1
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Belozor OS, Vasilev A, Mileiko AG, Mosina LD, Mikhailov IG, Ox DA, Boitsova EB, Shuvaev AN, Teschemacher AG, Kasparov S, Shuvaev AN. Memantine suppresses the excitotoxicity but fails to rescue the ataxic phenotype in SCA1 model mice. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116526. [PMID: 38574621 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder of the cerebellum and brainstem. Memantine has been proposed as a potential treatment for SCA1. It blocks N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors on neurons, reduces excitotoxicity and decreases neurodegeneration in Alzheimer models. However, in cerebellar neurodegenerative diseases, the potential value of memantine is still unclear. We investigated the effects of memantine on motor performance and synaptic transmission in the cerebellum in a mouse model where mutant ataxin 1 is specifically targeted to glia. Lentiviral vectors (LVV) were used to express mutant ataxin 1 selectively in Bergmann glia (BG). In mice transduced with the mutant ataxin 1, chronic treatment with memantine improved motor activity during initial tests, presumably due to preserved BG and Purkinje cell (PC) morphology and numbers. However, mice were unable to improve their rota rod scores during next days of training. Memantine also compromised improvement in the rota rod scores in control mice upon repetitive training. These effects may be due to the effects of memantine on plasticity (LTD suppression) and NMDA receptor modulation. Some effects of chronically administered memantine persisted even after its wash-out from brain slices. Chronic memantine reduced morphological signs of neurodegeneration in the cerebellum of SCA1 model mice. This resulted in an apparent initial reduction of ataxic phenotype, but memantine also affected cerebellar plasticity and ultimately compromised motor learning. We speculate that that clinical application of memantine in SCA1 might be hampered by its ability to suppress NMDA-dependent plasticity in cerebellar cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga S Belozor
- Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Partizan Zheleznyak st. 1, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia
| | - Alex Vasilev
- JSC «BIOCAD», Svyazi str. 34-A, Strelna, Saint-Petersburg 198515, Russia
| | | | - Lyudmila D Mosina
- Siberian Federal University, Svobodny pr., 79, Krasnoyarsk 660041, Russia
| | - Ilya G Mikhailov
- Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Partizan Zheleznyak st. 1, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia; Siberian Federal University, Svobodny pr., 79, Krasnoyarsk 660041, Russia
| | - Darius A Ox
- Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Partizan Zheleznyak st. 1, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia; Siberian Federal University, Svobodny pr., 79, Krasnoyarsk 660041, Russia
| | - Elizaveta B Boitsova
- Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Partizan Zheleznyak st. 1, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia
| | - Andrey N Shuvaev
- Siberian Federal University, Svobodny pr., 79, Krasnoyarsk 660041, Russia
| | - Anja G Teschemacher
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Sergey Kasparov
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Anton N Shuvaev
- Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Partizan Zheleznyak st. 1, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia; Siberian Federal University, Svobodny pr., 79, Krasnoyarsk 660041, Russia.
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2
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Manolaras I, Del Bondio A, Griso O, Reutenauer L, Eisenmann A, Habermann BH, Puccio H. Mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium dysregulation in COQ8A-ataxia Purkinje neurons are rescued by CoQ10 treatment. Brain 2023; 146:3836-3850. [PMID: 36960552 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
COQ8A-ataxia is a rare form of neurodegenerative disorder due to mutations in the COQ8A gene. The encoded mitochondrial protein is involved in the regulation of coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis. Previous studies on the constitutive Coq8a-/- mice indicated specific alterations of cerebellar Purkinje neurons involving altered electrophysiological function and dark cell degeneration. In the present manuscript, we extend our understanding of the contribution of Purkinje neuron dysfunction to the pathology. By generating a Purkinje-specific conditional COQ8A knockout, we demonstrate that loss of COQ8A in Purkinje neurons is the main cause of cerebellar ataxia. Furthermore, through in vivo and in vitro approaches, we show that COQ8A-depleted Purkinje neurons have abnormal dendritic arborizations, altered mitochondria function and intracellular calcium dysregulation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that oxidative phosphorylation, in particular Complex IV, is primarily altered at presymptomatic stages of the disease. Finally, the morphology of primary Purkinje neurons as well as the mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium dysregulation could be rescued by CoQ10 treatment, suggesting that CoQ10 could be a beneficial treatment for COQ8A-ataxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Manolaras
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Department of translational medecine and neurogenetics, 67404 Illkirch, France
- Inserm, U1258, 67404 Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR7104, 67404 Illkirch, France
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Andrea Del Bondio
- Institut Neuromyogène, Pathophysiology and genetics of the neuron and muscle, Inserm U1315, 69008 Lyon, France
- CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, UMR 5261, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Olivier Griso
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Department of translational medecine and neurogenetics, 67404 Illkirch, France
- Inserm, U1258, 67404 Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR7104, 67404 Illkirch, France
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Laurence Reutenauer
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Department of translational medecine and neurogenetics, 67404 Illkirch, France
- Inserm, U1258, 67404 Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR7104, 67404 Illkirch, France
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut Neuromyogène, Pathophysiology and genetics of the neuron and muscle, Inserm U1315, 69008 Lyon, France
- CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, UMR 5261, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Aurélie Eisenmann
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Department of translational medecine and neurogenetics, 67404 Illkirch, France
- Inserm, U1258, 67404 Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR7104, 67404 Illkirch, France
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Bianca H Habermann
- CNRS, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille (IBDM), UMR7288, Aix-Marseille University, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Hélène Puccio
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Department of translational medecine and neurogenetics, 67404 Illkirch, France
- Inserm, U1258, 67404 Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR7104, 67404 Illkirch, France
- Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut Neuromyogène, Pathophysiology and genetics of the neuron and muscle, Inserm U1315, 69008 Lyon, France
- CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, UMR 5261, 69008 Lyon, France
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3
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Egorova PA, Marinina KS, Bezprozvanny IB. Chronic suppression of STIM1-mediated calcium signaling in Purkinje cells rescues the cerebellar pathology in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2023; 1870:119466. [PMID: 36940741 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Distorted neuronal calcium signaling has been reported in many neurodegenerative disorders, including different types of spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). Cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) are primarily affected in SCAs and the disturbances in the calcium homeostasis were observed in SCA PCs. Our previous results have revealed that 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) induced greater calcium responses in SCA2-58Q PC cultures than in wild type (WT) PC cultures. Here we observed that glutamate-induced calcium release in PCs cells bodies is significantly higher in SCA2-58Q PCs from acute cerebellar slices compared to WT PCs of the same age. Recent studies have demonstrated that the stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) plays an important role in the regulation of the neuronal calcium signaling in cerebellar PCs in mice. The main function of STIM1 is to regulate store-operated calcium entry through the TRPC/Orai channels formation to refill the calcium stores in the ER when it is empty. Here we demonstrated that the chronic viral-mediated expression of the small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting STIM1 specifically in cerebellar PCs alleviates the deranged calcium signaling in SCA2-58Q PCs, rescues the spine loss in these cerebellar neurons, and also improves the motor decline in SCA2-58Q mice. Thus, our preliminary results support the important role of the altered neuronal calcium signaling in SCA2 pathology and also suggest the STIM1-mediated signaling pathway as a potential therapeutic target for treatment of SCA2 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina A Egorova
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ksenia S Marinina
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ilya B Bezprozvanny
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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4
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Miura S, Sawada R, Yorita A, Kida H, Kamada T, Yamanishi Y. A trial of topiramate for patients with hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia. Clin Case Rep 2023; 11:e6980. [PMID: 36855409 PMCID: PMC9968455 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.6980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In an open pilot trial, six patients with various hereditary forms of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) were assigned to topiramate (50 mg/day) for 24 weeks. Four patients completed the protocol without adverse events. Of these four patients, topiramate was effective for three patients. Some patients with SCA could respond to treatment with topiramate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiroh Miura
- Department of Neurology and Geriatric MedicineEhime University Graduate School of MedicineToonEhimeJapan
| | - Ryusuke Sawada
- Department of PharmacologyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesKita‐kuOkayamaJapan
| | - Akiko Yorita
- Division of Respirology, Neurology and Rheumatology, Department of MedicineKurume University School of MedicineKurumeFukuokaJapan
| | - Hiroshi Kida
- Department of AnatomyFukuoka University School of MedicineJonan‐kuFukuokaJapan
| | - Takashi Kamada
- Department of NeurologyFukuoka Sanno HospitalSawara‐kuFukuokaJapan
| | - Yoshihiro Yamanishi
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems EngineeringKyushu Institute of TechnologyIizukaFukuokaJapan
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5
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Benarroch E. What Is the Role of Norepinephrine in Cerebellar Modulation and Stress-Induced Episodic Ataxia? Neurology 2023; 100:383-386. [PMID: 36806456 PMCID: PMC9984211 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000206882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
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6
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Nam YW, Downey M, Rahman MA, Cui M, Zhang M. Channelopathy of small- and intermediate-conductance Ca 2+-activated K + channels. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2023; 44:259-267. [PMID: 35715699 PMCID: PMC9889811 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-022-00935-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Small- and intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (KCa2.x/KCa3.1 also called SK/IK) channels are gated exclusively by intracellular Ca2+. The Ca2+ binding protein calmodulin confers sub-micromolar Ca2+ sensitivity to the channel-calmodulin complex. The calmodulin C-lobe is constitutively associated with the proximal C-terminus of the channel. Interactions between calmodulin N-lobe and the channel S4-S5 linker are Ca2+-dependent, which subsequently trigger conformational changes in the channel pore and open the gate. KCNN genes encode four subtypes, including KCNN1 for KCa2.1 (SK1), KCNN2 for KCa2.2 (SK2), KCNN3 for KCa2.3 (SK3), and KCNN4 for KCa3.1 (IK). The three KCa2.x channel subtypes are expressed in the central nervous system and the heart. The KCa3.1 subtype is expressed in the erythrocytes and the lymphocytes, among other peripheral tissues. The impact of dysfunctional KCa2.x/KCa3.1 channels on human health has not been well documented. Human loss-of-function KCa2.2 mutations have been linked with neurodevelopmental disorders. Human gain-of-function mutations that increase the apparent Ca2+ sensitivity of KCa2.3 and KCa3.1 channels have been associated with Zimmermann-Laband syndrome and hereditary xerocytosis, respectively. This review article discusses the physiological significance of KCa2.x/KCa3.1 channels, the pathophysiology of the diseases linked with KCa2.x/KCa3.1 mutations, the structure-function relationship of the mutant KCa2.x/KCa3.1 channels, and potential pharmacological therapeutics for the KCa2.x/KCa3.1 channelopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Woo Nam
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Myles Downey
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Mohammad Asikur Rahman
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
| | - Meng Cui
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University School of Pharmacy, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Miao Zhang
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA.
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7
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Cvetanovic M, Gray M. Contribution of Glial Cells to Polyglutamine Diseases: Observations from Patients and Mouse Models. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:48-66. [PMID: 37020152 PMCID: PMC10119372 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01357-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are broadly characterized neuropathologically by the degeneration of vulnerable neuronal cell types in a specific brain region. The degeneration of specific cell types has informed on the various phenotypes/clinical presentations in someone suffering from these diseases. Prominent neurodegeneration of specific neurons is seen in polyglutamine expansion diseases including Huntington's disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA). The clinical manifestations observed in these diseases could be as varied as the abnormalities in motor function observed in those who have Huntington's disease (HD) as demonstrated by a chorea with substantial degeneration of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) or those with various forms of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) with an ataxic motor presentation primarily due to degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells. Due to the very significant nature of the degeneration of MSNs in HD and Purkinje cells in SCAs, much of the research has centered around understanding the cell autonomous mechanisms dysregulated in these neuronal cell types. However, an increasing number of studies have revealed that dysfunction in non-neuronal glial cell types contributes to the pathogenesis of these diseases. Here we explore these non-neuronal glial cell types with a focus on how each may contribute to the pathogenesis of HD and SCA and the tools used to evaluate glial cells in the context of these diseases. Understanding the regulation of supportive and harmful phenotypes of glia in disease could lead to development of novel glia-focused neurotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Michelle Gray
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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8
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Egorova PA, Bezprozvanny IB. Electrophysiological Studies Support Utility of Positive Modulators of SK Channels for the Treatment of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 21:742-749. [PMID: 34978024 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-021-01349-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an incurable hereditary disorder accompanied by cerebellar degeneration following ataxic symptoms. The causative gene for SCA2 is ATXN2. The ataxin-2 protein is involved in RNA metabolism; the polyQ expansion may interrupt ataxin-2 interaction with its molecular targets, thus representing a loss-of-function mutation. However, mutant ataxin-2 protein also displays the features of gain-of-function mutation since it forms the aggregates in SCA2 cells and also enhances the IP3-induced calcium release in affected neurons. The cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) are primarily affected in SCA2. Their tonic pacemaker activity is crucial for the proper cerebellar functioning. Disturbances in PC pacemaking are observed in many ataxic disorders. The abnormal intrinsic pacemaking was reported in mouse models of episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2), SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, Huntington's disease (HD), and in some other murine models of the disorders associated with the cerebellar degeneration. In our studies using SCA2-58Q transgenic mice via cerebellar slice recording and in vivo recording from urethane-anesthetized mice and awake head-fixed mice, we have demonstrated the impaired firing frequency and irregularity of PCs in these mice. PC pacemaker activity is regulated by SK channels. The pharmacological activation of SK channels has demonstrated some promising results in the electrophysiological experiments on EA2, SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, HD mice, and also on mutant CACNA1A mice. In our studies, we have reported that the SK activators CyPPA and NS309 converted bursting activity into tonic, while oral treatment with CyPPA and NS13001 significantly improved motor performance and PC morphology in SCA2 mice. The i.p. injections of chlorzoxazone (CHZ) during in vivo recording sessions converted bursting cells into tonic in anesthetized SCA2 mice. And, finally, long-term injections of CHZ recovered the precision of PC pacemaking activity in awake SCA2 mice and alleviated their motor decline. Thus, the SK activation can be used as a potential way to treat SCA2 and other diseases accompanied by cerebellar degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina A Egorova
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Ilya B Bezprozvanny
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia.
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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9
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Yin K, Wang D, Zhao H, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Li B, Xing M. Polystyrene microplastics up-regulates liver glutamine and glutamate synthesis and promotes autophagy-dependent ferroptosis and apoptosis in the cerebellum through the liver-brain axis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 307:119449. [PMID: 35550135 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), which are emerging environmental pollutants, remain uncertainties in their toxic mechanism. MPs have been linked to severe liver metabolic disorders and neurotoxicity, but it is still unknown whether the abnormal metabolites induced by MPs can affect brain tissue through the liver-brain axis. Exposed to MPs of chickens results in liver metabolic disorders and increased glutamine and glutamate synthesis. The relative expression of glutamine in the C group was -0.862, the L-PS group was 0.271, and the H-PS group was 0.592. The expression of tight junction proteins in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was reduced by PS-MPs. Occludin protein expression decreased by 35.8%-41.2%. Claudin 3 decreased by 19.6%-42.3%, and ZO-1 decreased by 28.3%-44.6%. Excessive glutamine and glutamate cooperated with PS-MPs to inhibit the Nrf2-Keap1-HO-1/NQO1 signaling pathway and triggered autophagy-dependent ferroptosis and apoptosis. GPX protein expression decreased by 30.9%-38%. LC3II/LC3I increased by 54%, and Caspase 3 increased by 45%. Eventually, the number of Purkinje cells was reduced, causing neurological dysfunction. In conclusion, this study provides new insights for revealing the mechanism of nervous system damaged caused by PS-MPs exposed in chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Yin
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Dongxu Wang
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Hongjing Zhao
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Yu Wang
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Yue Zhang
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Yachen Liu
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Baoying Li
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Mingwei Xing
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, PR China.
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10
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Liu XX, Chen XH, Zheng ZW, Jiang Q, Li C, Yang L, Chen X, Mao XF, Yuan HY, Feng LL, Jiang Q, Shi WX, Sasaki T, Fukunaga K, Chen Z, Han F, Lu YM. BOD1 regulates the cerebellar IV/V lobe-fastigial nucleus circuit associated with motor coordination. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:170. [PMID: 35641478 PMCID: PMC9156688 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-00989-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar ataxias are characterized by a progressive decline in motor coordination, but the specific output circuits and underlying pathological mechanism remain poorly understood. Through cell-type-specific manipulations, we discovered a novel GABAergic Purkinje cell (PC) circuit in the cerebellar IV/V lobe that projected to CaMKIIα+ neurons in the fastigial nucleus (FN), which regulated sensorimotor coordination. Furthermore, transcriptomics profiling analysis revealed various cerebellar neuronal identities, and we validated that biorientation defective 1 (BOD1) played an important role in the circuit of IV/V lobe to FN. BOD1 deficit in PCs of IV/V lobe attenuated the excitability and spine density of PCs, accompany with ataxia behaviors. Instead, BOD1 enrichment in PCs of IV/V lobe reversed the hyperexcitability of CaMKIIα+ neurons in the FN and ameliorated ataxia behaviors in L7-Cre; BOD1f/f mice. Together, these findings further suggest that specific regulation of the cerebellar IV/V lobePCs → FNCaMKIIα+ circuit might provide neuromodulatory targets for the treatment of ataxia behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu-Xiu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, Drug Target and Drug Discovery Center, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Xing-Hui Chen
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Wei Zheng
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Qin Jiang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Chen Li
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, Drug Target and Drug Discovery Center, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, Drug Target and Drug Discovery Center, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Xing-Feng Mao
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, Drug Target and Drug Discovery Center, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao-Yang Yuan
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Li-Li Feng
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, Drug Target and Drug Discovery Center, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Quan Jiang
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei-Xing Shi
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA.,Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA
| | - Takuya Sasaki
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Kohji Fukunaga
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Zhong Chen
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Han
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, Drug Target and Drug Discovery Center, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China. .,Institute of Brain Science, the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, China. .,Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 215002, Suzhou, China.
| | - Ying-Mei Lu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China. .,Institute of Brain Science, the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, China.
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11
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Ghanekar SD, Kuo SH, Staffetti JS, Zesiewicz TA. Current and Emerging Treatment Modalities for Spinocerebellar Ataxias. Expert Rev Neurother 2022; 22:101-114. [PMID: 35081319 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2022.2029703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) are a group of rare neurodegenerative diseases that dramatically affect the lives of affected individuals and their families. Despite having a clear understanding of SCA's etiology, there are no current symptomatic or neuroprotective treatments approved by the FDA. AREAS COVERED Research efforts have greatly expanded the possibilities for potential treatments, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Great attention is also being given to novel therapeutics based in gene therapy, neurostimulation, and molecular targeting. This review article will address the current advances in the treatment of SCA and what potential interventions are on the horizon. EXPERT OPINION SCA is a highly complex and multifaceted disease family with the majority of research emphasizing symptomatic pharmacologic therapies. As pre-clinical trials for SCA and clinical trials for other neurodegenerative conditions illuminate the efficacy of disease modifying therapies such as AAV-mediated gene therapy and ASOs, the potential for addressing SCA at the pre-symptomatic stage is increasingly promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaila D Ghanekar
- University of South Florida (USF) Department of Neurology, USF Ataxia Research Center, Tampa, Florida, USA.,James A Haley Veteran's Hospital, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Sheng-Han Kuo
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.,Initiative for Columbia Ataxia and Tremor, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joseph S Staffetti
- University of South Florida (USF) Department of Neurology, USF Ataxia Research Center, Tampa, Florida, USA.,James A Haley Veteran's Hospital, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Theresa A Zesiewicz
- University of South Florida (USF) Department of Neurology, USF Ataxia Research Center, Tampa, Florida, USA.,James A Haley Veteran's Hospital, Tampa, Florida, USA
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12
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Benarroch E. What Is the Role of Potassium Channels in Ataxia? Neurology 2021; 97:938-941. [PMID: 34782409 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000012870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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13
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Cendelin J, Cvetanovic M, Gandelman M, Hirai H, Orr HT, Pulst SM, Strupp M, Tichanek F, Tuma J, Manto M. Consensus Paper: Strengths and Weaknesses of Animal Models of Spinocerebellar Ataxias and Their Clinical Implications. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 21:452-481. [PMID: 34378174 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-021-01311-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) represent a large group of hereditary degenerative diseases of the nervous system, in particular the cerebellum, and other systems that manifest with a variety of progressive motor, cognitive, and behavioral deficits with the leading symptom of cerebellar ataxia. SCAs often lead to severe impairments of the patient's functioning, quality of life, and life expectancy. For SCAs, there are no proven effective pharmacotherapies that improve the symptoms or substantially delay disease progress, i.e., disease-modifying therapies. To study SCA pathogenesis and potential therapies, animal models have been widely used and are an essential part of pre-clinical research. They mainly include mice, but also other vertebrates and invertebrates. Each animal model has its strengths and weaknesses arising from model animal species, type of genetic manipulation, and similarity to human diseases. The types of murine and non-murine models of SCAs, their contribution to the investigation of SCA pathogenesis, pathological phenotype, and therapeutic approaches including their advantages and disadvantages are reviewed in this paper. There is a consensus among the panel of experts that (1) animal models represent valuable tools to improve our understanding of SCAs and discover and assess novel therapies for this group of neurological disorders characterized by diverse mechanisms and differential degenerative progressions, (2) thorough phenotypic assessment of individual animal models is required for studies addressing therapeutic approaches, (3) comparative studies are needed to bring pre-clinical research closer to clinical trials, and (4) mouse models complement cellular and invertebrate models which remain limited in terms of clinical translation for complex neurological disorders such as SCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Cendelin
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 75, 323 00, Plzen, Czech Republic. .,Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 75, 323 00, Plzen, Czech Republic.
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Mandi Gandelman
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, 175 North Medical Drive East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Hirokazu Hirai
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neural Repair, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.,Viral Vector Core, Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Harry T Orr
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Stefan M Pulst
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, 175 North Medical Drive East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Michael Strupp
- Department of Neurology and German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Campus Grosshadern, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Filip Tichanek
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 75, 323 00, Plzen, Czech Republic.,Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 75, 323 00, Plzen, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Tuma
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 75, 323 00, Plzen, Czech Republic.,The Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC 7843, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Mario Manto
- Unité des Ataxies Cérébelleuses, Service de Neurologie, CHU-Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium.,Service des Neurosciences, Université de Mons, UMons, Mons, Belgium
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14
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Miura S, Kamada T, Fujioka R, Yamanishi Y. Plasma amino acids in patients with essential tremor. Clin Case Rep 2021; 9:e04580. [PMID: 34429988 PMCID: PMC8365401 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.4580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common movement disorders. However, there are currently no accepted biomarkers for ET. This report suggested that concentration of plasma glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and taurine could be biomarkers for ET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiroh Miura
- Department of Neurology and Geriatric MedicineEhime University Graduate School of MedicineShitsukawa, ToonJapan
- Division of Respirology, Neurology, and RheumatologyDepartment of MedicineKurume University School of MedicineFukuokaJapan
| | - Takashi Kamada
- Division of Respirology, Neurology, and RheumatologyDepartment of MedicineKurume University School of MedicineFukuokaJapan
| | - Ryuta Fujioka
- Department of Food and NutritionBeppu University Junior CollegeOitaJapan
| | - Yoshihiro Yamanishi
- Department of Bioscience and BioinformaticsFaculty of Computer Science and Systems EngineeringKyushu Institute of TechnologyFukuokaJapan
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15
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Borbolla-Jiménez FV, Del Prado-Audelo ML, Cisneros B, Caballero-Florán IH, Leyva-Gómez G, Magaña JJ. New Perspectives of Gene Therapy on Polyglutamine Spinocerebellar Ataxias: From Molecular Targets to Novel Nanovectors. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1018. [PMID: 34371710 PMCID: PMC8309146 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13071018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Seven of the most frequent spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are caused by a pathological expansion of a cytosine, adenine and guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeat located in exonic regions of unrelated genes, which in turn leads to the synthesis of polyglutamine (polyQ) proteins. PolyQ proteins are prone to aggregate and form intracellular inclusions, which alter diverse cellular pathways, including transcriptional regulation, protein clearance, calcium homeostasis and apoptosis, ultimately leading to neurodegeneration. At present, treatment for SCAs is limited to symptomatic intervention, and there is no therapeutic approach to prevent or reverse disease progression. This review provides a compilation of the experimental advances obtained in cell-based and animal models toward the development of gene therapy strategies against polyQ SCAs, providing a discussion of their potential application in clinical trials. In the second part, we describe the promising potential of nanotechnology developments to treat polyQ SCA diseases. We describe, in detail, how the design of nanoparticle (NP) systems with different physicochemical and functionalization characteristics has been approached, in order to determine their ability to evade the immune system response and to enhance brain delivery of molecular tools. In the final part of this review, the imminent application of NP-based strategies in clinical trials for the treatment of polyQ SCA diseases is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola V. Borbolla-Jiménez
- Laboratorio de Medicina Genómica, Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación-Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Ciudad de México 14389, Mexico;
- Programa de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - María Luisa Del Prado-Audelo
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey Campus Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 14380, Mexico;
| | - Bulmaro Cisneros
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), Ciudad de México 07360, Mexico;
| | - Isaac H. Caballero-Florán
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico;
- Departamento de Farmacia, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), Ciudad de México 07360, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Leyva-Gómez
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico;
| | - Jonathan J. Magaña
- Laboratorio de Medicina Genómica, Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación-Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Ciudad de México 14389, Mexico;
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey Campus Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 14380, Mexico;
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16
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Paul S, Dansithong W, Figueroa KP, Gandelman M, Scoles DR, Pulst SM. Staufen1 in Human Neurodegeneration. Ann Neurol 2021; 89:1114-1128. [PMID: 33745139 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mutations in the ATXN2 gene (CAG expansions ≥32 repeats) can be a rare cause of Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We recently reported that the stress granule (SG) protein Staufen1 (STAU1) was overabundant in neurodegenerative disorder spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) patient cells, animal models, and ALS-TDP-43 fibroblasts, and provided a link between SG formation and autophagy. We aimed to test if STAU1 overabundance has a role in the pathogenesis of other neurodegenerative diseases. METHODS With multiple neurodegenerative patient-derived cell models, animal models, and human postmortem ALS tissue, we evaluate STAU1 function using biochemical and immunohistological analyses. RESULTS We demonstrate STAU1 overabundance and increased total and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in fibroblast cells from patients with ALS with mutations in TDP-43, patients with dementia with PSEN1 mutations, a patient with parkinsonism with MAPT mutation, Huntington's disease (HD) mutations, and SCA2 mutations. Increased STAU1 levels and mTOR activity were seen in human ALS spinal cord tissues as well as in animal models. Changes in STAU1 and mTOR protein levels were post-transcriptional. Exogenous expression of STAU1 in wildtype cells was sufficient to activate mTOR and downstream targets and form SGs. Targeting STAU1 by RNAi normalized mTOR, suggesting a potential role for therapy in diseases associated with STAU1 overabundance. INTERPRETATION STAU1 overabundance in neurodegeneration is a common phenomenon associated with hyperactive mTOR. Targeting STAU1 with ASOs or miRNA viral vectors may represent a novel, efficacious therapy for neurodegenerative diseases characterized by overabundant STAU1. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:1114-1128.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharan Paul
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | | | | | - Mandi Gandelman
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Daniel R Scoles
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Stefan M Pulst
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
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17
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Wu QW, Kapfhammer JP. Modulation of Increased mGluR1 Signaling by RGS8 Protects Purkinje Cells From Dendritic Reduction and Could Be a Common Mechanism in Diverse Forms of Spinocerebellar Ataxia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:569889. [PMID: 33553137 PMCID: PMC7858651 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.569889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of hereditary neurodegenerative diseases which are caused by diverse genetic mutations in a variety of different genes. We have identified RGS8, a regulator of G-protein signaling, as one of the genes which are dysregulated in different mouse models of SCA (e.g., SCA1, SCA2, SCA7, and SCA14). In the moment, little is known about the role of RGS8 for pathogenesis of spinocerebellar ataxia. We have studied the expression of RGS8 in the cerebellum in more detail and show that it is specifically expressed in mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells. In a mouse model of SCA14 with increased PKCγ activity, RGS8 expression was also increased. RGS8 overexpression could partially counteract the negative effects of DHPG-induced mGluR1 signaling for the expansion of Purkinje cell dendrites. Our results suggest that the increased expression of RGS8 is an important mediator of mGluR1 pathway dysregulation in Purkinje cells. These findings provide new insights in the role of RGS8 and mGluR1 signaling in Purkinje cells and for the pathology of SCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin-Wei Wu
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Josef P Kapfhammer
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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18
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In vivo analysis of the spontaneous firing of cerebellar Purkinje cells in awake transgenic mice that model spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. Cell Calcium 2020; 93:102319. [PMID: 33248384 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2020.102319] [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: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) fire spontaneously in a tonic mode, although the precision of this pacemaking activity is disturbed in many abnormal conditions involving cerebellar atrophy, such as many spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). In our previous studies we used the single-unit extracellular recording method to analyze spontaneous PC firing in vivo in the anesthetized SCA2-58Q transgenic mice. We realized that PCs from aging SCA2-58Q mice fire much less regularly compared to PCs from their wild type (WT) littermates and this abnormal activity can be reversed with an intraperitoneal (i. p.) injection of SK channel-positive modulator chlorzoxazone (CHZ). Here we used the same single-unit extracellular recording method to analyze the spontaneous firing in vivo in awake SCA2-58Q transgenic mice. For this purpose, we used the Mobile HomeCage (Neurotar, Finland) floating platform to immobilize the experimental animal's head during the recording sessions. We discovered that generally PCs from awake animals fired much more frequently and much less regularly than previously observed PCs from anesthetized animals. In vivo recordings from awake SCA2/WT mice revealed that complex spikes, which are generated by PCs in reply to the excitation coming by climbing fibers, as well as simple spikes, were much less frequent in SCA2 mice compared to their WT littermates. To test the effect of the SK channel positive modulation on the PCs firing activity in awake SCA2 mice and also the effect on their motor coordination, we started the CHZ trial in these mice. We discovered that the long-term i. p. injections of CHZ did not affect the spike generation in SCA2-58Q mice, however, they did recover the precision of this spontaneous pacemaking activity. Furthermore, we also showed that treatment with CHZ alleviated the age-dependent motor impairment in SCA2-58Q mice. We propose that the lack of precision in PC spike generation might be a key cause for the progression of ataxic symptoms in different SCAs and that the activation of calcium-activated potassium channels, including SK channels, can be used as a potential way to treat SCAs on the physiological level of the disease.
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19
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Neves-Carvalho A, Duarte-Silva S, Teixeira-Castro A, Maciel P. Polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias: emerging therapeutic targets. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:1099-1119. [PMID: 32962458 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1827394] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Six of the most frequent dominantly inherited spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) worldwide - SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, SCA7, and SCA17 - are caused by an expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the corresponding proteins. While the identification of the causative mutation has advanced knowledge on the pathogenesis of polyQ SCAs, effective therapeutics able to mitigate the severe clinical manifestation of these highly incapacitating disorders are not yet available. AREAS COVERED This review provides a comprehensive and critical perspective on well-established and emerging therapeutic targets for polyQ SCAs; it aims to inspire prospective drug discovery efforts. EXPERT OPINION The landscape of polyQ SCAs therapeutic targets and strategies includes (1) the mutant genes and proteins themselves, (2) enhancement of endogenous protein quality control responses, (3) abnormal protein-protein interactions of the mutant proteins, (4) disturbed neuronal function, (5) mitochondrial function, energy availability and oxidative stress, and (6) glial dysfunction, growth factor or hormone imbalances. Challenges include gaining a clearer definition of therapeutic targets for the drugs in clinical development, the discovery of novel drug-like molecules for challenging key targets, and the attainment of a stronger translation of preclinical findings to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Neves-Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho , Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory , Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sara Duarte-Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho , Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory , Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho , Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory , Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho , Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory , Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
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20
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Park JY, Joo K, Woo SJ. Ophthalmic Manifestations and Genetics of the Polyglutamine Autosomal Dominant Spinocerebellar Ataxias: A Review. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:892. [PMID: 32973440 PMCID: PMC7472957 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a part of the cerebellar neurodegenerative disease group that is diverse in genetics and phenotypes. It usually shows autosomal dominant inheritance. SCAs, always together with the cerebellar degeneration, may exhibit clinical deficits in brainstem or eye, especially retina or optic nerve. Interestingly, autosomal dominant SCAs share a common genetic mechanism; the length of the glutamine chain is abnormally expanded due to the increase in the cytosine–adenine–guanine (CAG) repeats of the disease causing gene. Studies have suggested that the mutant ataxin induces alteration of protein conformation and abnormal aggregation resulting in nuclear inclusions, and causes cellular loss of photoreceptors through a toxic effect. As a result, these pathologic changes induce a downregulation of genes involved in the phototransduction, development, and differentiation of photoreceptors such as CRX, one of the photoreceptor transcription factors. However, the exact mechanism of neuronal degeneration by mutant ataxin restricted to only certain type of neuronal cell including cerebellar Purkinje neurons and photoreceptor is still unclear. The most common SCAs are types 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 17 which contain about 80% of autosomal dominant SCA cases. Various aspects of eye movement abnormalities are evident depending on the degree of cerebellar and brainstem degeneration in SCAs. In addition, certain types of SCAs such as SCA7 are characterized by both cerebellar ataxia and visual loss mainly due to retinal degeneration. The severity of the retinopathy can vary from occult macular photoreceptor disruption to extensive retinal atrophy and is correlated with the number of CAG repeats. The value of using optical coherence tomography in conjunction with electrodiagnostic and genetic testing is emphasized as the combination of these tests can provide critical information regarding the etiology, morphological evaluation, and functional significances. Therefore, ophthalmologists need to recognize and differentiate SCAs in order to properly diagnose and evaluate the disease. In this review, we have described and discussed SCAs showing ophthalmic abnormalities with particular attention to their ophthalmic features, neurodegenerative mechanisms, genetics, and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Young Park
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kwangsic Joo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Se Joon Woo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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21
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Lau DHW, Paillusson S, Hartopp N, Rupawala H, Mórotz GM, Gomez-Suaga P, Greig J, Troakes C, Noble W, Miller CCJ. Disruption of endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria tethering proteins in post-mortem Alzheimer's disease brain. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 143:105020. [PMID: 32682953 PMCID: PMC7794060 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Signaling between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria regulates a number of key neuronal functions, many of which are perturbed in Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, damage to ER-mitochondria signaling is seen in cell and transgenic models of Alzheimer's disease. However, as yet there is little evidence that ER-mitochondria signaling is altered in human Alzheimer's disease brains. ER-mitochondria signaling is mediated by interactions between the integral ER protein VAPB and the outer mitochondrial membrane protein PTPIP51 which act to recruit and “tether” regions of ER to the mitochondrial surface. The VAPB-PTPIP51 tethers are now known to regulate a number of ER-mitochondria signaling functions including delivery of Ca2+from ER stores to mitochondria, mitochondrial ATP production, autophagy and synaptic activity. Here we investigate the VAPB-PTPIP51 tethers in post-mortem control and Alzheimer's disease brains. Quantification of ER-mitochondria signaling proteins by immunoblotting revealed loss of VAPB and PTPIP51 in cortex but not cerebellum at end-stage Alzheimer's disease. Proximity ligation assays were used to quantify the VAPB-PTPIP51 interaction in temporal cortex pyramidal neurons and cerebellar Purkinje cell neurons in control, Braak stage III-IV (early/mid-dementia) and Braak stage VI (severe dementia) cases. Pyramidal neurons degenerate in Alzheimer's disease whereas Purkinje cells are less affected. These studies revealed that the VAPB-PTPIP51 tethers are disrupted in Braak stage III-IV pyramidal but not Purkinje cell neurons. Thus, we identify a new pathogenic event in post-mortem Alzheimer's disease brains. The implications of our findings for Alzheimer's disease mechanisms are discussed. VAPB, PTPIP51 and IP3R1 levels are reduced in temporal cortex in late-stage Alzheimer's disease Proximity ligation assays reveal that the VAPB-PTPIP51 interaction is disrupted in temporal cortex pyramidal neurons in early (Braak stage III-IV) Alzheimer's disease We identify damage to the VAPB-PTPIP51 ER-mitochondria tethers as a new pathogenic event in Alzheimer’s disease. Disruption of the VAPB-PTPIP51 tethers may contribute to the neurodegenerative process in Alzheimer’s disease
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn H W Lau
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Sebastien Paillusson
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Naomi Hartopp
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Huzefa Rupawala
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Gábor M Mórotz
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Patricia Gomez-Suaga
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Jenny Greig
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Wendy Noble
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Christopher C J Miller
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9RX, UK.
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22
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Robinson KJ, Watchon M, Laird AS. Aberrant Cerebellar Circuitry in the Spinocerebellar Ataxias. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:707. [PMID: 32765211 PMCID: PMC7378801 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative diseases that share convergent disease features. A common symptom of these diseases is development of ataxia, involving impaired balance and motor coordination, usually stemming from cerebellar dysfunction and neurodegeneration. For most spinocerebellar ataxias, pathology can be attributed to an underlying gene mutation and the impaired function of the encoded protein through loss or gain-of-function effects. Strikingly, despite vast heterogeneity in the structure and function of disease-causing genes across the SCAs and the cellular processes affected, the downstream effects have considerable overlap, including alterations in cerebellar circuitry. Interestingly, aberrant function and degeneration of Purkinje cells, the major output neuronal population present within the cerebellum, precedes abnormalities in other neuronal populations within many SCAs, suggesting that Purkinje cells have increased vulnerability to cellular perturbations. Factors that are known to contribute to perturbed Purkinje cell function in spinocerebellar ataxias include altered gene expression resulting in altered expression or functionality of proteins and channels that modulate membrane potential, downstream impairments in intracellular calcium homeostasis and changes in glutamatergic input received from synapsing climbing or parallel fibers. This review will explore this enhanced vulnerability and the aberrant cerebellar circuitry linked with it in many forms of SCA. It is critical to understand why Purkinje cells are vulnerable to such insults and what overlapping pathogenic mechanisms are occurring across multiple SCAs, despite different underlying genetic mutations. Enhanced understanding of disease mechanisms will facilitate the development of treatments to prevent or slow progression of the underlying neurodegenerative processes, cerebellar atrophy and ataxic symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Angela S. Laird
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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23
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Niewiadomska-Cimicka A, Hache A, Trottier Y. Gene Deregulation and Underlying Mechanisms in Spinocerebellar Ataxias With Polyglutamine Expansion. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:571. [PMID: 32581696 PMCID: PMC7296114 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias (polyQ SCAs) include SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, SCA7, and SCA17 and constitute a group of adult onset neurodegenerative disorders caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat sequence located within the coding region of specific genes, which translates into polyglutamine tract in the corresponding proteins. PolyQ SCAs are characterized by degeneration of the cerebellum and its associated structures and lead to progressive ataxia and other diverse symptoms. In recent years, gene and epigenetic deregulations have been shown to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of polyQ SCAs. Here, we provide an overview of the functions of wild type and pathogenic polyQ SCA proteins in gene regulation, describe the extent and nature of gene expression changes and their pathological consequences in diseases, and discuss potential avenues to further investigate converging and distinct disease pathways and to develop therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Niewiadomska-Cimicka
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Antoine Hache
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Yvon Trottier
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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24
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Egorova PA, Gavrilova AV, Bezprozvanny IB. Ataxic Symptoms in Huntington's Disease Transgenic Mouse Model Are Alleviated by Chlorzoxazone. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:279. [PMID: 32317916 PMCID: PMC7147686 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin protein, Striatum atrophy in HD leads to a progressive disturbance of psychiatric, motor, and cognitive function. Recent studies of HD patients revealed that the degeneration of cerebellum is also observed independently from the striatal atrophy during early HD stage and may contribute to the motor impairment and ataxia observed in HD. Cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) are responsible for the proper cerebellar pathways functioning and motor control. Recent studies on mouse models of HD have shown that the abnormality of the biochemical functions of PCs are observed in HD, suggesting the contribution of PC dysfunction and death to the impaired movement coordination observed in HD. To investigate ataxic symptoms in HD we performed a series of experiments with the yeast artificial chromosome transgenic mouse model of HD (YAC128). Using extracellular single-unit recording method we found that the portion of the cerebellar PCs with bursting and irregular patterns of spontaneous activity drastically rises in aged YAC128 HD mice when compared with wild type littermates. Previous studies demonstrated that SK channels are responsible for the cerebellar PC pacemaker activity and that positive modulation of SK channel activity exerted beneficial effects in different ataxic mouse models. Here we studied effects of the SK channels modulator chlorzoxazone (CHZ) on the motor behavior of YAC128 HD mice and also on the electrophysiological activity and neuroanatomy of the cerebellar PCs from these mice. We determined that the long-term intraperitoneal injections of CHZ alleviated the progressive impairment in the firing pattern of YAC128 PCs. We also demonstrated that treatment with CHZ rescued age-dependent motor incoordination and improved the cerebellar morphology in YAC128 mice. We propose that abnormal changes in the PC firing patterns might be a one of the possible causes of ataxic symptoms in HD and in other polyglutamine disorders and that the pharmacological activation of SK channels may serve as a potential way to improve the activity of cerebellar PCs and relieve the ataxic phenotype in HD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina A Egorova
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Aleksandra V Gavrilova
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ilya B Bezprozvanny
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia.,Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
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25
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Kuo SH, Louis ED, Faust PL, Handforth A, Chang SY, Avlar B, Lang EJ, Pan MK, Miterko LN, Brown AM, Sillitoe RV, Anderson CJ, Pulst SM, Gallagher MJ, Lyman KA, Chetkovich DM, Clark LN, Tio M, Tan EK, Elble RJ. Current Opinions and Consensus for Studying Tremor in Animal Models. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2019; 18:1036-1063. [PMID: 31124049 PMCID: PMC6872927 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-019-01037-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Tremor is the most common movement disorder; however, we are just beginning to understand the brain circuitry that generates tremor. Various neuroimaging, neuropathological, and physiological studies in human tremor disorders have been performed to further our knowledge of tremor. But, the causal relationship between these observations and tremor is usually difficult to establish and detailed mechanisms are not sufficiently studied. To overcome these obstacles, animal models can provide an important means to look into human tremor disorders. In this manuscript, we will discuss the use of different species of animals (mice, rats, fruit flies, pigs, and monkeys) to model human tremor disorders. Several ways to manipulate the brain circuitry and physiology in these animal models (pharmacology, genetics, and lesioning) will also be discussed. Finally, we will discuss how these animal models can help us to gain knowledge of the pathophysiology of human tremor disorders, which could serve as a platform towards developing novel therapies for tremor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Han Kuo
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, 650 West 168th Street, Room 305, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Elan D Louis
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, 800 Howard Avenue, Ste Lower Level, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA.
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Center for Neuroepidemiology and Clinical Neurological Research, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Phyllis L Faust
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adrian Handforth
- Neurology Service, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Su-Youne Chang
- Department of Neurologic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Billur Avlar
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric J Lang
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ming-Kai Pan
- Department of Medical Research and Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Lauren N Miterko
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Amanda M Brown
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Roy V Sillitoe
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Collin J Anderson
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Stefan M Pulst
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Kyle A Lyman
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Lorraine N Clark
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Murni Tio
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eng-King Tan
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rodger J Elble
- Department of Neurology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
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26
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Egorova PA, Bezprozvanny IB. Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2. Neurotherapeutics 2019; 16:1050-1073. [PMID: 31435879 PMCID: PMC6985344 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-019-00777-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The effective therapeutic treatment and the disease-modifying therapy for spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) (a progressive hereditary disease caused by an expansion of polyglutamine in the ataxin-2 protein) is not available yet. At present, only symptomatic treatment and methods of palliative care are prescribed to the patients. Many attempts were made to study the physiological, molecular, and biochemical changes in SCA2 patients and in a variety of the model systems to find new therapeutic targets for SCA2 treatment. A better understanding of the uncovered molecular mechanisms of the disease allowed the scientific community to develop strategies of potential therapy and helped to create some promising therapeutic approaches for SCA2 treatment. Recent progress in this field will be discussed in this review article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina A Egorova
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 195251, Russia
| | - Ilya B Bezprozvanny
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 195251, Russia.
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, ND12.200, Dallas, Texas, 75390, USA.
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27
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Fecher C, Trovò L, Müller SA, Snaidero N, Wettmarshausen J, Heink S, Ortiz O, Wagner I, Kühn R, Hartmann J, Karl RM, Konnerth A, Korn T, Wurst W, Merkler D, Lichtenthaler SF, Perocchi F, Misgeld T. Cell-type-specific profiling of brain mitochondria reveals functional and molecular diversity. Nat Neurosci 2019; 22:1731-1742. [DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0479-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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28
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Ferro A, Sheeler C, Rosa JG, Cvetanovic M. Role of Microglia in Ataxias. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:1792-1804. [PMID: 30660620 PMCID: PMC7164490 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Microglia, the resident macrophages of the central nervous system, critically influence neural function during development and in adulthood. Microglia are also profoundly sensitive to insults to the brain to which they respond with process of activation that includes spectrum of changes in morphology, function, and gene expression. Ataxias are a class of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by motor discoordination and predominant cerebellar involvement. In case of inherited forms of ataxia, mutant proteins are expressed throughout the brain and it is unclear why cerebellum is particularly vulnerable. Recent studies demonstrated that cerebellar microglia have a uniquely hyper-vigilant immune phenotype compared to microglia from other brain regions. These findings may indicate that microglia actively contribute to cerebellar vulnerability in ataxias. Here we review current knowledge about cerebellar microglia, their activation, and their role in the pathogenesis of ataxias. In addition, we briefly review advantages and disadvantages of several experimental approaches available to study microglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Ferro
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Carrie Sheeler
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Juao-Guilherme Rosa
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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29
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Larivière R, Sgarioto N, Márquez BT, Gaudet R, Choquet K, McKinney RA, Watt AJ, Brais B. Sacs R272C missense homozygous mice develop an ataxia phenotype. Mol Brain 2019; 12:19. [PMID: 30866998 PMCID: PMC6416858 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-019-0438-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS [MIM 270550]) is an early-onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the SACS gene. Over 200 SACS mutations have been identified. Most mutations lead to a complete loss of a sacsin, a large 520 kD protein, although some missense mutations are associated with low levels of sacsin expression. We previously showed that Sacs knock-out mice demonstrate early-onset ataxic phenotype with neurofilament bundling in many neuronal populations. To determine if the preservation of some mutated sacsin protein resulted in the same cellular and behavioral alterations, we generated mice expressing an R272C missense mutation, a homozygote mutation found in some affected patients. Though SacsR272C mice express 21% of wild type brain sacsin and sacsin is found in many neurons, they display similar abnormalities to Sacs knock-out mice, including the development of an ataxic phenotype, reduced Purkinje cell firing rates, and somatodendritic neurofilament bundles in Purkinje cells and other neurons. Together our results support that Sacs missense mutation largely lead to loss of sacsin function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxanne Larivière
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Room 622, 3801, University Street, Montreal, Québec, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Nicolas Sgarioto
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Room 622, 3801, University Street, Montreal, Québec, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | | | - Rébecca Gaudet
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Room 622, 3801, University Street, Montreal, Québec, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Karine Choquet
- Department of Human Genetics, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Qc, Canada
| | - R Anne McKinney
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Qc, Canada
| | - Alanna J Watt
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Qc, Canada
| | - Bernard Brais
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Room 622, 3801, University Street, Montreal, Québec, H3A 2B4, Canada.
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30
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Eidhof I, van de Warrenburg BP, Schenck A. Integrative network and brain expression analysis reveals mechanistic modules in ataxia. J Med Genet 2018; 56:283-292. [PMID: 30591515 PMCID: PMC6581079 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2018-105703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Background Genetic forms of ataxia are a heterogenous group of degenerative diseases of the cerebellum. Many causative genes have been identified. We aimed to systematically investigate these genes to better understand ataxia pathophysiology. Methods A manually curated catalogue of 71 genes involved in disorders with progressive ataxias as a major clinical feature was subjected to an integrated gene ontology, protein network and brain gene expression profiling analysis. Results We found that genes mutated in ataxias operate in networks with significantly enriched protein connectivity, demonstrating coherence on a global level, independent of inheritance mode. Moreover, elevated expression specifically in the cerebellum predisposes to ataxia. Genes expressed in this pattern are significantly over-represented among genes mutated in ataxia and are enriched for ion homeostasis/synaptic functions. The majority of genes mutated in ataxia, however, does not show elevated cerebellar expression that could account for region-specific degeneration. For these, we identified defective cellular stress responses as a major common biological theme, suggesting that the defence pathways against stress are more critical to maintain cerebellar integrity than integrity of other brain regions. Approximately half of the genes mutated in ataxia, mostly part of the stress module, show higher expression at embryonic stages, which argues for a developmental predisposition. Conclusion Genetic defects in ataxia predominantly affect neuronal homeostasis, to which the cerebellum appears to be excessively susceptible. Based on the identified modules, it is conceivable to propose common therapeutic interventions that target deregulated calcium and reactive oxygen species levels, or mechanisms that can decrease the harmful downstream effects of these deleterious insults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilse Eidhof
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bart P van de Warrenburg
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Annette Schenck
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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31
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Impaired Mitochondrial Fatty Acid Synthesis Leads to Neurodegeneration in Mice. J Neurosci 2018; 38:9781-9800. [PMID: 30266742 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3514-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There has been a growing interest toward mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis (mtFAS) since the recent discovery of a neurodegenerative human disorder termed MEPAN (mitochondrial enoyl reductase protein associated neurodegeneration), which is caused by mutations in the mitochondrial enoyl-CoA/ACP (acyl carrier protein) reductase (MECR) carrying out the last step of mtFAS. We show here that MECR protein is highly expressed in mouse Purkinje cells (PCs). To elucidate mtFAS function in neural tissue, here, we generated a mouse line with a PC-specific knock-out (KO) of Mecr, leading to inactivation of mtFAS confined to this cell type. Both sexes were studied. The mitochondria in KO PCs displayed abnormal morphology, loss of protein lipoylation, and reduced respiratory chain enzymatic activities by the time these mice were 6 months of age, followed by nearly complete loss of PCs by 9 months of age. These animals exhibited balancing difficulties ∼7 months of age and ataxic symptoms were evident from 8-9 months of age on. Our data show that impairment of mtFAS results in functional and ultrastructural changes in mitochondria followed by death of PCs, mimicking aspects of the clinical phenotype. This KO mouse represents a new model for impaired mitochondrial lipid metabolism and cerebellar ataxia with a distinct and well trackable cellular phenotype. This mouse model will allow the future investigation of the feasibility of metabolite supplementation approaches toward the prevention of neurodegeneration due to dysfunctional mtFAS.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We have recently reported a novel neurodegenerative disorder in humans termed MEPAN (mitochondrial enoyl reductase protein associated neurodegeneration) (Heimer et al., 2016). The cause of neuron degeneration in MEPAN patients is the dysfunction of the highly conserved mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis (mtFAS) pathway due to mutations in MECR, encoding mitochondrial 2-enoyl-CoA/ACP reductase. The report presented here describes the analysis of the first mouse model suffering from mtFAS-defect-induced neurodegenerative changes due to specific disruption of the Mecr gene in Purkinje cells. Our work sheds a light on the mechanisms of neurodegeneration caused by mtFAS deficiency and provides a test bed for future treatment approaches.
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32
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Wong MMK, Hoekstra SD, Vowles J, Watson LM, Fuller G, Németh AH, Cowley SA, Ansorge O, Talbot K, Becker EBE. Neurodegeneration in SCA14 is associated with increased PKCγ kinase activity, mislocalization and aggregation. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2018; 6:99. [PMID: 30249303 PMCID: PMC6151931 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-018-0600-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 (SCA14) is a subtype of the autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias that is characterized by slowly progressive cerebellar dysfunction and neurodegeneration. SCA14 is caused by mutations in the PRKCG gene, encoding protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ). Despite the identification of 40 distinct disease-causing mutations in PRKCG, the pathological mechanisms underlying SCA14 remain poorly understood. Here we report the molecular neuropathology of SCA14 in post-mortem cerebellum and in human patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) carrying two distinct SCA14 mutations in the C1 domain of PKCγ, H36R and H101Q. We show that endogenous expression of these mutations results in the cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation of PKCγ in both patient iPSCs and cerebellum. PKCγ aggregates were not efficiently targeted for degradation. Moreover, mutant PKCγ was found to be hyper-activated, resulting in increased substrate phosphorylation. Together, our findings demonstrate that a combination of both, loss-of-function and gain-of-function mechanisms are likely to underlie the pathogenesis of SCA14, caused by mutations in the C1 domain of PKCγ. Importantly, SCA14 patient iPSCs were found to accurately recapitulate pathological features observed in post-mortem SCA14 cerebellum, underscoring their potential as relevant disease models and their promise as future drug discovery tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie M. K. Wong
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Sherrington Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT UK
| | - Stephanie D. Hoekstra
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Sherrington Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT UK
| | - Jane Vowles
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE UK
| | - Lauren M. Watson
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Sherrington Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT UK
| | - Geraint Fuller
- Gloucestershire Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Cheltenham General Hospital, Sandford Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7AN UK
| | - Andrea H. Németh
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Level 6, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU UK
- Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, ACE Building, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Windmill Road, Oxford, OX3 7HE UK
| | - Sally A. Cowley
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE UK
| | - Olaf Ansorge
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Level 6, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU UK
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Level 6, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU UK
| | - Esther B. E. Becker
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Sherrington Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT UK
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33
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Ady V, Toscano-Márquez B, Nath M, Chang PK, Hui J, Cook A, Charron F, Larivière R, Brais B, McKinney RA, Watt AJ. Altered synaptic and firing properties of cerebellar Purkinje cells in a mouse model of ARSACS. J Physiol 2018; 596:4253-4267. [PMID: 29928778 DOI: 10.1113/jp275902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) is an early-onset neurodegenerative human disease characterized in part by ataxia and Purkinje cell loss in anterior cerebellar lobules. A knock-out mouse model has been developed that recapitulates several features of ARSACS. Using this ARSACS mouse model, we report changes in synaptic input and intrinsic firing in cerebellar Purkinje cells, as well as in their synaptic output in the deep cerebellar nuclei. Changes in firing are observed in anterior lobules that later exhibit Purkinje cell death, but not in posterior lobules that do not. Our results show that both synaptic and intrinsic alterations in Purkinje cell properties likely contribute to disease manifestation in ARSACS; these findings resemble pathophysiological changes reported in several other ataxias. ABSTRACT Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) is an early-onset neurodegenerative disease that includes a pronounced and progressive cerebellar dysfunction. ARSACS is caused by an autosomal recessive loss-of-function mutation in the Sacs gene that encodes the protein sacsin. To better understand the cerebellar pathophysiology in ARSACS, we studied synaptic and firing properties of Purkinje cells from a mouse model of ARSACS, Sacs-/- mice. We found that excitatory synaptic drive was reduced onto Sacs-/- Purkinje cells, and that Purkinje cell firing rate, but not regularity, was reduced at postnatal day (P)40, an age when ataxia symptoms were first reported. Firing rate deficits were limited to anterior lobules that later display Purkinje cell death, and were not observed in posterior lobules where Purkinje cells are not lost. Mild firing deficits were observed as early as P20, prior to the manifestation of motor deficits, suggesting that a critical level of cerebellar dysfunction is required for motor coordination to emerge. Finally, we observed a reduction in Purkinje cell innervation onto target neurons in the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) in Sacs-/- mice. Together, these findings suggest that multiple alterations in the cerebellar circuit including Purkinje cell input and output contribute to cerebellar-related disease onset in ARSACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Visou Ady
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | | | - Moushumi Nath
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Philip K Chang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Jeanette Hui
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Anna Cook
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - François Charron
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Roxanne Larivière
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montréal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Bernard Brais
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montréal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - R Anne McKinney
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Alanna J Watt
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
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Huang M, Verbeek DS. Why do so many genetic insults lead to Purkinje Cell degeneration and spinocerebellar ataxia? Neurosci Lett 2018; 688:49-57. [PMID: 29421540 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The genetically heterozygous spinocerebellar ataxias are all characterized by cerebellar atrophy and pervasive Purkinje Cell degeneration. Up to date, more than 35 functionally diverse spinocerebellar ataxia genes have been identified. The main question that remains yet unsolved is why do some many genetic insults lead to Purkinje Cell degeneration and spinocerebellar ataxia? To address this question it is important to identify intrinsic pathways important for Purkinje Cell function and survival. In this review, we discuss the current consensus on shared mechanisms underlying the pervasive Purkinje Cell loss in spinocerebellar ataxia. Additionally, using recently published cell type specific expression data, we identified several Purkinje Cell-specific genes and discuss how the corresponding pathways might underlie the vulnerability of Purkinje Cells in response to the diverse genetic insults causing spinocerebellar ataxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaozhen Huang
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Genetics, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dineke S Verbeek
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Genetics, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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35
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Watson LM, Bamber E, Schnekenberg RP, Williams J, Bettencourt C, Lickiss J, Jayawant S, Fawcett K, Clokie S, Wallis Y, Clouston P, Sims D, Houlden H, Becker EB, Németh AH. Dominant Mutations in GRM1 Cause Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 44. Am J Hum Genet 2017; 101:451-458. [PMID: 28886343 PMCID: PMC5591020 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) is abundantly expressed in the mammalian central nervous system, where it regulates intracellular calcium homeostasis in response to excitatory signaling. Here, we describe heterozygous dominant mutations in GRM1, which encodes mGluR1, that are associated with distinct disease phenotypes: gain-of-function missense mutations, linked in two different families to adult-onset cerebellar ataxia, and a de novo truncation mutation resulting in a dominant-negative effect that is associated with juvenile-onset ataxia and intellectual disability. Crucially, the gain-of-function mutations could be pharmacologically modulated in vitro using an existing FDA-approved drug, Nitazoxanide, suggesting a possible avenue for treatment, which is currently unavailable for ataxias.
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36
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Pflieger LT, Dansithong W, Paul S, Scoles DR, Figueroa KP, Meera P, Otis TS, Facelli JC, Pulst SM. Gene co-expression network analysis for identifying modules and functionally enriched pathways in SCA2. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:3069-3080. [PMID: 28525545 PMCID: PMC5886232 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 04/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by CAG repeat expansion in the ATXN2 gene. The repeat resides in an encoded region of the gene resulting in polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion which has been assumed to result in gain of function, predominantly, for the ATXN2 protein. We evaluated temporal cerebellar expression profiles by RNA sequencing of ATXN2Q127 mice versus wild-type (WT) littermates. ATXN2Q127 mice are characterized by a progressive motor phenotype onset, and have progressive cerebellar molecular and neurophysiological (Purkinje cell firing frequency) phenotypes. Our analysis revealed previously uncharacterized early and progressive abnormal patterning of cerebellar gene expression. Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis revealed four gene modules that were significantly correlated with disease status, composed primarily of genes associated with GTPase signaling, calcium signaling and cell death. Of these genes, few overlapped with differentially expressed cerebellar genes that we identified in Atxn2-/- knockout mice versus WT littermates, suggesting that loss-of-function is not a significant component of disease pathology. We conclude that SCA2 is a disease characterized by gain of function for ATXN2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Warunee Dansithong
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Sharan Paul
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Daniel R. Scoles
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Karla P. Figueroa
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Pratap Meera
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Thomas S. Otis
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Stefan M. Pulst
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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38
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Wong MMK, Watson LM, Becker EBE. Recent advances in modelling of cerebellar ataxia using induced pluripotent stem cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 2:11-15. [PMID: 28825058 PMCID: PMC5558869 DOI: 10.29245/2572.942x/2017/7.1134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellar ataxias are a group of incurable brain disorders that are caused primarily by the progressive dysfunction and degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells. The lack of reliable disease models for the heterogeneous ataxias has hindered the understanding of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms as well as the development of effective therapies for these devastating diseases. Recent advances in the field of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology offer new possibilities to better understand and potentially reverse disease pathology. Given the neurodevelopmental phenotypes observed in several types of ataxias, iPSC-based models have the potential to provide significant insights into disease progression, as well as opportunities for the development of early intervention therapies. To date, however, very few studies have successfully used iPSC-derived cells to model cerebellar ataxias. In this review, we focus on recent breakthroughs in generating human iPSC-derived Purkinje cells. We also highlight the future challenges that will need to be addressed in order to fully exploit these models for the modelling of the molecular mechanisms underlying cerebellar ataxias and the development of effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie M K Wong
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lauren M Watson
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Esther B E Becker
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
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39
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Meera P, Pulst S, Otis T. A positive feedback loop linking enhanced mGluR function and basal calcium in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28518055 PMCID: PMC5444899 DOI: 10.7554/elife.26377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) function in Purkinje neurons (PNs) is essential for cerebellar development and for motor learning and altered mGluR1 signaling causes ataxia. Downstream of mGluR1, dysregulation of calcium homeostasis has been hypothesized as a key pathological event in genetic forms of ataxia but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We find in a spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) mouse model that calcium homeostasis in PNs is disturbed across a broad range of physiological conditions. At parallel fiber synapses, mGluR1-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and associated calcium transients are increased and prolonged in SCA2 PNs. In SCA2 PNs, enhanced mGluR1 function is prevented by buffering [Ca2+] at normal resting levels while in wildtype PNs mGluR1 EPSCs are enhanced by elevated [Ca2+]. These findings demonstrate a deleterious positive feedback loop involving elevated intracellular calcium and enhanced mGluR1 function, a mechanism likely to contribute to PN dysfunction and loss in SCA2. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.26377.001
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratap Meera
- Department of Neurobiology, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Stefan Pulst
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake, United States
| | - Thomas Otis
- Department of Neurobiology, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, United States.,Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, and Rare Diseases, Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Basel, Switzerland
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40
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Scoles DR, Meera P, Schneider MD, Paul S, Dansithong W, Figueroa KP, Hung G, Rigo F, Bennett CF, Otis TS, Pulst SM. Antisense oligonucleotide therapy for spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. Nature 2017; 544:362-366. [PMID: 28405024 PMCID: PMC6625650 DOI: 10.1038/nature22044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Adult human neurodegenerative diseases have no disease-modifying treatments. We used spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2), an autosomal dominant polyglutamine disease1, as a model to test RNA-targeted therapies2 in two SCA2 mouse models. Both models recreate progressive adult-onset dysfunction and degeneration of a neuronal network including decreased firing frequency of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) and decline in motor function3,4. We developed a potential therapy directed at the ATXN2 gene by screening 152 antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). Here we show that the most promising lead, ASO7, downregulated ATXN2 mRNA and protein resulting in delayed onset of SCA2 phenotypes. After delivery by intracerebroventricular injection (ICV) to ATXN2-Q127 mice, ASO7 localized to PCs, reduced cerebellar ATXN2 expression below 75% for >10 weeks without microglial activation, and reduced cerebellar ataxin-2 protein. ASO7 treatment of symptomatic mice improved motor functioning compared to saline-treated mice. ASO7 had a similar effect in the BAC-Q72 SCA2 mouse model, and in both mouse models it normalized protein levels of several SCA2-related PC proteins including Rgs8, Pcp2, Pcp4, Homer3, Cep76, and Fam107b. Most surprisingly, firing frequency of PCs returned to normal even when treatment was initiated >12 weeks after motor phenotype onset in BAC-Q72 mice. These findings support ASOs as a promising approach for treating some human neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Scoles
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, 175 North Medical Drive East, 5th Floor, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA
| | - Pratap Meera
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Matthew D Schneider
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, 175 North Medical Drive East, 5th Floor, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA
| | - Sharan Paul
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, 175 North Medical Drive East, 5th Floor, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA
| | - Warunee Dansithong
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, 175 North Medical Drive East, 5th Floor, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA
| | - Karla P Figueroa
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, 175 North Medical Drive East, 5th Floor, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA
| | - Gene Hung
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, USA
| | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, USA
| | - C Frank Bennett
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, USA
| | - Thomas S Otis
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Stefan M Pulst
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, 175 North Medical Drive East, 5th Floor, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA
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41
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Kano M, Watanabe T. Type-1 metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling in cerebellar Purkinje cells in health and disease. F1000Res 2017; 6:416. [PMID: 28435670 PMCID: PMC5381626 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.10485.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum is a brain structure involved in coordination, control, and learning of movements, as well as certain aspects of cognitive function. Purkinje cells are the sole output neurons from the cerebellar cortex and therefore play crucial roles in the overall function of the cerebellum. The type-1 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR1) is a key “hub” molecule that is critically involved in the regulation of synaptic wiring, excitability, synaptic response, and synaptic plasticity of Purkinje cells. In this review, we aim to highlight how mGluR1 controls these events in Purkinje cells. We also describe emerging evidence that altered mGluR1 signaling in Purkinje cells underlies cerebellar dysfunctions in several clinically relevant mouse models of human ataxias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanobu Kano
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takaki Watanabe
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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42
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Affiliation(s)
- Visou Ady
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Alanna J Watt
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, H3G 0B1, Canada
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43
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Alves-Cruzeiro JMDC, Mendonça L, Pereira de Almeida L, Nóbrega C. Motor Dysfunctions and Neuropathology in Mouse Models of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2: A Comprehensive Review. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:572. [PMID: 28018166 PMCID: PMC5156697 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an autosomal dominant ataxia caused by an expansion of CAG repeats in the exon 1 of the gene ATXN2, conferring a gain of toxic function that triggers the appearance of the disease phenotype. SCA2 is characterized by several symptoms including progressive gait ataxia and dysarthria, slow saccadic eye movements, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairments, and psychological dysfunctions such as insomnia and depression, among others. The available treatments rely on palliative care, which mitigate some of the major symptoms but ultimately fail to block the disease progression. This persistent lack of effective therapies led to the development of several models in yeast, C. elegans, D. melanogaster, and mice to serve as platforms for testing new therapeutic strategies and to accelerate the research on the complex disease mechanisms. In this work, we review 4 transgenic and 1 knock-in mouse that exhibit a SCA2-related phenotype and discuss their usefulness in addressing different scientific problems. The knock-in mice are extremely faithful to the human disease, with late onset of symptoms and physiological levels of mutant ataxin-2, while the other transgenic possess robust and well-characterized motor impairments and neuropathological features. Furthermore, a new BAC model of SCA2 shows promise to study the recently explored role of non-coding RNAs as a major pathogenic mechanism in this devastating disorder. Focusing on specific aspects of the behavior and neuropathology, as well as technical aspects, we provide a highly practical description and comparison of all the models with the purpose of creating a useful resource for SCA2 researchers worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liliana Mendonça
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luís Pereira de Almeida
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of CoimbraCoimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of CoimbraCoimbra, Portugal
| | - Clévio Nóbrega
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine and Center for Biomedical Research, University of Algarve Faro, Portugal
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44
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Ackerman HD, Gerhard GS. Bile Acids in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:263. [PMID: 27920719 PMCID: PMC5118426 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bile acids, a structurally related group of molecules derived from cholesterol, have a long history as therapeutic agents in medicine, from treatment for primarily ocular diseases in ancient Chinese medicine to modern day use as approved drugs for certain liver diseases. Despite evidence supporting a neuroprotective role in a diverse spectrum of age-related neurodegenerative disorders, including several small pilot clinical trials, little is known about their molecular mechanisms or their physiological roles in the nervous system. We review the data reported for their use as treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and their underlying molecular basis. While data from cellular and animal models and clinical trials support potential efficacy to treat a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, the relevant bile acids, their origin, and the precise molecular mechanism(s) by which they confer neuroprotection are not known delaying translation to the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley D Ackerman
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, The Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Glenn S Gerhard
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, The Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University Philadelphia, PA, USA
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45
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Forsythe ID. Editorial. J Physiol 2016; 594:4469-70. [DOI: 10.1113/jp272724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ian D. Forsythe
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology & Behaviour; University of Leicester; UK
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