1
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Wang J, Gao G, Wang D. Developing AAV-delivered nonsense suppressor tRNAs for neurological disorders. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00391. [PMID: 38959711 PMCID: PMC11269797 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy is a clinical stage therapeutic modality for neurological disorders. A common genetic defect in myriad monogenic neurological disorders is nonsense mutations that account for about 11% of all human pathogenic mutations. Stop codon readthrough by suppressor transfer RNA (sup-tRNA) has long been sought as a potential gene therapy approach to target nonsense mutations, but hindered by inefficient in vivo delivery. The rapid advances in AAV delivery technology have not only powered gene therapy development but also enabled in vivo preclinical assessment of a range of nucleic acid therapeutics, such as sup-tRNA. Compared with conventional AAV gene therapy that delivers a transgene to produce therapeutic proteins, AAV-delivered sup-tRNA has several advantages, such as small gene sizes and operating within the endogenous gene expression regulation, which are important considerations for treating some neurological disorders. This review will first examine sup-tRNA designs and delivery by AAV vectors. We will then analyze how AAV-delivered sup-tRNA can potentially address some neurological disorders that are challenging to conventional gene therapy, followed by discussing available mouse models of neurological diseases for in vivo preclinical testing. Potential challenges for AAV-delivered sup-tRNA to achieve therapeutic efficacy and safety will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaming Wang
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Dan Wang
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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2
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Puhl AC, Raman R, Havener TM, Minerali E, Hickey AJ, Ekins S. Identification of New Modulators and Inhibitors of Palmitoyl-Protein Thioesterase 1 for CLN1 Batten Disease and Cancer. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:11870-11882. [PMID: 38496939 PMCID: PMC10938339 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1) is an understudied enzyme that is gaining attention due to its role in the depalmitoylation of several proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. PPT1 is overexpressed in several cancers, specifically cholangiocarcinoma and esophageal cancers. Inhibitors of PPT1 lead to cell death and have been shown to enhance the killing of tumor cells alongside known chemotherapeutics. PPT1 is hence a viable target for anticancer drug development. Furthermore, mutations in PPT1 cause a lysosomal storage disorder called infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CLN1 disease). Molecules that can inhibit, stabilize, or modulate the activity of this target are needed to address these diseases. We used PPT1 enzymatic assays to identify molecules that were subsequently tested by using differential scanning fluorimetry and microscale thermophoresis. Selected compounds were also tested in neuroblastoma cell lines. The resulting PPT1 screening data was used for building machine learning models to help select additional compounds for testing. We discovered two of the most potent PPT1 inhibitors reported to date, orlistat (IC50 178.8 nM) and palmostatin B (IC50 11.8 nM). When tested in HepG2 cells, it was found that these molecules had decreased activity, indicating that they were likely not penetrating the cells. The combination of in vitro enzymatic and biophysical assays enabled the identification of several molecules that can bind or inhibit PPT1 and may aid in the discovery of modulators or chaperones. The molecules identified could be used as a starting point for further optimization as treatments for other potential therapeutic applications outside CLN1 disease, such as cancer and neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Puhl
- Collaborations
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Renuka Raman
- Collaborations
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Tammy M. Havener
- UNC
Catalyst for Rare Diseases, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Eni Minerali
- Collaborations
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Anthony J. Hickey
- UNC
Catalyst for Rare Diseases, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- RTI
International, Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
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3
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Leppert HG, Anderson JT, Timm KJ, Davoli C, Pratt MA, Booth CD, White KA, Rechtzigel MJ, Meyerink BL, Johnson TB, Brudvig JJ, Weimer JM. Sortilin inhibition treats multiple neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorders. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.22.559064. [PMID: 37790379 PMCID: PMC10543011 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.22.559064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are a genetically and clinically diverse group of diseases characterized by lysosomal dysfunction. Batten disease is a family of severe LSDs primarily impacting the central nervous system. Here we show that AF38469, a small molecule inhibitor of sortilin, improves lysosomal and glial pathology across multiple LSD models. Live-cell imaging and comparative transcriptomics demonstrates that the transcription factor EB (TFEB), an upstream regulator of lysosomal biogenesis, is activated upon treatment with AF38469. Utilizing CLN2 and CLN3 Batten disease mouse models, we performed a short-term efficacy study and show that treatment with AF38469 prevents the accumulation of lysosomal storage material and the development of neuroinflammation, key disease associated pathologies. Tremor phenotypes, an early behavioral phenotype in the CLN2 disease model, were also completely rescued. These findings reveal sortilin inhibition as a novel and highly efficacious therapeutic modality for the treatment of multiple forms of Batten disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah G. Leppert
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD
| | | | - Kaylie J. Timm
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD
| | - Cristina Davoli
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD
| | - Melissa A. Pratt
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD
| | - Clarissa D. Booth
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD
| | | | | | | | - Tyler B. Johnson
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD
| | - Jon J. Brudvig
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Jill M. Weimer
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
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4
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Placci M, Giannotti MI, Muro S. Polymer-based drug delivery systems under investigation for enzyme replacement and other therapies of lysosomal storage disorders. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 197:114683. [PMID: 36657645 PMCID: PMC10629597 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Lysosomes play a central role in cellular homeostasis and alterations in this compartment associate with many diseases. The most studied example is that of lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs), a group of 60 + maladies due to genetic mutations affecting lysosomal components, mostly enzymes. This leads to aberrant intracellular storage of macromolecules, altering normal cell function and causing multiorgan syndromes, often fatal within the first years of life. Several treatment modalities are available for a dozen LSDs, mostly consisting of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) strategies. Yet, poor biodistribution to main targets such as the central nervous system, musculoskeletal tissue, and others, as well as generation of blocking antibodies and adverse effects hinder effective LSD treatment. Drug delivery systems are being studied to surmount these obstacles, including polymeric constructs and nanoparticles that constitute the focus of this article. We provide an overview of the formulations being tested, the diseases they aim to treat, and the results observed from respective in vitro and in vivo studies. We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these strategies, the remaining gaps of knowledge regarding their performance, and important items to consider for their clinical translation. Overall, polymeric nanoconstructs hold considerable promise to advance treatment for LSDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Placci
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Marina I Giannotti
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain; CIBER-BBN, ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Materials Science and Physical Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Silvia Muro
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain; Institute of Catalonia for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona 08010, Spain; Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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5
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Del Grosso A, Parlanti G, Mezzena R, Cecchini M. Current treatment options and novel nanotechnology-driven enzyme replacement strategies for lysosomal storage disorders. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 188:114464. [PMID: 35878795 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are a vast group of more than 50 clinically identified metabolic diseases. They are singly rare, but they affect collectively 1 on 5,000 live births. They result in most of the cases from an enzymatic defect within lysosomes, which causes the subsequent augmentation of unwanted substrates. This accumulation process leads to plenty of clinical signs, determined by the specific substrate and accumulation area. The majority of LSDs present a broad organ and tissue engagement. Brain, connective tissues, viscera and bones are usually afflicted. Among them, brain disease is markedly frequent (two-thirds of LSDs). The most clinically employed approach to treat LSDs is enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), which is practiced by administering systemically the missed or defective enzyme. It represents a healthful strategy for 11 LSDs at the moment, but it solves the pathology only in the case of Gaucher disease. This approach, in fact, is not efficacious in the case of LSDs that have an effect on the central nervous system (CNS) due to the existence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Additionally, ERT suffers from several other weak points, such as low penetration of the exogenously administered enzyme to poorly vascularized areas, the development of immunogenicity and infusion-associated reactions (IARs), and, last but not least, the very high cost and lifelong needed. To ameliorate these weaknesses lot of efforts have been recently spent around the development of innovative nanotechnology-driven ERT strategies. They may boost the power of ERT and minimize adverse reactions by loading enzymes into biodegradable nanomaterials. Enzyme encapsulation into biocompatible liposomes, micelles, and polymeric nanoparticles, for example, can protect enzymatic activity, eliminating immunologic reactions and premature enzyme degradation. It can also permit a controlled release of the payload, ameliorating pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug. Additionally, the potential to functionalize the surface of the nanocarrier with targeting agents (antibodies or peptides), could promote the passage through biological barriers. In this review we examined the clinically applied ERTs, highlighting limitations that do not allow to completely cure the specific LSD. Later, we critically consider the nanotechnology-based ERT strategies that have beenin-vitroand/orin-vivotested to improve ERT efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Del Grosso
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Parlanti
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberta Mezzena
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Cecchini
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
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6
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Brudvig JJ, Swier VJ, Johnson TB, Cain JC, Pratt M, Rechtzigel M, Leppert H, Dang Do AN, Porter FD, Weimer JM. Glycerophosphoinositol is Elevated in Blood Samples From CLN3Δex7-8 pigs, Cln3Δex7-8 Mice, and CLN3-Affected Individuals. Biomark Insights 2022; 17:11772719221107765. [PMID: 36212622 PMCID: PMC9535353 DOI: 10.1177/11772719221107765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: CLN3 Batten disease is a rare pediatric neurodegenerative lysosomal disorder
caused by biallelic disease-associated variants in CLN3.
Despite decades of intense research, specific biofluid biomarkers of disease
status have not been reported, hindering clinical development of therapies.
Thus, we sought to determine whether individuals with CLN3 Batten disease
have elevated levels of specific metabolites in blood. Methods: We performed an exhaustive metabolomic screen using serum samples from a
novel minipig model of CLN3 Batten disease and validated findings in
CLN3 pig serum and CSF and Cln3 mouse
serum. We further validate biomarker candidates with a retrospective
analysis of plasma and CSF samples collected from participants in a natural
history study. Plasma samples were evaluated from 22 phenotyped individuals
with CLN3 disease, 15 heterozygous carriers, and 6 non-affected non-carriers
(NANC). Results: CLN3 pig serum samples from 4 ages exhibited large elevations in 4
glycerophosphodiester species: glycerophosphoinositol (GPI),
glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE), glycerophosphocholine (GPC), and
glycerophosphoserine (GPS). GPI and GPE exhibited the largest elevations,
with similar elevations found in CLN3 pig CSF and
Cln3 mouse serum. In plasma samples from individuals
with CLN3 disease, glycerophosphoethanolamine and glycerophosphoinositol
were significantly elevated with glycerophosphoinositol exhibiting the
clearest separation (mean 0.1338 vs 0.04401 nmol/mL for non-affected
non-carriers). Glycerophosphoinositol demonstrated excellent sensitivity and
specificity as a biomarker, with a receiver operating characteristic area
under the curve of 0.9848 (P = .0003). Conclusions: GPE and GPI could have utility as biomarkers of CLN3 disease status. GPI, in
particular, shows consistent elevations across a diverse cohort of
individuals with CLN3. This raises the potential to use these biomarkers as
a blood-based diagnostic test or as an efficacy measure for
disease-modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon J Brudvig
- Pediatrics & Rare Diseases, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, SD, USA
- Discovery Science, Amicus Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vicki J Swier
- Pediatrics & Rare Diseases, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Tyler B Johnson
- Pediatrics & Rare Diseases, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- Discovery Science, Amicus Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jacob C Cain
- Pediatrics & Rare Diseases, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- Discovery Science, Amicus Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Melissa Pratt
- Pediatrics & Rare Diseases, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Mitch Rechtzigel
- Pediatrics & Rare Diseases, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Hannah Leppert
- Pediatrics & Rare Diseases, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - An N Dang Do
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Forbes D Porter
- Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jill M Weimer
- Pediatrics & Rare Diseases, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, SD, USA
- Discovery Science, Amicus Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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7
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Kovács AD, Langin LM, Hernandez JLG, Pearce DA. Acidified drinking water attenuates motor deficits and brain pathology in a mouse model of a childhood neurodegenerative disorder. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9025. [PMID: 35637265 PMCID: PMC9151921 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12981-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractWe recently demonstrated that HCl-acidified drinking water, which is widely used in laboratory animal facilities, had some beneficial effects in the Cln3−/− mouse model of juvenile Batten disease, a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder1. Here we tested if acidified drinking water has therapeutic effects in Cln1R151X nonsense mutant mice, a model of the infantile form of Batten disease. In Cln1R151X mice, acidified drinking water received from weaning prevented the impairment in pole climbing ability measured at 3 and 6 months of age. Histopathological analysis of the brain at 6 months showed that acidified drinking water decreased the amount of lysosomal storage material, reduced astrocytosis in the striatum and somatosensory barrelfield cortex, and attenuated microglial activation in the thalamus. Compared to wild-type mice, the gut microbiota of Cln1R151X mice was markedly different. Acidified drinking water significantly altered the gut microbiota composition of Cln1R151X mice, indicating a contribution of gut bacteria to the therapeutic effects of acidified water. Our results in Cln1R151X mice suggest that acidified drinking water may have beneficial effects for patients with infantile Batten disease. This study also verifies that acidified drinking water can modify disease phenotypes in mouse models, contributing to the inter-laboratory variations in neurological and pathological findings.
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8
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Recent Insight into the Genetic Basis, Clinical Features, and Diagnostic Methods for Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105729. [PMID: 35628533 PMCID: PMC9145894 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are a group of rare, inherited, neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorders that affect children and adults. They are traditionally grouped together, based on shared clinical symptoms and pathological ground. To date, 13 autosomal recessive gene variants, as well as one autosomal dominant gene variant, of NCL have been described. These genes encode a variety of proteins, whose functions have not been fully defined; most are lysosomal enzymes, transmembrane proteins of the lysosome, or other organelles. Common symptoms of NCLs include the progressive loss of vision, mental and motor deterioration, epileptic seizures, premature death, and, in rare adult-onset cases, dementia. Depending on the mutation, these symptoms can vary, with respect to the severity and onset of symptoms by age. Currently, all forms of NCL are fatal, and no curative treatments are available. Herein, we provide an overview to summarize the current knowledge regarding the pathophysiology, genetics, and clinical manifestation of these conditions, as well as the approach to diagnosis.
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9
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Seizures in PPT1 Knock-In Mice Are Associated with Inflammatory Activation of Microglia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105586. [PMID: 35628400 PMCID: PMC9144763 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL), the most severe form of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, is caused by mutations in the lysosomal enzyme palmitoyl protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1). Typical symptoms of this disease include progressive psychomotor developmental retardation, visual failure, seizures, and premature death. Here, we investigated seizure activity and relevant pathological changes in PPT1 knock-in mice (PPT1 KI). The behavior studies in this study demonstrated that PPT1 KI mice had no significant seizure activity until 7 months of age, and local field potentials also displayed epileptiform activity at the same age. The expression levels of Iba-1 and CD68 demonstrated, by Western blot analysis, the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α content measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the number of microglia demonstrated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) were significantly increased at age of 7 months, all of which indicate microglia activation at an age of seizure onset. The increased expression of GFAP were seen at an earlier age of 4 months, and such an increase reached its peak at age of 6 months, indicating that astrocyte activation precedes microglia. The purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is an ATP-sensitive ionic channel that is highly expressed in microglia and is fundamental to microglial activation, proliferation, cytokines release and epilepsy. We show that the ATP concentration in hippocampal tissue in PPT1 KI mice was increased using an enhanced ATP assay kit and demonstrated that the antagonist of P2X7R, A-438079, significantly reduced seizures in PPT1 KI mice. In contrast to glial cell activation and proliferation, a significant reduction in synaptic proteins GABAAR was seen in PPT1 KI mice. These results indicate that seizure in PPT1 KI mice may be associated with microglial activation involved in ATP-sensitive P2X7R signaling and impaired inhibitory neurotransmission.
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10
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Takahashi K, Nelvagal HR, Lange J, Cooper JD. Glial Dysfunction and Its Contribution to the Pathogenesis of the Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses. Front Neurol 2022; 13:886567. [PMID: 35444603 PMCID: PMC9013902 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.886567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
While significant efforts have been made in developing pre-clinical treatments for the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs), many challenges still remain to bring children with NCLs a cure. Devising effective therapeutic strategies for the NCLs will require a better understanding of pathophysiology, but little is known about the mechanisms by which loss of lysosomal proteins causes such devastating neurodegeneration. Research into glial cells including astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes have revealed many of their critical functions in brain homeostasis and potential contributions to neurodegenerative diseases. Genetically modified mouse models have served as a useful platform to define the disease progression in the central nervous system across NCL subtypes, revealing a wide range of glial responses to disease. The emerging evidence of glial dysfunction questions the traditional “neuron-centric” view of NCLs, and would suggest that directly targeting glia in addition to neurons could lead to better therapeutic outcomes. This review summarizes the most up-to-date understanding of glial pathologies and their contribution to the pathogenesis of NCLs, and highlights some of the associated challenges that require further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keigo Takahashi
- Pediatric Storage Disorders Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Hemanth R. Nelvagal
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny Lange
- Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan D. Cooper
- Pediatric Storage Disorders Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Jonathan D. Cooper
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11
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On the cusp of cures: Breakthroughs in Batten disease research. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 72:48-54. [PMID: 34571324 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Batten disease is a family of rare, lysosomal disorders caused by mutations in one of at least 13 genes, which encode a diverse set of lysosomal and extralysosomal proteins. Despite decades of research, the development of effective therapies has remained intractable. But now, the field is experiencing rapid, unprecedented progress on multiple fronts. New tools are providing insights into previously unsolvable problems, with molecular functions now known for nine Batten disease proteins. Protein interactome data are uncovering potential functional overlap between several Batten disease proteins, providing long-sought links between seemingly disparate proteins. Understanding of cellular etiology is elucidating contributions from and interactions between various CNS cell types. Collectively, this explosion in insight is hastening an unparalleled period of therapeutic breakthroughs, with multiple therapies showing great promise in preclinical and clinical studies. The coming years will provide a continuation of this rapid progress, with the promise of effective treatments giving patients hope.
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12
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Branca M. Slivers of the spectrum. Nat Biotechnol 2021; 39:540-545. [PMID: 33888895 PMCID: PMC8061880 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-021-00913-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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13
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Abstract
Inhibiting eukaryotic protein translation with small molecules is emerging as a powerful therapeutic strategy. The advantage of targeting cellular translational machinery is that it is required for the highly proliferative state of many neoplastic cells, replication of certain viruses, and ultimately the expression of a wide variety of protein targets. Although, this approach has been exploited to develop clinical agents, such as homoharringtonine (HHT, 1), used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), inhibiting components of the translational machinery is often associated with cytotoxic phenotypes. However, recent studies have demonstrated that certain small molecules can inhibit the translation of specific subsets of proteins, leading to lower cytotoxicity, and opening-up therapeutic opportunities for translation inhibitors to be deployed in indications beyond oncology and infectious disease. This review summarizes efforts to develop inhibitors of the eukaryotic translational machinery as therapeutic agents and highlights emerging opportunities for translation inhibitors in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Fan
- Department of Discovery Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Phillip P Sharp
- Department of Discovery Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
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14
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Balouch B, Nagorsky H, Pham T, LaGraff JT, Chu-LaGraff Q. Human INCL fibroblasts display abnormal mitochondrial and lysosomal networks and heightened susceptibility to ROS-induced cell death. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0239689. [PMID: 33561134 PMCID: PMC7872282 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (INCL) is a pediatric neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive retinal and central nervous system deterioration during infancy. This lysosomal storage disorder results from a deficiency in the Palmitoyl Protein Thioesterase 1 (PPT1) enzyme—a lysosomal hydrolase which cleaves fatty acid chains such as palmitate from lipid-modified proteins. In the absence of PPT1 activity, these proteins fail to be degraded, leading to the accumulation of autofluorescence storage material in the lysosome. The underlying molecular mechanisms leading to INCL pathology remain poorly understood. A role for oxidative stress has been postulated, yet little evidence has been reported to support this possibility. Here we present a comprehensive cellular characterization of human PPT1-deficient fibroblast cells harboring Met1Ile and Tyr247His compound heterozygous mutations. We detected autofluorescence storage material and observed distinct organellar abnormalities of the lysosomal and mitochondrial structures, which supported previous postulations about the role of ER, mitochondria and oxidative stress in INCL. An increase in the number of lysosomal structures was found in INCL patient fibroblasts, which suggested an upregulation of lysosomal biogenesis, and an association with endoplasmic reticulum stress response. The mitochondrial network also displayed abnormal spherical punctate morphology instead of normal elongated tubules with extensive branching, supporting the involvement of mitochondrial and oxidative stress in INCL cell death. Autofluorescence accumulation and lysosomal pathologies can be mitigated in the presence of conditioned wild type media suggesting that a partial restoration via passive introduction of the enzyme into the cellular environment may be possible. We also demonstrated, for the first time, that human INCL fibroblasts have a heightened susceptibility to exogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cell death, which suggested an elevated basal level of endogenous ROS in the mutant cell. Collectively, these findings support the role of intracellular organellar networks in INCL pathology, possibly due to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey Balouch
- Neuroscience Program, Union College, Schenectady, New York, United States of America
| | - Halle Nagorsky
- Neuroscience Program, Union College, Schenectady, New York, United States of America
| | - Truc Pham
- Department of Biology, Union College, Schenectady, New York, United States of America
| | - James Thai LaGraff
- Department of Biology, Union College, Schenectady, New York, United States of America
| | - Quynh Chu-LaGraff
- Neuroscience Program, Union College, Schenectady, New York, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Union College, Schenectady, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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15
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Nelvagal HR, Lange J, Takahashi K, Tarczyluk-Wells MA, Cooper JD. Pathomechanisms in the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165570. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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16
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Parker C, Zhao J, Pearce DA, Kovács AD. Comparative analysis of the gut microbiota composition in the Cln1 R151X and Cln2 R207X mouse models of Batten disease and in three wild-type mouse strains. Arch Microbiol 2020; 203:85-96. [PMID: 32749661 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-020-02007-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Accumulated evidence indicates that the gut microbiota affects brain function and may be altered in neurological diseases. In this study, we analyzed the gut microbiota in Cln1R151X and Cln2R207X mice, models of the childhood neurodegenerative disorders, infantile CLN1 and late infantile CLN2 Batten diseases. Significant alterations were found in the overall gut microbiota composition and also at the individual taxonomic ranks as compared to wild-type mice. The disease-specific alterations in the gut microbiota of Cln1R151X and Cln2R207X mice may contribute to the disease phenotypes observed in these mouse models. We also compared the gut microbiota composition of three wild-type mouse strains frequently used in transgenic studies: 129S6/SvEv, C57BL/6J and mixed 129S6/SvEv × C57BL/6J. Our results show that the gut microbiota of 129S6/SvEv and C57BL/6J mice differs remarkably, which likely contributes to the known, pronounced differences in behavior and disease susceptibility between these two wild-type mouse strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Parker
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E. 60th Street N., Sioux Falls, SD, 57014, USA
| | - Jing Zhao
- Population Health Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USA.,Center for Biostatistics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - David A Pearce
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E. 60th Street N., Sioux Falls, SD, 57014, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USA
| | - Attila D Kovács
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E. 60th Street N., Sioux Falls, SD, 57014, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USA.
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17
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Langin L, Johnson TB, Kovács AD, Pearce DA, Weimer JM. A tailored Cln3 Q352X mouse model for testing therapeutic interventions in CLN3 Batten disease. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10591. [PMID: 32601357 PMCID: PMC7324379 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67478-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
CLN3 Batten disease (CLN3 disease) is a pediatric lysosomal storage disorder that presents with progressive blindness, motor and cognitive decline, seizures, and premature death. CLN3 disease results from mutations in CLN3 with the most prevalent mutation, a 966 bp deletion spanning exons 7-8, affecting ~ 75% of patients. Mouse models with complete Cln3 deletion or Cln3Δex7/8 mutation have been invaluable for learning about both the basic biology of CLN3 and the underlying pathological changes associated with CLN3 disease. These models, however, vary in their disease presentation and are limited in their utility for studying the role of nonsense mediated decay, and as a consequence, in testing nonsense suppression therapies and read-through compounds. In order to develop a model containing a disease-causing nonsense point mutation, here we describe a first-of-its-kind Cln3Q352X mouse model containing a c.1054C > T (p.Gln352Ter) point mutation. Similar to previously characterized Cln3 mutant mouse lines, this novel model shows pathological deficits throughout the CNS including accumulation of lysosomal storage material and glial activation, and has limited perturbation in behavioral measures. Thus, at the molecular and cellular level, this mouse line provides a valuable tool for testing nonsense suppression therapies or read through compounds in CLN3 disease in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan Langin
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E. 60th N, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA
| | - Tyler B Johnson
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E. 60th N, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA
| | - Attila D Kovács
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E. 60th N, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - David A Pearce
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E. 60th N, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
| | - Jill M Weimer
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E. 60th N, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
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18
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Wang X, Shan X, Gregory-Evans K, Gregory-Evans CY. RNA-based therapies in animal models of Leber congenital amaurosis causing blindness. PRECISION CLINICAL MEDICINE 2020; 3:113-126. [PMID: 35692607 PMCID: PMC8985810 DOI: 10.1093/pcmedi/pbaa009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a severe, genetically heterogeneous recessive eye disease in which ~ 35% of gene mutations are in-frame nonsense mutations coding for loss-of-function premature termination codons (PTCs) in mRNA. Nonsense suppression therapy allows read-through of PTCs leading to production of full-length protein. A limitation of nonsense suppression is that nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) degrades PTC-containing RNA transcripts. The purpose of this study was to determine whether inhibition of NMD could improve nonsense suppression efficacy in vivo. Using a high-throughput approach in the recessive cep290 zebrafish model of LCA (cep290;Q1223X), we first tested the NMD inhibitor Amlexanox in combination with the nonsense suppression drug Ataluren. We observed reduced retinal cell death and improved visual function. With these positive data, we next investigated whether this strategy was also applicable across species in two mammalian models: Rd12 (rpe65;R44X) and Rd3 (rd3;R107X) mouse models of LCA. In the Rd12 model, cell death was reduced, RPE65 protein was produced, and in vivo visual function testing was improved. We establish for the first time that the mechanism of action of Amlexanox in Rd12 retina was through reduced UPF1 phosphorylation. In the Rd3 model, however, no beneficial effect was observed with Ataluren alone or in combination with Amlexanox. This variation in response establishes that some forms of nonsense mutation LCA can be targeted by RNA therapies, but that this needs to be verified for each genotype. The implementation of precision medicine by identifying better responders to specific drugs is essential for development of validated retinal therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V5Z 3N9, Canada
| | - Xianghong Shan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V5Z 3N9, Canada
| | - Kevin Gregory-Evans
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V5Z 3N9, Canada
| | - Cheryl Y Gregory-Evans
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V5Z 3N9, Canada
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19
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Favret JM, Weinstock NI, Feltri ML, Shin D. Pre-clinical Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Lysosomal Storage Diseases. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:57. [PMID: 32351971 PMCID: PMC7174556 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There are over 50 lysosomal hydrolase deficiencies, many of which cause neurodegeneration, cognitive decline and death. In recent years, a number of broad innovative therapies have been proposed and investigated for lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), such as enzyme replacement, substrate reduction, pharmacologic chaperones, stem cell transplantation, and various forms of gene therapy. Murine models that accurately reflect the phenotypes observed in human LSDs are critical for the development, assessment and implementation of novel translational therapies. The goal of this review is to summarize the neurodegenerative murine LSD models available that recapitulate human disease, and the pre-clinical studies previously conducted. We also describe some limitations and difficulties in working with mouse models of neurodegenerative LSDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Daesung Shin
- Hunter James Kelly Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
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20
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Liu W, Kleine-Holthaus SM, Herranz-Martin S, Aristorena M, Mole SE, Smith AJ, Ali RR, Rahim AA. Experimental gene therapies for the NCLs. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165772. [PMID: 32220628 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs), also known as Batten disease, are a group of rare monogenic neurodegenerative diseases predominantly affecting children. All NCLs are lethal and incurable and only one has an approved treatment available. To date, 13 NCL subtypes (CLN1-8, CLN10-14) have been identified, based on the particular disease-causing defective gene. The exact functions of NCL proteins and the pathological mechanisms underlying the diseases are still unclear. However, gene therapy has emerged as an attractive therapeutic strategy for this group of conditions. Here we provide a short review discussing updates on the current gene therapy studies for the NCLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfei Liu
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, UK
| | | | - Saul Herranz-Martin
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, UK; Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (UAM-CSIC) and Departamento de Biología Molecular,Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Sara E Mole
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK; UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | | | - Robin R Ali
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Ahad A Rahim
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, UK.
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21
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Nelvagal HR, Cooper JD. An update on the progress of preclinical models for guiding therapeutic management of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2019.1703672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hemanth Ramesh Nelvagal
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of genetics and genomics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jonathan D Cooper
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of genetics and genomics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
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22
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Rosenberg JB, Chen A, Kaminsky SM, Crystal RG, Sondhi D. Advances in the Treatment of Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2019; 7:473-500. [PMID: 33365208 PMCID: PMC7755158 DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2019.1684258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL) represent a class of neurodegenerative disorders involving defective lysosomal processing enzymes or receptors, leading to lysosomal storage disorders, typically characterized by observation of cognitive and visual impairments, epileptic seizures, ataxia, and deterioration of motor skills. Recent success of a biologic (Brineura®) for the treatment of neurologic manifestations of the central nervous system (CNS) has led to renewed interest in therapeutics for NCL, with the goal of ablating or reversing the impact of these devastating disorders. Despite complex challenges associated with CNS therapy, many treatment modalities have been evaluated, including enzyme replacement therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and small molecule pharmacotherapy. Because the clinical endpoints for the evaluation of candidate therapies are complex and often reliant on subjective clinical scales, the development of quantitative biomarkers for NCLs has become an apparent necessity for the validation of potential treatments. We will discuss the latest findings in the search for relevant biomarkers for assessing disease progression. For this review, we will focus primarily on recent pre-clinical and clinical developments for treatments to halt or cure these NCL diseases. Continued development of current therapies and discovery of newer modalities will be essential for successful therapeutics for NCL. AREAS COVERED The reader will be introduced to the NCL subtypes, natural histories, experimental animal models, and biomarkers for NCL progression; challenges and different therapeutic approaches, and the latest pre-clinical and clinical research for therapeutic development for the various NCLs. This review corresponds to the literatures covering the years from 1968 to mid-2019, but primarily addresses pre-clinical and clinical developments for the treatment of NCL disease in the last decade and as a follow-up to our 2013 review of the same topic in this journal. EXPERT OPINION Much progress has been made in the treatment of neurologic diseases, such as the NCLs, including better animal models and improved therapeutics with better survival outcomes. Encouraging results are being reported at symposiums and in the literature, with multiple therapeutics reaching the clinical trial stage for the NCLs. The potential for a cure could be at hand after many years of trial and error in the preclinical studies. The clinical development of enzyme replacement therapy (Brineura® for CLN2), immunosuppression (CellCept® for CLN3), and gene therapy vectors (for CLN1, CLN2, CLN3, and CLN6) are providing encouragement to families that have a child afflicted with NCL. We believe that successful therapies in the future may involve the combination of two or more therapeutic modalities to provide therapeutic benefit especially as the patients grow older.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B Rosenberg
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Alvin Chen
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Stephen M Kaminsky
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Ronald G Crystal
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Dolan Sondhi
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
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23
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Huber RJ, Hughes SM, Liu W, Morgan A, Tuxworth RI, Russell C. The contribution of multicellular model organisms to neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis research. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165614. [PMID: 31783156 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The NCLs (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis) are forms of neurodegenerative disease that affect people of all ages and ethnicities but are most prevalent in children. Commonly known as Batten disease, this debilitating neurological disorder is comprised of 13 different subtypes that are categorized based on the particular gene that is mutated (CLN1-8, CLN10-14). The pathological mechanisms underlying the NCLs are not well understood due to our poor understanding of the functions of NCL proteins. Only one specific treatment (enzyme replacement therapy) is approved, which is for the treating the brain in CLN2 disease. Hence there remains a desperate need for further research into disease-modifying treatments. In this review, we present and evaluate the genes, proteins and studies performed in the social amoeba, nematode, fruit fly, zebrafish, mouse and large animals pertinent to NCL. In particular, we highlight the use of multicellular model organisms to study NCL protein function, pathology and pathomechanisms. Their use in testing novel therapeutic approaches is also presented. With this information, we highlight how future research in these systems may be able to provide new insight into NCL protein functions in human cells and aid in the development of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Huber
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Stephanie M Hughes
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre and Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Wenfei Liu
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Alan Morgan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Richard I Tuxworth
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Claire Russell
- Dept. Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London NW1 0TU, UK.
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24
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Changes in motor behavior, neuropathology, and gut microbiota of a Batten disease mouse model following administration of acidified drinking water. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14962. [PMID: 31628420 PMCID: PMC6802212 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51488-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
CLN3 mutations cause the fatal neurodegenerative disorder, CLN3 Batten disease. The Cln3−/− mouse model displays characteristic features of the human disease including motor deficits. When mice received acidified drinking water (pH 2.5–2.9) instead of normal tap water (pH 8.4) for several generations, the motor skills of Cln3−/− mice normalized to control levels, indicating a disease-modifying effect of acidified water. Here we investigated if acidified water administered from postnatal day 21 has therapeutic benefits in Cln3−/− mice. Indeed, acidified water temporarily attenuated the motor deficits, had beneficial effects on behavioral parameters and prevented microglial activation in the brain of Cln3−/− mice. Interestingly, in control mice, acidified drinking water caused brain region-specific glial activation and significant changes in motor performance. Since the gut microbiota can influence neurological functions, we examined it in our disease model and found that the gut microbiota of Cln3−/− mice was markedly different from control mice, and acidified water differentially changed the gut microbiota composition in these mice. These results indicate that acidified water may provide therapeutic benefit to CLN3 Batten disease patients, and that the pH of drinking water is a major environmental factor that strongly influences the results of murine behavioral and pathological studies.
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25
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Kadam SD, Sullivan BJ, Goyal A, Blue ME, Smith-Hicks C. Rett Syndrome and CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder: From Bench to Clinic. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20205098. [PMID: 31618813 PMCID: PMC6834180 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20205098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) and CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) are two rare X-linked developmental brain disorders with overlapping but distinct phenotypic features. This review examines the impact of loss of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) and cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) on clinical phenotype, deficits in synaptic- and circuit-homeostatic mechanisms, seizures, and sleep. In particular, we compare the overlapping and contrasting features between RTT and CDD in clinic and in preclinical studies. Finally, we discuss lessons learned from recent clinical trials while reviewing the findings from pre-clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa D Kadam
- The Hugo Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Brennan J Sullivan
- The Hugo Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Archita Goyal
- The Hugo Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Mary E Blue
- The Hugo Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Constance Smith-Hicks
- The Hugo Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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26
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Mice deficient in the lysosomal enzyme palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1) display a complex retinal phenotype. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14185. [PMID: 31578378 PMCID: PMC6775149 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50726-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) type 1 (CLN1) is a neurodegenerative storage disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding the lysosomal enzyme palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1). CLN1 patients suffer from brain atrophy, mental and motor retardation, seizures, and retinal degeneration ultimately resulting in blindness. Here, we performed an in-depth analysis of the retinal phenotype of a PPT1-deficient mouse, an animal model of this condition. Reactive astrogliosis and microgliosis were evident in mutant retinas prior to the onset of retinal cell loss. Progressive accumulation of storage material, a pronounced dysregulation of various lysosomal proteins, and accumulation of sequestosome/p62-positive aggregates in the inner nuclear layer also preceded retinal degeneration. At advanced stages of the disease, the mutant retina was characterized by a significant loss of ganglion cells, rod and cone photoreceptor cells, and rod and cone bipolar cells. Results demonstrate that PPT1 dysfunction results in early-onset pathological alterations in the mutant retina, followed by a progressive degeneration of various retinal cell types at relatively late stages of the disease. Data will serve as a reference for future work aimed at developing therapeutic strategies for the treatment of retinal degeneration in CLN1 disease.
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27
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Kauss V, Dambrova M, Medina DL. Pharmacological approaches to tackle NCLs. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165553. [PMID: 31521819 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, also collectively known as Batten disease, are a group of rare monogenic disorders caused by mutations in at least 13 different genes. They are characterized by the accumulation of lysosomal storage material and progressive neurological deterioration with dementia, epilepsy, retinopathy, motor disturbances, and early death [1]. Although the identification of disease-causing genes provides an important step for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, compared to other diseases, obstacles to the development of therapies for these rare diseases include less extensive physiopathology knowledge, limited number of patients to test treatments, and poor commercial interest from the industry. Current therapeutic strategies include enzyme replacement therapies, gene therapies targeting the brain and the eye, cell therapies, and pharmacological drugs that could modulate defective molecular pathways. In this review, we will focus in the emerging therapies based in the identification of small-molecules. Recent advances in high- throughput and high-content screening (HTS and HCS) using relevant cell-based assays and applying automation and imaging analysis algorithms, will allow the screening of a large number of compounds in lesser time. These approaches are particularly useful for drug repurposing for Batten disease, that takes the advantage to search for compounds that have already been tested in humans, thereby reducing significantly the resources needed for translation to clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerjans Kauss
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia; Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema 16, Riga LV-1007, Latvia
| | - Maija Dambrova
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia; Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema 16, Riga LV-1007, Latvia
| | - Diego Luis Medina
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy; Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Medical and Translational Science, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
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28
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Johnson TB, Cain JT, White KA, Ramirez-Montealegre D, Pearce DA, Weimer JM. Therapeutic landscape for Batten disease: current treatments and future prospects. Nat Rev Neurol 2019; 15:161-178. [PMID: 30783219 PMCID: PMC6681450 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-019-0138-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Batten disease (also known as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses) constitutes a family of devastating lysosomal storage disorders that collectively represent the most common inherited paediatric neurodegenerative disorders worldwide. Batten disease can result from mutations in 1 of 13 genes. These mutations lead to a group of diseases with loosely overlapping symptoms and pathology. Phenotypically, patients with Batten disease have visual impairment and blindness, cognitive and motor decline, seizures and premature death. Pathologically, Batten disease is characterized by lysosomal accumulation of autofluorescent storage material, glial reactivity and neuronal loss. Substantial progress has been made towards the development of effective therapies and treatments for the multiple forms of Batten disease. In 2017, cerliponase alfa (Brineura), a tripeptidyl peptidase enzyme replacement therapy, became the first globally approved treatment for CLN2 Batten disease. Here, we provide an overview of the promising therapeutic avenues for Batten disease, highlighting current FDA-approved clinical trials and prospective future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler B Johnson
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Jacob T Cain
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Katherine A White
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | | | - David A Pearce
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
| | - Jill M Weimer
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
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29
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Friesen WJ, Johnson B, Sierra J, Zhuo J, Vazirani P, Xue X, Tomizawa Y, Baiazitov R, Morrill C, Ren H, Babu S, Moon YC, Branstrom A, Mollin A, Hedrick J, Sheedy J, Elfring G, Weetall M, Colacino JM, Welch EM, Peltz SW. The minor gentamicin complex component, X2, is a potent premature stop codon readthrough molecule with therapeutic potential. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206158. [PMID: 30359426 PMCID: PMC6201930 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonsense mutations, resulting in a premature stop codon in the open reading frame of mRNAs are responsible for thousands of inherited diseases. Readthrough of premature stop codons by small molecule drugs has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach to treat disorders resulting from premature termination of translation. The aminoglycoside antibiotics are a class of molecule known to promote readthrough at premature termination codons. Gentamicin consists of a mixture of major and minor aminoglycoside components. Here, we investigated the readthrough activities of the individual components and show that each of the four major gentamicin complex components representing 92–99% of the complex each had similar potency and activity to that of the complex itself. In contrast, a minor component (gentamicin X2) was found to be the most potent and active readthrough component in the gentamicin complex. The known oto- and nephrotoxicity associated with aminoglycosides preclude long-term use as readthrough agents. Thus, we evaluated the components of the gentamicin complex as well as the so-called “designer” aminoglycoside, NB124, for in vitro and in vivo safety. In cells, we observed that gentamicin X2 had a safety/readthrough ratio (cytotoxicity/readthrough potency) superior to that of gentamicin, G418 or NB124. In rodents, we observed that gentamicin X2 showed a safety profile that was superior to G418 overall including reduced nephrotoxicity. These results support further investigation of gentamicin X2 as a therapeutic readthrough agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Westley J. Friesen
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Briana Johnson
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Jairo Sierra
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Jin Zhuo
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Priya Vazirani
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Xiaojiao Xue
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Yuki Tomizawa
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Ramil Baiazitov
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Christie Morrill
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Hongyu Ren
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Suresh Babu
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Young-Choon Moon
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Art Branstrom
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Anna Mollin
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Jean Hedrick
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Josephine Sheedy
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Gary Elfring
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Marla Weetall
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | | | - Ellen M. Welch
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
| | - Stuart W. Peltz
- PTC Therapeutics, South Plainfield, NJ, United States of America
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30
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Huang L, Low A, Damle SS, Keenan MM, Kuntz S, Murray SF, Monia BP, Guo S. Antisense suppression of the nonsense mediated decay factor Upf3b as a potential treatment for diseases caused by nonsense mutations. Genome Biol 2018; 19:4. [PMID: 29334995 PMCID: PMC5769327 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-017-1386-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background About 11% of all human genetic diseases are caused by nonsense mutations that generate premature translation termination codons (PTCs) in messenger RNAs (mRNA). PTCs not only lead to the production of truncated proteins, but also often result in decreased mRNA abundance due to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Although pharmacological inhibition of NMD could be an attractive therapeutic approach for the treatment of diseases caused by nonsense mutations, NMD also regulates the expression of 10–20% of the normal transcriptome. Results Here, we investigate whether NMD can be inhibited to stabilize mutant mRNAs, which may subsequently produce functional proteins, without having a major impact on the normal transcriptome. We develop antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to systematically deplete each component in the NMD pathway. We find that ASO-mediated depletion of each NMD factor elicits different magnitudes of NMD inhibition in vitro and are differentially tolerated in normal mice. Among all of the NMD factors, Upf3b depletion is well tolerated, consistent with previous reports that UPF3B is not essential for development and regulates only a subset of the endogenous NMD substrates. While minimally impacting the normal transcriptome, Upf3b-ASO treatment significantly stabilizes the PTC-containing dystrophin mRNA in mdx mice and coagulation factor IX mRNA in a hemophilia mouse model. Furthermore, when combined with reagents promoting translational read-through, Upf3b-ASO treatment leads to the production of functional factor IX protein in hemophilia mice. Conclusions These data demonstrate that ASO-mediated reduction of the NMD factor Upf3b could be an effective and safe approach for the treatment of diseases caused by nonsense mutations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13059-017-1386-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Huang
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Audrey Low
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Sagar S Damle
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | | | - Steven Kuntz
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | | | - Brett P Monia
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Shuling Guo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA.
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31
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Banning A, Schiff M, Tikkanen R. Amlexanox provides a potential therapy for nonsense mutations in the lysosomal storage disorder Aspartylglucosaminuria. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2017; 1864:668-675. [PMID: 29247835 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2017.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the gene for aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA). This enzyme participates in glycoprotein degradation in lysosomes. AGU results in progressive mental retardation, and no curative therapy is currently available. We have here characterized the consequences of AGA gene mutations in a compound heterozygous patient who exhibits a missense mutation producing a Ser72Pro substitution in one allele, and a nonsense mutation Trp168X in the other. Ser72 is not a catalytic residue, but is required for the stabilization of the active site conformation. Thus, Ser72Pro exchange impairs the autocatalytic activation of the AGA precursor, and results in a considerable reduction of the enzyme activity and in altered AGA precursor processing. Betaine, which can partially rescue the AGA activity in AGU patients carrying certain missense mutations, turned out to be ineffective in the case of Ser72Pro substitution. The Trp168X nonsense allele results in complete lack of AGA polypeptide due to nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) of the mRNA. Amlexanox, which inhibits NMD and causes a translational read-through, facilitated the synthesis of a full-length, functional AGA protein from the nonsense allele. This could be demonstrated as presence of the AGA polypeptide and increased enzyme activity upon Amlexanox treatment. Furthermore, in the Ser72Pro/Trp168X expressing cells, Amlexanox induced a synergistic increase in AGA activity and polypeptide processing due to enhanced processing of the Ser72Pro polypeptide. Our data show for the first time that Amlexanox might provide a valid therapy for AGU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Banning
- Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Giessen, Friedrichstrasse 24, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Manuel Schiff
- AP-HP, Robert Debré Hospital, Reference Center for Inherited Metabolic Diseases, University Paris Diderot-Sorbonne Paris Cité, PROTECT, INSERM U1141, Paris, France
| | - Ritva Tikkanen
- Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Giessen, Friedrichstrasse 24, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
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32
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Katz ML, Rustad E, Robinson GO, Whiting REH, Student JT, Coates JR, Narfstrom K. Canine neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses: Promising models for preclinical testing of therapeutic interventions. Neurobiol Dis 2017; 108:277-287. [PMID: 28860089 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/26/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are devastating inherited progressive neurodegenerative diseases, with most forms having a childhood onset of clinical signs. The NCLs are characterized by progressive cognitive and motor decline, vision loss, seizures, respiratory and swallowing impairment, and ultimately premature death. Different forms of NCL result from mutations in at least 13 genes. The clinical signs of some forms overlap significantly, so genetic testing is the only way to definitively determine which form an individual patient suffers from. At present, an effective treatment is available for only one form of NCL. Evidence of NCL has been documented in over 20 canine breeds and in mixed-breed dogs. To date, 12 mutations in 8 different genes orthologous to the human NCL genes have been found to underlie NCL in a variety of dog breeds. A Dachshund model with a null mutation in one of these genes is being utilized to investigate potential therapeutic interventions, including enzyme replacement and gene therapies. Demonstration of the efficacy of enzyme replacement therapy in this model led to successful completion of human clinical trials of this treatment. Further research into the other canine NCLs, with in-depth characterization and understanding of the disease processes, will likely lead to the development of successful therapeutic interventions for additional forms of NCL, for both human patients and animals with these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin L Katz
- Mason Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
| | - Eline Rustad
- Blue Star Animal Hospital, Göteborg 417 07, Sweden
| | - Grace O Robinson
- Mason Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Rebecca E H Whiting
- Mason Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Student
- Mason Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Joan R Coates
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Kristina Narfstrom
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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33
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Nelvagal HR, Cooper JD. Translating preclinical models of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis: progress and prospects. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2017.1360182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hemanth R. Nelvagal
- Pediatric Storage Disorders Laboratory, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan D. Cooper
- Pediatric Storage Disorders Laboratory, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Torrance, CA, USA
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34
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Geraets RD, Langin LM, Cain JT, Parker CM, Beraldi R, Kovacs AD, Weimer JM, Pearce DA. A tailored mouse model of CLN2 disease: A nonsense mutant for testing personalized therapies. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176526. [PMID: 28464005 PMCID: PMC5413059 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (NCLs), also known as Batten disease, result from mutations in over a dozen genes. Although, adults are susceptible, the NCLs are frequently classified as pediatric neurodegenerative diseases due to their greater pediatric prevalence. Initial clinical presentation usually consists of either seizures or retinopathy but develops to encompass both in conjunction with declining motor and cognitive function. The NCLs result in premature death due to the absence of curative therapies. Nevertheless, preclinical and clinical trials exist for various therapies. However, the genotypes of NCL animal models determine which therapeutic approaches can be assessed. Mutations of the CLN2 gene encoding a soluble lysosomal enzyme, tripeptidyl peptidase 1 (TPP1), cause late infantile NCL/CLN2 disease. The genotype of the original mouse model of CLN2 disease, Cln2-/-, excludes mutation guided therapies like antisense oligonucleotides and nonsense suppression. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a model of CLN2 disease that allows for the assessment of all therapeutic approaches. Nonsense mutations in CLN2 disease are frequent, the most common being CLN2R208X. Thus, we created a mouse model that carries a mutation equivalent to the human p.R208X mutation. Molecular assessment of Cln2R207X/R207X tissues determined significant reduction in Cln2 transcript abundance and TPP1 enzyme activity. This reduction leads to the development of neurological impairment (e.g. tremors) and neuropathology (e.g. astrocytosis). Collectively, these assessments indicate that the Cln2R207X/R207X mouse is a valid CLN2 disease model which can be used for the preclinical evaluation of all therapeutic approaches including mutation guided therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan D. Geraets
- Children’s Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States of America
- Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States of America
| | - Logan M. Langin
- Children’s Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States of America
| | - Jacob T. Cain
- Children’s Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States of America
| | - Camille M. Parker
- Children’s Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States of America
| | - Rosanna Beraldi
- Children’s Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States of America
| | - Attila D. Kovacs
- Children’s Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States of America
- Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States of America
| | - Jill M. Weimer
- Children’s Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States of America
- Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States of America
| | - David A. Pearce
- Children’s Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States of America
- Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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35
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Targeting Nonsense Mutations in Diseases with Translational Read-Through-Inducing Drugs (TRIDs). BioDrugs 2016; 30:49-74. [PMID: 26886021 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-016-0157-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, remarkable advances in the ability to diagnose genetic disorders have been made. The identification of disease-causing genes allows the development of gene-specific therapies with the ultimate goal to develop personalized medicines for each patient according to their own specific genetic defect. In-depth genotyping of many different genes has revealed that ~12% of inherited genetic disorders are caused by in-frame nonsense mutations. Nonsense (non-coding) mutations are caused by point mutations, which generate premature termination codons (PTCs) that cause premature translational termination of the mRNA, and subsequently inhibit normal full-length protein expression. Recently, a gene-based therapeutic approach for genetic diseases caused by nonsense mutations has emerged, namely the so-called translational read-through (TR) therapy. Read-through therapy is based on the discovery that small molecules, known as TR-inducing drugs (TRIDs), allow the translation machinery to suppress a nonsense codon, elongate the nascent peptide chain, and consequently result in the synthesis of full-length protein. Several TRIDs are currently under investigation and research has been performed on several genetic disorders caused by nonsense mutations over the years. These findings have raised hope for the usage of TR therapy as a gene-based pharmacogenetic therapy for nonsense mutations in various genes responsible for a variety of genetic diseases.
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36
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Kolicheski A, Barnes Heller HL, Arnold S, Schnabel RD, Taylor JF, Knox CA, Mhlanga-Mutangadura T, O'Brien DP, Johnson GS, Dreyfus J, Katz ML. Homozygous PPT1 Splice Donor Mutation in a Cane Corso Dog With Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis. J Vet Intern Med 2016; 31:149-157. [PMID: 28008682 PMCID: PMC5259623 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.14632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A 10‐month‐old spayed female Cane Corso dog was evaluated after a 2‐month history of progressive blindness, ataxia, and lethargy. Neurologic examination abnormalities indicated a multifocal lesion with primarily cerebral and cerebellar signs. Clinical worsening resulted in humane euthanasia. On necropsy, there was marked astrogliosis throughout white matter tracts of the cerebrum, most prominently in the corpus callosum. In the cerebral cortex and midbrain, most neurons contained large amounts of autofluorescent storage material in the perinuclear area of the cells. Cerebellar storage material was present in the Purkinje cells, granular cell layer, and perinuclear regions of neurons in the deep nuclei. Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) was diagnosed. Whole genome sequencing identified a PPT1c.124 + 1G>A splice donor mutation. This nonreference assembly allele was homozygous in the affected dog, has not previously been reported in dbSNP, and was absent from the whole genome sequences of 45 control dogs and 31 unaffected Cane Corsos. Our findings indicate a novel mutation causing the CLN1 form of NCL in a previously unreported dog breed. A canine model for CLN1 disease could provide an opportunity for therapeutic advancement, benefiting both humans and dogs with this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kolicheski
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - H L Barnes Heller
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - S Arnold
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - R D Schnabel
- Division of Animal Sciences and Informatics Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - J F Taylor
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | | | | | - D P O'Brien
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - G S Johnson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - J Dreyfus
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - M L Katz
- Mason Eye Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
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37
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Geraets RD, Koh SY, Hastings ML, Kielian T, Pearce DA, Weimer JM. Moving towards effective therapeutic strategies for Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2016; 11:40. [PMID: 27083890 PMCID: PMC4833901 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-016-0414-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are a family of autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorders that annually affect 1:100,000 live births worldwide. This family of diseases results from mutations in one of 14 different genes that share common clinical and pathological etiologies. Clinically, the diseases are subcategorized into infantile, late-infantile, juvenile and adult forms based on their age of onset. Though the disease phenotypes may vary in their age and order of presentation, all typically include progressive visual deterioration and blindness, cognitive impairment, motor deficits and seizures. Pathological hallmarks of NCLs include the accumulation of storage material or ceroid in the lysosome, progressive neuronal degeneration and massive glial activation. Advances have been made in genetic diagnosis and counseling for families. However, comprehensive treatment programs that delay or halt disease progression have been elusive. Current disease management is primarily targeted at controlling the symptoms rather than "curing" the disease. Recognizing the growing need for transparency and synergistic efforts to move the field forward, this review will provide an overview of the therapeutic approaches currently being pursued in preclinical and clinical trials to treat different forms of NCL as well as provide insight to novel therapeutic approaches in development for the NCLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan D. Geraets
- />Children’s Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD USA
- />Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD USA
| | - Seung yon Koh
- />Children’s Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD USA
| | - Michelle L. Hastings
- />Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL USA
| | - Tammy Kielian
- />Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
| | - David A. Pearce
- />Children’s Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD USA
- />Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD USA
| | - Jill M. Weimer
- />Children’s Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD USA
- />Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD USA
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38
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Tikka S, Monogioudi E, Gotsopoulos A, Soliymani R, Pezzini F, Scifo E, Uusi-Rauva K, Tyynelä J, Baumann M, Jalanko A, Simonati A, Lalowski M. Proteomic Profiling in the Brain of CLN1 Disease Model Reveals Affected Functional Modules. Neuromolecular Med 2015; 18:109-33. [PMID: 26707855 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-015-8382-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL) are the most commonly inherited progressive encephalopathies of childhood. Pathologically, they are characterized by endolysosomal storage with different ultrastructural features and biochemical compositions. The molecular mechanisms causing progressive neurodegeneration and common molecular pathways linking expression of different NCL genes are largely unknown. We analyzed proteome alterations in the brains of a mouse model of human infantile CLN1 disease-palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1 (Ppt1) gene knockout and its wild-type age-matched counterpart at different stages: pre-symptomatic, symptomatic and advanced. For this purpose, we utilized a combination of laser capture microdissection-based quantitative liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (MS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight MS imaging to quantify/visualize the changes in protein expression in disease-affected brain thalamus and cerebral cortex tissue slices, respectively. Proteomic profiling of the pre-symptomatic stage thalamus revealed alterations mostly in metabolic processes and inhibition of various neuronal functions, i.e., neuritogenesis. Down-regulation in dynamics associated with growth of plasma projections and cellular protrusions was further corroborated by findings from RNA sequencing of CLN1 patients' fibroblasts. Changes detected at the symptomatic stage included: mitochondrial functions, synaptic vesicle transport, myelin proteome and signaling cascades, such as RhoA signaling. Considerable dysregulation of processes related to mitochondrial cell death, RhoA/Huntington's disease signaling and myelin sheath breakdown were observed at the advanced stage of the disease. The identified changes in protein levels were further substantiated by bioinformatics and network approaches, immunohistochemistry on brain tissues and literature knowledge, thus identifying various functional modules affected in the CLN1 childhood encephalopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saara Tikka
- Medicum, Biochemistry/Developmental Biology, Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), Room C214a, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Evanthia Monogioudi
- Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Joint Research Centre, Directorate D-Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Standards for Innovation and Sustainable Development, Geel, Belgium
| | - Athanasios Gotsopoulos
- Brain and Mind Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science (BECS), Aalto University School of Science, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Rabah Soliymani
- Medicum, Biochemistry/Developmental Biology, Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), Room C214a, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Francesco Pezzini
- Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Enzo Scifo
- Medicum, Biochemistry/Developmental Biology, Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), Room C214a, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Doctoral Program Brain & Mind, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, CAMH, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kristiina Uusi-Rauva
- Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Genomics and Biomarkers, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), P.O. Box 30, 00271, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaana Tyynelä
- Medicum, Biochemistry/Developmental Biology, Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), Room C214a, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marc Baumann
- Medicum, Biochemistry/Developmental Biology, Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), Room C214a, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu Jalanko
- Institute for Molecular Medicine (FIMM), University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Genomics and Biomarkers, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), P.O. Box 30, 00271, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alessandro Simonati
- Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134, Verona, Italy
| | - Maciej Lalowski
- Medicum, Biochemistry/Developmental Biology, Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), Room C214a, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. .,Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
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Thada V, Miller JN, Kovács AD, Pearce DA. Tissue-specific variation in nonsense mutant transcript level and drug-induced read-through efficiency in the Cln1(R151X) mouse model of INCL. J Cell Mol Med 2015; 20:381-5. [PMID: 26648046 PMCID: PMC4727554 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
About 10% of inherited diseases are caused by nonsense mutations [Trends Mol Med 18 (2012) 688], and nonsense suppression drug therapy promoting translation through premature stop codons is an emerging therapeutic approach. Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL), a childhood neurodegenerative disease, results from mutations in the CLN1 gene encoding the lysosomal enzyme, palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1) [Biochim Biophys Acta 1832 (2013) 1806, Hum Mutat (2012) 63, Biochim Biophys Acta 1832 (2013) 1881]. The nonsense mutation p.R151X is the most common disease-causing CLN1 mutation Hum Mutat (2012) 63. In the novel Cln1(R151X) mouse model of INCL, we found large, tissue-specific variations in Cln1(R151X) mRNA level and PPT1 residual enzyme activity. These tissue-specific differences strongly influenced the read-through efficiency of ataluren (PTC124), a well-known nonsense suppression drug. A two-day treatment with ataluren (10 mg/kg) increased PPT1 enzyme activity in the liver and muscle, but not in any other tissue examined. Our study identifies a new challenge/hurdle for read-through drug therapy: variable efficiency of read-through therapy in the different tissues/organs because of tissue-specific variations in nonsense mutant transcript levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaughn Thada
- Department of Biology, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.,Sanford Children's Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Jake N Miller
- Sanford Children's Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.,Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, USA
| | - Attila D Kovács
- Sanford Children's Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - David A Pearce
- Sanford Children's Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
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Ginocchio VM, Brunetti-Pierri N. Progress toward improved therapies for inborn errors of metabolism. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 25:R27-35. [PMID: 26443595 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of their prevalence, severity and lack of effective treatments, inborn errors of metabolism need novel and more effective therapeutic approaches. The opportunity for an early treatment coming from expanded newborn screening has made this need even more urgent. To meet this demand, a growing number of novel treatments are entering in the phase of clinical development. Strategies to overcome the detrimental consequences of the enzyme deficiencies responsible for inborn errors of metabolism have been focused on multiple fronts at the levels of the gene, RNA, protein and whole cell. These strategies have been accomplished using a wide spectrum of approaches ranging from small molecules to enzyme replacement therapy, cell and gene therapy. The applications of new technologies in the field of inborn errors of metabolism, such as genome editing, RNA interference and cell reprogramming, along with progress in pre-existing strategies, such as gene therapy or cell transplantation, have tremendous potential for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicola Brunetti-Pierri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli (NA) 80078, Italy and Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, Naples 80131, Italy
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Matalonga L, Arias Á, Tort F, Ferrer-Cortés X, Garcia-Villoria J, Coll MJ, Gort L, Ribes A. Effect of Readthrough Treatment in Fibroblasts of Patients Affected by Lysosomal Diseases Caused by Premature Termination Codons. Neurotherapeutics 2015; 12:874-86. [PMID: 26169295 PMCID: PMC4604176 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-015-0368-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoglycoside antibiotics, such as gentamicin, may induce premature termination codon (PTC) readthrough and elude the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay mechanism. Because PTCs are frequently involved in lysosomal diseases, readthrough compounds may be useful as potential therapeutic agents. The aim of our study was to identify patients responsive to gentamicin treatment in order to be used as positive controls to further screen for other PTC readthrough compounds. With this aim, fibroblasts from 11 patients affected by 6 different lysosomal diseases carrying PTCs were treated with gentamicin. Treatment response was evaluated by measuring enzymatic activity, abnormal metabolite accumulation, mRNA expression, protein localization, and cell viability. The potential effect of readthrough was also analyzed by in silico predictions. Results showed that fibroblasts from 5/11 patients exhibited an up to 3-fold increase of enzymatic activity after gentamicin treatment. Accordingly, cell lines tested showed enhanced well-localized protein and/or increased mRNA expression levels and/or reduced metabolite accumulation. Interestingly, these cell lines also showed increased enzymatic activity after PTC124 treatment, which is a PTC readthrough-promoting compound. In conclusion, our results provide a proof-of-concept that PTCs can be effectively suppressed by readthrough drugs, with different efficiencies depending on the genetic context. The screening of new compounds with readthrough activity is a strategy that can be used to develop efficient therapies for diseases caused by PTC mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Matalonga
- Secció d'Errors Congènits del Metabolisme-IBC, Servei de Bioquímica i Genètica Molecular, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ángela Arias
- Secció d'Errors Congènits del Metabolisme-IBC, Servei de Bioquímica i Genètica Molecular, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Frederic Tort
- Secció d'Errors Congènits del Metabolisme-IBC, Servei de Bioquímica i Genètica Molecular, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xènia Ferrer-Cortés
- Secció d'Errors Congènits del Metabolisme-IBC, Servei de Bioquímica i Genètica Molecular, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Judit Garcia-Villoria
- Secció d'Errors Congènits del Metabolisme-IBC, Servei de Bioquímica i Genètica Molecular, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Josep Coll
- Secció d'Errors Congènits del Metabolisme-IBC, Servei de Bioquímica i Genètica Molecular, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Gort
- Secció d'Errors Congènits del Metabolisme-IBC, Servei de Bioquímica i Genètica Molecular, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonia Ribes
- Secció d'Errors Congènits del Metabolisme-IBC, Servei de Bioquímica i Genètica Molecular, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain.
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Scifo E, Szwajda A, Soliymani R, Pezzini F, Bianchi M, Dapkunas A, Dębski J, Uusi-Rauva K, Dadlez M, Gingras AC, Tyynelä J, Simonati A, Jalanko A, Baumann MH, Lalowski M. Proteomic analysis of the palmitoyl protein thioesterase 1 interactome in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. J Proteomics 2015; 123:42-53. [PMID: 25865307 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2015.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Revised: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL) are a group of inherited progressive childhood disorders, characterized by early accumulation of autofluorescent storage material in lysosomes of neurons or other cells. Clinical symptoms of NCL include: progressive loss of vision, mental and motor deterioration, epileptic seizures and premature death. CLN1 disease (MIM#256730) is caused by mutations in the CLN1 gene, which encodes palmitoyl protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1). In this study, we utilised single step affinity purification coupled to mass spectrometry (AP-MS) to unravel the in vivo substrates of human PPT1 in the brain neuronal cells. Protein complexes were isolated from human PPT1 expressing SH-SY5Y stable cells, subjected to filter-aided sample preparation (FASP) and analysed on a Q Exactive Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. A total of 23 PPT1 interacting partners (IP) were identified from label free quantitation of the MS data by SAINT platform. Three of the identified PPT1 IP, namely CRMP1, DBH, and MAP1B are predicted to be palmitoylated. Our proteomic analysis confirmed previously suggested roles of PPT1 in axon guidance and lipid metabolism, yet implicates the enzyme in novel roles including: involvement in neuronal migration and dopamine receptor mediated signalling pathway. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE The significance of this work lies in the unravelling of putative in vivo substrates of human CLN1 or PPT1 in brain neuronal cells. Moreover, the PPT1 IP implicate the enzyme in novel roles including: involvement in neuronal migration and dopamine receptor mediated signalling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enzo Scifo
- Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, Institute of Biomedicine/Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Doctoral Program Brain & Mind, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Agnieszka Szwajda
- Institute for Molecular Medicine (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rabah Soliymani
- Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, Institute of Biomedicine/Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Francesco Pezzini
- Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marzia Bianchi
- Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Arvydas Dapkunas
- Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, Institute of Biomedicine/Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Janusz Dębski
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kristiina Uusi-Rauva
- Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, Helsinki, Finland; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Public Health Genomics Unit, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michał Dadlez
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anne-Claude Gingras
- Centre for Systems Biology, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jaana Tyynelä
- Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, Institute of Biomedicine/Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alessandro Simonati
- Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Anu Jalanko
- Institute for Molecular Medicine (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Public Health Genomics Unit, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marc H Baumann
- Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, Institute of Biomedicine/Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maciej Lalowski
- Meilahti Clinical Proteomics Core Facility, Institute of Biomedicine/Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, Helsinki, Finland.
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Bouchelion A, Zhang Z, Li Y, Qian H, Mukherjee AB. Mice homozygous for c.451C>T mutation in Cln1 gene recapitulate INCL phenotype. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2014; 1:1006-23. [PMID: 25574475 PMCID: PMC4284126 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Nonsense mutations account for 5–70% of all genetic disorders. In the United States, nonsense mutations in the CLN1/PPT1 gene underlie >40% of the patients with infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL), a devastating neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease. We sought to generate a reliable mouse model of INCL carrying the most common Ppt1 nonsense mutation (c.451C>T) found in the United States patient population to provide a platform for evaluating nonsense suppressors in vivo. Methods We knocked-in c.451C>T nonsense mutation in the Ppt1 gene in C57 embryonic stem (ES) cells using a targeting vector in which LoxP flanked the Neo cassette, which was removed from targeted ES cells by electroporating Cre. Two independently targeted ES clones were injected into blastocysts to generate syngenic C57 knock-in mice, obviating the necessity for extensive backcrossing. Results Generation of Ppt1-KI mice was confirmed by DNA sequencing, which showed the presence of c.451C>T mutation in the Ppt1 gene. These mice are viable and fertile, although they developed spasticity (a “clasping” phenotype) at a median age of 6 months. Autofluorescent storage materials accumulated throughout the brain regions and in visceral organs. Electron microscopic analysis of the brain and the spleen showed granular osmiophilic deposits. Increased neuronal apoptosis was particularly evident in cerebral cortex and abnormal histopathological and electroretinographic (ERG) analyses attested striking retinal degeneration. Progressive deterioration of motor coordination and behavioral parameters continued until eventual death. Interpretation Our findings show that Ppt1-KI mice reliably recapitulate INCL phenotype providing a platform for testing the efficacy of existing and novel nonsense suppressors in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh Bouchelion
- Program on Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Section on Developmental Genetics, Eunice Kennedy-Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Zhongjian Zhang
- Program on Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Section on Developmental Genetics, Eunice Kennedy-Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yichao Li
- Visual Function Core (HNW2-L), National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-1830
| | - Haohua Qian
- Visual Function Core (HNW2-L), National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-1830
| | - Anil B Mukherjee
- Program on Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Section on Developmental Genetics, Eunice Kennedy-Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Bethesda, Maryland
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