging of this mutant tau transgenic model, suggesting that murine tau could interfere with the development of tau pathology in transgenic models of human tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunie Ando
- Laboratory of Histology, Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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