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Joviano-Santos JV, Kljakic O, Magalhães-Gomes MPS, Valadão PAC, de Oliveira LR, Prado MAM, Prado VF, Guatimosim C. Motoneuron-specific loss of VAChT mimics neuromuscular defects seen in congenital myasthenic syndrome. FEBS J 2021; 288:5331-5349. [PMID: 33730374 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Motoneurons (MNs) control muscle activity by releasing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) at the level of neuromuscular junctions. ACh is packaged into synaptic vesicles by the vesicular ACh transporter (VAChT), and disruptions in its release can impair muscle contraction, as seen in congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS). Recently, VAChT gene mutations were identified in humans displaying varying degrees of myasthenia. Moreover, mice with a global deficiency in VAChT expression display several characteristics of CMS. Despite these findings, little is known about how a long-term decrease in VAChT expression in vivo affects MNs structure and function. Using Cre-loxP technology, we generated a mouse model where VAChT is deleted in select groups of MNs (mnVAChT-KD). Molecular analysis revealed that the VAChT deletion was specific to MNs and affected approximately 50% of its population in the brainstem and spinal cord, with alpha-MNs primarily targeted (70% in spinal cord). Within each animal, the cell body area of VAChT-deleted MNs was significantly smaller compared to MNs with VAChT preserved. Likewise, muscles innervated by VAChT-deleted MNs showed atrophy while muscles innervated by VAChT-containing neurons appeared normal. In addition, mnVAChT KD mice had decreased muscle strength, were hypoactive, leaner and exhibited kyphosis. This neuromuscular dysfunction was evident at 2 months of age and became progressively worse by 6 months. Treatment of mutants with a cholinesterase inhibitor was able to improve some of the motor deficits. As these observations mimic what is seen in CMS, this new line could be valuable for assessing the efficacy of potential CMS drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julliane V Joviano-Santos
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.,Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ornela Kljakic
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Matheus P S Magalhães-Gomes
- Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais, FCMMG, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | - Priscila Aparecida C Valadão
- Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Leonardo R de Oliveira
- Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marco A M Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.,Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Vania F Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.,Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Cristina Guatimosim
- Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Sánchez-Gutiérrez D, Tozluoglu M, Barry JD, Pascual A, Mao Y, Escudero LM. Fundamental physical cellular constraints drive self-organization of tissues. EMBO J 2016; 35:77-88. [PMID: 26598531 PMCID: PMC4718000 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201592374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Revised: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Morphogenesis is driven by small cell shape changes that modulate tissue organization. Apical surfaces of proliferating epithelial sheets have been particularly well studied. Currently, it is accepted that a stereotyped distribution of cellular polygons is conserved in proliferating tissues among metazoans. In this work, we challenge these previous findings showing that diverse natural packed tissues have very different polygon distributions. We use Voronoi tessellations as a mathematical framework that predicts this diversity. We demonstrate that Voronoi tessellations and the very different tissues analysed share an overriding restriction: the frequency of polygon types correlates with the distribution of cell areas. By altering the balance of tensions and pressures within the packed tissues using disease, genetic or computer model perturbations, we show that as long as packed cells present a balance of forces within tissue, they will be under a physical constraint that limits its organization. Our discoveries establish a new framework to understand tissue architecture in development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Sánchez-Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad de Sevilla and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS) Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Melda Tozluoglu
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Alberto Pascual
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Yanlan Mao
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Luis M Escudero
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad de Sevilla and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS) Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
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Quantifiable diagnosis of muscular dystrophies and neurogenic atrophies through network analysis. BMC Med 2013; 11:77. [PMID: 23514382 PMCID: PMC3621542 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-11-77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2012] [Accepted: 02/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases is strongly based on the histological characterization of muscle biopsies. However, this morphological analysis is mostly a subjective process and difficult to quantify. We have tested if network science can provide a novel framework to extract useful information from muscle biopsies, developing a novel method that analyzes muscle samples in an objective, automated, fast and precise manner. METHODS Our database consisted of 102 muscle biopsy images from 70 individuals (including controls, patients with neurogenic atrophies and patients with muscular dystrophies). We used this to develop a new method, Neuromuscular DIseases Computerized Image Analysis (NDICIA), that uses network science analysis to capture the defining signature of muscle biopsy images. NDICIA characterizes muscle tissues by representing each image as a network, with fibers serving as nodes and fiber contacts as links. RESULTS After a 'training' phase with control and pathological biopsies, NDICIA was able to quantify the degree of pathology of each sample. We validated our method by comparing NDICIA quantification of the severity of muscular dystrophies with a pathologist's evaluation of the degree of pathology, resulting in a strong correlation (R = 0.900, P <0.00001). Importantly, our approach can be used to quantify new images without the need for prior 'training'. Therefore, we show that network science analysis captures the useful information contained in muscle biopsies, helping the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies and neurogenic atrophies. CONCLUSIONS Our novel network analysis approach will serve as a valuable tool for assessing the etiology of muscular dystrophies or neurogenic atrophies, and has the potential to quantify treatment outcomes in preclinical and clinical trials.
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Neuromuscular junction protection for the potential treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurol Res Int 2012; 2012:379657. [PMID: 22919482 PMCID: PMC3423938 DOI: 10.1155/2012/379657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2012] [Revised: 06/15/2012] [Accepted: 06/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neuromuscular disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons (MNs), leading to muscular atrophy and eventual respiratory failure. ALS research has primarily focused on mechanisms regarding MN cell death; however, degenerative processes in the skeletal muscle, particularly involving neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), are observed in the early stages of and throughout disease progression. According to the "dying-back" hypothesis, NMJ degeneration may not only precede, but actively cause upper and lower MN loss. The importance of NMJ pathology has relatively received little attention in ALS, possibly because compensatory mechanisms mask NMJ loss for prolonged periods. Many mechanisms explaining NMJ degeneration have been proposed such as the disruption of anterograde/retrograde axonal transport, irregular cellular metabolism, and changes in muscle gene and protein expression. Neurotrophic factors, which are known to have neuroprotective and regenerative properties, have been intensely investigated for their therapeutic potential in both the preclinical and clinical setting. Additional research should focus on the potential of preserving NMJs in order to delay or prevent disease progression.
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