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Schultz JL, Neema M, Nopoulos PC. Unravelling the role of huntingtin: from neurodevelopment to neurodegeneration. Brain 2023; 146:4408-4410. [PMID: 37816304 PMCID: PMC10629758 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
This scientific commentary refers to ‘Genetic topography and cortical cell loss in Huntington’s disease link development and neurodegeneration’ by Estevez-Fraga et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awad275).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan L Schultz
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Mohit Neema
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Peg C Nopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Stead Family Children’s Hospital at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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2
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Ayyildiz D, Bergonzoni G, Monziani A, Tripathi T, Döring J, Kerschbamer E, Di Leva F, Pennati E, Donini L, Kovalenko M, Zasso J, Conti L, Wheeler VC, Dieterich C, Piazza S, Dassi E, Biagioli M. CAG repeat expansion in the Huntington's disease gene shapes linear and circular RNAs biogenesis. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010988. [PMID: 37831730 PMCID: PMC10617732 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) appears to be altered in Huntington's disease (HD), but its significance for early, pre-symptomatic disease stages has not been inspected. Here, taking advantage of Htt CAG knock-in mouse in vitro and in vivo models, we demonstrate a correlation between Htt CAG repeat length and increased aberrant linear AS, specifically affecting neural progenitors and, in vivo, the striatum prior to overt behavioral phenotypes stages. Remarkably, a significant proportion (36%) of the aberrantly spliced isoforms are not-functional and meant to non-sense mediated decay (NMD). The expanded Htt CAG repeats further reflect on a previously neglected, global impairment of back-splicing, leading to decreased circular RNAs production in neural progenitors. Integrative transcriptomic analyses unveil a network of transcriptionally altered micro-RNAs and RNA-binding proteins (Celf, hnRNPs, Ptbp, Srsf, Upf1, Ythd2) which might influence the AS machinery, primarily in neural cells. We suggest that this unbalanced expression of linear and circular RNAs might alter neural fitness, contributing to HD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilara Ayyildiz
- Bioinformatic facility, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Guendalina Bergonzoni
- NeuroEpigenetics laboratory, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Alan Monziani
- NeuroEpigenetics laboratory, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Takshashila Tripathi
- NeuroEpigenetics laboratory, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Jessica Döring
- NeuroEpigenetics laboratory, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Emanuela Kerschbamer
- NeuroEpigenetics laboratory, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Leva
- NeuroEpigenetics laboratory, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Elia Pennati
- NeuroEpigenetics laboratory, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Luisa Donini
- NeuroEpigenetics laboratory, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Marina Kovalenko
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jacopo Zasso
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Luciano Conti
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Vanessa C. Wheeler
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Neurology Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Christoph Dieterich
- Section of Bioinformatics and Systems Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Silvano Piazza
- Bioinformatic facility, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Erik Dassi
- Laboratory of RNA Regulatory Networks, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Marta Biagioli
- NeuroEpigenetics laboratory, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
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3
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Bustamante-Barrientos FA, Luque-Campos N, Araya MJ, Lara-Barba E, de Solminihac J, Pradenas C, Molina L, Herrera-Luna Y, Utreras-Mendoza Y, Elizondo-Vega R, Vega-Letter AM, Luz-Crawford P. Mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders: Potential therapeutic application of mitochondrial transfer to central nervous system-residing cells. J Transl Med 2023; 21:613. [PMID: 37689642 PMCID: PMC10493034 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04493-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is reiteratively involved in the pathogenesis of diverse neurodegenerative diseases. Current in vitro and in vivo approaches support that mitochondrial dysfunction is branded by several molecular and cellular defects, whose impact at different levels including the calcium and iron homeostasis, energetic balance and/or oxidative stress, makes it difficult to resolve them collectively given their multifactorial nature. Mitochondrial transfer offers an overall solution since it contains the replacement of damage mitochondria by healthy units. Therefore, this review provides an introducing view on the structure and energy-related functions of mitochondria as well as their dynamics. In turn, we summarize current knowledge on how these features are deregulated in different neurodegenerative diseases, including frontotemporal dementia, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Friedreich ataxia, Alzheimer´s disease, Parkinson´s disease, and Huntington's disease. Finally, we analyzed current advances in mitochondrial transfer between diverse cell types that actively participate in neurodegenerative processes, and how they might be projected toward developing novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe A Bustamante-Barrientos
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Mons. Álvaro del Portillo 12455, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Noymar Luque-Campos
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Mons. Álvaro del Portillo 12455, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Jesús Araya
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Mons. Álvaro del Portillo 12455, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile
| | - Eliana Lara-Barba
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Mons. Álvaro del Portillo 12455, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javiera de Solminihac
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Mons. Álvaro del Portillo 12455, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carolina Pradenas
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Mons. Álvaro del Portillo 12455, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis Molina
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Puerto Montt, Chile
| | - Yeimi Herrera-Luna
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Mons. Álvaro del Portillo 12455, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Roberto Elizondo-Vega
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular, Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Ana María Vega-Letter
- Escuela de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Patricia Luz-Crawford
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Mons. Álvaro del Portillo 12455, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.
- IMPACT, Center of Interventional Medicine for Precision and Advanced Cellular Therapy, Santiago, Chile.
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4
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Tano V, Utami KH, Yusof NABM, Bégin J, Tan WWL, Pouladi MA, Langley SR. Widespread dysregulation of mRNA splicing implicates RNA processing in the development and progression of Huntington's disease. EBioMedicine 2023; 94:104720. [PMID: 37481821 PMCID: PMC10393612 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Huntington's disease (HD), a CAG repeat expansion mutation in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene drives a gain-of-function toxicity that disrupts mRNA processing. Although dysregulation of gene splicing has been shown in human HD post-mortem brain tissue, post-mortem analyses are likely confounded by cell type composition changes in late-stage HD, limiting the ability to identify dysregulation related to early pathogenesis. METHODS To investigate gene splicing changes in early HD, we performed alternative splicing analyses coupled with a proteogenomics approach to identify early CAG length-associated splicing changes in an established isogenic HD cell model. FINDINGS We report widespread neuronal differentiation stage- and CAG length-dependent splicing changes, and find an enrichment of RNA processing, neuronal function, and epigenetic modification-related genes with mutant HTT-associated splicing. When integrated with a proteomics dataset, we identified several of these differential splicing events at the protein level. By comparing with human post-mortem and mouse model data, we identified common patterns of altered splicing from embryonic stem cells through to post-mortem striatal tissue. INTERPRETATION We show that widespread splicing dysregulation in HD occurs in an early cell model of neuronal development. Importantly, we observe HD-associated splicing changes in our HD cell model that were also identified in human HD striatum and mouse model HD striatum, suggesting that splicing-associated pathogenesis possibly occurs early in neuronal development and persists to later stages of disease. Together, our results highlight splicing dysregulation in HD which may lead to disrupted neuronal function and neuropathology. FUNDING This research is supported by the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore Nanyang Assistant Professorship Start-Up Grant, the Singapore Ministry of Education under its Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 1 (RG23/22), the BC Children's Hospital Research Institute Investigator Grant Award (IGAP), and a Scholar Award from the Michael Smith Health Research BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Tano
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
| | - Kagistia Hana Utami
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore; Translational Laboratory in Genetic Medicine (TLGM), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Nur Amirah Binte Mohammad Yusof
- Translational Laboratory in Genetic Medicine (TLGM), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Jocelyn Bégin
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Willy Wei Li Tan
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
| | - Mahmoud A Pouladi
- Translational Laboratory in Genetic Medicine (TLGM), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138648, Singapore; Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Sarah R Langley
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore.
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5
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Ferlazzo GM, Gambetta AM, Amato S, Cannizzaro N, Angiolillo S, Arboit M, Diamante L, Carbognin E, Romani P, La Torre F, Galimberti E, Pflug F, Luoni M, Giannelli S, Pepe G, Capocci L, Di Pardo A, Vanzani P, Zennaro L, Broccoli V, Leeb M, Moro E, Maglione V, Martello G. Genome-wide screening in pluripotent cells identifies Mtf1 as a suppressor of mutant huntingtin toxicity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3962. [PMID: 37407555 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39552-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG-repeat expansions in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. The resulting mutant HTT (mHTT) protein induces toxicity and cell death via multiple mechanisms and no effective therapy is available. Here, we employ a genome-wide screening in pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to identify suppressors of mHTT toxicity. Among the identified suppressors, linked to HD-associated processes, we focus on Metal response element binding transcription factor 1 (Mtf1). Forced expression of Mtf1 counteracts cell death and oxidative stress caused by mHTT in mouse ESCs and in human neuronal precursor cells. In zebrafish, Mtf1 reduces malformations and apoptosis induced by mHTT. In R6/2 mice, Mtf1 ablates motor defects and reduces mHTT aggregates and oxidative stress. Our screening strategy enables a quick in vitro identification of promising suppressor genes and their validation in vivo, and it can be applied to other monogenic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Maria Ferlazzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, Campus Levi-Montalcini, 37135, Verona, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Gambetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Sonia Amato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Via Belzoni, 160, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Noemi Cannizzaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Angiolillo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Mattia Arboit
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Linda Diamante
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Carbognin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Patrizia Romani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Federico La Torre
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Galimberti
- Max Perutz Laboratories Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Dr Bohr Gasse 9, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Pflug
- Max Perutz Laboratories Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Dr Bohr Gasse 9, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mirko Luoni
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Giannelli
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Paola Vanzani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Lucio Zennaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Vania Broccoli
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, 20854, Vedrano al Lambro, Italy
| | - Martin Leeb
- Max Perutz Laboratories Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Dr Bohr Gasse 9, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Enrico Moro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Graziano Martello
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy.
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6
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Maszka P, Kwasniak-Butowska M, Cysewski D, Slawek J, Smolenski RT, Tomczyk M. Metabolomic Footprint of Disrupted Energetics and Amino Acid Metabolism in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Perspectives for Early Diagnosis and Monitoring of Therapy. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13030369. [PMID: 36984809 PMCID: PMC10057046 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13030369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) is increasing due to the aging population and improved longevity. They are characterized by a range of pathological hallmarks, including protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. The aim of this review is to summarize the alterations in brain energy and amino acid metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Huntington’s disease (HD). Based on our findings, we proposed a group of selected metabolites related to disturbed energy or mitochondrial metabolism as potential indicators or predictors of disease. We also discussed the hidden challenges of metabolomics studies in NDs and proposed future directions in this field. We concluded that biochemical parameters of brain energy metabolism disruption (obtained with metabolomics) may have potential application as a diagnostic tool for the diagnosis, prediction, and monitoring of the effectiveness of therapies for NDs. However, more studies are needed to determine the sensitivity of the proposed candidates. We suggested that the most valuable biomarkers for NDs studies could be groups of metabolites combined with other neuroimaging or molecular techniques. To attain clinically applicable results, the integration of metabolomics with other “omic” techniques might be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja Maszka
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Kwasniak-Butowska
- Division of Neurological and Psychiatric Nursing, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
- Department of Neurology, St. Adalbert Hospital, 80-462 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Dominik Cysewski
- Clinical Research Centre, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Jaroslaw Slawek
- Division of Neurological and Psychiatric Nursing, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
- Department of Neurology, St. Adalbert Hospital, 80-462 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Ryszard T. Smolenski
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland
- Correspondence: (R.T.S.); (M.T.)
| | - Marta Tomczyk
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland
- Correspondence: (R.T.S.); (M.T.)
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7
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McDonald TS, Lerskiatiphanich T, Woodruff TM, McCombe PA, Lee JD. Potential mechanisms to modify impaired glucose metabolism in neurodegenerative disorders. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2023; 43:26-43. [PMID: 36281012 PMCID: PMC9875350 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x221135061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegeneration refers to the selective and progressive loss-of-function and atrophy of neurons, and is present in disorders such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's disease. Although each disease presents with a unique pattern of neurodegeneration, and subsequent disease phenotype, increasing evidence implicates alterations in energy usage as a shared and core feature in the onset and progression of these disorders. Indeed, disturbances in energy metabolism may contribute to the vulnerability of neurons to apoptosis. In this review we will outline these disturbances in glucose metabolism, and how fatty acids are able to compensate for this impairment in energy production in neurodegenerative disorders. We will also highlight underlying mechanisms that could contribute to these alterations in energy metabolism. A greater understanding of these metabolism-neurodegeneration processes could lead to improved treatment options for neurodegenerative disease patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya S McDonald
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Titaya Lerskiatiphanich
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Trent M Woodruff
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St.
Lucia, Australia
| | - Pamela A McCombe
- Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital,
Herston, Australia
| | - John D Lee
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The
University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
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8
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Huang B, Seefelder M, Buck E, Engler T, Lindenberg KS, Klein F, Landwehrmeyer GB, Kochanek S. HAP40 protein levels are huntingtin-dependent and decrease in Huntington disease. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 158:105476. [PMID: 34390835 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The huntingtin-associated protein 40 (HAP40) is an abundant interactor of huntingtin (HTT). In complexes of these proteins, HAP40 tightly binds to HTT in a cleft formed by two larger domains rich in HEAT repeats, and a smaller bridge domain connecting the two. We show that HAP40 steady-state protein levels are directly dependent on HTT (both normal and mutant HTT) and that HAP40 is strongly stabilized by the interaction with HTT resulting in an at least 5-fold increase in HAP40's half-life when bound to HTT. Cellular HAP40 protein levels were reduced in primary fibroblasts and lymphoblasts of Huntington Disease (HD) patients and in brain tissue of a full-length HTT mouse model of HD, concomitant with decreased soluble HTT levels in these cell types. This data and our previous demonstration of coevolution between HTT and HAP40 and evolutionary conservation of their interaction suggest that HAP40 is an obligate interaction partner of HTT. Our observation of reduced HAP40 levels in HD invites further studies, whether HAP40 loss-of-function contributes to the pathophysiology of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Huang
- Department of Gene Therapy, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Eva Buck
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Tatjana Engler
- Department of Gene Therapy, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Fabrice Klein
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Kochanek
- Department of Gene Therapy, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
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9
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Federspiel JD, Greco TM, Lum KK, Cristea IM. Hdac4 Interactions in Huntington's Disease Viewed Through the Prism of Multiomics. Mol Cell Proteomics 2019; 18:S92-S113. [PMID: 31040226 PMCID: PMC6692770 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra118.001253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a monogenic disorder, driven by the expansion of a trinucleotide (CAG) repeat within the huntingtin (Htt) gene and culminating in neuronal degeneration in the brain, predominantly in the striatum and cortex. Histone deacetylase 4 (Hdac4) was previously found to contribute to the disease progression, providing a potential therapeutic target. Hdac4 knockdown reduced accumulation of misfolded Htt protein and improved HD phenotypes. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear, given its independence on deacetylase activity and the predominant cytoplasmic Hdac4 localization in the brain. Here, we undertook a multiomics approach to uncover the function of Hdac4 in the context of HD pathogenesis. We characterized the interactome of endogenous Hdac4 in brains of HD mouse models. Alterations in interactions were investigated in response to Htt polyQ length, comparing mice with normal (Q20) and disease (Q140) Htt, at both pre- and post-symptomatic ages (2 and 10 months, respectively). Parallel analyses for Hdac5, a related class IIa Hdac, highlighted the unique interaction network established by Hdac4. To validate and distinguish interactions specifically enhanced in an HD-vulnerable brain region, we next characterized endogenous Hdac4 interactions in dissected striata from this HD mouse series. Hdac4 associations were polyQ-dependent in the striatum, but not in the whole brain, particularly in symptomatic mice. Hdac5 interactions did not exhibit polyQ dependence. To identify which Hdac4 interactions and functions could participate in HD pathogenesis, we integrated our interactome with proteome and transcriptome data sets generated from the striata. We discovered an overlap in enriched functional classes with the Hdac4 interactome, particularly in vesicular trafficking and synaptic functions, and we further validated the Hdac4 interaction with the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein and SCAR Homolog (WASH) complex. This study expands the knowledge of Hdac4 regulation and functions in HD, adding to the understanding of the molecular underpinning of HD phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel D Federspiel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Todd M Greco
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Krystal K Lum
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Ileana M Cristea
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544.
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10
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Murthy V, Tebaldi T, Yoshida T, Erdin S, Calzonetti T, Vijayvargia R, Tripathi T, Kerschbamer E, Seong IS, Quattrone A, Talkowski ME, Gusella JF, Georgopoulos K, MacDonald ME, Biagioli M. Hypomorphic mutation of the mouse Huntington's disease gene orthologue. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1007765. [PMID: 30897080 PMCID: PMC6445486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Rare individuals with inactivating mutations in the Huntington's disease gene (HTT) exhibit variable abnormalities that imply essential HTT roles during organ development. Here we report phenotypes produced when increasingly severe hypomorphic mutations in the murine HTT orthologue Htt, (HdhneoQ20, HdhneoQ50, HdhneoQ111), were placed over a null allele (Hdhex4/5). The most severe hypomorphic allele failed to rescue null lethality at gastrulation, while the intermediate, though still severe, alleles yielded recessive perinatal lethality and a variety of fetal abnormalities affecting body size, skin, skeletal and ear formation, and transient defects in hematopoiesis. Comparative molecular analysis of wild-type and Htt-null retinoic acid-differentiated cells revealed gene network dysregulation associated with organ development that nominate polycomb repressive complexes and miRNAs as molecular mediators. Together these findings demonstrate that Htt is required both pre- and post-gastrulation to support normal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya Murthy
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Toma Tebaldi
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Toshimi Yoshida
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center (CBRC), Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States of America
| | - Serkan Erdin
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Teresa Calzonetti
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Frederick Community College, Frederick MD, United States of America
| | - Ravi Vijayvargia
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Takshashila Tripathi
- NeuroEpigenetics Laboratory, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Emanuela Kerschbamer
- NeuroEpigenetics Laboratory, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Ihn Sik Seong
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Alessandro Quattrone
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Michael E. Talkowski
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - James F. Gusella
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Katia Georgopoulos
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center (CBRC), Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States of America
| | - Marcy E. MacDonald
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Marta Biagioli
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- NeuroEpigenetics Laboratory, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
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11
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Lumsden AL, Rogers JT, Majd S, Newman M, Sutherland GT, Verdile G, Lardelli M. Dysregulation of Neuronal Iron Homeostasis as an Alternative Unifying Effect of Mutations Causing Familial Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:533. [PMID: 30150923 PMCID: PMC6099262 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The overwhelming majority of dominant mutations causing early onset familial Alzheimer’s disease (EOfAD) occur in only three genes, PSEN1, PSEN2, and APP. An effect-in-common of these mutations is alteration of production of the APP-derived peptide, amyloid β (Aβ). It is this key fact that underlies the authority of the Amyloid Hypothesis that has informed Alzheimer’s disease research for over two decades. Any challenge to this authority must offer an alternative explanation for the relationship between the PSEN genes and APP. In this paper, we explore one possible alternative relationship – the dysregulation of cellular iron homeostasis as a common effect of EOfAD mutations in these genes. This idea is attractive since it provides clear connections between EOfAD mutations and major characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease such as dysfunctional mitochondria, vascular risk factors/hypoxia, energy metabolism, and inflammation. We combine our ideas with observations by others to describe a “Stress Threshold Change of State” model of Alzheimer’s disease that may begin to explain the existence of both EOfAD and late onset sporadic (LOsAD) forms of the disease. Directing research to investigate the role of dysregulation of iron homeostasis in EOfAD may be a profitable way forward in our struggle to understand this form of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Lumsden
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jack T Rogers
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry-Neuroscience, Massachusetts General Hospital (East), Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Shohreh Majd
- Neuronal Injury and Repair Laboratory, Centre for Neuroscience, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Morgan Newman
- Centre for Molecular Pathology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Greg T Sutherland
- Discipline of Pathology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Giuseppe Verdile
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
| | - Michael Lardelli
- Centre for Molecular Pathology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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12
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Early alteration of epigenetic-related transcription in Huntington's disease mouse models. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9925. [PMID: 29967375 PMCID: PMC6028428 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28185-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional dysregulation in Huntington’s disease (HD) affects the expression of genes involved in survival and neuronal functions throughout the progression of the pathology. In recent years, extensive research has focused on epigenetic and chromatin-modifying factors as a causative explanation for such dysregulation, offering attractive targets for pharmacological therapies. In this work, we extensively examined the gene expression profiles in the cortex, striatum, hippocampus and cerebellum of juvenile R6/1 and N171-82Q mice, models of rapidly progressive HD, to retrieve the early transcriptional signatures associated with this pathology. These profiles were largely consistent across HD datasets, contained tissular and neuronal-specific genes and showed significant correspondence with the transcriptional changes in mouse strains deficient for epigenetic regulatory genes. The most prominent cases were the conditional knockout of the lysine acetyltransferase CBP in post-mitotic forebrain neurons, the double knockout of the histone methyltransferases Ezh1 and Ezh2, components of the polycomb repressor complex 2 (PRC2), and the conditional mutants of the histone methyltransferases G9a (Ehmt2) and GLP (Ehmt1). Based on these observations, we propose that the neuronal epigenetic status is compromised in the prodromal stages of HD, leading to an altered transcriptional programme that is prominently involved in neuronal identity.
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13
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Jang M, Lee SE, Cho IH. Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Serotype DJ-Mediated Overexpression of N171-82Q-Mutant Huntingtin in the Striatum of Juvenile Mice Is a New Model for Huntington's Disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:157. [PMID: 29946240 PMCID: PMC6005874 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, psychiatric and cognitive symptoms. HD is caused by an expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin (HTT) gene in various areas of the brain including striatum. There are few suitable animal models to study the pathogenesis of HD and validate therapeutic strategies. Recombinant adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors successfully transfer foreign genes to the brain of adult mammalians. In this article, we report a novel mouse model of HD generated by bilateral intrastriatal injection of AAV vector serotype DJ (AAV-DJ) containing N171-82Q mutant HTT (82Q) and N171-18Q wild type HTT (18Q; sham). The AAV-DJ-82Q model displayed motor dysfunctions in pole and rotarod tests beginning 4 weeks after viral infection in juvenile mice (8 weeks after birth). They showed behaviors reflecting neurodegeneration. They also showed increased apoptosis, robust glial activation and upregulated representative inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6), mediators (cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase) and signaling pathways (nuclear factor kappa B and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)) in the striatum at 10 weeks after viral infection (14 weeks after birth) via successful transfection of mutant HTT into neurons, microglia, and astrocytes in the striatum. However, little evidence of any of these events was found in mice infected with the AAV-DJ-18Q expressing construct. Intrastriatal injection of AAV-DJ-82Q might be useful as a novel in vivo model to investigate the biology of truncated N-terminal fragment (N171) in the striatum and to explore the efficacy of therapeutic strategies for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhee Jang
- Department of Convergence Medical Science, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung Eun Lee
- Virus Facility, Research Animal Resource Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ik-Hyun Cho
- Department of Convergence Medical Science, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
- Brain Korea 21 Plus Program and Institute of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
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14
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Shin B, Jung R, Oh H, Owens GE, Lee H, Kwak S, Lee R, Cotman SL, Lee JM, MacDonald ME, Song JJ, Vijayvargia R, Seong IS. Novel DNA Aptamers that Bind to Mutant Huntingtin and Modify Its Activity. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2018; 11:416-428. [PMID: 29858077 PMCID: PMC5992459 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The CAG repeat expansion that elongates the polyglutamine tract in huntingtin is the root genetic cause of Huntington’s disease (HD), a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder. This seemingly slight change to the primary amino acid sequence alters the physical structure of the mutant protein and alters its activity. We have identified a set of G-quadruplex-forming DNA aptamers (MS1, MS2, MS3, MS4) that bind mutant huntingtin proximal to lysines K2932/K2934 in the C-terminal CTD-II domain. Aptamer binding to mutant huntingtin abrogated the enhanced polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) stimulatory activity conferred by the expanded polyglutamine tract. In HD, but not normal, neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs), MS3 aptamer co-localized with endogenous mutant huntingtin and was associated with significantly decreased PRC2 activity. Furthermore, MS3 transfection protected HD NPCs against starvation-dependent stress with increased ATP. Therefore, DNA aptamers can preferentially target mutant huntingtin and modulate a gain of function endowed by the elongated polyglutamine segment. These mutant huntingtin binding aptamers provide novel molecular tools for delineating the effects of the HD mutation and encourage mutant huntingtin structure-based approaches to therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baehyun Shin
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Roy Jung
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Hyejin Oh
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Gwen E Owens
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Hyeongseok Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST Institute for the BioCentury, Center for Cancer Metastasis, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Kwak
- CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Ramee Lee
- CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Susan L Cotman
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jong-Min Lee
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Marcy E MacDonald
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ji-Joon Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST Institute for the BioCentury, Center for Cancer Metastasis, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Ravi Vijayvargia
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
| | - Ihn Sik Seong
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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15
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Leighton PLA, Allison WT. Protein Misfolding in Prion and Prion-Like Diseases: Reconsidering a Required Role for Protein Loss-of-Function. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 54:3-29. [PMID: 27392869 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Prion disease research has contributed much toward understanding other neurodegenerative diseases, including recent demonstrations that Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases are prion-like. Prion-like diseases involve the spread of degeneration between individuals and/or among cells or tissues via template directed misfolding, wherein misfolded protein conformers propagate disease by causing normal proteins to misfold. Here we use the premise that AD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and other similar diseases are prion-like and ask: Can we apply knowledge gained from studies of these prion-like diseases to resolve debates about classical prion diseases? We focus on controversies about what role(s) protein loss-of-function might have in prion diseases because this has therapeutic implications, including for AD. We examine which loss-of-function events are recognizable in prion-like diseases by considering the normal functions of the proteins before their misfolding and aggregation. We then delineate scenarios wherein gain-of-function and/or loss-of-function would be necessary or sufficient for neurodegeneration. We consider roles of PrPC loss-of-function in prion diseases and in AD, and conclude that the conventional wisdom that prion diseases are 'toxic gain-of-function diseases' has limitations. While prion diseases certainly have required gain-of-function components, we propose that disease phenotypes are predominantly caused by deficits in the normal physiology of PrPC and its interaction partners as PrPC converts to PrPSc. In this model, gain-of-function serves mainly to spread disease, and loss-of-function directly mediates neuron dysfunction. We propose experiments and predictions to assess our conclusion. Further study on the normal physiological roles of these key proteins is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia L A Leighton
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - W Ted Allison
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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16
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Langfelder P, Gao F, Wang N, Howland D, Kwak S, Vogt TF, Aaronson JS, Rosinski J, Coppola G, Horvath S, Yang XW. MicroRNA signatures of endogenous Huntingtin CAG repeat expansion in mice. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190550. [PMID: 29324753 PMCID: PMC5764268 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In Huntington's disease (HD) patients and in model organisms, messenger RNA transcriptome has been extensively studied; in contrast, comparatively little is known about expression and potential role of microRNAs. Using RNA-sequencing, we have quantified microRNA expression in four brain regions and liver, at three different ages, from an allelic series of HD model mice with increasing CAG length in the endogenous Huntingtin gene. Our analyses reveal CAG length-dependent microRNA expression changes in brain, with 159 microRNAs selectively altered in striatum, 102 in cerebellum, 51 in hippocampus, and 45 in cortex. In contrast, a progressive CAG length-dependent microRNA dysregulation was not observed in liver. We further identify microRNAs whose transcriptomic response to CAG length expansion differs significantly among the brain regions and validate our findings in data from a second, independent cohort of mice. Using existing mRNA expression data from the same animals, we assess the possible relationships between microRNA and mRNA expression and highlight candidate microRNAs that are negatively correlated with, and whose predicted targets are enriched in, CAG-length dependent mRNA modules. Several of our top microRNAs (Mir212/Mir132, Mir218, Mir128 and others) have been previously associated with aspects of neuronal development and survival. This study provides an extensive resource for CAG length-dependent changes in microRNA expression in disease-vulnerable and -resistant brain regions in HD mice, and provides new insights for further investigation of microRNAs in HD pathogenesis and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Langfelder
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Fuying Gao
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Nan Wang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- UCLA Brain Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - David Howland
- CHDI Foundation/CHDI Management Inc., Princeton, NJ, United States of America
| | - Seung Kwak
- CHDI Foundation/CHDI Management Inc., Princeton, NJ, United States of America
| | - Thomas F. Vogt
- CHDI Foundation/CHDI Management Inc., Princeton, NJ, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey S. Aaronson
- CHDI Foundation/CHDI Management Inc., Princeton, NJ, United States of America
| | - Jim Rosinski
- CHDI Foundation/CHDI Management Inc., Princeton, NJ, United States of America
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- UCLA Brain Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Department of Biostatistics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - X. William Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- UCLA Brain Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
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17
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Carmo C, Naia L, Lopes C, Rego AC. Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Huntington’s Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1049:59-83. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71779-1_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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18
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Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) as an inherited neurodegenerative disorder leads to neuronal loss in striatum. Progressive motor dysfunction, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disturbance are the main clinical symptoms of the HD. This disease is caused by expansion of the CAG repeats in exon 1 of the huntingtin which encodes Huntingtin protein (Htt). Various cellular and molecular events play role in the pathology of HD. Mitochondria as important organelles play crucial roles in the most of neurodegenerative disorders like HD. Critical roles of the mitochondria in neurons are ATP generation, Ca2+ buffering, ROS generation, and antioxidant activity. Neurons as high-demand energy cells closely related to function, maintenance, and dynamic of mitochondria. In the most neurological disorders, mitochondrial activities and dynamic are disrupted which associate with high ROS level, low ATP generation, and apoptosis. Accumulation of mutant huntingtin (mHtt) during this disease may evoke mitochondrial dysfunction. Here, we review recent findings to support this hypothesis that mHtt could cause mitochondrial defects. In addition, by focusing normal huntingtin functions in neurons, we purpose mitochondria and Huntingtin association in normal condition. Moreover, mHtt affects various cellular signaling which ends up to mitochondrial biogenesis. So, it could be a potential candidate to decline ATP level in HD. We conclude how mitochondrial biogenesis plays a central role in the neuronal survival and activity and how mHtt affects mitochondrial trafficking, maintenance, integrity, function, dynamics, and hemostasis and makes neurons vulnerable to degeneration in HD.
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19
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Chaibva M, Jawahery S, Pilkington AW, Arndt JR, Sarver O, Valentine S, Matysiak S, Legleiter J. Acetylation within the First 17 Residues of Huntingtin Exon 1 Alters Aggregation and Lipid Binding. Biophys J 2017; 111:349-362. [PMID: 27463137 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2016.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Revised: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) domain near the N-terminus of the huntingtin (htt) protein. Expanded polyQ leads to htt aggregation. The first 17 amino acids (Nt(17)) in htt comprise a lipid-binding domain that undergoes a number of posttranslational modifications that can modulate htt toxicity and subcellular localization. As there are three lysines within Nt(17), we evaluated the impact of lysine acetylation on htt aggregation in solution and on model lipid bilayers. Acetylation of htt-exon1(51Q) and synthetic truncated htt-exon 1 mimicking peptides (Nt(17)-Q35-P10-KK) was achieved using a selective covalent label, sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHSA). With this treatment, all three lysine residues (K6, K9, and K15) in Nt(17) were significantly acetylated. N-terminal htt acetylation retarded fibril formation in solution and promoted the formation of larger globular aggregates. Acetylated htt also bound lipid membranes and disrupted the lipid bilayer morphology less aggressively compared with the wild-type. Computational studies provided mechanistic insights into how acetylation alters the interaction of Nt(17) with lipid membranes. Our results highlight that N-terminal acetylation influences the aggregation of htt and its interaction with lipid bilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxmore Chaibva
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Sudi Jawahery
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Albert W Pilkington
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - James R Arndt
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Olivia Sarver
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Stephen Valentine
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Silvina Matysiak
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; Biophysics Program, Institute for Physical Chemistry and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.
| | - Justin Legleiter
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia; NanoSAFE, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia; Center for Neurosciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia.
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20
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Huntington Disease as a Neurodevelopmental Disorder and Early Signs of the Disease in Stem Cells. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:3351-3371. [PMID: 28497201 PMCID: PMC5842500 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0477-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited disorder caused by a CAG expansion mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which results in the HTT protein that contains an expanded polyglutamine tract. The adult form of HD exhibits a late onset of the fully symptomatic phase. However, there is also a long presymptomatic phase, which has been increasingly investigated and recognized as important for the disease development. Moreover, the juvenile form of HD, evoked by a higher number of CAG repeats, resembles a neurodevelopmental disorder and has recently been the focus of additional interest. Multiple lines of data, such as the developmental necessity of HTT, its role in the cell cycle and neurogenesis, and findings from pluripotent stem cells, suggest the existence of a neurodevelopmental component in HD pathogenesis. Therefore, we discuss the early molecular pathogenesis of HD in pluripotent and neural stem cells, with respect to the neurodevelopmental aspects of HD.
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21
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Yu MS, Tanese N. Huntingtin Is Required for Neural But Not Cardiac/Pancreatic Progenitor Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells In vitro. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:33. [PMID: 28270748 PMCID: PMC5318384 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) gene causes Huntington's disease (HD). It is an autosomal dominant trinucleotide-repeat expansion disease in which CAG repeat sequence expands to >35. This results in the production of mutant HTT protein with an increased stretch of glutamines near the N-terminus. The wild type HTT gene encodes a 350 kD protein whose function remains elusive. Mutant HTT protein has been implicated in transcription, axonal transport, cytoskeletal structure/function, signal transduction, and autophagy. HD is characterized by the appearance of nuclear inclusions and degeneration of the striatum. Although HTT protein is expressed early in embryos, most patients develop symptoms in mid-life. It is also unclear why the ubiquitously expressed mutant HTT specifically causes striatal atrophy. Wild type Htt is essential for development as Htt knockout mice die at day E7.5. Increasing evidence suggests mutant Htt may alter neurogenesis and development of striatal neurons resulting in neuronal loss. Using a mouse embryonic stem cell model, we examined the role of Htt in neural differentiation. We found cells lacking Htt inefficient in generating neural stem cells. In contrast differentiation into progenitors of mesoderm and endoderm lineages was not affected. The data suggests Htt is essential for neural but not cardiac/pancreatic progenitor differentiation of embryonic stem cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Shan Yu
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York NY, USA
| | - Naoko Tanese
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York NY, USA
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22
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Conformational modulation mediated by polyglutamine expansion in CAG repeat expansion disease-associated proteins. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 478:949-55. [PMID: 27520369 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.08.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
We have previously reported TR-FRET based immunoassays to detect a conformational change imparted on huntingtin protein by the polyglutamine expansion, which we confirmed using biophysical methodologies. Using these immunoassays, we now report that polyglutamine expansion influences the conformational properties of other polyglutamine disease proteins, exemplified by the androgen receptor (associated with spinal bulbar muscular atrophy) and TATA binding protein (associated with spinocerebellar ataxia 17). Using artificial constructs bearing short or long polyglutamine expansions or a multimerized, unrelated epitope (mimicking the increase in anti-polyglutamine antibody epitopes present in polyglutamine repeats of increasing length) we confirmed that the conformational TR-FRET based immunoassay detects an intrinsic conformational property of polyglutamine repeats. The TR-FRET based conformational immunoassay may represent a rapid, scalable tool to identify modulators of polyglutamine-mediated conformational change in different proteins associated with CAG triplet repeat disorders.
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Large-scale phenome analysis defines a behavioral signature for Huntington's disease genotype in mice. Nat Biotechnol 2016; 34:838-44. [PMID: 27376585 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.3587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Rapid technological advances for the frequent monitoring of health parameters have raised the intriguing possibility that an individual's genotype could be predicted from phenotypic data alone. Here we used a machine learning approach to analyze the phenotypic effects of polymorphic mutations in a mouse model of Huntington's disease that determine disease presentation and age of onset. The resulting model correlated variation across 3,086 behavioral traits with seven different CAG-repeat lengths in the huntingtin gene (Htt). We selected behavioral signatures for age and CAG-repeat length that most robustly distinguished between mouse lines and validated the model by correctly predicting the repeat length of a blinded mouse line. Sufficient discriminatory power to accurately predict genotype required combined analysis of >200 phenotypic features. Our results suggest that autosomal dominant disease-causing mutations could be predicted through the use of subtle behavioral signatures that emerge in large-scale, combinatorial analyses. Our work provides an open data platform that we now share with the research community to aid efforts focused on understanding the pathways that link behavioral consequences to genetic variation in Huntington's disease.
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Vodicka P, Mo S, Tousley A, Green KM, Sapp E, Iuliano M, Sadri-Vakili G, Shaffer SA, Aronin N, DiFiglia M, Kegel-Gleason KB. Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Wild-Type and Knock-in Q140/Q140 Huntington's Disease Mouse Brains Reveals Changes in Glycerophospholipids Including Alterations in Phosphatidic Acid and Lyso-Phosphatidic Acid. J Huntingtons Dis 2016; 4:187-201. [PMID: 26397899 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-150149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG expansion in the HD gene, which encodes the protein Huntingtin. Huntingtin associates with membranes and can interact directly with glycerophospholipids in membranes. OBJECTIVE We analyzed glycerophospholipid profiles from brains of 11 month old wild-type (WT) and Q140/Q140 HD knock-in mice to assess potential changes in glycerophospholipid metabolism. METHODS Polar lipids from cerebellum, cortex, and striatum were extracted and analyzed by liquid chromatography and negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS/MS). Gene products involved in polar lipid metabolism were studied using western blotting, immuno-electron microscopy and qPCR. RESULTS Significant changes in numerous species of glycerophosphate (phosphatidic acid, PA) were found in striatum, cerebellum and cortex from Q140/Q140 HD mice compared to WT mice at 11 months. Changes in specific species could also be detected for other glycerophospholipids. Increases in species of lyso-PA (LPA) were measured in striatum of Q140/Q140 HD mice compared to WT. Protein levels for c-terminal binding protein 1 (CtBP1), a regulator of PA biosynthesis, were reduced in striatal synaptosomes from HD mice compared to wild-type at 6 and 12 months. Immunoreactivity for CtBP1 was detected on membranes of synaptic vesicles in striatal axon terminals in the globus pallidus. CONCLUSIONS These novel results identify a potential site of molecular pathology caused by mutant Huntingtin that may impart early changes in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Vodicka
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Shunyan Mo
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Facility and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, UMASS Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Adelaide Tousley
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Karin M Green
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Facility and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, UMASS Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ellen Sapp
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Maria Iuliano
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | | | - Scott A Shaffer
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Facility and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, UMASS Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Neil Aronin
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, UMASS Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Marian DiFiglia
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
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Arndt JR, Chaibva M, Legleiter J. The emerging role of the first 17 amino acids of huntingtin in Huntington's disease. Biomol Concepts 2016; 6:33-46. [PMID: 25741791 DOI: 10.1515/bmc-2015-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by a polyglutamine (polyQ) domain that is expanded beyond a critical threshold near the N-terminus of the huntingtin (htt) protein, directly leading to htt aggregation. While full-length htt is a large (on the order of ∼350 kDa) protein, it is proteolyzed into a variety of N-terminal fragments that accumulate in oligomers, fibrils, and larger aggregates. It is clear that polyQ length is a key determinant of htt aggregation and toxicity. However, the flanking sequences around the polyQ domain, such as the first 17 amino acids on the N terminus (Nt17), influence aggregation, aggregate stability, influence other important biochemical properties of the protein and ultimately its role in pathogenesis. Here, we review the impact of Nt17 on htt aggregation mechanisms and kinetics, structural properties of Nt17 in both monomeric and aggregate forms, the potential role of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) that occur in Nt17 in HD, and the function of Nt17 as a membrane targeting domain.
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Integrated genomics and proteomics define huntingtin CAG length-dependent networks in mice. Nat Neurosci 2016; 19:623-33. [PMID: 26900923 PMCID: PMC5984042 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
To gain insight into how mutant huntingtin (mHtt) CAG repeat length modifies Huntington’s disease (HD) pathogenesis, we profiled mRNA in over 600 brain and peripheral tissue samples from HD knock-in mice with increasing CAG repeat lengths. We find repeat length dependent transcriptional signatures are prominent in the striatum, less so in cortex, and minimal in the liver. Co-expression network analyses reveal 13 striatal and 5 cortical modules that are highly correlated with CAG length and age, and that are preserved in HD models and some in the patients. Top striatal modules implicate mHtt CAG length and age in graded impairment of striatal medium spiny neuron identity gene expression and in dysregulation of cAMP signaling, cell death, and protocadherin genes. Importantly, we used proteomics to confirm 790 genes and 5 striatal modules with CAG length-dependent dysregulation at both RNA and protein levels, and validated 22 striatal module genes as modifiers of mHtt toxicities in vivo.
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Fisher SP, Schwartz MD, Wurts-Black S, Thomas AM, Chen TM, Miller MA, Palmerston JB, Kilduff TS, Morairty SR. Quantitative Electroencephalographic Analysis Provides an Early-Stage Indicator of Disease Onset and Progression in the zQ175 Knock-In Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. Sleep 2016; 39:379-91. [PMID: 26446107 DOI: 10.5665/sleep.5448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Patients with Huntington's disease (HD) show a high prevalence of sleep disorders that typically occur prior to the onset of motoric symptoms and neurodegeneration. Our understanding of the pathophysiological alterations in premanifest HD is limited, hindering the ability to measure disease modification in response to treatment. We used a full-length knock-in HD model to determine early changes in the electroencephalogram (EEG) and sleep that may predict the onset and progression of the disease. METHODS A 10-month longitudinal study was designed to determine the effect of the HD mutation on the EEG and sleep/wake changes in heterozygous (HET) and homozygous (HOM) zQ175 mice and wild-type (WT) littermates from 8 to 48 w of age. Mice were instrumented with tethered headmounts to record EEG/electromyography signals. Telemeters were implanted to continuously measure locomotor activity (LMA) and body temperature (Tb). Sleep deprivation (SDep) was performed at 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, and 48 w of age. RESULTS The HD mutation disrupted the EEG field potential from 8-12 w in an age- and mutant huntington dose-dependent manner, prior to changes in sleep/wake states, LMA, and Tb. Prominent effects of the HD mutation on the EEG included a progressive reduction in low frequency power, a slowing of rapid eye movement peak theta frequency, and the emergence of state-dependent beta/gamma oscillations. There was no effect of genotype on the relative increase in nonrapid eye movement delta power or sleep time in response to SDep. CONCLUSIONS The expression of the Huntington's disease (HD) mutation results in complex EEG alterations that occur prior to deficits in behavioral measures and are one of the earliest phenotypes uncovered in this mouse model. Despite these EEG changes, homeostatic responses to sleep loss were preserved in HET and HOM zQ175 mice. Greater insight into the localization and response of these EEG alterations to novel therapies may enable early intervention and improve outcomes for patients with HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P Fisher
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Michael D Schwartz
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Sarah Wurts-Black
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Alexia M Thomas
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Tsui-Ming Chen
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Michael A Miller
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Jeremiah B Palmerston
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Thomas S Kilduff
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
| | - Stephen R Morairty
- Center for Neuroscience, Biosciences Division, SRI International, Menlo Park, California
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28
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Kerschbamer E, Biagioli M. Huntington's Disease as Neurodevelopmental Disorder: Altered Chromatin Regulation, Coding, and Non-Coding RNA Transcription. Front Neurosci 2016; 9:509. [PMID: 26793052 PMCID: PMC4710752 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Kerschbamer
- NeuroEpigenetics Laboratory, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento Trento, Italy
| | - Marta Biagioli
- NeuroEpigenetics Laboratory, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento Trento, Italy
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29
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Bayram-Weston Z, Stone TC, Giles P, Elliston L, Janghra N, Higgs GV, Holmans PA, Dunnett SB, Brooks SP, Jones L. Similar striatal gene expression profiles in the striatum of the YAC128 and HdhQ150 mouse models of Huntington's disease are not reflected in mutant Huntingtin inclusion prevalence. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:1079. [PMID: 26691352 PMCID: PMC4687121 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2251-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The YAC128 model of Huntington’s disease (HD) shows substantial deficits in motor, learning and memory tasks and alterations in its transcriptional profile. We examined the changes in the transcriptional profile in the YAC128 mouse model of HD at 6, 12 and 18 months and compared these with those seen in other models and human HD caudate. Results Differential gene expression by genotype showed that genes related to neuronal function, projection outgrowth and cell adhesion were altered in expression. A Time-course ANOVA revealed that genes downregulated with increased age in wild-type striata were likely to be downregulated in the YAC128 striata. There was a substantial overlap of concordant gene expression changes in the YAC128 striata compared with those in human HD brain. Changes in gene expression over time showed fewer striatal YAC128 RNAs altered in abundance than in the HdhQ150 striata but there was a very marked overlap in transcriptional changes at all time points. Despite the similarities in striatal expression changes at 18 months the HdhQ150 mice showed widespread mHTT and ubiquitin positive inclusion staining in the striatum whereas this was absent in the YAC128 striatum. Conclusions The gene expression changes in YAC128 striata show a very closely matched profile to that of HdhQ150 striata and are already significantly different between genotypes by six months of age, implying that the temporal molecular gene expression profiles of these models match very closely, despite differences in the prevalence of brain inclusion formation between the models. The YAC128 gene expression changes appear to correlate well with gene expression differences caused by ageing. A relatively small number of genes showed significant differences in expression between the striata of the two models and these could explain some of the phenotypic differences between the models. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2251-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubeyde Bayram-Weston
- Brain Research Group, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 4AX, UK.
| | - Timothy C Stone
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
| | - Peter Giles
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
| | - Linda Elliston
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
| | - Nari Janghra
- Brain Research Group, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 4AX, UK.
| | - Gemma V Higgs
- Brain Research Group, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 4AX, UK.
| | - Peter A Holmans
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
| | - Stephen B Dunnett
- Brain Research Group, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 4AX, UK.
| | - Simon P Brooks
- Brain Research Group, School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 4AX, UK.
| | - Lesley Jones
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
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30
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Paine H. Does loss of the normal protein function contribute to the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/biohorizons/hzv005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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31
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Wear MP, Kryndushkin D, O’Meally R, Sonnenberg JL, Cole RN, Shewmaker FP. Proteins with Intrinsically Disordered Domains Are Preferentially Recruited to Polyglutamine Aggregates. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136362. [PMID: 26317359 PMCID: PMC4552826 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular protein aggregation is the hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases. Aggregates formed by polyglutamine (polyQ)-expanded proteins, such as Huntingtin, adopt amyloid-like structures that are resistant to denaturation. We used a novel purification strategy to isolate aggregates formed by human Huntingtin N-terminal fragments with expanded polyQ tracts from both yeast and mammalian (PC-12) cells. Using mass spectrometry we identified the protein species that are trapped within these polyQ aggregates. We found that proteins with very long intrinsically-disordered (ID) domains (≥100 amino acids) and RNA-binding proteins were disproportionately recruited into aggregates. The removal of the ID domains from selected proteins was sufficient to eliminate their recruitment into polyQ aggregates. We also observed that several neurodegenerative disease-linked proteins were reproducibly trapped within the polyQ aggregates purified from mammalian cells. Many of these proteins have large ID domains and are found in neuronal inclusions in their respective diseases. Our study indicates that neurodegenerative disease-associated proteins are particularly vulnerable to recruitment into polyQ aggregates via their ID domains. Also, the high frequency of ID domains in RNA-binding proteins may explain why RNA-binding proteins are frequently found in pathological inclusions in various neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie P. Wear
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Heath Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, 20814, United States of America
| | - Dmitry Kryndushkin
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Heath Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, 20814, United States of America
| | - Robert O’Meally
- Johns Hopkins Mass Spectrometry and Proteomic Facility, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, United States of America
| | - Jason L. Sonnenberg
- Chemistry department, School of Sciences, Stevenson University, Stevenson, Maryland, 21153, United States of America
| | - Robert N. Cole
- Johns Hopkins Mass Spectrometry and Proteomic Facility, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, United States of America
| | - Frank P. Shewmaker
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Heath Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, 20814, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Carroll JB, Deik A, Fossale E, Weston RM, Guide JR, Arjomand J, Kwak S, Clish CB, MacDonald ME. HdhQ111 Mice Exhibit Tissue Specific Metabolite Profiles that Include Striatal Lipid Accumulation. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134465. [PMID: 26295712 PMCID: PMC4546654 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The HTT CAG expansion mutation causes Huntington's Disease and is associated with a wide range of cellular consequences, including altered metabolism. The mutant allele is expressed widely, in all tissues, but the striatum and cortex are especially vulnerable to its effects. To more fully understand this tissue-specificity, early in the disease process, we asked whether the metabolic impact of the mutant CAG expanded allele in heterozygous B6.HdhQ111/+ mice would be common across tissues, or whether tissues would have tissue-specific responses and whether such changes may be affected by diet. Specifically, we cross-sectionally examined steady state metabolite concentrations from a range of tissues (plasma, brown adipose tissue, cerebellum, striatum, liver, white adipose tissue), using an established liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry pipeline, from cohorts of 8 month old mutant and wild-type littermate mice that were fed one of two different high-fat diets. The differential response to diet highlighted a proportion of metabolites in all tissues, ranging from 3% (7/219) in the striatum to 12% (25/212) in white adipose tissue. By contrast, the mutant CAG-expanded allele primarily affected brain metabolites, with 14% (30/219) of metabolites significantly altered, compared to wild-type, in striatum and 11% (25/224) in the cerebellum. In general, diet and the CAG-expanded allele both elicited metabolite changes that were predominantly tissue-specific and non-overlapping, with evidence for mutation-by-diet interaction in peripheral tissues most affected by diet. Machine-learning approaches highlighted the accumulation of diverse lipid species as the most genotype-predictive metabolite changes in the striatum. Validation experiments in cell culture demonstrated that lipid accumulation was also a defining feature of mutant HdhQ111 striatal progenitor cells. Thus, metabolite-level responses to the CAG expansion mutation in vivo were tissue specific and most evident in brain, where the striatum featured signature accumulation of a set of lipids including sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol ester and triglyceride species. Importantly, in the presence of the CAG mutation, metabolite changes were unmasked in peripheral tissues by an interaction with dietary fat, implying that the design of studies to discover metabolic changes in HD mutation carriers should include metabolic perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey B. Carroll
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Amy Deik
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Elisa Fossale
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rory M. Weston
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jolene R. Guide
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jamshid Arjomand
- CHDI Foundation, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Seung Kwak
- CHDI Foundation, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Clary B. Clish
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Marcy E. MacDonald
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Szlachcic WJ, Switonski PM, Krzyzosiak WJ, Figlerowicz M, Figiel M. Huntington disease iPSCs show early molecular changes in intracellular signaling, the expression of oxidative stress proteins and the p53 pathway. Dis Model Mech 2015; 8:1047-57. [PMID: 26092128 PMCID: PMC4582098 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.019406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a brain disorder characterized by the late onset of motor and cognitive symptoms, even though the neurons in the brain begin to suffer dysfunction and degeneration long before symptoms appear. There is currently no cure. Several molecular and developmental effects of HD have been identified using neural stem cells (NSCs) and differentiated cells, such as neurons and astrocytes. Still, little is known regarding the molecular pathogenesis of HD in pluripotent cells, such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Therefore, we examined putative signaling pathways and processes involved in HD pathogenesis in pluripotent cells. We tested naïve mouse HD YAC128 iPSCs and two types of human HD iPSC that were generated from HD and juvenile-HD patients. Surprisingly, we found that a number of changes affecting cellular processes in HD were also present in undifferentiated pluripotent HD iPSCs, including the dysregulation of the MAPK and Wnt signaling pathways and the dysregulation of the expression of genes related to oxidative stress, such as Sod1. Interestingly, a common protein interactor of the huntingtin protein and the proteins in the above pathways is p53, and the expression of p53 was dysregulated in HD YAC128 iPSCs and human HD iPSCs. In summary, our findings demonstrate that multiple molecular pathways that are characteristically dysregulated in HD are already altered in undifferentiated pluripotent cells and that the pathogenesis of HD might begin during the early stages of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech J Szlachcic
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, Poznań 61-704, Poland
| | - Pawel M Switonski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, Poznań 61-704, Poland
| | - Wlodzimierz J Krzyzosiak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, Poznań 61-704, Poland
| | - Marek Figlerowicz
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, Poznań 61-704, Poland
| | - Maciej Figiel
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, Poznań 61-704, Poland
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Jacquet L, Neueder A, Földes G, Karagiannis P, Hobbs C, Jolinon N, Mioulane M, Sakai T, Harding SE, Ilic D. Three Huntington's Disease Specific Mutation-Carrying Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Have Stable Number of CAG Repeats upon In Vitro Differentiation into Cardiomyocytes. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126860. [PMID: 25993131 PMCID: PMC4438866 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD; OMIM 143100), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is caused by an expanded trinucleotide CAG (polyQ) motif in the HTT gene. Cardiovascular symptoms, often present in early stage HD patients, are, in general, ascribed to dysautonomia. However, cardio-specific expression of polyQ peptides caused pathological response in murine models, suggesting the presence of a nervous system-independent heart phenotype in HD patients. A positive correlation between the CAG repeat size and severity of symptoms observed in HD patients has also been observed in in vitro HD cellular models. Here, we test the suitability of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines carrying HD-specific mutation as in vitro models for understanding molecular mechanisms of cardiac pathology seen in HD patients. We have differentiated three HD-hESC lines into cardiomyocytes and investigated CAG stability up to 60 days after starting differentiation. To assess CAG stability in other tissues, the lines were also subjected to in vivo differentiation into teratomas for 10 weeks. Neither directed differentiation into cardiomyocytes in vitro nor in vivo differentiation into teratomas, rich in immature neuronal tissue, led to an increase in the number of CAG repeats. Although the CAG stability might be cell line-dependent, induced pluripotent stem cells generated from patients with larger numbers of CAG repeats could have an advantage as a research tool for understanding cardiac symptoms of HD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laureen Jacquet
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Assisted Conception Unit, Division of Women’s Health, King’s College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Neueder
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Gabor Földes
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, ICTEM, 4th Floor, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Rd, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Panagiotis Karagiannis
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Carl Hobbs
- Histology Laboratory, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Nelly Jolinon
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Maxime Mioulane
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, ICTEM, 4th Floor, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Rd, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Takao Sakai
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Sherrington Building, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, United Kingdom
| | - Sian E. Harding
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, ICTEM, 4th Floor, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Rd, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Dusko Ilic
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Assisted Conception Unit, Division of Women’s Health, King’s College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Laprairie RB, Bagher AM, Precious SV, Denovan-Wright EM. Components of the endocannabinoid and dopamine systems are dysregulated in Huntington's disease: analysis of publicly available microarray datasets. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2015; 3:e00104. [PMID: 25692022 PMCID: PMC4317235 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2014] [Revised: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 09/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the dopaminergic system (DAS) are two major regulators of basal ganglia function. During Huntington's disease (HD) pathogenesis, the expression of genes in both the ECS and DAS is dysregulated. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes that were consistently observed in the ECS and DAS during HD progression in the central nervous system (CNS) and in the periphery in different models of HD and human HD tissue. To do this, we conducted a meta-analysis of differential gene expression in the ECS and DAS using publicly available microarray data. The consolidated data were summarized as observed changes in gene expression (OCGE) using a weighted sum for each gene. In addition, consolidated data were compared to previously published studies that were not available in the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. The resulting data confirm gene expression changes observed using different approaches and provide novel insights into the consistency between changes observed in human tissue and various models, as well as disease stage- and tissue-specific transcriptional dysregulation in HD. The major implication of the systems-wide data presented here is that therapeutic strategies targeting the ECS or DAS must consider the dynamic changes in gene expression over time and in different body areas, which occur during HD progression and the interconnectedness of the two systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert B Laprairie
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | - Amina M Bagher
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | - Sophie V Precious
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
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Walsh MJ, Cooper-Knock J, Dodd JE, Stopford MJ, Mihaylov SR, Kirby J, Shaw PJ, Hautbergue GM. Invited review: decoding the pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie RNA dysregulation in neurodegenerative disorders: a review of the current state of the art. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2015; 41:109-34. [PMID: 25319671 PMCID: PMC4329338 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 10/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Altered RNA metabolism is a key pathophysiological component causing several neurodegenerative diseases. Genetic mutations causing neurodegeneration occur in coding and noncoding regions of seemingly unrelated genes whose products do not always contribute to the gene expression process. Several pathogenic mechanisms may coexist within a single neuronal cell, including RNA/protein toxic gain-of-function and/or protein loss-of-function. Genetic mutations that cause neurodegenerative disorders disrupt healthy gene expression at diverse levels, from chromatin remodelling, transcription, splicing, through to axonal transport and repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation. We address neurodegeneration in repeat expansion disorders [Huntington's disease, spinocerebellar ataxias, C9ORF72-related amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)] and in diseases caused by deletions or point mutations (spinal muscular atrophy, most subtypes of familial ALS). Some neurodegenerative disorders exhibit broad dysregulation of gene expression with the synthesis of hundreds to thousands of abnormal messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules. However, the number and identity of aberrant mRNAs that are translated into proteins - and how these lead to neurodegeneration - remain unknown. The field of RNA biology research faces the challenge of identifying pathophysiological events of dysregulated gene expression. In conclusion, we discuss current research limitations and future directions to improve our characterization of pathological mechanisms that trigger disease onset and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Walsh
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of SheffieldSheffield, UK
| | - J Cooper-Knock
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of SheffieldSheffield, UK
| | - J E Dodd
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of SheffieldSheffield, UK
| | - M J Stopford
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of SheffieldSheffield, UK
| | - S R Mihaylov
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of SheffieldSheffield, UK
| | - J Kirby
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of SheffieldSheffield, UK
| | - P J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of SheffieldSheffield, UK
| | - G M Hautbergue
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of SheffieldSheffield, UK
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Biagioli M, Ferrari F, Mendenhall EM, Zhang Y, Erdin S, Vijayvargia R, Vallabh SM, Solomos N, Manavalan P, Ragavendran A, Ozsolak F, Lee JM, Talkowski ME, Gusella JF, Macdonald ME, Park PJ, Seong IS. Htt CAG repeat expansion confers pleiotropic gains of mutant huntingtin function in chromatin regulation. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:2442-57. [PMID: 25574027 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The CAG repeat expansion in the Huntington's disease gene HTT extends a polyglutamine tract in mutant huntingtin that enhances its ability to facilitate polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). To gain insight into this dominant gain of function, we mapped histone modifications genome-wide across an isogenic panel of mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) and neuronal progenitor cell (NPC) lines, comparing the effects of Htt null and different size Htt CAG mutations. We found that Htt is required in ESC for the proper deposition of histone H3K27me3 at a subset of 'bivalent' loci but in NPC it is needed at 'bivalent' loci for both the proper maintenance and the appropriate removal of this mark. In contrast, Htt CAG size, though changing histone H3K27me3, is prominently associated with altered histone H3K4me3 at 'active' loci. The sets of ESC and NPC genes with altered histone marks delineated by the lack of huntingtin or the presence of mutant huntingtin, though distinct, are enriched in similar pathways with apoptosis specifically highlighted for the CAG mutation. Thus, the manner by which huntingtin function facilitates PRC2 may afford mutant huntingtin with multiple opportunities to impinge upon the broader machinery that orchestrates developmentally appropriate chromatin status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Biagioli
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | | | | | - Yijing Zhang
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Serkan Erdin
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ravi Vijayvargia
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Nicole Solomos
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Poornima Manavalan
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ashok Ragavendran
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Fatih Ozsolak
- RaNA Therapeutics, 790 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jong Min Lee
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Michael E Talkowski
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - James F Gusella
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA and
| | - Marcy E Macdonald
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA and
| | - Peter J Park
- Center for Biomedical Informatics, Boston, MA 02114, USA Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ihn Sik Seong
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA,
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38
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Pryor WM, Biagioli M, Shahani N, Swarnkar S, Huang WC, Page DT, MacDonald ME, Subramaniam S. Huntingtin promotes mTORC1 signaling in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease. Sci Signal 2014; 7:ra103. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2005633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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39
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Schut MH, Pepers BA, Klooster R, van der Maarel SM, El Khatabi M, Verrips T, den Dunnen JT, van Ommen GJB, van Roon-Mom WMC. Selection and characterization of llama single domain antibodies against N-terminal huntingtin. Neurol Sci 2014; 36:429-34. [PMID: 25294428 PMCID: PMC4341019 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-014-1971-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Huntington disease is caused by expansion of a CAG repeat in the huntingtin gene that is translated into an elongated polyglutamine stretch within the N-terminal domain of the huntingtin protein. The mutation is thought to introduce a gain-of-toxic function in the mutant huntingtin protein, and blocking this toxicity by antibody binding could alleviate Huntington disease pathology. Llama single domain antibodies (VHH) directed against mutant huntingtin are interesting candidates as therapeutic agents or research tools in Huntington disease because of their small size, high thermostability, low cost of production, possibility of intracellular expression, and potency of blood-brain barrier passage. We have selected VHH from llama phage display libraries that specifically target the N-terminal domain of the huntingtin protein. Our VHH are capable of binding wild-type and mutant human huntingtin under native and denatured conditions and can be used in Huntington disease studies as a novel antibody that is easy to produce and manipulate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menno H Schut
- Department of Human Genetics, Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
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40
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Dietz KN, Di Stefano L, Maher RC, Zhu H, Macdonald ME, Gusella JF, Walker JA. The Drosophila Huntington's disease gene ortholog dhtt influences chromatin regulation during development. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:330-45. [PMID: 25168387 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG expansion mutation in HTT, the gene encoding huntingtin. Evidence from both human genotype-phenotype relationships and mouse model systems suggests that the mutation acts by dysregulating some normal activity of huntingtin. Recent work in the mouse has revealed a role for huntingtin in epigenetic regulation during development. Here, we examine the role of the Drosophila huntingtin ortholog (dhtt) in chromatin regulation in the development of the fly. Although null dhtt mutants display no overt phenotype, we found that dhtt acts as a suppressor of position-effect variegation (PEV), suggesting that it influences chromatin organization. We demonstrate that dhtt affects heterochromatin spreading in a PEV model by modulating histone H3K9 methylation levels at the heterochromatin-euchromatin boundary. To gain mechanistic insights into how dhtt influences chromatin function, we conducted a candidate genetic screen using RNAi lines targeting known PEV modifier genes. We found that dhtt modifies phenotypes caused by knockdown of a number of key epigenetic regulators, including chromatin-associated proteins, histone demethylases (HDMs) and methyltransferases. Notably, dhtt strongly modifies phenotypes resulting from loss of the HDM dLsd1, in both the ovary and wing, and we demonstrate that dhtt appears to act as a facilitator of dLsd1 function in regulating global histone H3K4 methylation levels. These findings suggest that a fundamental aspect of huntingtin function in heterochromatin/euchromatin organization is evolutionarily conserved across phyla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin N Dietz
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Luisa Di Stefano
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire du Contrôle de la Prolifération, UMR 5088, Université de Toulouse and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 31062 Toulouse, France and
| | - Robert C Maher
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Building 149, 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Hui Zhu
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Marcy E Macdonald
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - James F Gusella
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - James A Walker
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
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41
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Gusella JF, MacDonald ME, Lee JM. Genetic modifiers of Huntington's disease. Mov Disord 2014; 29:1359-65. [DOI: 10.1002/mds.26001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- James F. Gusella
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology and Center for Human Genetic Research; Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Marcy E. MacDonald
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology and Center for Human Genetic Research; Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Jong-Min Lee
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology and Center for Human Genetic Research; Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston Massachusetts USA
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42
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Valor LM. Transcription, epigenetics and ameliorative strategies in Huntington's Disease: a genome-wide perspective. Mol Neurobiol 2014; 51:406-23. [PMID: 24788684 PMCID: PMC4309905 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-014-8715-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional dysregulation in Huntington’s disease (HD) is an early event that shapes the brain transcriptome by both the depletion and ectopic activation of gene products that eventually affect survival and neuronal functions. Disruption in the activity of gene expression regulators, such as transcription factors, chromatin-remodeling proteins, and noncoding RNAs, accounts for the expression changes observed in multiple animal and cellular models of HD and in samples from patients. Here, I review the recent advances in the study of HD transcriptional dysregulation and its causes to finally discuss the possible implications in ameliorative strategies from a genome-wide perspective. To date, the use of genome-wide approaches, predominantly based on microarray platforms, has been successful in providing an extensive catalog of differentially regulated genes, including biomarkers aimed at monitoring the progress of the pathology. Although still incipient, the introduction of combined next-generation sequencing techniques is enhancing our comprehension of the mechanisms underlying altered transcriptional dysregulation in HD by providing the first genomic landscapes associated with epigenetics and the occupancy of transcription factors. In addition, the use of genome-wide approaches is becoming more and more necessary to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ameliorative strategies and to identify novel mechanisms of amelioration that may help in the improvement of current preclinical therapeutics. Finally, the major conclusions obtained from HD transcriptomics studies have the potential to be extrapolated to other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis M Valor
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550, Alicante, Spain,
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43
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Ismailoglu I, Chen Q, Popowski M, Yang L, Gross SS, Brivanlou AH. Huntingtin protein is essential for mitochondrial metabolism, bioenergetics and structure in murine embryonic stem cells. Dev Biol 2014; 391:230-40. [PMID: 24780625 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Revised: 03/20/2014] [Accepted: 04/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the Huntington locus (htt) have devastating consequences. Gain-of-poly-Q repeats in Htt protein causes Huntington's disease (HD), while htt(-/-) mutants display early embryonic lethality. Despite its importance, the function of Htt remains elusive. To address this, we compared more than 3700 compounds in three syngeneic mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) lines: htt(-/-), extended poly-Q (Htt-Q140/7), and wild-type mESCs (Htt-Q7/7) using untargeted metabolite profiling. While Htt-Q140/7 cells did not show major differences in cellular bioenergetics, we find extensive metabolic aberrations in htt(-/-) mESCs, including (i) complete failure of ATP production despite preservation of the mitochondrial membrane potential; (ii) near-maximal glycolysis, with little or no glycolytic reserve; (iii) marked ketogenesis; (iv) depletion of intracellular NTPs; (v) accelerated purine biosynthesis and salvage; and (vi) loss of mitochondrial structural integrity. Together, our findings reveal that Htt is necessary for mitochondrial structure and function from the earliest stages of embryogenesis, providing a molecular explanation for htt(-/-) early embryonic lethality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Ismailoglu
- Laboratory of Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Qiuying Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell College of Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Melissa Popowski
- Laboratory of Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Lili Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell College of Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Steven S Gross
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell College of Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Ali H Brivanlou
- Laboratory of Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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44
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Chaibva M, Burke KA, Legleiter J. Curvature enhances binding and aggregation of huntingtin at lipid membranes. Biochemistry 2014; 53:2355-65. [PMID: 24670006 DOI: 10.1021/bi401619q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a genetic neurodegenerative disease caused by an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) domain in the first exon of the huntingtin (Htt) protein, facilitating its aggregation. Htt interacts with a variety of membraneous structures within the cell, and the first 17 amino acids (Nt17) of Htt directly flanking the polyQ domain comprise an amphiphathic α-helix (AH) lipid-binding domain. AHs are also known to detect membrane curvature. To determine if Htt exon 1 preferentially binds curved membranes, in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies were performed. Supported lipid bilayers are commonly used as model membranes for AFM studies of protein aggregation. However, these supported bilayers usually lack curvature. By forming a bilayer on top of silica nanobeads (50 ± 10 nm) deposited on a silicon substrate, model supported lipid bilayers with flat and curved regions were developed for AFM studies. The presence of the bilayer over the beads was validated by continual imaging of the formation of the bilayer, height measurements, and spatially resolved mechanical measurements of the resulting bilayer using scanning probe acceleration microscopy. Interpretation of this data was facilitated by numerical simulations of the entire imaging process. The curved supported bilayers associated with the beads were found to be more compliant than flat supported bilayers, consistent with the altered packing density of lipids caused by the induced curvature. This model bilayer system was exposed to a synthetic truncated Htt exon 1 peptide (Nt17Q35P10KK), and this peptide preferentially accumulated on curved membranes, consistent with the ability of AHs to sense membrane curvature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxmore Chaibva
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University , Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States
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45
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A broad phenotypic screen identifies novel phenotypes driven by a single mutant allele in Huntington's disease CAG knock-in mice. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80923. [PMID: 24278347 PMCID: PMC3838378 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of a CAG trinucleotide repeat in the HTT gene encoding huntingtin. The disease has an insidious course, typically progressing over 10-15 years until death. Currently there is no effective disease-modifying therapy. To better understand the HD pathogenic process we have developed genetic HTT CAG knock-in mouse models that accurately recapitulate the HD mutation in man. Here, we describe results of a broad, standardized phenotypic screen in 10-46 week old heterozygous HdhQ111 knock-in mice, probing a wide range of physiological systems. The results of this screen revealed a number of behavioral abnormalities in HdhQ111/+ mice that include hypoactivity, decreased anxiety, motor learning and coordination deficits, and impaired olfactory discrimination. The screen also provided evidence supporting subtle cardiovascular, lung, and plasma metabolite alterations. Importantly, our results reveal that a single mutant HTT allele in the mouse is sufficient to elicit multiple phenotypic abnormalities, consistent with a dominant disease process in patients. These data provide a starting point for further investigation of several organ systems in HD, for the dissection of underlying pathogenic mechanisms and for the identification of reliable phenotypic endpoints for therapeutic testing.
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Bard J, Wall MD, Lazari O, Arjomand J, Munoz-Sanjuan I. Advances in huntington disease drug discovery: novel approaches to model disease phenotypes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 19:191-204. [PMID: 24196395 DOI: 10.1177/1087057113510320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Huntington disease is a monogenic, autosomal dominant, progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion in exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene; age of onset of clinical symptoms inversely correlates with expanded CAG repeat length. HD leads to extensive degeneration of the basal ganglia, hypothalamic nuclei, and selected cortical areas, and a wide range of molecular mechanisms have been implicated in disease pathology in animal or cellular models expressing mutated HTT (mHTT) proteins, either full-length or amino-terminal fragments. However, HD cellular models that recapitulate the slow progression of the disease have not been available due to the toxicity of overexpressed exogenous mHTT or to limitations with using primary cells for long-term studies. Most investigations of the effects of mHTT relied on cytotoxicity or aggregation end points in heterologous systems or in primary embryonic neuroglial cultures derived from HD mouse models. More innovative approaches are currently under active investigation, including screening using electrophysiological endpoints, as well as the recent use of primary blood mononuclear cells and of human embryonic stem cells derived from a variety of HD research participants. Here we describe how these cellular systems are being used to investigate HD biology as well as to identify mechanisms with therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Bard
- 1CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ, and Los Angeles, CA, USA
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47
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Lee CYD, Cantle JP, Yang XW. Genetic manipulations of mutant huntingtin in mice: new insights into Huntington's disease pathogenesis. FEBS J 2013; 280:4382-94. [PMID: 23829302 DOI: 10.1111/febs.12418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Revised: 06/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This year (2013) marks the 20th anniversary of identification of the causal genetic mutation for Huntington's disease (HD), a landmark discovery that heralded study of the biological underpinnings of this most common dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder. Among the variety of model organisms used to study HD pathogenesis, the mouse model is by far the most commonly used mammalian genetic model. Much of our current knowledge regarding mutant huntingtin (mHtt)-induced disease pathogenesis in mammalian models has been obtained by studying transgenic mouse models expressing mHtt N-terminal fragments, full-length murine or human mHtt. In this review, we focus on recent progress in using novel HD mouse models with targeted mHtt expression in specific brain cell types. These models help to address the role of distinct neuronal and non-neuronal cell types in eliciting cell-autonomous or non-cell-autonomous disease processes in HD. We also describe several mHtt transgenic mouse models with targeted mutations in Htt cis-domains to address specific pathogenic hypotheses, ranging from mHtt proteolysis to post-translational modifications. These novel mouse genetic studies, through direct manipulations of the causal HD gene, utilize a reductionist approach to systematically unravel the cellular and molecular pathways that are targeted by mHtt in disease pathogenesis, and to potentially identify novel targets for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Y Daniel Lee
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behaviors, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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48
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Calamini B, Lo DC, Kaltenbach LS. Experimental models for identifying modifiers of polyglutamine-induced aggregation and neurodegeneration. Neurotherapeutics 2013; 10:400-15. [PMID: 23700210 PMCID: PMC3701774 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-013-0195-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) typifies a class of inherited neurodegenerative disorders in which a CAG expansion in a single gene leads to an extended polyglutamine tract and misfolding of the expressed protein, driving cumulative neural dysfunction and degeneration. HD is invariably fatal with symptoms that include progressive neuropsychiatric and cognitive impairments, and eventual motor disability. No curative therapies yet exist for HD and related polyglutamine diseases; therefore, substantial efforts have been made in the drug discovery field to identify potential drug and drug target candidates for disease-modifying treatment. In this context, we review here a range of early-stage screening approaches based in in vitro, cellular, and invertebrate models to identify pharmacological and genetic modifiers of polyglutamine aggregation and induced neurodegeneration. In addition, emerging technologies, including high-content analysis, three-dimensional culture models, and induced pluripotent stem cells are increasingly being incorporated into drug discovery screening pipelines for protein misfolding disorders. Together, these diverse screening strategies are generating novel and exciting new probes for understanding the disease process and for furthering development of therapeutic candidates for eventual testing in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Calamini
- Department of Neurobiology and Center for Drug Discovery, Duke University Medical Center, 4321 Medical Park Drive, Durham, NC 27704 USA
| | - Donald C. Lo
- Department of Neurobiology and Center for Drug Discovery, Duke University Medical Center, 4321 Medical Park Drive, Durham, NC 27704 USA
| | - Linda S. Kaltenbach
- Department of Neurobiology and Center for Drug Discovery, Duke University Medical Center, 4321 Medical Park Drive, Durham, NC 27704 USA
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49
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Basu M, Bhattacharyya NP, Mohanty PK. Comparison of modules of wild type and mutant Huntingtin and TP53 protein interaction networks: implications in biological processes and functions. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64838. [PMID: 23741403 PMCID: PMC3669416 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2012] [Accepted: 04/19/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Disease-causing mutations usually change the interacting partners of mutant proteins. In this article, we propose that the biological consequences of mutation are directly related to the alteration of corresponding protein protein interaction networks (PPIN). Mutation of Huntingtin (HTT) which causes Huntington's disease (HD) and mutations to TP53 which is associated with different cancers are studied as two example cases. We construct the PPIN of wild type and mutant proteins separately and identify the structural modules of each of the networks. The functional role of these modules are then assessed by Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis for biological processes (BPs). We find that a large number of significantly enriched () GO terms in mutant PPIN were absent in the wild type PPIN indicating the gain of BPs due to mutation. Similarly some of the GO terms enriched in wild type PPIN cease to exist in the modules of mutant PPIN, representing the loss. GO terms common in modules of mutant and wild type networks indicate both loss and gain of BPs. We further assign relevant biological function(s) to each module by classifying the enriched GO terms associated with it. It turns out that most of these biological functions in HTT networks are already known to be altered in HD and those of TP53 networks are altered in cancers. We argue that gain of BPs, and the corresponding biological functions, are due to new interacting partners acquired by mutant proteins. The methodology we adopt here could be applied to genetic diseases where mutations alter the ability of the protein to interact with other proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahashweta Basu
- Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, India
| | - Nitai P. Bhattacharyya
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, India
| | - Pradeep K. Mohanty
- Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, India
- * E-mail:
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50
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Lee JM, Galkina EI, Levantovsky RM, Fossale E, Anne Anderson M, Gillis T, Srinidhi Mysore J, Coser KR, Shioda T, Zhang B, Furia MD, Derry J, Kohane IS, Seong IS, Wheeler VC, Gusella JF, MacDonald ME. Dominant effects of the Huntington's disease HTT CAG repeat length are captured in gene-expression data sets by a continuous analysis mathematical modeling strategy. Hum Mol Genet 2013; 22:3227-38. [PMID: 23595883 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In Huntington's disease (HD), the size of the expanded HTT CAG repeat mutation is the primary driver of the processes that determine age at onset of motor symptoms. However, correlation of cellular biochemical parameters also extends across the normal repeat range, supporting the view that the CAG repeat represents a functional polymorphism with dominant effects determined by the longer allele. A central challenge to defining the functional consequences of this single polymorphism is the difficulty of distinguishing its subtle effects from the multitude of other sources of biological variation. We demonstrate that an analytical approach based upon continuous correlation with CAG size was able to capture the modest (∼21%) contribution of the repeat to the variation in genome-wide gene expression in 107 lymphoblastoid cell lines, with alleles ranging from 15 to 92 CAGs. Furthermore, a mathematical model from an iterative strategy yielded predicted CAG repeat lengths that were significantly positively correlated with true CAG allele size and negatively correlated with age at onset of motor symptoms. Genes negatively correlated with repeat size were also enriched in a set of genes whose expression were CAG-correlated in human HD cerebellum. These findings both reveal the relatively small, but detectable impact of variation in the CAG allele in global data in these peripheral cells and provide a strategy for building multi-dimensional data-driven models of the biological network that drives the HD disease process by continuous analysis across allelic panels of neuronal cells vulnerable to the dominant effects of the HTT CAG repeat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong-Min Lee
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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