1
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Bryce-Smith S, Brown AL, Mehta PR, Mattedi F, Mikheenko A, Barattucci S, Zanovello M, Dattilo D, Yome M, Hill SE, Qi YA, Wilkins OG, Sun K, Ryadnov E, Wan Y, Vargas JNS, Birsa N, Raj T, Humphrey J, Keuss M, Ward M, Secrier M, Fratta P. TDP-43 loss induces extensive cryptic polyadenylation in ALS/FTD. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.22.576625. [PMID: 38313254 PMCID: PMC10836071 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.22.576625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic aggregation of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43 is the hallmark of ALS, occurring in over 97% of cases. A key consequence of TDP-43 nuclear loss is the de-repression of cryptic exons. Whilst TDP-43 regulated cryptic splicing is increasingly well catalogued, cryptic alternative polyadenylation (APA) events, which define the 3' end of last exons, have been largely overlooked, especially when not associated with novel upstream splice junctions. We developed a novel bioinformatic approach to reliably identify distinct APA event types: alternative last exons (ALE), 3'UTR extensions (3'Ext) and intronic polyadenylation (IPA) events. We identified novel neuronal cryptic APA sites induced by TDP-43 loss of function by systematically applying our pipeline to a compendium of publicly available and in house datasets. We find that TDP-43 binding sites and target motifs are enriched at these cryptic events and that TDP-43 can have both repressive and enhancing action on APA. Importantly, all categories of cryptic APA can also be identified in ALS and FTD post mortem brain regions with TDP-43 proteinopathy underlining their potential disease relevance. RNA-seq and Ribo-seq analyses indicate that distinct cryptic APA categories have different downstream effects on transcript and translation. Intriguingly, cryptic 3'Exts occur in multiple transcription factors, such as ELK1, SIX3, and TLX1, and lead to an increase in wild-type protein levels and function. Finally, we show that an increase in RNA stability leading to a higher cytoplasmic localisation underlies these observations. In summary, we demonstrate that TDP-43 nuclear depletion induces a novel category of cryptic RNA processing events and we expand the palette of TDP-43 loss consequences by showing this can also lead to an increase in normal protein translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Bryce-Smith
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Anna-Leigh Brown
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Puja R. Mehta
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Francesca Mattedi
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Alla Mikheenko
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Simone Barattucci
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Matteo Zanovello
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Dario Dattilo
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Matthew Yome
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Sarah E. Hill
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yue A. Qi
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Oscar G. Wilkins
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Kai Sun
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Eugeni Ryadnov
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Yixuan Wan
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | | | - Jose Norberto S. Vargas
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Nicol Birsa
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Towfique Raj
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences & Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Estelle and Daniel Maggin Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jack Humphrey
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences & Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Estelle and Daniel Maggin Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew Keuss
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Michael Ward
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Maria Secrier
- UCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Pietro Fratta
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
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Indrigo M, Morella I, Orellana D, d'Isa R, Papale A, Parra R, Gurgone A, Lecca D, Cavaccini A, Tigaret CM, Cagnotto A, Jones K, Brooks S, Ratto GM, Allen ND, Lelos MJ, Middei S, Giustetto M, Carta AR, Tonini R, Salmona M, Hall J, Thomas K, Brambilla R, Fasano S. Nuclear ERK1/2 signaling potentiation enhances neuroprotection and cognition via Importinα1/KPNA2. EMBO Mol Med 2023; 15:e15984. [PMID: 37792911 PMCID: PMC10630888 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202215984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell signaling is central to neuronal activity and its dysregulation may lead to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Here, we show that selective genetic potentiation of neuronal ERK signaling prevents cell death in vitro and in vivo in the mouse brain, while attenuation of ERK signaling does the opposite. This neuroprotective effect mediated by an enhanced nuclear ERK activity can also be induced by the novel cell penetrating peptide RB5. In vitro administration of RB5 disrupts the preferential interaction of ERK1 MAP kinase with importinα1/KPNA2 over ERK2, facilitates ERK1/2 nuclear translocation, and enhances global ERK activity. Importantly, RB5 treatment in vivo promotes neuroprotection in mouse models of Huntington's (HD), Alzheimer's (AD), and Parkinson's (PD) disease, and enhances ERK signaling in a human cellular model of HD. Additionally, RB5-mediated potentiation of ERK nuclear signaling facilitates synaptic plasticity, enhances cognition in healthy rodents, and rescues cognitive impairments in AD and HD models. The reported molecular mechanism shared across multiple neurodegenerative disorders reveals a potential new therapeutic target approach based on the modulation of KPNA2-ERK1/2 interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Indrigo
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanoItaly
| | - Ilaria Morella
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Daniel Orellana
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanoItaly
| | - Raffaele d'Isa
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific InstituteMilanoItaly
| | - Alessandro Papale
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Riccardo Parra
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze CNR, and Scuola Normale SuperiorePisaItaly
| | | | - Daniela Lecca
- Department of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of CagliariCagliariItaly
| | - Anna Cavaccini
- Neuromodulation of Cortical and Subcortical Circuits LaboratoryFondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenovaItaly
| | - Cezar M Tigaret
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Alfredo Cagnotto
- Dipartimento di Biochimica e Farmacologia MolecolareIstituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri‐IRCCSMilanoItaly
| | | | - Simon Brooks
- School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | | | | | | | - Silvia Middei
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology CNRRomaItaly
| | - Maurizio Giustetto
- Department of NeuroscienceUniversity of TorinoTorinoItaly
- National Institute of NeuroscienceTorinoItaly
| | - Anna R Carta
- Department of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of CagliariCagliariItaly
| | - Raffaella Tonini
- Neuromodulation of Cortical and Subcortical Circuits LaboratoryFondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenovaItaly
| | - Mario Salmona
- Dipartimento di Biochimica e Farmacologia MolecolareIstituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri‐IRCCSMilanoItaly
| | - Jeremy Hall
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Kerrie Thomas
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Riccardo Brambilla
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Lazzaro Spallanzani”Università degli Studi di PaviaPaviaItaly
| | - Stefania Fasano
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
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Bottero V, Santiago JA, Quinn JP, Potashkin JA. Key Disease Mechanisms Linked to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Spinal Cord Motor Neurons. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:825031. [PMID: 35370543 PMCID: PMC8965442 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.825031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with no modifying treatments available. The molecular mechanisms underpinning disease pathogenesis are not fully understood. Recent studies have employed co-expression networks to identify key genes, known as “switch genes”, responsible for dramatic transcriptional changes in the blood of ALS patients. In this study, we directly investigate the root cause of ALS by examining the changes in gene expression in motor neurons that degenerate in patients. Co-expression networks identified in ALS patients’ spinal cord motor neurons revealed 610 switch genes in seven independent microarrays. Switch genes were enriched in several pathways, including viral carcinogenesis, PI3K-Akt, focal adhesion, proteoglycans in cancer, colorectal cancer, and thyroid hormone signaling. Transcription factors ELK1 and GATA2 were identified as key master regulators of the switch genes. Protein-chemical network analysis identified valproic acid, cyclosporine, estradiol, acetaminophen, quercetin, and carbamazepine as potential therapeutics for ALS. Furthermore, the chemical analysis identified metals and organic compounds including, arsenic, copper, nickel, and benzo(a)pyrene as possible mediators of neurodegeneration. The identification of switch genes provides insights into previously unknown biological pathways associated with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Bottero
- Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Therapeutics, Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, North Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | | | - Judith A. Potashkin
- Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Therapeutics, Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, North Chicago, IL, United States
- *Correspondence: Judy A. Potashkin
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4
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Solés-Tarrés I, Cabezas-Llobet N, Lefranc B, Leprince J, Alberch J, Vaudry D, Xifró X. Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) Protects Striatal Cells and Improves Motor Function in Huntington’s Disease Models: Role of PAC1 Receptor. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:797541. [PMID: 35153755 PMCID: PMC8832515 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.797541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expression of mutant huntingtin (mHtt). One of the main features of HD is the degeneration of the striatum that leads to motor discoordination. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide that acts through three receptors named PAC1R, VPAC1R, and VPAC2R. In the present study, we first investigated the effect of PACAP on STHdhQ7/Q7 and STHdhQ111/Q111 cells that express wild-type Htt with 7 and mHtt with 111 glutamines, respectively. Then we explored the capacity of PACAP to rescue motor symptoms in the R6/1, a murine model of HD. We found that PACAP treatment (10–7 M) for 24 h protects STHdhQ111/Q111 cells from mHtt-induced apoptosis. This effect is associated with an increase in PAC1R transcription, phosphorylation of ERK and Akt, and an increase of intracellular c-fos, egr1, CBP, and BDNF protein content. Moreover, the use of pharmacological inhibitors revealed that activation of ERK and Akt mediates these antiapoptotic and neurotrophic effects of PACAP. To find out PAC1R implication, we treated STHdh cells with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), which exhibits equal affinity for VPAC1R and VPAC2R, but lower affinity for PAC1R, in contrast to PACAP which has same affinity for the three receptors. VIP reduced cleaved caspase-3 protein level, without promoting the expression of c-fos, egr1, CBP, and the neurotrophin BDNF. We next measured the protein level of PACAP receptors in the striatum and cortex of R6/1 mice. We observed a specific reduction of PAC1R at the onset of motor symptoms. Importantly, the intranasal administration of PACAP to R6/1 animals restored the motor function and increased the striatal levels of PAC1R, CBP, and BDNF. In conclusion, PACAP exerts antiapoptotic and neurotrophic effects in striatal neurons mainly through PAC1R. This effect in HD striatum allows the recovery of motor function and point out PAC1R as a therapeutic target for treatment of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Solés-Tarrés
- New Therapeutic Targets Group, Department of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Núria Cabezas-Llobet
- New Therapeutic Targets Group, Department of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Benjamin Lefranc
- Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Communication and Differentiation, Neuropeptides, Neuronal Death and Cell Plasticity Team, UNIROUEN, Inserm, Normandie University, Rouen, France
- Regional Cell Imaging Platform of Normandy (PRIMACEN), UNIROUEN, Normandie University, Rouen, France
| | - Jérôme Leprince
- Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Communication and Differentiation, Neuropeptides, Neuronal Death and Cell Plasticity Team, UNIROUEN, Inserm, Normandie University, Rouen, France
- Regional Cell Imaging Platform of Normandy (PRIMACEN), UNIROUEN, Normandie University, Rouen, France
| | - Jordi Alberch
- Departament de Biomedicina, Institut de Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut D’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - David Vaudry
- Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Communication and Differentiation, Neuropeptides, Neuronal Death and Cell Plasticity Team, UNIROUEN, Inserm, Normandie University, Rouen, France
- Regional Cell Imaging Platform of Normandy (PRIMACEN), UNIROUEN, Normandie University, Rouen, France
| | - Xavier Xifró
- New Therapeutic Targets Group, Department of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
- *Correspondence: Xavier Xifró,
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5
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Pogoda A, Chmielewska N, Maciejak P, Szyndler J. Transcriptional Dysregulation in Huntington's Disease: The Role in Pathogenesis and Potency for Pharmacological Targeting. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:2783-2806. [PMID: 32628586 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666200705225821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by a mutation in the gene that encodes a critical cell regulatory protein, huntingtin (Htt). The expansion of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeats causes improper folding of functional proteins and is an initial trigger of pathological changes in the brain. Recent research has indicated that the functional dysregulation of many transcription factors underlies the neurodegenerative processes that accompany HD. These disturbances are caused not only by the loss of wild-type Htt (WT Htt) function but also by the occurrence of abnormalities that result from the action of mutant Htt (mHtt). In this review, we aim to describe the role of transcription factors that are currently thought to be strongly associated with HD pathogenesis, namely, RE1-silencing transcription factor, also known as neuron-restrictive silencer factor (REST/NRSF), forkhead box proteins (FOXPs), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1a (PGC1α), heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1), and nuclear factor κ light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF- κB). We also take into account the role of these factors in the phenotype of HD as well as potential pharmacological interventions targeting the analyzed proteins. Furthermore, we considered whether molecular manipulation resulting in changes in transcription factor function may have clinical potency for treating HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Pogoda
- Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury Street 61, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Chmielewska
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego Street 9, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Maciejak
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego Street 9, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Janusz Szyndler
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha Street 1B, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
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6
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Vidal-Sancho L, Fernández-García S, Solés-Tarrés I, Alberch J, Xifró X. Decreased Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2 Levels in the Hippocampus of Huntington's Disease Mice Are Related to Cognitive Dysfunction. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:4549-4562. [PMID: 32757160 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02041-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
People suffering from Huntington's disease (HD) present cognitive deficits. Hippocampal dysfunction has been involved in the HD learning and memory impairment, but proteins leading this dysregulation are not fully characterized. Here, we studied the contribution of the family of transcription factors myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) to the HD cognitive deficits. To this aim, we first analyzed MEF2 protein levels and found that they are reduced in the hippocampus of exon-1 (R6/1) and full-length (HdhQ7/Q111) mutant huntingtin (mHTT) mice at the onset of cognitive dysfunction. By the analysis of MEF2 mRNA levels and mHTT-MEF2 interaction, we discarded that reduced MEF2 levels are due to changes in the transcription or sequestration in mHTT aggregates. Interestingly, we showed in R6/1 primary hippocampal cultures that reduction of MEF2 is strongly related to a basal and non-apoptotic caspase activity. To decipher the involvement of hippocampal decreased MEF2 in memory impairment, we used the BML-210 molecule that activates MEF2 transcriptional activity by the disruption MEF2-histone deacetylase class IIa interaction. BML-210 treatment increased the number and length of neurites in R6/1 primary hippocampal cultures. Importantly, this effect was prevented by transduction of lentiviral particles containing shRNA against MEF2. Then, we demonstrated that intraperitoneal administration of BML-210 (150 mg/Kg/day) for 4 days in R6/1 mice improved cognitive performance. Finally, we observed that BML-210 treatment also promoted the activation of MEF2-dependent memory-related genes and the increase of synaptic markers in the hippocampus of R6/1 mice. Our findings point out that reduced hippocampal MEF2 is an important mediator of cognitive dysfunction in HD and suggest that MEF2 slight basal activation could be a good therapeutic option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vidal-Sancho
- New Therapeutic Targets Group, Department of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Girona, 17003, Girona, Spain
| | - Sara Fernández-García
- Departament de Biomedicina, Institut de Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, 08036, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, 28031, Spain
| | - Irene Solés-Tarrés
- New Therapeutic Targets Group, Department of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Girona, 17003, Girona, Spain
| | - Jordi Alberch
- Departament de Biomedicina, Institut de Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, 08036, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, 28031, Spain
| | - Xavier Xifró
- New Therapeutic Targets Group, Department of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Girona, 17003, Girona, Spain. .,Departament de Ciències Mèdiques, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Girona, 17003, Girona, Spain.
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7
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Ulrich M, Wissenbach U, Thiel G. The super-cooling compound icilin stimulates c-Fos and Egr-1 expression and activity involving TRPM8 channel activation, Ca2+ ion influx and activation of the ternary complex factor Elk-1. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 177:113936. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.113936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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8
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Early epigenomic and transcriptional changes reveal Elk-1 transcription factor as a therapeutic target in Huntington's disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:24840-24851. [PMID: 31744868 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1908113116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a late clinical onset despite ubiquitous expression of the mutant Huntingtin gene (HTT) from birth. Transcriptional dysregulation is a pivotal feature of HD. Yet, the genes that are altered in the prodromal period and their regulators, which present opportunities for therapeutic intervention, remain to be elucidated. Using transcriptional and chromatin profiling, we found aberrant transcription and changes in histone H3K27acetylation in the striatum of R6/1 mice during the presymptomatic disease stages. Integrating these data, we identified the Elk-1 transcription factor as a candidate regulator of prodromal changes in HD. Exogenous expression of Elk-1 exerted beneficial effects in a primary striatal cell culture model of HD, and adeno-associated virus-mediated Elk-1 overexpression alleviated transcriptional dysregulation in R6/1 mice. Collectively, our work demonstrates that aberrant gene expression precedes overt disease onset in HD, identifies the Elk-1 transcription factor as a key regulator linked to early epigenetic and transcriptional changes in HD, and presents evidence for Elk-1 as a target for alleviating molecular pathology in HD.
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9
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Rubil S, Thiel G. Stimulation of TRPM3 channels increases the transcriptional activation potential of Elk-1 involving cytosolic Ca 2+, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, and calcineurin. Eur J Pharmacol 2018; 844:225-230. [PMID: 30552902 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Stimulation of transient receptor potential M3 (TRPM3) channels with the steroid pregnenolone sulfate increases the transcriptional activation potential of Elk-1, a transcription factor that regulates serum response element-mediated transcription. Here, we show that an influx of Ca2+ ions into the cells is essential for the activation of Elk-1 following stimulation of TRPM3. Using genetically encoded Ca2+ buffers, we show that a rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+ is required for the upregulation of the transcriptional activation potential of Elk-1, while buffering of Ca2+ in the nucleus had no inhibitory effect on the transcriptional activity of Elk-1. Pharmacological and genetic experiments showed that extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) functions as signal transducer connecting TRPM3 channels with the Elk-1 transcription factor. Accordingly, dephosphorylation of ERK1/2 in the nucleus by MAP kinase phosphatase attenuated TRPM3-mediated Elk-1 activation. Moreover, we show that the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin is part of a shut-off-device for the signaling cascade connecting TRPM3 channels with the activation of Elk-1. The fact that TRPM3 channel stimulation activates Elk-1 connects TRPM3 with the biological functions of Elk-1, including the regulation of proliferation, differentiation, survival, transcription, and cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Rubil
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Saarland University Medical Faculty, Building 44, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Gerald Thiel
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Saarland University Medical Faculty, Building 44, D-66421 Homburg, Germany.
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10
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Cabezas-Llobet N, Camprubí S, García B, Alberch J, Xifró X. Human alpha 1-antitrypsin protects neurons and glial cells against oxygen and glucose deprivation through inhibition of interleukins expression. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1862:1852-1861. [PMID: 29857082 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Death due to cerebral stroke afflicts a large number of neuronal populations, including glial cells depending on the brain region affected. Drugs with a wide cellular range of protection are needed to develop effective therapies for stroke. Human alpha 1-antitrypsin (hAAT) is a serine proteinase inhibitor with potent anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and immunoregulatory activities. This study aimed to test whether hAAT can protect different kind of neurons and glial cells after the oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). METHODS Addition of hAAT to mouse neuronal cortical, hippocampal and striatal cultures, as well as glial cultures, was performed 30 min after OGD induction and cell viability was assessed 24 h later. The expression of different apoptotic markers and several inflammatory parameters were assessed by immunoblotting and RT-PCR. RESULTS hAAT had a concentration-dependent survival effect in all neuronal cultures exposed to OGD, with a maximal effect at 1-2 mg/mL. The addition of hAAT at 1 mg/mL reduced the OGD-mediated necrotic and apoptotic death in all neuronal cultures. This neuroprotective activity of hAAT was associated with a decrease of cleaved caspase-3 and an increase of MAP2 levels. It was also associated with a reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines protein levels and expression, increase of IL-10 protein levels and decrease of nuclear localization of nuclear factor-kappaB. Similar to neurons, addition of hAAT protected astrocytes and oligodendrocytes against OGD-induced cell death. CONCLUSIONS Human AAT protects neuronal and glial cells against OGD through interaction with cytokines. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Human AAT could be a good therapeutic neuroprotective candidate to treat ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Cabezas-Llobet
- New Therapeutic Targets Group (TargetsLab), Departament de Ciències Mèdiques, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Girona, E-17071 Girona, Spain
| | | | | | - Jordi Alberch
- Departament de Biomedicina, Institut de Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), E-08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Xavier Xifró
- New Therapeutic Targets Group (TargetsLab), Departament de Ciències Mèdiques, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Girona, E-17071 Girona, Spain; Departament de Biomedicina, Institut de Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), E-08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain.
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11
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Cabezas-Llobet N, Vidal-Sancho L, Masana M, Fournier A, Alberch J, Vaudry D, Xifró X. Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) Enhances Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and Improves Memory Performance in Huntington's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2018. [PMID: 29526016 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0972-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Deficits in hippocampal synaptic plasticity result in cognitive impairment in Huntington's disease (HD). Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide that exerts neuroprotective actions, mainly through the PAC1 receptor. However, the role of PACAP in cognition is poorly understood, and no data exists in the context of Huntington's disease (HD). Here, we investigated the ability of PACAP receptor stimulation to enhance memory development in HD. First, we observed a hippocampal decline of all three PACAP receptor expressions, i.e., PAC1, VPAC1, and VPAC2, in two different HD mouse models, R6/1 and HdhQ7/Q111, from the onset of cognitive dysfunction. In hippocampal post-mortem human samples, we found a specific decrease of PAC1, without changes in VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors. To determine whether activation of PACAP receptors could contribute to improve memory performance, we conducted daily intranasal administration of PACAP38 to R6/1 mice at the onset of cognitive impairment for seven days. We found that PACAP treatment rescued PAC1 level in R6/1 mice, promoted expression of the hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and reduced the formation of mutant huntingtin aggregates. Furthermore, PACAP administration counteracted R6/1 mice memory deficits as analyzed by the novel object recognition test and the T-maze spontaneous alternation task. Importantly, the effect of PACAP on cognitive performance was associated with an increase of VGlut-1 and PSD95 immunolabeling in hippocampus of R6/1 mice. Taken together, these results suggest that PACAP, acting through stimulation of PAC1 receptor, may have a therapeutic potential to counteract cognitive deficits induced in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Cabezas-Llobet
- New Therapeutic Targets Group, Department of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - L Vidal-Sancho
- New Therapeutic Targets Group, Department of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
- Departament de Biomedicina, Institut de Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - M Masana
- Departament de Biomedicina, Institut de Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - A Fournier
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, 531 boul. des Prairies, Laval, QC, H7V 1B7, Canada
- International Associate Laboratory Samuel de Champlain, 531 boul. des Prairies, Laval, QC, H7 1B7, Canada
| | - J Alberch
- Departament de Biomedicina, Institut de Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - D Vaudry
- Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Communication and Differentiation, Neuropeptides, Neuronal Death and Cell Plasticity Team, Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm, 76000, Rouen, France
| | - X Xifró
- New Therapeutic Targets Group, Department of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain.
- Departament de Biomedicina, Institut de Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.
- Departament de Ciències Mèdiques, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Girona, C/ Emili Grahit 77, E-17003, Girona, Spain.
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12
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Kovalchuk A, Ilnytskyy Y, Woycicki R, Rodriguez-Juarez R, Metz GAS, Kovalchuk O. Adverse effects of paternal chemotherapy exposure on the progeny brain: intergenerational chemobrain. Oncotarget 2018. [PMID: 29515791 PMCID: PMC5839372 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in cancer treatments have led to significant increases in cure rates. Most cancer patients are treated with various cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens. These treatment modalities are mutagenic and genotoxic and cause a wide array of late-occurring health problems, and even exert a deleterious influence on future offspring. The adverse effects from exposed parents on offspring are referred to as transgenerational effects, and currently little is known about chemotherapy-induced transgenerational effects. Furthermore, transgenerational effects have not been studied in the brains of progeny of exposed parents. In this study, we analyzed the existence and molecular nature of transgenerational effects in the brains of progeny of animals exposed to three common chemotherapy agents: cyclophosphamide (CPP), procarbazine (PCB) and mitomycin C (MMC). For the first time, our results show that paternal exposure to chemotherapy drugs causes transgenerational changes in the brain of unexposed progeny. Although no DNA damage was observed in terms of γH2AX levels, some alterations were found in levels of PCNA, protein involved in DNA repair, replication and profileration. Furthermore, there were changes in proliferation and apoptosis proteins BCL2 and AKT1, the proteins associated with DNA methylation, DNMT1 and MeCP2. Some altered expression trends were noted in proteins involved in myelin biogenesis, MBP and MYT1L. Moreover, global transcriptome profiling revealed changes in over 200 genes in the whole brains of progeny of animals exposed to CPP, and the changes in the levels of FOXP2 and ELK1proteins were confirmed by western blot analysis. These findings suggest that paternal chemotherapy significantly affects offspring brain development and may affect brain functioning. This research provides a key roadmap for future investigations of the novel phenomenon of transgenerational effects of chemotherapy in the brain of progeny of exposed parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kovalchuk
- Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K3M4, Canada.,Department of Biology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Yaroslav Ilnytskyy
- Department of Biology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Rafal Woycicki
- Department of Biology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada
| | | | - Gerlinde A S Metz
- Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K3M4, Canada.,Alberta Epigenetics Network, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A6, Canada
| | - Olga Kovalchuk
- Department of Biology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada.,Alberta Epigenetics Network, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A6, Canada
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13
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García-Díaz Barriga G, Giralt A, Anglada-Huguet M, Gaja-Capdevila N, Orlandi JG, Soriano J, Canals JM, Alberch J. 7,8-dihydroxyflavone ameliorates cognitive and motor deficits in a Huntington's disease mouse model through specific activation of the PLCγ1 pathway. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 26:3144-3160. [PMID: 28541476 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with motor, cognitive and psychiatric impairment. Dysfunctions in HD models have been related to reduced levels of striatal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and imbalance between its receptors TrkB and p75(NTR). Thus, molecules with activity on the BDNF/TrkB/p75 system can have therapeutic potential. 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) was described as a TrkB agonist in several models of neuro-degenerative diseases, however, its TrkB activation profile needs further investigation due to its pleiotropic properties and divergence from BDNF effect. To investigate this, we used in vitro and in vivo models of HD to dissect TrkB activation upon 7,8-DHF treatment. 7,8-DHF treatment in primary cultures showed phosphorylation of TrkBY816 but not TrkBY515 with activation of the PLCγ1 pathway leading to morphological and functional improvements. Chronic administration of 7,8-DHF delayed motor deficits in R6/1 mice and reversed deficits on the Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT) at 17 weeks. Morphological and biochemical analyses revealed improved striatal levels of enkephalin, and prevention of striatal volume loss. We found a TrkBY816 but not TrkBY515 phosphorylation recovery in striatum concordant with in vitro results. Additionally, 7,8-DHF normalized striatal levels of induced and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (iNOS and nNOS, respectively) and ameliorated the imbalance of p75/TrkB. Our results provide new insights into the mechanism of action of 7,8-DHF suggesting that its effect through the TrkB receptor in striatum is via selective phosphorylation of its Y816 residue and activation of PLCγ1 pathway, but pleiotropic effects of the drug also contribute to its therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo García-Díaz Barriga
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Albert Giralt
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Anglada-Huguet
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Gaja-Capdevila
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier G Orlandi
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Soriano
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep-Maria Canals
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Alberch
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
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14
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Combining fibroblast isolation with lentiviral gene transfer to validate transgene expression in mice following pronucleus injection. Transgenic Res 2016; 25:839-846. [DOI: 10.1007/s11248-016-9973-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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15
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Anglada-Huguet M, Giralt A, Rué L, Alberch J, Xifró X. Loss of striatal 90-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (Rsk) is a key factor for motor, synaptic and transcription dysfunction in Huntington's disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2016; 1862:1255-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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16
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Donyo M, Hollander D, Abramovitch Z, Naftelberg S, Ast G. Phosphatidylserine enhances IKBKAP transcription by activating the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:1307-17. [PMID: 26769675 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a genetic disorder manifested due to abnormal development and progressive degeneration of the sensory and autonomic nervous system. FD is caused by a point mutation in the IKBKAP gene encoding the IKAP protein, resulting in decreased protein levels. A promising potential treatment for FD is phosphatidylserine (PS); however, the manner by which PS elevates IKAP levels has yet to be identified. Analysis of ChIP-seq results of the IKBKAP promoter region revealed binding of the transcription factors CREB and ELK1, which are regulated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway. We show that PS treatment enhanced ERK phosphorylation in cells derived from FD patients. ERK activation resulted in elevated IKBKAP transcription and IKAP protein levels, whereas pretreatment with the MAPK inhibitor U0126 blocked elevation of the IKAP protein level. Overexpression of either ELK1 or CREB activated the IKBKAP promoter, whereas downregulation of these transcription factors resulted in a decrease of the IKAP protein. Additionally, we show that PS improves cell migration, known to be enhanced by MAPK/ERK activation and abrogated in FD cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that PS activates the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, resulting in activation of transcription factors that bind the promoter region of IKBKAP and thus enhancing its transcription. Therefore, compounds that activate the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway could constitute potential treatments for FD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Donyo
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Dror Hollander
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ziv Abramovitch
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Shiran Naftelberg
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Gil Ast
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel
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17
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Fan L, Jiang L, Du Z. Myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl(-1)) protects against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) induced apoptosis in Parkinson's disease. Metab Brain Dis 2015; 30:1269-74. [PMID: 26264181 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-015-9703-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl(-1)) is an anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family, which plays an essential role in protecting cells against apoptosis. The expression pattern and potential roles of Mcl(-1) in Parkinson's diseases (PD) are still unknown. In this study, our results indicated that 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) treatment augmented the expression of Mcl(-1) at both messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, we observed increased phosphorylation of Elk-1at Ser383 as well as nuclear translocation of Elk-1 in exposure to MPP+ treatment. Importantly, the elevated expression of Mcl(-1) induced by MPP+ was abolished by knockdown of Elk-1. It was also found that inhibition of Mcl(-1) by small RNA transfection exacerbates MPP + -induced LDH release after 48 h incubation. In addition, Hoechst 33,258 nuclear staining results demonstrated that silence of Mcl(-1) induced a significant increase in apoptosis in cells when compared with the control condition. Mechanistically, the levels of cleaved Caspase3 and PARP were elevated in MPP+ treated cells, which was exacerbated by knockdown of Mcl(-1). These findings suggest that Mcl(-1) might be a potential therapeutic target for PD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijing Fan
- Neurology Department, The 89th Hospital of People's Liberation Army, No. 256 Beigong west Street, Weifang City, Shandong, China
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18
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Anglada-Huguet M, Vidal-Sancho L, Giralt A, García-Díaz Barriga G, Xifró X, Alberch J. Prostaglandin E2 EP2 activation reduces memory decline in R6/1 mouse model of Huntington's disease by the induction of BDNF-dependent synaptic plasticity. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 95:22-34. [PMID: 26369879 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Revised: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) patients and mouse models show learning and memory impairment even before the onset of motor symptoms. Deficits in hippocampal synaptic plasticity have been involved in the HD memory impairment. Several studies show that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) EP2 receptor stimulates synaptic plasticity and memory formation. However, this role was not explored in neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we investigated the capacity of PGE2 EP2 receptor to promote synaptic plasticity and memory improvements in a model of HD, the R6/1 mice, by administration of the agonist misoprostol. We found that misoprostol increases dendritic branching in cultured hippocampal neurons in a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-dependent manner. Then, we implanted an osmotic mini-pump system to chronically administrate misoprostol to R6/1 mice from 14 to 18weeks of age. We observed that misoprostol treatment ameliorates the R6/1 long-term memory deficits as analyzed by the T-maze spontaneous alternation task and the novel object recognition test. Importantly, administration of misoprostol promoted the expression of hippocampal BDNF. Moreover, the treatment with misoprostol in R6/1 mice blocked the reduction in the number of PSD-95 and VGluT-1 positive particles observed in hippocampus of vehicle-R6/1 mice. In addition, we observed an increase of cAMP levels in the dentate ` of WT and R6/1 mice treated with misoprostol. Accordingly, we showed a reduction in the number of mutant huntingtin nuclear inclusions in the dentate gyrus of R6/1 mice. Altogether, these results suggest a putative therapeutic effect of PGE2 EP2 receptor in reducing cognitive deficits in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Anglada-Huguet
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Immunologia i Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Laura Vidal-Sancho
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Immunologia i Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; New Therapeutic Targets Group (TargetsLab), Departament de Ciències Mèdiques, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Girona, c/ Emili Grahit, 77, 17071 Girona, Spain.
| | - Albert Giralt
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Immunologia i Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Gerardo García-Díaz Barriga
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Immunologia i Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Xavier Xifró
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Immunologia i Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; New Therapeutic Targets Group (TargetsLab), Departament de Ciències Mèdiques, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Girona, c/ Emili Grahit, 77, 17071 Girona, Spain.
| | - Jordi Alberch
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Immunologia i Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
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19
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Xifró X, Vidal-Sancho L, Boadas-Vaello P, Turrado C, Alberch J, Puig T, Verdú E. Novel epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) derivative as a new therapeutic strategy for reducing neuropathic pain after chronic constriction nerve injury in mice. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123122. [PMID: 25855977 PMCID: PMC4391943 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is common in peripheral nerve injury and often fails to respond to ordinary medication. Here, we investigated whether the two novel epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) polyphenolic derivatives, compound 23 and 30, reduce the neuropathic pain in mice chronic constriction nerve injury (CCI). First, we performed a dose-response study to evaluate nociceptive sensation after administration of EGCG and its derivatives 23 and 30, using the Hargreaves test at 7 and 21 days after injury (dpi). We daily administered EGCG, 23 and 30 (10 to 100 mg/Kg; i.p.) during the first week post-CCI. None of the doses of compound 23 caused significant pain diminution, whereas 50mg/kg was optimal for both EGCG and 30 to delay the latency of paw withdrawal. With 50 mg/Kg, we showed that EGCC prevented the thermal hyperalgesia from 7 to 21 dpi and compound 30 from 14 to 56 dpi. To evaluate the molecular mechanisms underpinning why EGCG and compound 30 differentially prevented the thermal hyperalgesia, we studied several biochemical parameters in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord at 14 and 56 dpi. We showed that the effect observed with EGCG and compound 30 was related to the inhibition of fatty acid synthase (FASN), a known target of these polyphenolic compounds. Additionally, we observed that EGCG and compound 30 reduced the expression of CCI-mediated inflammatory proteins and the nuclear localization of nuclear factor-kappa B at 14 dpi, but not at 56 dpi. We also strongly detected a decrease of synaptic plasma membrane levels of N-methyl-D-asparte receptor 2B in CCI-mice treated with compound 30 at 56 dpi. Altogether, compound 30 reduced the chronic thermal hyperalgesia induced by CCI better than the natural compound EGCG. Thus, our findings provide a rationale for the preclinical development of compound 30 as an agent to treat neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Xifró
- Grupo de Investigación de Anatomía Clínica, Embriología, Neurociencia y Oncología Molecular (NEOMA), Departamento de Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universitat de Girona (UdG), Girona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Immunologia i Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Vidal-Sancho
- Grupo de Investigación de Anatomía Clínica, Embriología, Neurociencia y Oncología Molecular (NEOMA), Departamento de Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universitat de Girona (UdG), Girona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Immunologia i Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pere Boadas-Vaello
- Grupo de Investigación de Anatomía Clínica, Embriología, Neurociencia y Oncología Molecular (NEOMA), Departamento de Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universitat de Girona (UdG), Girona, Spain
| | - Carlos Turrado
- Laboratorio de Química Médica, Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Alberch
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Immunologia i Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Teresa Puig
- Grupo de Investigación de Anatomía Clínica, Embriología, Neurociencia y Oncología Molecular (NEOMA), Departamento de Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universitat de Girona (UdG), Girona, Spain
- * E-mail: (TP); (EV)
| | - Enrique Verdú
- Grupo de Investigación de Anatomía Clínica, Embriología, Neurociencia y Oncología Molecular (NEOMA), Departamento de Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universitat de Girona (UdG), Girona, Spain
- * E-mail: (TP); (EV)
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Rawat V, Goux W, Piechaczyk M, D Mello SR. c-Fos Protects Neurons Through a Noncanonical Mechanism Involving HDAC3 Interaction: Identification of a 21-Amino Acid Fragment with Neuroprotective Activity. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:1165-1180. [PMID: 25592718 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-014-9058-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Proteins belonging to the AP-1 family of transcription factors are known to be involved in the regulation of neuronal viability. While strides have been made to elucidate the mechanisms of how individual members regulate cell death, much remains unknown. We find that the expression of one AP-1 member, c-Fos, is reduced in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) induced to die by low potassium (LK) treatment. Restoration and increase of this expression protect CGNs against LK-induced death, whereas knockdown induces death of otherwise healthy neurons. Furthermore, forced expression can protect cortical neurons against homocysteic acid (HCA)-induced toxicity. Taken together, this suggests that c-Fos is necessary for neuronal survival and that elevating c-Fos expression has a neuroprotective effect. Consistent with this idea is the finding that c-Fos expression is reduced selectively in the striatum in two separate mouse models of Huntington's disease and forced expression protects against neuronal death resulting from mutant huntingtin (mut-Htt) expression. Interestingly, neuroprotection by c-Fos does not require its DNA-binding, transcriptional, or heteromerization domains. However, this protective activity can be inhibited by pharmacological inhibition of c-Abl, CK-I, and MEK-ERK signaling. Additionally, expression of point mutant forms of this protein has identified that mutation of a tyrosine residue, Tyr345, can convert c-Fos from neuroprotective to neurotoxic. We show that c-Fos interacts with histone deacetylase-3 (HDAC3), a protein that contributes to mut-Htt neurotoxicity and whose overexpression is sufficient to promote neuronal death. When co-expressed, c-Fos can protect against HDAC3 neurotoxicity. Finally, our study identifies a 21-amino acid region at the C-terminus of c-Fos that is sufficient to protect neurons against death induced by LK, HCA treatment, or mut-Htt expression when expressed via a plasmid transfection or as a cell-permeable peptide. This cell-permeable peptide, designated as Fos-CTF, could have potential as a therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun Rawat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dedman Life Sciences Building, 6501 Airline Road, Dallas, TX, 75275, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Warren Goux
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Marc Piechaczyk
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Santosh R D Mello
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dedman Life Sciences Building, 6501 Airline Road, Dallas, TX, 75275, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.
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21
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Neueder A, Bates GP. A common gene expression signature in Huntington's disease patient brain regions. BMC Med Genomics 2014; 7:60. [PMID: 25358814 PMCID: PMC4219025 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-014-0060-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gene expression data provide invaluable insights into disease mechanisms. In Huntington’s disease (HD), a neurodegenerative disease caused by a tri-nucleotide repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene, extensive transcriptional dysregulation has been reported. Conventional dysregulation analysis has shown that e.g. in the caudate nucleus of the post mortem HD brain the gene expression level of about a third of all genes was altered. Owing to this large number of dysregulated genes, the underlying relevance of expression changes is often lost in huge gene lists that are difficult to comprehend. Methods To alleviate this problem, we employed weighted correlation network analysis to archival gene expression datasets of HD post mortem brain regions. Results We were able to uncover previously unidentified transcription dysregulation in the HD cerebellum that contained a gene expression signature in common with the caudate nucleus and the BA4 region of the frontal cortex. Furthermore, we found that yet unassociated pathways, e.g. global mRNA processing, were dysregulated in HD. We provide evidence to show that, contrary to previous findings, mutant huntingtin is sufficient to induce a subset of stress response genes in the cerebellum and frontal cortex BA4 region. The comparison of HD with other neurodegenerative disorders showed that the immune system, in particular the complement system, is generally activated. We also demonstrate that HD mouse models mimic some aspects of the disease very well, while others, e.g. the activation of the immune system are inadequately reflected. Conclusion Our analysis provides novel insights into the molecular pathogenesis in HD and identifies genes and pathways as potential therapeutic targets. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12920-014-0060-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Neueder
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
| | - Gillian P Bates
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
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Francelle L, Galvan L, Brouillet E. Possible involvement of self-defense mechanisms in the preferential vulnerability of the striatum in Huntington's disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:295. [PMID: 25309327 PMCID: PMC4176035 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
HD is caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene that consists in a CAG repeat expansion translated into an abnormal poly-glutamine (polyQ) tract in the huntingtin (Htt) protein. The most striking neuropathological finding in HD is the atrophy of the striatum. The regional expression of mutant Htt (mHtt) is ubiquitous in the brain and cannot explain by itself the preferential vulnerability of the striatum in HD. mHtt has been shown to produce an early defect in transcription, through direct alteration of the function of key regulators of transcription and in addition, more indirectly, as a result of compensatory responses to cellular stress. In this review, we focus on gene products that are preferentially expressed in the striatum and have down- or up-regulated expression in HD and, as such, may play a crucial role in the susceptibility of the striatum to mHtt. Many of these striatal gene products are for a vast majority down-regulated and more rarely increased in HD. Recent research shows that some of these striatal markers have a pro-survival/neuroprotective role in neurons (e.g., MSK1, A2A, and CB1 receptors) whereas others enhance the susceptibility of striatal neurons to mHtt (e.g., Rhes, RGS2, D2 receptors). The down-regulation of these latter proteins may be considered as a potential self-defense mechanism to slow degeneration. For a majority of the striatal gene products that have been identified so far, their function in the striatum is unknown and their modifying effects on mHtt toxicity remain to be experimentally addressed. Focusing on these striatal markers may contribute to a better understanding of HD pathogenesis, and possibly the identification of novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Francelle
- Neurodegenerative Disease Laboratory, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Institut d'Imagerie BioMédicale, Molecular Imaging Research Center Fontenay-aux-Roses, France ; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives Unité de Recherche Associée 2210 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Laurie Galvan
- Neurodegenerative Disease Laboratory, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Institut d'Imagerie BioMédicale, Molecular Imaging Research Center Fontenay-aux-Roses, France ; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives Unité de Recherche Associée 2210 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France ; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emmanuel Brouillet
- Neurodegenerative Disease Laboratory, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Institut d'Imagerie BioMédicale, Molecular Imaging Research Center Fontenay-aux-Roses, France ; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives Unité de Recherche Associée 2210 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
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Anglada-Huguet M, Xifró X, Giralt A, Zamora-Moratalla A, Martín ED, Alberch J. Prostaglandin E2 EP1 receptor antagonist improves motor deficits and rescues memory decline in R6/1 mouse model of Huntington's disease. Mol Neurobiol 2013; 49:784-95. [PMID: 24198227 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-013-8556-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated the potential beneficial effects of antagonizing prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) EP1 receptor on motor and memory deficits in Huntington's disease (HD). To this aim, we implanted an osmotic mini-pump system to chronically administrate an EP1 receptor antagonist (SC-51089) in the R6/1 mouse model of HD, from 13 to 18 weeks of age, and used different paradigms to assess motor and memory function. SC-51089 administration ameliorated motor coordination and balance dysfunction in R6/1 mice as analyzed by rotarod, balance beam, and vertical pole tasks. Long-term memory deficit was also rescued after EP1 receptor antagonism as assessed by the T-maze spontaneous alternation and the novel object recognition tests. Additionally, treatment with SC-51089 improved the expression of specific synaptic markers and reduced the number of huntingtin nuclear inclusions in the striatum and hippocampus of 18-week-old R6/1 mice. Moreover, electrophysiological studies showed that hippocampal long-term potentiation was significantly recovered in R6/1 mice after EP1 receptor antagonism. Altogether, these results show that the antagonism of PGE2 EP1 receptor has a strong therapeutic effect on R6/1 mice and point out a new therapeutic candidate to treat motor and memory deficits in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Anglada-Huguet
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Immunologia i Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, C/ Casanova, 143, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
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Rué L, Alcalá-Vida R, López-Soop G, Creus-Muncunill J, Alberch J, Pérez-Navarro E. Early down-regulation of PKCδ as a pro-survival mechanism in Huntington's disease. Neuromolecular Med 2013; 16:25-37. [PMID: 23896721 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-013-8248-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2013] [Accepted: 07/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A balance between cell survival and apoptosis is crucial to avoid neurodegeneration. Here, we analyzed whether the pro-apoptotic protein PKCδ, and the pro-survival PKCα and βII, were dysregulated in the brain of R6/1 mouse model of Huntington's disease (HD). Protein levels of the three PKCs examined were reduced in all the brain regions analyzed being PKCδ the most affected isoform. Interestingly, PKCδ protein levels were also decreased in the striatum and cortex of R6/2 and Hdh(Q111/Q111) mice, and in the putamen of HD patients. Nuclear PKCδ induces apoptosis, but we detected reduced PKCδ in both cytoplasmic and nuclear enriched fractions from R6/1 mouse striatum, cortex and hippocampus. In addition, we show that phosphorylation and ubiquitination of PKCδ are increased in 30-week-old R6/1 mouse brain. All together these results suggest a pro-survival role of reduced PKCδ levels in response to mutant huntingtin-induced toxicity. In fact, we show that over-expression of PKCδ increases mutant huntingtin-induced cell death in vitro, whereas over-expression of a PKCδ dominant negative form or silencing of endogenous PKCδ partially blocks mutant huntingtin-induced cell death. Finally, we show that the analysis of lamin B protein levels could be a good marker of PKCδ activity, but it is not involved in PKCδ-mediated cell death in mutant huntingtin-expressing cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that neurons increase the degradation of PKCδ as a compensatory pro-survival mechanism in response to mutant huntingtin-induced toxicity that can help to understand why cell death appears late in the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rué
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Immunologia i Neurociències, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova 143, Barcelona, 08036, Spain
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