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Damaged DNA Is an Early Event of Neurodegeneration in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Motoneurons with UBQLN2P497H Mutation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911333. [PMID: 36232630 PMCID: PMC9570184 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911333] [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: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquilin-2 (UBQLN2) mutations lead to familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS)/and frontotemporal dementia (FTLD) through unknown mechanisms. The combination of iPSC technology and CRISPR-mediated genome editing technology can generate an iPSC-derived motor neuron (iPSC-MN) model with disease-relevant mutations, which results in increased opportunities for disease mechanism research and drug screening. In this study, we introduced a UBQLN2-P497H mutation into a healthy control iPSC line using CRISPR/Cas9, and differentiated into MNs to study the pathology of UBQLN2-related ALS. Our in vitro MN model faithfully recapitulated specific aspects of the disease, including MN apoptosis. Under sodium arsenite (SA) treatment, we found differences in the number and the size of UBQLN2+ inclusions in UBQLN2P497H MNs and wild-type (WT) MNs. We also observed cytoplasmic TAR DNA-binding protein (TARDBP, also known as TDP-43) aggregates in UBQLN2P497H MNs, but not in WT MNs, as well as the recruitment of TDP-43 into stress granules (SGs) upon SA treatment. We noted that UBQLN2-P497H mutation induced MNs DNA damage, which is an early event in UBQLN2-ALS. Additionally, DNA damage led to an increase in compensation for FUS, whereas UBQLN2-P497H mutation impaired this function. Therefore, FUS may be involved in DNA damage repair signaling.
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Zakharova MN, Abramova AA. Lower and upper motor neuron involvement and their impact on disease prognosis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:65-73. [PMID: 34100429 PMCID: PMC8451581 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.314289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive muscle wasting, breathing and swallowing difficulties resulting in patient’s death in two to five years after disease onset. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, both upper and lower motor neurons of the corticospinal tracts are involved in the process of neurodegeneration, accounting for great clinical heterogeneity of the disease. Clinical phenotype has great impact on the pattern and rate of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis progression and overall survival prognosis. Creating more homogenous patient groups in order to study the effects of drug agents on specific manifestations of the disease is a challenging issue in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinical trials. Since amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has low incidence rates, conduction of multicenter trials requires certain standardized approaches to disease diagnosis and staging. This review focuses on the current approaches in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis classification and staging system based on clinical examination and additional instrumental methods, highlighting the role of upper and lower motor neuron involvement in different phenotypes of the disease. We demonstrate that both clinical and instrumental findings can be useful in evaluating severity of upper motor neuron and lower motor neuron involvement and predicting the following course of the disease. Addressing disease heterogeneity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinical trials could lead to study designs that will assess drug efficacy in specific patient groups, based on the disease pathophysiology and spatiotemporal pattern. Although clinical evaluation can be a sufficient screening method for dividing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients into clinical subgroups, we provide proof that instrumental studies could provide valuable insights in the disease pathology.
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Wainger BJ, Macklin EA, Vucic S, McIlduff CE, Paganoni S, Maragakis NJ, Bedlack R, Goyal NA, Rutkove SB, Lange DJ, Rivner MH, Goutman SA, Ladha SS, Mauricio EA, Baloh RH, Simmons Z, Pothier L, Kassis SB, La T, Hall M, Evora A, Klements D, Hurtado A, Pereira JD, Koh J, Celnik PA, Chaudhry V, Gable K, Juel VC, Phielipp N, Marei A, Rosenquist P, Meehan S, Oskarsson B, Lewis RA, Kaur D, Kiskinis E, Woolf CJ, Eggan K, Weiss MD, Berry JD, David WS, Davila-Perez P, Camprodon JA, Pascual-Leone A, Kiernan MC, Shefner JM, Atassi N, Cudkowicz ME. Effect of Ezogabine on Cortical and Spinal Motor Neuron Excitability in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Neurol 2021; 78:186-196. [PMID: 33226425 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.4300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Importance Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the motor nervous system. Clinical studies have demonstrated cortical and spinal motor neuron hyperexcitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation and threshold tracking nerve conduction studies, respectively, although metrics of excitability have not been used as pharmacodynamic biomarkers in multi-site clinical trials. Objective To ascertain whether ezogabine decreases cortical and spinal motor neuron excitability in ALS. Design, Setting, and Participants This double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 randomized clinical trial sought consent from eligible participants from November 3, 2015, to November 9, 2017, and was conducted at 12 US sites within the Northeast ALS Consortium. Participants were randomized in equal numbers to a higher or lower dose of ezogabine or to an identical matched placebo, and they completed in-person visits at screening, baseline, week 6, and week 8 for clinical assessment and neurophysiological measurements. Interventions Participants were randomized to receive 600 mg/d or 900 mg/d of ezogabine or a matched placebo for 10 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was change in short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI; SICI-1 was used in analysis to reflect stronger inhibition from an increase in amplitude) from pretreatment mean at screening and baseline to the full-dose treatment mean at weeks 6 and 8. The secondary outcomes included levels of cortical motor neuron excitability (including resting motor threshold) measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation and spinal motor neuron excitability (including strength-duration time constant) measured by threshold tracking nerve conduction studies. Results A total of 65 participants were randomized to placebo (23), 600 mg/d of ezogabine (23), and 900 mg/d of ezogabine (19 participants); 45 were men (69.2%) and the mean (SD) age was 58.3 (8.8) years. The SICI-1 increased by 53% (mean ratio, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.12-2.09; P = .009) in the 900-mg/d ezogabine group vs placebo group. The SICI-1 did not change in the 600-mg/d ezogabine group vs placebo group (mean ratio, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.87-1.52; P = .31). The resting motor threshold increased in the 600-mg/d ezogabine group vs placebo group (mean ratio, 4.61; 95% CI, 0.21-9.01; P = .04) but not in the 900-mg/d ezogabine group vs placebo group (mean ratio, 1.95; 95% CI, -2.64 to 6.54; P = .40). Ezogabine caused a dose-dependent decrease in excitability by several other metrics, including strength-duration time constant in the 900-mg/d ezogabine group vs placebo group (mean ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.87; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance Ezogabine decreased cortical and spinal motor neuron excitability in participants with ALS, suggesting that such neurophysiological metrics may be used as pharmacodynamic biomarkers in multisite clinical trials. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02450552.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Wainger
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge
| | - Eric A Macklin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Steve Vucic
- Department of Neurology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Courtney E McIlduff
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sabrina Paganoni
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Richard Bedlack
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Namita A Goyal
- Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine
| | - Seward B Rutkove
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dale J Lange
- Department of Neurology, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York
| | - Michael H Rivner
- Department of Neurology, Augusta University Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | | | - Shafeeq S Ladha
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | | | - Robert H Baloh
- Department of Neurology, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Zachary Simmons
- Department of Neurology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Lindsay Pothier
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Sylvia Baedorf Kassis
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Thuong La
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Meghan Hall
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Armineuza Evora
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - David Klements
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Aura Hurtado
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Joao D Pereira
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
| | - Joan Koh
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Pablo A Celnik
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Vinay Chaudhry
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Karissa Gable
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Vern C Juel
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Nicolas Phielipp
- Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine
| | - Adel Marei
- Department of Neurology, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York
| | - Peter Rosenquist
- Department of Psychiatry, Augusta University Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Sean Meehan
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | | | - Richard A Lewis
- Department of Neurology, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Divpreet Kaur
- Department of Neurology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Clifford J Woolf
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kevin Eggan
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge.,Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - James D Berry
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
| | - William S David
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
| | - Paula Davila-Perez
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joan A Camprodon
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA.,Marcus Institute and Center for Memory Health, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts.,Institut Guttmann, Universitat Autonoma, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jeremy M Shefner
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Nazem Atassi
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
| | - Merit E Cudkowicz
- The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
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4
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Shellikeri S, Keith J, Black SE, Zinman L, Yunusova Y. Neuropathology of Speech Network Distinguishes Bulbar From Nonbulbar Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2020; 79:284-295. [PMID: 31951003 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlz130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bulbar amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating neurodegenerative subtype affecting speech and swallowing motor functions as well as associated with the burden of cognitive deficits. The neuroanatomical underpinnings of bulbar ALS are not well understood. The aim of this study was to compare neuropathology of the speech network (SpN) between 3 cases of bulbar-onset ALS (bALS), 3 cases of spinal-onset ALS (sALS) with antemortem bulbar ALS (sALSwB) against 3 sALS without antemortem bulbar ALS (sALSnoB) and 3 controls. Regional distribution and severity of neuronal loss, TDP-43 (transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa), and tau proteinopathy were examined. All 3 bALS cases showed marked neuronal loss and severe proteinopathy across most SpN regions; sALSwB cases showed no neuronal loss but mild and variable TDP-43 pathology in focal regions; sALSnoB cases demonstrated an absence of pathology. Two bALS cases had coexisting tauopathy in SpN regions, which was not noted in any sALS cases. The findings suggested that bALS may have a distinct neuropathological signature characterized by marked neuronal loss and polypathology in the SpN. Milder TDP-43 pathology in the SpN for sALSwB cases suggested a link between severity of bulbar ALS and SpN damage. Findings support a clinicopathologic link between bulbar symptoms and pathology in the SpN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjana Shellikeri
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology & Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto.,Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
| | - Julia Keith
- Laboratory Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics, Anatomic Pathology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
| | - Sandra E Black
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute.,Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.,L.C. Campbell Cognitive Neurology Research Unit, Cognitive Neurology, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto.,Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute.,Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.,L.C. Campbell Cognitive Neurology Research Unit, Cognitive Neurology, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto
| | - Yana Yunusova
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology & Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto.,Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute.,University Health Network - Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (YY), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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5
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González-Fernández C, Gonzalez P, Andres-Benito P, Ferrer I, Rodríguez FJ. Wnt Signaling Alterations in the Human Spinal Cord of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Cases: Spotlight on Fz2 and Wnt5a. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:6777-6791. [PMID: 30924074 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-1547-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with no cure, and elucidation of the mechanisms mediating neuronal death in this neuropathology is crucial to develop effective treatments. It has recently been demonstrated in animal models that the Wnt family of proteins is involved in this neuropathology, although its potential involvement in case of humans is almost unknown. We analyzed the expression of Wnt signaling components in healthy and ALS human spinal cords by quantitative RT-PCR, and we found that most Wnt ligands, modulators, receptors, and co-receptors were expressed in healthy controls. Moreover, we observed clear alterations in the mRNA expression of different components of this family of proteins in human spinal cord tissue from ALS cases. Specifically, we detected a significant increase in the mRNA levels of Wnt3, Wnt4, Fz2, and Fz8, together with several non-significant increases in the mRNA expression of other genes such as Wnt2b, Wnt5a, Fz3, Lrp5, and sFRP3. Based on these observations and on previous reports of studies performed in animal models, we evaluated with immunohistochemistry the protein expression patterns of Fz2 and Fz5 receptors and their main ligand Wnt5a in control samples and ALS cases. No substantial changes were observed in Fz5 protein expression pattern in ALS samples. However, we detected an increase in the amount of Fz2+ astrocytes in the borderline between gray and white matter at the ventral horn in ALS samples. Finally, Wnt5a expression was observed in neurons and astrocytes in both control and ALS samples, although Wnt5a immunolabeling in astroglial cells was significantly increased in ALS spinal cords in the same region where changes in Fz2 were observed. Altogether, these observations strongly suggest that the Wnt family of proteins, and more specifically Fz2 and Wnt5a, might be involved in human ALS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos González-Fernández
- Molecular Neurology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos (HNP), Finca la Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - Pau Gonzalez
- Molecular Neurology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos (HNP), Finca la Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - Pol Andres-Benito
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Service of Pathologic Anatomy, IDIBELL-Bellvitge University Hospital, CIBERNED, Hospitalet de Llobregat, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Service of Pathologic Anatomy, IDIBELL-Bellvitge University Hospital, CIBERNED, Hospitalet de Llobregat, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Rodríguez
- Molecular Neurology Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos (HNP), Finca la Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
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6
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Maragakis NJ. What can we learn from the edaravone development program for ALS? Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2018; 18:98-103. [PMID: 28872911 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2017.1361446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Edaravone's development into an ALS therapeutic has been a process which began with preclinical studies regarding its potential in targeting ALS. Despite edaravone's inability to show benefit in a general ALS population, an important post-hoc analysis showed that a clinical subset of patients had benefit. Most importantly, a subsequent study examining the capacity of edaravone to have benefit in this specific subset of ALS patients was successful in meeting its primary outcome measures. Questions regarding whether the dosing regimen could be simplified or improved, the duration of the effects, and the timing of the potential treatment to different stages of disease remain to be answered. However, the benefit of this compound in delivering a meaningful therapy to ALS patients and the lessons learned with regard to its development should widen interest in clinical research so that additional strategies for treating ALS may become available to patients.
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7
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Bhinge A, Namboori SC, Zhang X, VanDongen AMJ, Stanton LW. Genetic Correction of SOD1 Mutant iPSCs Reveals ERK and JNK Activated AP1 as a Driver of Neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 8:856-869. [PMID: 28366453 PMCID: PMC5390134 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2016] [Revised: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although mutations in several genes with diverse functions have been known to cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), it is unknown to what extent causal mutations impinge on common pathways that drive motor neuron (MN)-specific neurodegeneration. In this study, we combined induced pluripotent stem cells-based disease modeling with genome engineering and deep RNA sequencing to identify pathways dysregulated by mutant SOD1 in human MNs. Gene expression profiling and pathway analysis followed by pharmacological screening identified activated ERK and JNK signaling as key drivers of neurodegeneration in mutant SOD1 MNs. The AP1 complex member JUN, an ERK/JNK downstream target, was observed to be highly expressed in MNs compared with non-MNs, providing a mechanistic insight into the specific degeneration of MNs. Importantly, investigations of mutant FUS MNs identified activated p38 and ERK, indicating that network perturbations induced by ALS-causing mutations converge partly on a few specific pathways that are drug responsive and provide immense therapeutic potential. Genome correction of SOD1 E100G mutation corrects ALS phenotypes in MNs Activation of MAPK, AP1, WNT, cell-cycle, and p53 signaling in ALS MNs Pharmacological screening uncovers ERK and JNK signaling as therapeutic targets Susceptibility of MNs to degeneration may be due to heightened JUN activity in MNs
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshay Bhinge
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore 138672, Singapore.
| | - Seema C Namboori
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Program for Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore
| | - Antonius M J VanDongen
- Program for Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Lawrence W Stanton
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore 138672, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
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8
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Direct Lineage Reprogramming Reveals Disease-Specific Phenotypes of Motor Neurons from Human ALS Patients. Cell Rep 2015; 14:115-128. [PMID: 26725112 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 10/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Subtype-specific neurons obtained from adult humans will be critical to modeling neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we show that adult human skin fibroblasts can be directly and efficiently converted into highly pure motor neurons without passing through an induced pluripotent stem cell stage. These adult human induced motor neurons (hiMNs) exhibit the cytological and electrophysiological features of spinal motor neurons and form functional neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) with skeletal muscles. Importantly, hiMNs converted from ALS patient fibroblasts show disease-specific degeneration manifested through poor survival, soma shrinkage, hypoactivity, and an inability to form NMJs. A chemical screen revealed that the degenerative features of ALS hiMNs can be remarkably rescued by the small molecule kenpaullone. Taken together, our results define a direct and efficient strategy to obtain disease-relevant neuronal subtypes from adult human patients and reveal their promising value in disease modeling and drug identification.
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9
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Eom YW, Kim G, Baik SK. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for cirrhosis: Present and future perspectives. World J Gastroenterol 2015; 21:10253-10261. [PMID: 26420953 PMCID: PMC4579873 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i36.10253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Revised: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cirrhosis occurs as a result of various chronic liver injuries, which may be caused by viral infections, alcohol abuse and the administration of drugs and chemicals. Recently, bone marrow cells (BMCs), hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used for developing treatments for cirrhosis. Clinical trials have investigated the therapeutic potential of BMCs, HSCs and MSCs for the treatment of cirrhosis based on their potential to differentiate into hepatocytes. Although the therapeutic mechanisms of BMC, HSC and MSC treatments are still not fully characterized, the evidence thus far has indicated that the potential therapeutic mechanisms of MSCs are clearer than those of BMCs or HSCs with respect to liver regenerative medicine. MSCs suppress inflammatory responses, reduce hepatocyte apoptosis, increase hepatocyte regeneration, reverse liver fibrosis and enhance liver functionality. This paper summarizes the clinical studies that have used BMCs, HSCs and MSCs in patients with liver failure or cirrhosis. We also present the potential therapeutic mechanisms of BMCs, HSCs and MSCs for the improvement of liver function.
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10
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Abstract
Currently, the most effective treatment for end-stage liver fibrosis is liver transplantation; however, transplantation is limited by a shortage of donor organs, surgical complications, immunological rejection, and high medical costs. Recently, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has been suggested as an effective alternate approach for the treatment of hepatic diseases. MSCs have the potential to differentiate into hepatocytes, and therapeutic value exists in their immune-modulatory properties and secretion of trophic factors, such as growth factors and cytokines. In addition, MSCs can suppress inflammatory responses, reduce hepatocyte apoptosis, increase hepatocyte regeneration, regress liver fibrosis and enhance liver functionality. Despite these advantages, issues remain; MSCs also have fibrogenic potential and the capacity to promote tumor cell growth and oncogenicity. This paper summarizes the properties of MSCs for regenerative medicine and their therapeutic mechanisms and clinical application in the treatment of liver fibrosis. We also present several outstanding risks, including their fibrogenic potential and their capacity to promote pre-existing tumor cell growth and oncogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Woo Eom
- Cell Therapy and Tissue Engineering Center, Wonju, Korea
| | - Kwang Yong Shim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
| | - Soon Koo Baik
- Cell Therapy and Tissue Engineering Center, Wonju, Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
- Correspondence to Soon Koo Baik, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, 20 Ilsan-ro, Wonju 26426, Korea Tel: +82-33-741-1223 Fax: +82-33-745-6782 E-mail:
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11
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Gladman M, Zinman L. The economic impact of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 2015; 15:439-50. [DOI: 10.1586/14737167.2015.1039941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Gladman
- 1Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lorne Zinman
- 2Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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12
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Lunn JS, Sakowski SA, Feldman EL. Concise review: Stem cell therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: recent advances and prospects for the future. Stem Cells 2014; 32:1099-109. [PMID: 24448926 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Revised: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal disease involving the loss of motor neurons. Although the mechanisms responsible for motor neuron degeneration in ALS remain elusive, the development of stem cell-based therapies for the treatment of ALS has gained widespread support. Here, we review the types of stem cells being considered for therapeutic applications in ALS, and emphasize recent preclinical advances that provide supportive rationale for clinical translation. We also discuss early trials from around the world translating cellular therapies to ALS patients, and offer important considerations for future clinical trial design. Although clinical translation is still in its infancy, and additional insight into the mechanisms underlying therapeutic efficacy and the establishment of long-term safety are required, these studies represent an important first step toward the development of effective cellular therapies for the treatment of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Simon Lunn
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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13
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Kiskinis E, Sandoe J, Williams LA, Boulting GL, Moccia R, Wainger BJ, Han S, Peng T, Thams S, Mikkilineni S, Mellin C, Merkle FT, Davis-Dusenbery BN, Ziller M, Oakley D, Ichida J, Di Costanzo S, Atwater N, Maeder ML, Goodwin MJ, Nemesh J, Handsaker RE, Paull D, Noggle S, McCarroll SA, Joung JK, Woolf CJ, Brown RH, Eggan K. Pathways disrupted in human ALS motor neurons identified through genetic correction of mutant SOD1. Cell Stem Cell 2014; 14:781-95. [PMID: 24704492 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2014.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 321] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Revised: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Although many distinct mutations in a variety of genes are known to cause Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), it remains poorly understood how they selectively impact motor neuron biology and whether they converge on common pathways to cause neuronal degeneration. Here, we have combined reprogramming and stem cell differentiation approaches with genome engineering and RNA sequencing to define the transcriptional and functional changes that are induced in human motor neurons by mutant SOD1. Mutant SOD1 protein induced a transcriptional signature indicative of increased oxidative stress, reduced mitochondrial function, altered subcellular transport, and activation of the ER stress and unfolded protein response pathways. Functional studies demonstrated that these pathways were perturbed in a manner dependent on the SOD1 mutation. Finally, interrogation of stem-cell-derived motor neurons produced from ALS patients harboring a repeat expansion in C9orf72 indicates that at least a subset of these changes are more broadly conserved in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos Kiskinis
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jackson Sandoe
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Luis A Williams
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Gabriella L Boulting
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Rob Moccia
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Brian J Wainger
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Steve Han
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Theodore Peng
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sebastian Thams
- Project A.L.S./Jenifer Estess Laboratory for Stem Cell Research, Departments of Pathology, Neurology and Neuroscience, Columbia University, Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease (MNC), and Columbia Stem Cell Initiative (CSCI), New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Shravani Mikkilineni
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Cassidy Mellin
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Florian T Merkle
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Brandi N Davis-Dusenbery
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Michael Ziller
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Derek Oakley
- Project A.L.S./Jenifer Estess Laboratory for Stem Cell Research, Departments of Pathology, Neurology and Neuroscience, Columbia University, Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease (MNC), and Columbia Stem Cell Initiative (CSCI), New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Justin Ichida
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Stefania Di Costanzo
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Nick Atwater
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Morgan L Maeder
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Mathew J Goodwin
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - James Nemesh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Robert E Handsaker
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Daniel Paull
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, NY 10023, USA
| | - Scott Noggle
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, NY 10023, USA
| | - Steven A McCarroll
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - J Keith Joung
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Clifford J Woolf
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Kevin Eggan
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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14
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Vinceti M, Solovyev N, Mandrioli J, Crespi CM, Bonvicini F, Arcolin E, Georgoulopoulou E, Michalke B. Cerebrospinal fluid of newly diagnosed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients exhibits abnormal levels of selenium species including elevated selenite. Neurotoxicology 2013; 38:25-32. [PMID: 23732511 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2013.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Revised: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to selenium, and particularly to its inorganic forms, has been hypothesized as a risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fast progressing motor neuron disease with poorly understood etiology. However, no information is known about levels of inorganic and some organic selenium species in the central nervous system of ALS patients, and recent observations suggest that peripheral biomarkers of exposure are unable to predict these levels for several Se species including the inorganic forms. Using a hospital-referred case-control series and advanced selenium speciation methods, we compared the chemical species of selenium in cerebrospinal fluid from 38 ALS patients to those of 38 reference neurological patients matched on age and gender. We found that higher concentrations of inorganic selenium in the form of selenite and of human serum albumin-bound selenium were associated with increased ALS risk (relative risks 3.9 (95% confidence interval 1.2-11.0) and 1.7 (1.0-2.9) for 0.1μg/L increase). Conversely, lower concentrations of selenoprotein P-bound selenium were associated with increased risk (relative risk 0.2 for 1μg/L increase, 95% confidence interval 0.04-0.8). The associations were stronger among cases age 50 years or older, who are postulated to have lower rates of genetic disease origin. These results suggest that excess selenite and human serum albumin bound-selenium and low levels of selenoprotein P-bound selenium in the central nervous system, which may be related, may play a role in ALS etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Vinceti
- CREAGEN - Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
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Abstract
Sirtuin enzymes are a family of highly conserved protein deacetylases that depend on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) for their activity. There are seven sirtuins in mammals and these proteins have been linked with caloric restriction and aging by modulating energy metabolism, genomic stability and stress resistance. Sirtuin enzymes are potential therapeutic targets in a variety of human diseases including cancer, diabetes, inflammatory disorders and neurodegenerative disease. Modulation of sirtuin activity has been shown to impact the course of several aggregate-forming neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Sirtuins can influence the progression of neurodegenerative disorders by modulating transcription factor activity and directly deacetylating proteotoxic species. Here, we describe sirtuin protein targets in several aggregate-forming neurodegenerative diseases and discuss the therapeutic potential of compounds that modulate sirtuin activity in these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianna Z Herskovits
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA 02115, USA
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