1
|
Rahman FA, Baechler BL, Quadrilatero J. Key considerations for investigating and interpreting autophagy in skeletal muscle. Autophagy 2024:1-12. [PMID: 39007805 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2024.2373676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle plays a crucial role in generating force to facilitate movement. Skeletal muscle is a heterogenous tissue composed of diverse fibers with distinct contractile and metabolic profiles. The intricate classification of skeletal muscle fibers exists on a continuum ranging from type I (slow-twitch, oxidative) to type II (fast-twitch, glycolytic). The heterogenous distribution and characteristics of fibers within and between skeletal muscles profoundly influences cellular signaling; however, this has not been broadly discussed as it relates to macroautophagy/autophagy. The growing interest in skeletal muscle autophagy research underscores the necessity of comprehending the interplay between autophagic responses among skeletal muscles and fibers with different contractile properties, metabolic profiles, and other related signaling processes. We recommend approaching the interpretation of autophagy findings with careful consideration for two key reasons: 1) the distinct behaviors and responses of different skeletal muscles or fibers to various perturbations, and 2) the potential impact of alterations in skeletal muscle fiber type or metabolic profile on observed autophagic outcomes. This review provides an overview of the autophagic profile and response in skeletal muscles/fibers of different types and metabolic profiles. Further, this review discusses autophagic findings in various conditions and diseases that may differentially affect skeletal muscle. Finally, we provide key points of consideration to better enable researchers to fine-tune the design and interpretation of skeletal muscle autophagy experiments.Abbreviation: AKT1: AKT serine/threonine kinase 1; AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase; ATG: autophagy related; ATG4: autophagy related 4 cysteine peptidase; ATG5: autophagy related 5; ATG7: autophagy related 7; ATG12: autophagy related 12; BECN1: beclin 1; BNIP3: BCL2 interacting protein 3; CKD: chronic kidney disease; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CS: citrate synthase; DIA: diaphragm; EDL: extensor digitorum longus; FOXO3/FOXO3A: forkhead box O3; GAS; gastrocnemius; GP: gastrocnemius-plantaris complex; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; MYH: myosin heavy chain; PINK1: PTEN induced kinase 1; PLANT: plantaris; PRKN: parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase; QUAD: quadriceps; RA: rectus abdominis; RG: red gastrocnemius; RQ: red quadriceps; SOL: soleus; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; TA: tibialis anterior; WG: white gastrocnemius; WQ: white quadriceps; WVL: white vastus lateralis; VL: vastus lateralis; ULK1: unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fasih A Rahman
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brittany L Baechler
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joe Quadrilatero
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Brandenburg JE, Fogarty MJ, Zhan WZ, Kopper LA, Sieck GC. Postnatal survival of phrenic motor neurons is promoted by BDNF/TrkB.FL signaling. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2024; 136:1113-1121. [PMID: 38511211 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00911.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The number of motor neurons (MNs) declines precipitously during the final trimester before birth. Thereafter, the number of MNs remains relatively stable, with their connections to skeletal muscle dependent on neurotrophins, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling through its high-affinity full-length tropomyosin-related kinase receptor subtype B (TrkB.FL) receptor. As a genetic knockout of BDNF leads to extensive MN loss and postnatal death within 1-2 days after birth, we tested the hypothesis that postnatal inhibition of BDNF/TrkB.FL signaling is important for postnatal phrenic MN (PhMN) survival. In the present study, we used a 1NMPP1-sensitive TrkBF616A mutant mouse to evaluate the effects of inhibition of TrkB kinase activity on phrenic MN (PhMN) numbers and diaphragm muscle (DIAm) fiber cross-sectional area (CSA). Pups were exposed to 1NMPP1 or vehicle (DMSO) from birth to 21 days old (weaning) via the mother's ingestion in the drinking water. Following weaning, the right phrenic nerve was exposed in the neck and the proximal end dipped in a rhodamine solution to retrogradely label PhMNs. After 24 h, the cervical spinal cord and DIAm were excised. Labeled PhMNs were imaged using confocal microscopy, whereas DIAm strips were frozen at ∼1.5× resting length, cryosectioned, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin to assess CSA. We observed an ∼34% reduction in PhMN numbers and increased primary dendrite numbers in 1NMPP1-treated TrkBF616A mice. The distribution of PhMN size (somal surface area) DIAm fiber cross-sectional areas did not differ. We conclude that survival of PhMNs during early postnatal development is sensitive to BDNF/TrkB.FL signaling.NEW & NOTEWORTHY During early postnatal development, BDNF/TrkB signaling promotes PhMN survival. Inhibition of BDNF/TrkB signaling in early postnatal development does not impact PhMN size. Inhibition of BDNF/TrkB signaling in early postnatal development does not impact the number or CSA of DIAm fibers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joline E Brandenburg
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Matthew J Fogarty
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Wen-Zhi Zhan
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Leo A Kopper
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Gary C Sieck
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Di Lazzaro V, Ranieri F, Bączyk M, de Carvalho M, Dileone M, Dubbioso R, Fernandes S, Kozak G, Motolese F, Ziemann U. Novel approaches to motoneuron disease/ALS treatment using non-invasive brain and spinal stimulation: IFCN handbook chapter. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 158:114-136. [PMID: 38218077 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.12.012] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques have been exploited in motor neuron disease (MND) with multifold objectives: to support the diagnosis, to get insights in the pathophysiology of these disorders and, more recently, to slow down disease progression. In this review, we consider how neuromodulation can now be employed to treat MND, with specific attention to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form with upper motoneuron (UMN) involvement, taking into account electrophysiological abnormalities revealed by human and animal studies that can be targeted by neuromodulation techniques. This review article encompasses repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation methods (including low-frequency, high-frequency, and pattern stimulation paradigms), transcranial direct current stimulation as well as experimental findings with the newer approach of trans-spinal direct current stimulation. We also survey and discuss the trials that have been performed, and future perspectives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy.
| | - Federico Ranieri
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, P.Le L.A. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Marcin Bączyk
- Department of Neurobiology, Poznań University of Physical Education, Królowej Jadwigi Street 27/39, 61-871 Poznań, Poland
| | - Mamede de Carvalho
- Institute of Physiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine-JLA, Egas Moniz Study Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon 1649-028, Portugal; Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, CHULN, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Michele Dileone
- Faculty of Health Sciences, UCLM Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Spain; Neurology Department, Hospital Nuestra Señora del Prado, Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Spain
| | - Raffaele Dubbioso
- Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Napoli, Italy
| | - Sofia Fernandes
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016-Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Gabor Kozak
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Hertie-Institute of Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Francesco Motolese
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Ulf Ziemann
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Hertie-Institute of Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mázala DA, Chen D, Chin ER. SERCA1 Overexpression in Skeletal Muscle Attenuates Muscle Atrophy and Improves Motor Function in a Mouse Model of ALS. J Neuromuscul Dis 2024; 11:315-326. [PMID: 38217607 PMCID: PMC10977371 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-230123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass and muscle function. Previous work from our lab demonstrated that skeletal muscles from a mouse model of ALS show elevated intracellular calcium (Ca2+) levels and heightened endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Objective To investigate whether overexpression of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ ATPase 1 (SERCA1) in skeletal muscle would improve intracellular Ca2+ handling, attenuate ER stress, and improve motor function ALS transgenic mice. Methods B6SJL-Tg (SOD1*G93A)1Gur/J (ALS-Tg) mice were bred with skeletal muscle α-actinin SERCA1 overexpressing mice to generate wild type (WT), SERCA1 overexpression (WT/+SERCA1), ALS-Tg, and SERCA1 overexpressing ALS-Tg (ALS-Tg/+SERCA1) mice. Motor function (grip test) was assessed weekly and skeletal muscles were harvested at 16 weeks of age to evaluate muscle mass, SR-Ca2+ ATPase activity, levels of SERCA1 and ER stress proteins - protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), Grp78/BiP, and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). Single muscle fibers were also isolated from the flexor digitorum brevis muscle to assess changes in resting and peak Fura-2 ratios. Results ALS-Tg/+SERCA1 mice showed improved motor function, delayed onset of disease, and improved muscle mass compared to ALS-Tg. Further, ALS-Tg/+SERCA1 mice returned levels of SERCA1 protein and SR-Ca2+ ATPase activity back to levels in WT mice. Unexpectedly, SERCA-1 overexpression increased levels of the ER stress maker Grp78/BiP in both WT and ALS-Tg mice, while not altering protein levels of PDI or CHOP. Lastly, single muscle fibers from ALS-Tg/+SERCA1 had similar resting but lower peak Fura-2 levels (at 30 Hz and 100 Hz) compared to ALS-Tg mice. Conclusions These data indicate that SERCA1 overexpression attenuates the progressive loss of muscle mass and maintains motor function in ALS-Tg mice while not lowering resting Ca2+ levels or ER stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davi A.G. Mázala
- Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Health Professions, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Research Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Dapeng Chen
- Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Zeteo Tech, Inc., Sykesville, MD, USA
| | - Eva R. Chin
- Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Solve FSHD, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhang Y, Sun M, Zhao H, Wang Z, Shi Y, Dong J, Wang K, Wang X, Li X, Qi H, Zhao X. Neuroprotective Effects and Therapeutic Potential of Dichloroacetate: Targeting Metabolic Disorders in Nervous System Diseases. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:7559-7581. [PMID: 38106446 PMCID: PMC10725694 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s439728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Dichloroacetate (DCA) is an investigational drug used to treat lactic acidosis and malignant tumours. It works by inhibiting pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase and increasing the rate of glucose oxidation. Some studies have documented the neuroprotective benefits of DCA. By reviewing these studies, this paper shows that DCA has multiple pharmacological activities, including regulating metabolism, ameliorating oxidative stress, attenuating neuroinflammation, inhibiting apoptosis, decreasing autophagy, protecting the blood‒brain barrier, improving the function of endothelial progenitor cells, improving mitochondrial dynamics, and decreasing amyloid β-protein. In addition, DCA inhibits the enzyme that metabolizes it, which leads to peripheral neurotoxicity due to drug accumulation that may be solved by individualized drug delivery and nanovesicle delivery. In summary, in this review, we analyse the mechanisms of neuroprotection by DCA in different diseases and discuss the causes of and solutions to its adverse effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Meiyan Sun
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongxiang Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhengyan Wang
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanan Shi
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianxin Dong
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kaifang Wang
- Department of Anesthesia, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xingyue Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Haiyan Qi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyong Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Anesthesiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lundquist A, Lázár E, Han NS, Emanuelsson EB, Reitzner SM, Chapman MA, Shirokova V, Alkass K, Druid H, Petri S, Sundberg CJ, Bergmann O. FiNuTyper: Design and validation of an automated deep learning-based platform for simultaneous fiber and nucleus type analysis in human skeletal muscle. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2023; 239:e13982. [PMID: 37097015 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13982] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
AIM While manual quantification is still considered the gold standard for skeletal muscle histological analysis, it is time-consuming and prone to investigator bias. To address this challenge, we assembled an automated image analysis pipeline, FiNuTyper (Fiber and Nucleus Typer). METHODS We integrated recently developed deep learning-based image segmentation methods, optimized for unbiased evaluation of fresh and postmortem human skeletal muscle, and utilized SERCA1 and SERCA2 as type-specific myonucleus and myofiber markers after validating them against the traditional use of MyHC isoforms. RESULTS Parameters including cross-sectional area, myonuclei per fiber, myonuclear domain, central myonuclei per fiber, and grouped myofiber ratio were determined in a fiber-type-specific manner, revealing that a large degree of sex- and muscle-related heterogeneity could be detected using the pipeline. Our platform was also tested on pathological muscle tissue (ALS and IBM) and adapted for the detection of other resident cell types (leucocytes, satellite cells, capillary endothelium). CONCLUSION In summary, we present an automated image analysis tool for the simultaneous quantification of myofiber and myonuclear types, to characterize the composition and structure of healthy and diseased human skeletal muscle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- August Lundquist
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Enikő Lázár
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nan S Han
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eric B Emanuelsson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan M Reitzner
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department for Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mark A Chapman
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Integrated Engineering, University of San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Vera Shirokova
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kanar Alkass
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Henrik Druid
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Carl J Sundberg
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Learning, Informatics, Management, and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olaf Bergmann
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fogarty MJ. Loss of larger hypoglossal motor neurons in aged Fischer 344 rats. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2023:104092. [PMID: 37331418 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2023.104092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
The intrinsic (longitudinal, transversalis and verticalis) and extrinsic (genioglossus, styloglossus, hyoglossus and geniohyoid) tongue muscles are innervated by hypoglossal motor neurons (MNs). Tongue muscle activations occur during many behaviors: maintaining upper airway patency, chewing, swallowing, vocalization, vomiting, coughing, sneezing and grooming/sexual activities. In the tongues of the elderly, reduced oral motor function and strength contribute to increased risk of obstructive sleep apnoea. Tongue muscle atrophy and weakness is also described in rats, yet hypoglossal MN numbers are unknown. In young (6-months, n=10) and old (24-months, n=8) female and male Fischer 344 (F344) rats, stereological assessment of hypoglossal MN numbers and surface areas were performed on 16µm Nissl-stained brainstem cryosections. We observed a robust loss of ~15% of hypoglossal MNs and a modest ~8% reduction in their surface areas with age. In the larger size tertile of hypoglossal MNs, age-associated loss of hypoglossal MNs approached ~30% These findings uncover a potential neurogenic locus of pathology for age-associated tongue dysfunctions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Fogarty
- Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fogarty MJ, Dasgupta D, Khurram OU, Sieck GC. Chemogenetic inhibition of TrkB signalling reduces phrenic motor neuron survival and size. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 125:103847. [PMID: 36958643 PMCID: PMC10247511 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signalling through its high-affinity tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) is known to have potent effects on motor neuron survival and morphology during development and in neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we employed a novel 1NMPP1 sensitive TrkBF616 rat model to evaluate the effect of 14 days inhibition of TrkB signalling on phrenic motor neurons (PhMNs). Adult female and male TrkBF616 rats were divided into 1NMPP1 or vehicle treated groups. Three days prior to treatment, PhMNs in both groups were initially labeled via intrapleural injection of Alexa-Fluor-647 cholera toxin B (CTB). After 11 days of treatment, retrograde axonal uptake/transport was assessed by secondary labeling of PhMNs by intrapleural injection of Alexa-Fluor-488 CTB. After 14 days of treatment, the spinal cord was excised 100 μm thick spinal sections containing PhMNs were imaged using two-channel confocal microscopy. TrkB inhibition reduced the total number of PhMNs by ∼16 %, reduced the mean PhMN somal surface areas by ∼25 %, impaired CTB uptake 2.5-fold and reduced the estimated PhMN dendritic surface area by ∼38 %. We conclude that inhibition of TrkB signalling alone in adult TrkBF616 rats is sufficient to lead to PhMN loss, morphological degeneration and deficits in retrograde axonal uptake/transport.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Fogarty
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Debanjali Dasgupta
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Obaid U Khurram
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Gary C Sieck
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wlaschin JJ, Donahue C, Gluski J, Osborne JF, Ramos LM, Silberberg H, Le Pichon CE. Promoting regeneration while blocking cell death preserves motor neuron function in a model of ALS. Brain 2023; 146:2016-2028. [PMID: 36342754 PMCID: PMC10411937 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating and fatal neurodegenerative disease of motor neurons with very few treatment options. We had previously found that motor neuron degeneration in a mouse model of ALS can be delayed by deleting the axon damage sensor MAP3K12 or dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK). However, DLK is also involved in axon regeneration, prompting us to ask whether combining DLK deletion with a way to promote axon regeneration would result in greater motor neuron protection. To achieve this, we used a mouse line that constitutively expresses ATF3, a master regulator of regeneration in neurons. Although there is precedence for each individual strategy in the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS, these have not previously been combined. By several lines of evidence including motor neuron electrophysiology, histology and behaviour, we observed a powerful synergy when combining DLK deletion with ATF3 expression. The combinatorial strategy resulted in significant protection of motor neurons with fewer undergoing cell death, reduced axon degeneration and preservation of motor function and connectivity to muscle. This study provides a demonstration of the power of combinatorial therapy to treat neurodegenerative disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josette J Wlaschin
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Caroline Donahue
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jacob Gluski
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jennifer F Osborne
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Leana M Ramos
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hanna Silberberg
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Claire E Le Pichon
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Piol D, Robberechts T, Da Cruz S. Lost in local translation: TDP-43 and FUS in axonal/neuromuscular junction maintenance and dysregulation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuron 2023; 111:1355-1380. [PMID: 36963381 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Key early features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are denervation of neuromuscular junctions and axonal degeneration. Motor neuron homeostasis relies on local translation through controlled regulation of axonal mRNA localization, transport, and stability. Yet the composition of the local transcriptome, translatome (mRNAs locally translated), and proteome during health and disease remains largely unexplored. This review covers recent discoveries on axonal translation as a critical mechanism for neuronal maintenance/survival. We focus on two RNA binding proteins, transactive response DNA binding protein-43 (TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma (FUS), whose mutations cause ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Emerging evidence points to their essential role in the maintenance of axons and synapses, including mRNA localization, transport, and local translation, and whose dysfunction may contribute to ALS. Finally, we describe recent advances in omics-based approaches mapping compartment-specific local RNA and protein compositions, which will be invaluable to elucidate fundamental local processes and identify key targets for therapy development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Piol
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tessa Robberechts
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sandrine Da Cruz
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Venugopal S, Ghulam-Jhelani Z, Ahn IS, Yang X, Wiedau M, Simmons D, Chandler SH. Early deficits in GABA inhibition parallels an increase in L-type Ca 2+ currents in the jaw motor neurons of SOD1 G93A mouse model for ALS. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 177:105992. [PMID: 36623607 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.105992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) involves protracted pre-symptomatic periods of abnormal motor neuron (MN) excitability occurring in parallel with central and peripheral synaptic perturbations. Focusing on inhibitory control of MNs, we first compared longitudinal changes in pre-synaptic terminal proteins for GABA and glycine neurotransmitters around the soma of retrogradely identified trigeminal jaw closer (JC) MNs and ChAT-labeled midbrain extraocular (EO) MNs in the SOD1G93A mouse model for ALS. Fluorescence immunocytochemistry and confocal imaging were used to quantify GAD67 and GlyT2 synaptic bouton density (SBD) around MN soma at pre-symptomatic ages ∼P12 (postnatal), ∼P50 (adult) and near disease end-stage (∼P135) in SOD1G93A mice and age-matched wild-type (WT) controls. We noted reduced GAD67 innervation in the SOD1G93A trigeminal jaw closer MNs around P12, relative to age-matched WT and no significant difference around P50 and P135. In contrast, both GAD67 and GlyT2 innervation were elevated in the SOD1G93A EO MNs at the pre-symptomatic time points. Considering trigeminal MNs are vulnerable in ALS while EO MNs are spared, we suggest that upregulation of inhibition in the latter might be compensatory. Notable contrast also existed in the innate co-expression patterns of GAD67 and GlyT2 with higher mutual information (co-dependency) in EO MNs compared to JC in both SOD1G93A and WT mice, especially at adult stages (P50 and P135). Around P12 when GAD67 terminals expression was low in the mutant, we further tested for persistent GABA inhibition in those MNs using in vitro patch-clamp electrophysiology. Our results show that SOD1G93A JC MNs have reduced persistent GABA inhibition, relative to WT. Pharmacological blocking of an underlying tonically active GABA conductance using the GABA-α5 subunit inverse agonist, L-655-708, disinhibited WT JC MNs and lowered their recruitment threshold, suggesting its role in the control of intrinsic MN excitability. Quantitative RT-PCR in laser dissected JC MNs further supported a reduction in GABA-α5 subunit mRNA expression in the mutant. In light of our previous report that JC MNs forming putative fast motor units have lower input threshold in the SOD1G93A mice, we suggest that our present result on reduced GABA-α5 tonic inhibition provides for a mechanism contributing to such imbalance. In parallel with reduced GABA inhibition, we noted an increase in voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ currents in the mutant JC MNs around P12. Together these results support that, early modifications in intrinsic properties of vulnerable MNs could be an adaptive response to counter synaptic deficits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharmila Venugopal
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Zohal Ghulam-Jhelani
- Undergraduate Interdepartmental Program for Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - In Sook Ahn
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Xia Yang
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Martina Wiedau
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Dwayne Simmons
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Scott H Chandler
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Colasuonno F, Price R, Moreno S. Upper and Lower Motor Neurons and the Skeletal Muscle: Implication for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). ADVANCES IN ANATOMY, EMBRYOLOGY, AND CELL BIOLOGY 2023; 236:111-129. [PMID: 37955773 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-38215-4_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
The relationships between motor neurons and the skeletal muscle during development and in pathologic contexts are addressed in this Chapter.We discuss the developmental interplay of muscle and nervous tissue, through neurotrophins and the activation of differentiation and survival pathways. After a brief overview on muscular regulatory factors, we focus on the contribution of muscle to early and late neurodevelopment. Such a role seems especially intriguing in relation to the epigenetic shaping of developing motor neuron fate choices. In this context, emphasis is attributed to factors regulating energy metabolism, which may concomitantly act in muscle and neural cells, being involved in common pathways.We then review the main features of motor neuron diseases, addressing the cellular processes underlying clinical symptoms. The involvement of different muscle-associated neurotrophic factors for survival of lateral motor column neurons, innervating MyoD-dependent limb muscles, and of medial motor column neurons, innervating Myf5-dependent back musculature is discussed. Among the pathogenic mechanisms, we focus on oxidative stress, that represents a common and early trait in several neurodegenerative disorders. The role of organelles primarily involved in reactive oxygen species scavenging and, more generally, in energy metabolism-namely mitochondria and peroxisomes-is discussed in the frame of motor neuron degeneration.We finally address muscular involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a multifactorial degenerative disorder, hallmarked by severe weight loss, caused by imbalanced lipid metabolism. Even though multiple mechanisms have been recognized to play a role in the disease, current literature generally assumes that the primum movens is neuronal degeneration and that muscle atrophy is only a consequence of such pathogenic event. However, several lines of evidence point to the muscle as primarily involved in the disease, mainly through its role in energy homeostasis. Data from different ALS mouse models strongly argue for an early mitochondrial dysfunction in muscle tissue, possibly leading to motor neuron disturbances. Detailed understanding of skeletal muscle contribution to ALS pathogenesis will likely lead to the identification of novel therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiorella Colasuonno
- Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
- Department of Science, LIME, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | - Rachel Price
- Department of Science, LIME, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Neurodevelopmental Biology, Neurogenetics and Molecular Neurobiology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Sandra Moreno
- Department of Science, LIME, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy.
- Laboratory of Neurodevelopmental Biology, Neurogenetics and Molecular Neurobiology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Badiola-Mateos M, Osaki T, Kamm RD, Samitier J. In vitro modelling of human proprioceptive sensory neurons in the neuromuscular system. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21318. [PMID: 36494423 PMCID: PMC9734133 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23565-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Proprioceptive sensory neurons (pSN) are an essential and undervalued part of the neuromuscular circuit. A protocol to differentiate healthy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) human neural stem cells (hNSC) into pSN, and their comparison with the motor neuron (MN) differentiation process from the same hNSC sources, facilitated the development of in vitro co-culture platforms. The obtained pSN spheroids cultured interact with human skeletal myocytes showing the formation of annulospiral wrapping-like structures between TrkC + neurons and a multinucleated muscle fibre, presenting synaptic bouton-like structures in the contact point. The comparative analysis of the genetic profile performed in healthy and sporadic ALS hNSC differentiated to pSN suggested that basal levels of ETV1, critical for motor feedback from pSN, were much lower for ALS samples and that the differences between healthy and ALS samples, suggest the involvement of pSN in ALS pathology development and progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maider Badiola-Mateos
- grid.424736.00000 0004 0536 2369Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)—Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08028 Barcelona, Spain ,grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Department of Electronic and Biomedical Engineering, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain ,grid.116068.80000 0001 2341 2786Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 500 Technology Square, MIT Building, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA ,grid.263145.70000 0004 1762 600XPresent Address: The BioRobotics Institute, Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Tatsuya Osaki
- grid.116068.80000 0001 2341 2786Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 500 Technology Square, MIT Building, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA ,grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XPresent Address: Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1, Komaba, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo, 153-8505 Japan
| | - Roger Dale Kamm
- grid.116068.80000 0001 2341 2786Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 500 Technology Square, MIT Building, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA ,grid.116068.80000 0001 2341 2786Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Technology Square, MIT Building, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
| | - Josep Samitier
- grid.424736.00000 0004 0536 2369Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)—Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08028 Barcelona, Spain ,grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Department of Electronic and Biomedical Engineering, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain ,grid.512890.7Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
In vivo genome editing using novel AAV-PHP variants rescues motor function deficits and extends survival in a SOD1-ALS mouse model. Gene Ther 2022; 30:443-454. [PMID: 36450833 PMCID: PMC9713118 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-022-00375-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-based gene editing technology represents a promising approach to deliver therapies for inherited disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Toxic gain-of-function superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mutations are responsible for ~20% of familial ALS cases. Thus, current clinical strategies to treat SOD1-ALS are designed to lower SOD1 levels. Here, we utilized AAV-PHP.B variants to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 guide RNAs designed to disrupt the human SOD1 (huSOD1) transgene in SOD1G93A mice. A one-time intracerebroventricular injection of AAV.PHP.B-huSOD1-sgRNA into neonatal H11Cas9 SOD1G93A mice caused robust and sustained mutant huSOD1 protein reduction in the cortex and spinal cord, and restored motor function. Neonatal treatment also reduced spinal motor neuron loss, denervation at neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and muscle atrophy, diminished axonal damage and preserved compound muscle action potential throughout the lifespan of treated mice. SOD1G93A treated mice achieved significant disease-free survival, extending lifespan by more than 110 days. Importantly, a one-time intrathecal or intravenous injection of AAV.PHP.eB-huSOD1-sgRNA in adult H11Cas9 SOD1G93A mice, immediately before symptom onset, also extended lifespan by at least 170 days. We observed substantial protection against disease progression, demonstrating the utility of our CRISPR editing preclinical approach for target evaluation. Our approach uncovered key parameters (e.g., AAV capsid, Cas9 expression) that resulted in improved efficacy compared to similar approaches and can also serve to accelerate drug target validation.
Collapse
|
15
|
Elbasiouny SM. Motoneuron excitability dysfunction in ALS: Pseudo-mystery or authentic conundrum? J Physiol 2022; 600:4815-4825. [PMID: 36178320 PMCID: PMC9669170 DOI: 10.1113/jp283630] [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: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), abnormalities in motoneuronal excitability are seen in early pathogenesis and throughout disease progression. Fully understanding motoneuron excitability dysfunction may lead to more effective treatments. Yet decades of research have not produced consensus on the nature, role or underlying mechanisms of motoneuron excitability dysfunction in ALS. For example, contrary to Ca excitotoxicity theory, predictions of motoneuronal hyper-excitability, normal and hypo-excitability have also been seen at various disease stages and in multiple ALS lines. Accordingly, motoneuron excitability dysfunction in ALS is a disputed topic in the field. Specifically, the form (hyper, hypo or unchanged) and what role excitability dysfunction plays in the disease (pathogenic or downstream of other pathologies; neuroprotective or detrimental) are currently unclear. Although several motoneuron properties that determine cellular excitability change in the disease, some of these changes are pro-excitable, whereas others are anti-excitable, making dynamic fluctuations in overall 'net' excitability highly probable. Because various studies assess excitability via differing methods and at differing disease stages, the conflicting reports in the literature are not surprising. Hence, the overarching process of excitability degradation and motoneuron degeneration is not fully understood. Consequently, the discrepancies on motoneuron excitability dysfunction in the literature represent a substantial barrier to our understanding of the disease. Emerging studies suggest that biological variables, variations in experimental protocols, issues of rigor and sampling/analysis strategies are key factors that may underlie conflicting data in the literature. This review highlights potential confounding factors for researchers to consider and also offers ideas on avoiding pitfalls and improving robustness of data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sherif M. Elbasiouny
- Department of NeuroscienceCell Biology, and PhysiologyBoonshoft School of Medicine and College of Science and MathematicsWright State UniversityDaytonOHUSA,Department of BiomedicalIndustrial, and Human Factors EngineeringCollege of Engineering and Computer ScienceWright State UniversityDaytonOHUSA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Barbosa M, Santos M, de Sousa N, Duarte-Silva S, Vaz AR, Salgado AJ, Brites D. Intrathecal Injection of the Secretome from ALS Motor Neurons Regulated for miR-124 Expression Prevents Disease Outcomes in SOD1-G93A Mice. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092120. [PMID: 36140218 PMCID: PMC9496075 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with short life expectancy and no effective therapy. We previously identified upregulated miR-124 in NSC-34-motor neurons (MNs) expressing human SOD1-G93A (mSOD1) and established its implication in mSOD1 MN degeneration and glial cell activation. When anti-miR-124-treated mSOD1 MN (preconditioned) secretome was incubated in spinal cord organotypic cultures from symptomatic mSOD1 mice, the dysregulated homeostatic balance was circumvented. To decipher the therapeutic potential of such preconditioned secretome, we intrathecally injected it in mSOD1 mice at the early stage of the disease (12-week-old). Preconditioned secretome prevented motor impairment and was effective in counteracting muscle atrophy, glial reactivity/dysfunction, and the neurodegeneration of the symptomatic mSOD1 mice. Deficits in corticospinal function and gait abnormalities were precluded, and the loss of gastrocnemius muscle fiber area was avoided. At the molecular level, the preconditioned secretome enhanced NeuN mRNA/protein expression levels and the PSD-95/TREM2/IL-10/arginase 1/MBP/PLP genes, thus avoiding the neuronal/glial cell dysregulation that characterizes ALS mice. It also prevented upregulated GFAP/Cx43/S100B/vimentin and inflammatory-associated miRNAs, specifically miR-146a/miR-155/miR-21, which are displayed by symptomatic animals. Collectively, our study highlights the intrathecal administration of the secretome from anti-miR-124-treated mSOD1 MNs as a therapeutic strategy for halting/delaying disease progression in an ALS mouse model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Barbosa
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Santos
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Nídia de Sousa
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s Associate Lab, PT Government Associated Lab, 4806-909 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sara Duarte-Silva
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s Associate Lab, PT Government Associated Lab, 4806-909 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Vaz
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - António J. Salgado
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s Associate Lab, PT Government Associated Lab, 4806-909 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Dora Brites
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Tosolini AP, Sleigh JN, Surana S, Rhymes ER, Cahalan SD, Schiavo G. BDNF-dependent modulation of axonal transport is selectively impaired in ALS. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:121. [PMID: 35996201 PMCID: PMC9396851 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01418-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Axonal transport ensures long-range delivery of essential cargoes between proximal and distal compartments, and is needed for neuronal development, function, and survival. Deficits in axonal transport have been detected at pre-symptomatic stages in the SOD1G93A and TDP-43M337V mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), suggesting that impairments in this critical process are fundamental for disease pathogenesis. Strikingly, in ALS, fast motor neurons (FMNs) degenerate first whereas slow motor neurons (SMNs) are more resistant, and this is a currently unexplained phenomenon. The main aim of this investigation was to determine the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on in vivo axonal transport in different α-motor neuron (MN) subtypes in wild-type (WT) and SOD1G93A mice. We report that despite displaying similar basal transport speeds, stimulation of wild-type MNs with BDNF enhances in vivo trafficking of signalling endosomes specifically in FMNs. This BDNF-mediated enhancement of transport was also observed in primary ventral horn neuronal cultures. However, FMNs display selective impairment of axonal transport in vivo in symptomatic SOD1G93A mice, and are refractory to BDNF stimulation, a phenotype that was also observed in primary embryonic SOD1G93A neurons. Furthermore, symptomatic SOD1G93A mice display upregulation of the classical non-pro-survival truncated TrkB and p75NTR receptors in muscles, sciatic nerves, and Schwann cells. Altogether, these data indicate that cell- and non-cell autonomous BDNF signalling is impaired in SOD1G93A MNs, thus identifying a new key deficit in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Tosolini
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK. .,UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
| | - James N Sleigh
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Sunaina Surana
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Elena R Rhymes
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Stephen D Cahalan
- Comparative Neuromuscular Disease Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, NW1 0TU, UK
| | - Giampietro Schiavo
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK. .,UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK. .,UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Davis LA, Fogarty MJ, Brown A, Sieck GC. Structure and Function of the Mammalian Neuromuscular Junction. Compr Physiol 2022; 12:3731-3766. [PMID: 35950651 PMCID: PMC10461538 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c210022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian neuromuscular junction (NMJ) comprises a presynaptic terminal, a postsynaptic receptor region on the muscle fiber (endplate), and the perisynaptic (terminal) Schwann cell. As with any synapse, the purpose of the NMJ is to transmit signals from the nervous system to muscle fibers. This neural control of muscle fibers is organized as motor units, which display distinct structural and functional phenotypes including differences in pre- and postsynaptic elements of NMJs. Motor units vary considerably in the frequency of their activation (both motor neuron discharge rate and duration/duty cycle), force generation, and susceptibility to fatigue. For earlier and more frequently recruited motor units, the structure and function of the activated NMJs must have high fidelity to ensure consistent activation and continued contractile response to sustain vital motor behaviors (e.g., breathing and postural balance). Similarly, for higher force less frequent behaviors (e.g., coughing and jumping), the structure and function of recruited NMJs must ensure short-term reliable activation but not activation sustained for a prolonged period in which fatigue may occur. The NMJ is highly plastic, changing structurally and functionally throughout the life span from embryonic development to old age. The NMJ also changes under pathological conditions including acute and chronic disease. Such neuroplasticity often varies across motor unit types. © 2022 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 12:1-36, 2022.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leah A. Davis
- Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Matthew J. Fogarty
- Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Alyssa Brown
- Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gary C. Sieck
- Department of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Detecting motor unit abnormalities in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using high-density surface EMG. Clin Neurophysiol 2022; 142:262-272. [PMID: 35902304 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2022.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to detect specific motor unit (MU) abnormalities in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared to controls using high-density surface electromyography (HD-SEMG). METHODS Sixteen people with ALS and 16 control subjects. The participants performed ramp up and sustained contractions at 30% of their maximal voluntary contraction. HD-SEMG signals were recorded in the vastus lateralis muscle and decomposed into individual MU firing behavior using a convolution blind source separation method. RESULTS In total, 339 MUs were detected (people with ALS; n = 93, control subjects; n = 246). People with ALS showed significantly higher mean firing rate, recruitment threshold, coefficient of variation of the MU firing rate, MU firing rate at recruitment, and motoneurons excitability than those of control subjects (p < 0.001). The number of MU, MU firing rate, recruitment threshold, and MU firing rate at recruitment were significantly correlated with disease severity (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that an increased MU firing rate at recruitment was independently associated with ALS. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest increased excitability at recruitment, which is consistent with neurodegeneration results in a compensatory increase in MU activity. SIGNIFICANCE Abnormal MU firing behavior provides an important physiological index for understanding the pathophysiology of ALS.
Collapse
|
20
|
Molotsky E, Liu Y, Lieberman AP, Merry DE. Neuromuscular junction pathology is correlated with differential motor unit vulnerability in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:97. [PMID: 35791011 PMCID: PMC9258097 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01402-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked, neuromuscular neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure. The disease is characterized by a selective decrease in fast-muscle power (e.g., tongue pressure, grip strength) accompanied by a selective loss of fast-twitch muscle fibers. However, the relationship between neuromuscular junction (NMJ) pathology and fast-twitch motor unit vulnerability has yet to be explored. In this study, we used a cross-model comparison of two mouse models of SBMA to evaluate neuromuscular junction pathology, glycolytic-to-oxidative fiber-type switching, and cytoskeletal alterations in pre- and postsynaptic termini of tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius, and soleus hindlimb muscles. We observed significantly increased NMJ and myofiber pathology in fast-twitch, glycolytic motor units of the TA and gastrocnemius compared to slow-twitch, oxidative motor units of the soleus, as seen by decreased pre- and post-synaptic membrane area, decreased pre- and post-synaptic membrane colocalization, increased acetylcholine receptor compactness, a decrease in endplate area and complexity, and deficits in neurofilament heavy chain. Our data also show evidence for metabolic dysregulation and myofiber atrophy that correlate with severity of NMJ pathology. We propose a model in which the dynamic communicative relationship between the motor neuron and muscle, along with the developmental subtype of the muscle, promotes motor unit subtype specific vulnerability, metabolic alterations, and NMJ pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elana Molotsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Alumni Hall, Rm. 411E, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Alumni Hall, Rm. 411E, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Andrew P Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Alumni Hall, Rm. 411E, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Differential effects of invasive anodal trans-spinal direct current stimulation on monosynaptic EPSPs, Ia afferents excitability, and motoneuron intrinsic properties between SOD1 G93A and WT mice. Neuroscience 2022; 498:125-143. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
|
22
|
Trolese MC, Scarpa C, Melfi V, Fabbrizio P, Sironi F, Rossi M, Bendotti C, Nardo G. Boosting the peripheral immune response in the skeletal muscles improved motor function in ALS transgenic mice. Mol Ther 2022; 30:2760-2784. [PMID: 35477657 PMCID: PMC9372324 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1) is one of the most powerful pro-inflammatory chemokines. However, its signalling is pivotal in driving injured axon and muscle regeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Chiara Trolese
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Carlotta Scarpa
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Melfi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Fabbrizio
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Sironi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Rossi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Caterina Bendotti
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milan, Italy;.
| | - Giovanni Nardo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milan, Italy;.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
SOD1 in ALS: Taking Stock in Pathogenic Mechanisms and the Role of Glial and Muscle Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11040614. [PMID: 35453299 PMCID: PMC9032988 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11040614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. While the exact causes of ALS are still unclear, the discovery that familial cases of ALS are related to mutations in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), a key antioxidant enzyme protecting cells from the deleterious effects of superoxide radicals, suggested that alterations in SOD1 functionality and/or aberrant SOD1 aggregation strongly contribute to ALS pathogenesis. A new scenario was opened in which, thanks to the generation of SOD1 related models, different mechanisms crucial for ALS progression were identified. These include excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunctions, and non-cell autonomous toxicity, also implicating altered Ca2+ metabolism. While most of the literature considers motor neurons as primary target of SOD1-mediated effects, here we mainly discuss the effects of SOD1 mutations in non-neuronal cells, such as glial and skeletal muscle cells, in ALS. Attention is given to the altered redox balance and Ca2+ homeostasis, two processes that are strictly related with each other. We also provide original data obtained in primary myocytes derived from hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mice, showing perturbed expression of Ca2+ transporters that may be responsible for altered mitochondrial Ca2+ fluxes. ALS-related SOD1 mutants are also responsible for early alterations of fundamental biological processes in skeletal myocytes that may impinge on skeletal muscle functions and the cross-talk between muscle cells and motor neurons during disease progression.
Collapse
|
24
|
Verma S, Khurana S, Vats A, Sahu B, Ganguly NK, Chakraborti P, Gourie-Devi M, Taneja V. Neuromuscular Junction Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:1502-1527. [PMID: 34997540 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02658-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons leading to skeletal muscle denervation. Earlier studies have shown that motor neuron degeneration begins in motor cortex and descends to the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in a dying forward fashion. However, accumulating evidences support that ALS is a distal axonopathy where early pathological changes occur at the NMJ, prior to onset of clinical symptoms and propagates towards the motor neuron cell body supporting "dying back" hypothesis. Despite several evidences, series of events triggering NMJ disassembly in ALS are still obscure. Neuromuscular junction is a specialized tripartite chemical synapse which involves a well-coordinated communication among the presynaptic motor neuron, postsynaptic skeletal muscle, and terminal Schwann cells. This review provides comprehensive insight into the role of NMJ in ALS pathogenesis. We have emphasized the molecular alterations in cellular components of NMJ leading to loss of effective neuromuscular transmission in ALS. Further, we provide a preview into research involved in exploring NMJ as potential target for designing effective therapies for ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sagar Verma
- Department of Research, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, India.,Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Hamdard, Delhi, India
| | - Shiffali Khurana
- Department of Research, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, India.,Department of Biomedical Science, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Abhishek Vats
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Bandana Sahu
- Department of Research, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, India
| | | | | | | | - Vibha Taneja
- Department of Research, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, India.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Massopust R, Juros D, Shapiro D, Lopes M, Haldar SM, Taetzsch T, Valdez G. KLF15 overexpression in myocytes fails to ameliorate ALS-related pathology or extend the lifespan of SOD1G93A mice. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 162:105583. [PMID: 34902552 PMCID: PMC8750438 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a currently incurable disease that causes progressive motor neuron loss, paralysis and death. Skeletal muscle pathology occurs early during the course of ALS. It is characterized by impaired mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolic dysfunction and deterioration of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the synapse through which motor neurons communicate with muscles. Therefore, a better understanding of the molecules that underlie this pathology may lead to therapies that slow motor neuron loss and delay ALS progression. Kruppel Like Factor 15 (KLF15) has been identified as a transcription factor that activates alternative metabolic pathways and NMJ maintenance factors, including Fibroblast Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 (FGFBP1), in skeletal myocytes. In this capacity, KLF15 has been shown to play a protective role in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), however its role in ALS has not been evaluated. Here, we examined whether muscle-specific KLF15 overexpression promotes the health of skeletal muscles and NMJs in the SOD1G93A ALS mouse model. We show that muscle-specific KLF15 overexpression did not elicit a significant beneficial effect on skeletal muscle atrophy, NMJ health, motor function, or survival in SOD1G93A ALS mice. Our findings suggest that, unlike in mouse models of DMD and SMA, KLF15 overexpression has a minimal impact on ALS disease progression in SOD1G93A mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Massopust
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Devin Juros
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Dillon Shapiro
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Mikayla Lopes
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Saptarsi M. Haldar
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, USA,Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA,Current address: Amgen Research, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Thomas Taetzsch
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Gregorio Valdez
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA,Center for Translational Neuroscience, Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA,Department of Neurology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, United States
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Bączyk M, Manuel M, Roselli F, Zytnicki D. From Physiological Properties to Selective Vulnerability of Motor Units in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 28:375-394. [PMID: 36066833 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-07167-6_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Spinal alpha-motoneurons are classified in several types depending on the contractile properties of the innervated muscle fibers. This diversity is further displayed in different levels of vulnerability of distinct motor units to neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We summarize recent data suggesting that, contrary to the excitotoxicity hypothesis, the most vulnerable motor units are hypoexcitable and experience a reduction in their firing prior to symptoms onset in ALS. We suggest that a dysregulation of activity-dependent transcriptional programs in these motoneurons alter crucial cellular functions such as mitochondrial biogenesis, autophagy, axonal sprouting capability and re-innervation of neuromuscular junctions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Bączyk
- Department of Neurobiology, Poznań University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland
| | - Marin Manuel
- SPPIN - Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France.
| | - Francesco Roselli
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)-Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Neurozentrum Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Daniel Zytnicki
- SPPIN - Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Tsitkanou S, Della Gatta PA, Abbott G, Wallace MA, Lindsay A, Gerlinger-Romero F, Walker AK, Foletta VC, Russell AP. miR-23a suppression accelerates functional decline in the rNLS8 mouse model of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 162:105559. [PMID: 34774794 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle dysfunction may contribute to the progression and severity of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the present study, we characterized the skeletal muscle pathophysiology in an inducible transgenic mouse model (rNLS8) that develops a TAR-DNA binding protein (TDP-43) proteinopathy and ALS-like neuropathology and disease progression; representative of >90% of all familial and sporadic ALS cases. As we previously observed elevated levels of miR-23a in skeletal muscle of patients with familial and sporadic ALS, we also investigated the effect of miR-23a suppression on skeletal muscle pathophysiology and disease severity in rNLS8 mice. Five weeks after disease onset TDP-43 protein accumulation was observed in tibialis anterior (TA), quadriceps (QUAD) and diaphragm muscle lysates and associated with skeletal muscle atrophy. In the TA muscle TDP-43 was detected in muscle fibres that appeared atrophied and angular in appearance and that also contained β-amyloid aggregates. These fibres were also positive for neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), but not embryonic myosin heavy chain (eMHC), indicating TDP-43/ β-amyloid localization in denervated muscle fibres. There was an upregulation of genes associated with myogenesis and NMJ degeneration and a decrease in the MURF1 atrophy-related protein in skeletal muscle. Suppression of miR-23a impaired rotarod performance and grip strength and accelerated body weight loss during early stages of disease progression. This was associated with increased AchRα mRNA expression and decreased protein levels of PGC-1α. The TDP-43 proteinopathy-induced impairment of whole body and skeletal muscle functional performance is associated with muscle wasting and elevated myogenic and NMJ stress markers. Suppressing miR-23a in the rNLS8 mouse model of ALS contributes to an early acceleration of disease progression as measured by decline in motor function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stavroula Tsitkanou
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Paul A Della Gatta
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Gavin Abbott
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Marita A Wallace
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Angus Lindsay
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Frederico Gerlinger-Romero
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Adam K Walker
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia; Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Victoria C Foletta
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Aaron P Russell
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Brown AD, Davis LA, Fogarty MJ, Sieck GC. Mitochondrial Fragmentation and Dysfunction in Type IIx/IIb Diaphragm Muscle Fibers in 24-Month Old Fischer 344 Rats. Front Physiol 2021; 12:727585. [PMID: 34650442 PMCID: PMC8505889 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.727585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcopenia is characterized by muscle fiber atrophy and weakness, which may be associated with mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction. Mitochondrial remodeling and biogenesis in muscle fibers occurs in response to exercise and increased muscle activity. However, the adaptability mitochondria may decrease with age. The diaphragm muscle (DIAm) sustains breathing, via recruitment of fatigue-resistant type I and IIa fibers. More fatigable, type IIx/IIb DIAm fibers are infrequently recruited during airway protective and expulsive behaviors. DIAm sarcopenia is restricted to the atrophy of type IIx/IIb fibers, which impairs higher force airway protective and expulsive behaviors. The aerobic capacity to generate ATP within muscle fibers depends on the volume and intrinsic respiratory capacity of mitochondria. In the present study, mitochondria in type-identified DIAm fibers were labeled using MitoTracker Green and imaged in 3-D using confocal microscopy. Mitochondrial volume density was higher in type I and IIa DIAm fibers compared with type IIx/IIb fibers. Mitochondrial volume density did not change with age in type I and IIa fibers but was reduced in type IIx/IIb fibers in 24-month rats. Furthermore, mitochondria were more fragmented in type IIx/IIb compared with type I and IIa fibers, and worsened in 24-month rats. The maximum respiratory capacity of mitochondria in DIAm fibers was determined using a quantitative histochemical technique to measure the maximum velocity of the succinate dehydrogenase reaction (SDH max ). SDH max per fiber volume was higher in type I and IIa DIAm fibers and did not change with age. In contrast, SDH max per fiber volume decreased with age in type IIx/IIb DIAm fibers. There were two distinct clusters for SDH max per fiber volume and mitochondrial volume density, one comprising type I and IIa fibers and the second comprising type IIx/IIb fibers. The separation of these clusters increased with aging. There was also a clear relation between SDH max per mitochondrial volume and the extent of mitochondrial fragmentation. The results show that DIAm sarcopenia is restricted to type IIx/IIb DIAm fibers and related to reduced mitochondrial volume, mitochondrial fragmentation and reduced SDH max per fiber volume.
Collapse
|
29
|
Wright AL, Della Gatta PA, Le S, Berning BA, Mehta P, Jacobs KR, Gul H, San Gil R, Hedl TJ, Riddell WR, Watson O, Keating SS, Venturato J, Chung RS, Atkin JD, Lee A, Shi B, Blizzard CA, Morsch M, Walker AK. Riluzole does not ameliorate disease caused by cytoplasmic TDP-43 in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:6237-6255. [PMID: 34390052 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease commonly treated with riluzole, a small molecule that may act via modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission. However, riluzole only modestly extends lifespan for people living with ALS, and its precise mechanisms of action remain unclear. Most ALS cases are characterised by accumulation of cytoplasmic TAR DNA binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43), and understanding the effects of riluzole in models that closely recapitulate TDP-43 pathology may provide insights for development of improved therapeutics. We therefore investigated the effects of riluzole in female transgenic mice that inducibly express nuclear localisation sequence (NLS)-deficient human TDP-43 in neurons (NEFH-tTA/tetO-hTDP-43ΔNLS, 'rNLS8', mice). Riluzole treatment from the first day of hTDP-43ΔNLS expression did not alter disease onset, weight loss or performance on multiple motor behavioural tasks. Riluzole treatment also did not alter TDP-43 protein levels, solubility or phosphorylation. Although we identified a significant decrease in GluA2 and GluA3 proteins in the cortex of rNLS8 mice, riluzole did not ameliorate this disease-associated molecular phenotype. Likewise, riluzole did not alter the disease-associated atrophy of hindlimb muscle in rNLS8 mice. Finally, riluzole treatment beginning after disease onset in rNLS8 mice similarly had no effect on progression of late-stage disease or animal survival. Together, we demonstrate specific glutamatergic receptor alterations and muscle fibre-type changes reminiscent of ALS in female rNLS8 mice, but riluzole had no effect on these or any other disease phenotypes. Future targeting of pathways related to accumulation of TDP-43 pathology may be needed to develop better treatments for ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Wright
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul A Della Gatta
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sheng Le
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Britt A Berning
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Prachi Mehta
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kelly R Jacobs
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hossai Gul
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rebecca San Gil
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thomas J Hedl
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Winonah R Riddell
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Owen Watson
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sean S Keating
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Juliana Venturato
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Roger S Chung
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Albert Lee
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bingyang Shi
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Catherine A Blizzard
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Marco Morsch
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adam K Walker
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Weddell T, Bashford J, Wickham A, Iniesta R, Chen M, Zhou P, Drakakis E, Boutelle M, Mills K, Shaw C. First-recruited motor units adopt a faster phenotype in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Physiol 2021; 599:4117-4130. [PMID: 34261189 DOI: 10.1113/jp281310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder of motor neurons, carrying a short survival. High-density motor unit recordings permit analysis of motor unit size (amplitude) and firing behaviour (afterhyperpolarization duration and muscle fibre conduction velocity). Serial recordings from biceps brachii indicated that motor units fired faster and with greater amplitude as disease progressed. First-recruited motor units in the latter stages of ALS developed characteristics akin to fast-twitch motor units, possibly as a compensatory mechanism for the selective loss of this motor unit subset. This process may become maladaptive, highlighting a novel therapeutic target to reduce motor unit vulnerability. ABSTRACT Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with a median survival of 3 years. We employed serial high-density surface electromyography (HDSEMG) to characterize voluntary and ectopic patterns of motor unit (MU) firing at different stages of disease. By distinguishing MU subtypes with variable vulnerability to disease, we aimed to evaluate compensatory neuronal adaptations that accompany disease progression. Twenty patients with ALS and five patients with benign fasciculation syndrome (BFS) underwent 1-7 assessments each. HDSEMG measurements comprised 30 min of resting muscle and 1 min of light voluntary activity from biceps brachii bilaterally. MU decomposition was performed by the progressive FastICA peel-off technique. Inter-spike interval, firing pattern, MU potential area, afterhyperpolarization duration and muscle fibre conduction velocity were determined. In total, 373 MUs (ALS = 287; BFS = 86) were identified from 182 recordings. Weak ALS muscles demonstrated a lower mean inter-spike interval (82.7 ms) than strong ALS muscles (96.0 ms; P = 0.00919) and BFS muscles (95.3 ms; P = 0.0039). Mean MU potential area (area under the curve: 487.5 vs. 98.7 μV ms; P < 0.0001) and muscle fibre conduction velocity (6.2 vs. 5.1 m/s; P = 0.0292) were greater in weak ALS muscles than in BFS muscles. Purely fasciculating MUs had a greater mean MU potential area than MUs also under voluntary command (area under the curve: 679.6 vs. 232.4 μV ms; P = 0.00144). These results suggest that first-recruited MUs develop a faster phenotype in the latter stages of ALS, likely driven by the preferential loss of vulnerable fast-twitch MUs. Inhibition of this potentially maladaptive phenotypic drift may protect the longevity of the MU pool, stimulating a novel therapeutic avenue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Weddell
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - James Bashford
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Aidan Wickham
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Raquel Iniesta
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maoqi Chen
- Institute of Rehabilitation Engineering, The University of Rehabilitation, Qingdao, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- Institute of Rehabilitation Engineering, The University of Rehabilitation, Qingdao, China
| | | | - Martyn Boutelle
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Kerry Mills
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Chris Shaw
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Pikatza-Menoio O, Elicegui A, Bengoetxea X, Naldaiz-Gastesi N, López de Munain A, Gerenu G, Gil-Bea FJ, Alonso-Martín S. The Skeletal Muscle Emerges as a New Disease Target in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. J Pers Med 2021; 11:671. [PMID: 34357138 PMCID: PMC8307751 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11070671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that leads to progressive degeneration of motor neurons (MNs) and severe muscle atrophy without effective treatment. Most research on ALS has been focused on the study of MNs and supporting cells of the central nervous system. Strikingly, the recent observations of pathological changes in muscle occurring before disease onset and independent from MN degeneration have bolstered the interest for the study of muscle tissue as a potential target for delivery of therapies for ALS. Skeletal muscle has just been described as a tissue with an important secretory function that is toxic to MNs in the context of ALS. Moreover, a fine-tuning balance between biosynthetic and atrophic pathways is necessary to induce myogenesis for muscle tissue repair. Compromising this response due to primary metabolic abnormalities in the muscle could trigger defective muscle regeneration and neuromuscular junction restoration, with deleterious consequences for MNs and thereby hastening the development of ALS. However, it remains puzzling how backward signaling from the muscle could impinge on MN death. This review provides a comprehensive analysis on the current state-of-the-art of the role of the skeletal muscle in ALS, highlighting its contribution to the neurodegeneration in ALS through backward-signaling processes as a newly uncovered mechanism for a peripheral etiopathogenesis of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oihane Pikatza-Menoio
- Neuromuscular Diseases Group, Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain; (O.P.-M.); (A.E.); (X.B.); (N.N.-G.); (A.L.d.M.); (G.G.); (F.J.G.-B.)
- CIBERNED, Carlos III Institute, Spanish Ministry of Economy & Competitiveness, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Amaia Elicegui
- Neuromuscular Diseases Group, Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain; (O.P.-M.); (A.E.); (X.B.); (N.N.-G.); (A.L.d.M.); (G.G.); (F.J.G.-B.)
- CIBERNED, Carlos III Institute, Spanish Ministry of Economy & Competitiveness, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Xabier Bengoetxea
- Neuromuscular Diseases Group, Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain; (O.P.-M.); (A.E.); (X.B.); (N.N.-G.); (A.L.d.M.); (G.G.); (F.J.G.-B.)
| | - Neia Naldaiz-Gastesi
- Neuromuscular Diseases Group, Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain; (O.P.-M.); (A.E.); (X.B.); (N.N.-G.); (A.L.d.M.); (G.G.); (F.J.G.-B.)
- CIBERNED, Carlos III Institute, Spanish Ministry of Economy & Competitiveness, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Adolfo López de Munain
- Neuromuscular Diseases Group, Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain; (O.P.-M.); (A.E.); (X.B.); (N.N.-G.); (A.L.d.M.); (G.G.); (F.J.G.-B.)
- CIBERNED, Carlos III Institute, Spanish Ministry of Economy & Competitiveness, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Neurology, Donostialdea Integrated Health Organization, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, 20014 Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursery, University of the Basque Country UPV-EHU, 20014 Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Gorka Gerenu
- Neuromuscular Diseases Group, Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain; (O.P.-M.); (A.E.); (X.B.); (N.N.-G.); (A.L.d.M.); (G.G.); (F.J.G.-B.)
- CIBERNED, Carlos III Institute, Spanish Ministry of Economy & Competitiveness, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Physiology, University of the Basque Country UPV-EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Gil-Bea
- Neuromuscular Diseases Group, Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain; (O.P.-M.); (A.E.); (X.B.); (N.N.-G.); (A.L.d.M.); (G.G.); (F.J.G.-B.)
- CIBERNED, Carlos III Institute, Spanish Ministry of Economy & Competitiveness, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonia Alonso-Martín
- Neuromuscular Diseases Group, Neurosciences Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain; (O.P.-M.); (A.E.); (X.B.); (N.N.-G.); (A.L.d.M.); (G.G.); (F.J.G.-B.)
- CIBERNED, Carlos III Institute, Spanish Ministry of Economy & Competitiveness, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Giagnorio E, Malacarne C, Mantegazza R, Bonanno S, Marcuzzo S. MyomiRs and their multifaceted regulatory roles in muscle homeostasis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:269129. [PMID: 34137441 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.258349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of both upper and lower motor neurons (MNs). The main clinical features of ALS are motor function impairment, progressive muscle weakness, muscle atrophy and, ultimately, paralysis. Intrinsic skeletal muscle deterioration plays a crucial role in the disease and contributes to ALS progression. Currently, there are no effective treatments for ALS, highlighting the need to obtain a deeper understanding of the molecular events underlying degeneration of both MNs and muscle tissue, with the aim of developing successful therapies. Muscle tissue is enriched in a group of microRNAs called myomiRs, which are effective regulators of muscle homeostasis, plasticity and myogenesis in both physiological and pathological conditions. After providing an overview of ALS pathophysiology, with a focus on the role of skeletal muscle, we review the current literature on myomiR network dysregulation as a contributing factor to myogenic perturbations and muscle atrophy in ALS. We argue that, in view of their critical regulatory function at the interface between MNs and skeletal muscle fiber, myomiRs are worthy of further investigation as potential molecular targets of therapeutic strategies to improve ALS symptoms and counteract disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Giagnorio
- Neurology IV - Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan 20133, Italy.,PhD program in Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Claudia Malacarne
- Neurology IV - Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan 20133, Italy.,PhD program in Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Renato Mantegazza
- Neurology IV - Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Silvia Bonanno
- Neurology IV - Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - Stefania Marcuzzo
- Neurology IV - Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan 20133, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Skeletal Muscle Metabolism: Origin or Prognostic Factor for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Development? Cells 2021; 10:cells10061449. [PMID: 34207859 PMCID: PMC8226541 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive and selective loss of motor neurons, amyotrophy and skeletal muscle paralysis usually leading to death due to respiratory failure. While generally considered an intrinsic motor neuron disease, data obtained in recent years, including our own, suggest that motor neuron protection is not sufficient to counter the disease. The dismantling of the neuromuscular junction is closely linked to chronic energy deficit found throughout the body. Metabolic (hypermetabolism and dyslipidemia) and mitochondrial alterations described in patients and murine models of ALS are associated with the development and progression of disease pathology and they appear long before motor neurons die. It is clear that these metabolic changes participate in the pathology of the disease. In this review, we summarize these changes seen throughout the course of the disease, and the subsequent impact of glucose–fatty acid oxidation imbalance on disease progression. We also highlight studies that show that correcting this loss of metabolic flexibility should now be considered a major goal for the treatment of ALS.
Collapse
|
34
|
Scaricamazza S, Salvatori I, Ferri A, Valle C. Skeletal Muscle in ALS: An Unappreciated Therapeutic Opportunity? Cells 2021; 10:cells10030525. [PMID: 33801336 PMCID: PMC8000428 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons and by the progressive weakness and paralysis of voluntary muscles. Despite intense research efforts and numerous clinical trials, it is still an incurable disease. ALS had long been considered a pure motor neuron disease; however, recent studies have shown that motor neuron protection is not sufficient to prevent the course of the disease since the dismantlement of neuromuscular junctions occurs before motor neuron degeneration. Skeletal muscle alterations have been described in the early stages of the disease, and they seem to be mainly involved in the “dying back” phenomenon of motor neurons and metabolic dysfunctions. In recent years, skeletal muscles have been considered crucial not only for the etiology of ALS but also for its treatment. Here, we review clinical and preclinical studies that targeted skeletal muscles and discuss the different approaches, including pharmacological interventions, supplements or diets, genetic modifications, and training programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Scaricamazza
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, c/o CERC, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Illari Salvatori
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, c/o CERC, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza", 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Ferri
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, c/o CERC, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiana Valle
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, c/o CERC, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, 00133 Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Huh S, Heckman CJ, Manuel M. Time Course of Alterations in Adult Spinal Motoneuron Properties in the SOD1(G93A) Mouse Model of ALS. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0378-20.2021. [PMID: 33632815 PMCID: PMC8009670 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0378-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Although amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease, motoneuron electrical properties are already altered during embryonic development. Motoneurons must therefore exhibit a remarkable capacity for homeostatic regulation to maintain a normal motor output for most of the life of the patient. In the present article, we demonstrate how maintaining homeostasis could come at a very high cost. We studied the excitability of spinal motoneurons from young adult SOD1(G93A) mice to end-stage. Initially, homeostasis is highly successful in maintaining their overall excitability. This initial success, however, is achieved by pushing some cells far above the normal range of passive and active conductances. As the disease progresses, both passive and active conductances shrink below normal values in the surviving cells. This shrinkage may thus promote survival, implying the previously large values contribute to degeneration. These results support the hypothesis that motoneuronal homeostasis may be "hypervigilant" in ALS and a source of accumulating stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seoan Huh
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago 60611, IL
| | - Charles J Heckman
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago 60611, IL
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago 60611, IL
- Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Science, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago 60611, IL
| | - Marin Manuel
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago 60611, IL
- Université de Paris, Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences (SPPIN), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris 75006, France
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Early Hypoexcitability in a Subgroup of Spinal Motoneurons in Superoxide Dismutase 1 Transgenic Mice, a Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Neuroscience 2021; 463:337-353. [PMID: 33556455 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), large motoneurons degenerate first, causing muscle weakness. Transgenic mouse models with a mutation in the gene encoding the enzyme superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) revealed that motoneurons innervating the fast-fatigable muscular fibres disconnect very early. The cause of this peripheric disconnection has not yet been established. Early pathological signs were described in motoneurons during the postnatal period of SOD1 transgenic mice. Here, we investigated whether the early changes of electrical and morphological properties previously reported in the SOD1G85R strain also occur in the SOD1G93A-low expressor line with particular attention to the different subsets of motoneurons defined by their discharge firing pattern (transient, sustained, or delayed-onset firing). Intracellular staining and recording were performed in lumbar motoneurons from entire brainstem-spinal cord preparations of SOD1G93A-low transgenic mice and their WT littermates during the second postnatal week. Our results show that SOD1G93A-low motoneurons exhibit a dendritic overbranching similar to that described previously in the SOD1G85R strain at the same age. Further we found an hypoexcitability in the delayed-onset firing SOD1G93A-low motoneurons (lower gain and higher voltage threshold). We conclude that dendritic overbranching and early hypoexcitability are common features of both low expressor SOD1 mutants (G85R and G93A-low). In the high-expressor SOD1G93A line, we found hyperexcitability in the sustained firing motoneurons at the same period, suggesting a delay in compensatory mechanisms. Overall, our results suggest that the hypoexcitability indicate an early dysfunction of the delayed-onset motoneurons and could account as early pathological signs of the disease.
Collapse
|
37
|
Bączyk M, Krutki P, Zytnicki D. Is there hope that transpinal direct current stimulation corrects motoneuron excitability and provides neuroprotection in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis? Physiol Rep 2021; 9:e14706. [PMID: 33463907 PMCID: PMC7814489 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of largely unknown pathophysiology, characterized by the progressive loss of motoneurons (MNs). We review data showing that in presymptomatic ALS mice, MNs display reduced intrinsic excitability and impaired level of excitatory inputs. The loss of repetitive firing specifically affects the large MNs innervating fast contracting muscle fibers, which are the most vulnerable MNs in ALS. Interventions that aimed at restoring either the intrinsic excitability or the synaptic excitation result in a decrease of disease markers in MNs and delayed neuromuscular junction denervation. We then focus on trans‐spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS), a noninvasive tool, since it modulates the activity of spinal neurons and networks. Effects of tsDCS depend on the polarity of applied current. Recent work shows that anodal tsDCS induces long‐lasting enhancement of MN excitability and synaptic excitation of spinal MNs. Moreover, we show preliminary results indicating that anodal tsDCS enhances the excitatory synaptic inputs to MNs in ALS mice. In conclusion, we suggest that chronic application of anodal tsDCS might be useful as a complementary method in the management of ALS patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Bączyk
- Department of Neurobiology, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland
| | - Piotr Krutki
- Department of Neurobiology, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland
| | - Daniel Zytnicki
- Université de Paris, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences (SPPIN), Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Fogarty MJ, Brandenburg JE, Sieck GC. Diaphragm neuromuscular transmission failure in a mouse model of an early-onset neuromotor disorder. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2020; 130:708-720. [PMID: 33382958 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00864.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The spa transgenic mouse displays spasticity and hypertonia that develops during the early postnatal period, with motor impairments that are remarkably similar to symptoms of human cerebral palsy. Previously, we observed that spa mice have fewer phrenic motor neurons innervating the diaphragm muscle (DIAm). We hypothesize that spa mice exhibit increased susceptibility to neuromuscular transmission failure (NMTF) due to an expanded innervation ratio. We retrogradely labeled phrenic motor neurons with rhodamine and imaged them in horizontal sections (70 µm) using confocal microscopy. Phrenic nerve-DIAm strip preparations from wild type and spa mice were stretched to optimal length, and force was evoked by phrenic nerve stimulation at 10, 40, or 75 Hz in 330-ms duration trains repeated each second (33% duty cycle) across a 120-s period. To assess NMTF, force evoked by phrenic nerve stimulation was compared to force evoked by direct DIAm stimulation superimposed every 15 s. Total DIAm fiber number was estimated in hematoxylin and eosin-stained strips. Compared to wild type, spa mice had over twofold greater NMTF during the first stimulus train that persisted throughout the 120 s period of repetitive activation. In both wild type and spa mice, NMTF was stimulation-frequency dependent. There was no difference in neuromuscular junction morphology or the total number of DIAm fibers between wild type and spa mice, however, there was an increase innervation ratio (39%) in spa mice. We conclude that early-onset developmental neuromotor disorders impair the efficacy of DIAm neuromuscular transmission, likely to contribute to respiratory complications.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Individuals with motor control deficits, including cerebral palsy (CP) often have respiratory impairments. Glycine-receptor mutant spa mice have early-onset hypertonia, and limb motor impairments, similar to individuals with CP. We hypothesized that in the diaphragm of spa mice, disruption of glycinergic inputs to MNs would result in increased phrenic-DIAm neuromuscular transmission failure. Pathophysiologic abnormalities in neuromuscular transmission may contribute to respiratory dysfunction in conditions where early developmental MN loss or motor control deficits are apparent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Fogarty
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Joline E Brandenburg
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Gary C Sieck
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Burlando B, Milanese M, Giordano G, Bonifacino T, Ravera S, Blanchini F, Bonanno G. A multistationary loop model of ALS unveils critical molecular interactions involving mitochondria and glucose metabolism. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0244234. [PMID: 33332476 PMCID: PMC7746301 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a poor-prognosis disease with puzzling pathogenesis and inconclusive treatments. We develop a mathematical model of ALS based on a system of interactive feedback loops, focusing on the mutant SOD1G93A mouse. Misfolded mutant SOD1 aggregates in motor neuron (MN) mitochondria and triggers a first loop characterized by oxidative phosphorylation impairment, AMP kinase over-activation, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase (PFK3) rise, glucose metabolism shift from pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) to glycolysis, cell redox unbalance, and further worsening of mitochondrial dysfunction. Oxidative stress then triggers a second loop, involving the excitotoxic glutamatergic cascade, with cytosolic Ca2+ overload, increase of PFK3 expression, and further metabolic shift from PPP to glycolysis. Finally, cytosolic Ca2+ rise is also detrimental to mitochondria and oxidative phosphorylation, thus closing a third loop. These three loops are overlapped and positive (including an even number of inhibitory steps), hence they form a candidate multistationary (bistable) system. To describe the system dynamics, we model the interactions among the functional agents with differential equations. The system turns out to admit two stable equilibria: the healthy state, with high oxidative phosphorylation and preferential PPP, and the pathological state, with AMP kinase activation, PFK3 over expression, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity and MN degeneration. We demonstrate that the loop system is monotone: all functional agents consistently act toward the healthy or pathological condition, depending on low or high mutant SOD1 input. We also highlight that molecular interactions involving PFK3 are crucial, as their deletion disrupts the system's bistability leading to a single healthy equilibrium point. Hence, our mathematical model unveils that promising ALS management strategies should be targeted to mechanisms that keep low PFK3 expression and activity within MNs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Burlando
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Marco Milanese
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Giulia Giordano
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Delft Center for Systems and Control, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Silvia Ravera
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Franco Blanchini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche, Informatiche e Fisiche, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- IRCCS—Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Jørgensen HS, Jensen DB, Dimintiyanova KP, Bonnevie VS, Hedegaard A, Lehnhoff J, Moldovan M, Grondahl L, Meehan CF. Increased Axon Initial Segment Length Results in Increased Na + Currents in Spinal Motoneurones at Symptom Onset in the G127X SOD1 Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Neuroscience 2020; 468:247-264. [PMID: 33246068 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease preferentially affecting motoneurones. Transgenic mouse models have been used to investigate the role of abnormal motoneurone excitability in this disease. Whilst an increased excitability has repeatedly been demonstrated in vitro in neonatal and embryonic preparations from SOD1 mouse models, the results from the only studies to record in vivo from spinal motoneurones in adult SOD1 models have produced conflicting findings. Deficits in repetitive firing have been reported in G93A SOD1(high copy number) mice but not in presymptomatic G127X SOD1 mice despite shorter motoneurone axon initial segments (AISs) in these mice. These discrepancies may be due to the earlier disease onset and prolonged disease progression in G93A SOD1 mice with recordings potentially performed at a later sub-clinical stage of the disease in this mouse. To test this, and to explore how the evolution of excitability changes with symptom onset we performed in vivo intracellular recording and AIS labelling in G127X SOD1 mice immediately after symptom onset. No reductions in repetitive firing were observed showing that this is not a common feature across all ALS models. Immunohistochemistry for the Na+ channel Nav1.6 showed that motoneurone AISs increase in length in G127X SOD1 mice at symptom onset. Consistent with this, the rate of rise of AIS components of antidromic action potentials were significantly faster confirming that this increase in length represents an increase in AIS Na+ channels occurring at symptom onset in this model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H S Jørgensen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - D B Jensen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - V S Bonnevie
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - A Hedegaard
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - J Lehnhoff
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M Moldovan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - L Grondahl
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - C F Meehan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Manzano R, Toivonen JM, Moreno-Martínez L, de la Torre M, Moreno-García L, López-Royo T, Molina N, Zaragoza P, Calvo AC, Osta R. What skeletal muscle has to say in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Implications for therapy. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 178:1279-1297. [PMID: 32986860 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult onset disorder characterized by progressive neuromuscular junction (NMJ) dismantling and degeneration of motor neurons leading to atrophy and paralysis of voluntary muscles responsible for motion and breathing. Except for a minority of patients harbouring genetic mutations, the origin of most ALS cases remains elusive. Peripheral tissues, and particularly skeletal muscle, have lately demonstrated an active contribution to disease pathology attracting a growing interest for these tissues as therapeutic targets in ALS. In this sense, molecular mechanisms essential for cell and tissue homeostasis have been shown to be deregulated in the disease. These include muscle metabolism and mitochondrial activity, RNA processing, tissue-resident stem cell function responsible for muscle regeneration, and proteostasis that regulates muscle mass in adulthood. This review aims to compile scientific evidence that demonstrates the role of skeletal muscle in ALS pathology and serves as reference for development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting this tissue to delay disease onset and progression. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Neurochemistry in Japan. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.6/issuetoc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Manzano
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, University of Zaragoza, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Janne Markus Toivonen
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, University of Zaragoza, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Laura Moreno-Martínez
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, University of Zaragoza, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Miriam de la Torre
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, University of Zaragoza, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Leticia Moreno-García
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, University of Zaragoza, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Tresa López-Royo
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, University of Zaragoza, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Nora Molina
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, University of Zaragoza, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), Zaragoza, Spain.,Geriatrics Service, Hospital Nuestra Señora de Gracia, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pilar Zaragoza
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, University of Zaragoza, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana Cristina Calvo
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, University of Zaragoza, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rosario Osta
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, University of Zaragoza, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), Zaragoza, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Badawi Y, Nishimune H. Impairment Mechanisms and Intervention Approaches for Aged Human Neuromuscular Junctions. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:568426. [PMID: 33328881 PMCID: PMC7717980 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.568426] [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: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a chemical synapse formed between a presynaptic motor neuron and a postsynaptic muscle cell. NMJs in most vertebrate species share many essential features; however, some differences distinguish human NMJs from others. This review will describe the pre- and postsynaptic structures of human NMJs and compare them to NMJs of laboratory animals. We will focus on age-dependent declines in function and changes in the structure of human NMJs. Furthermore, we will describe insights into the aging process revealed from mouse models of accelerated aging. In addition, we will compare aging phenotypes to other human pathologies that cause impairments of pre- and postsynaptic structures at NMJs. Finally, we will discuss potential intervention approaches for attenuating age-related NMJ dysfunction and sarcopenia in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yomna Badawi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Hiroshi Nishimune
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, United States.,Neurobiology of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Itabashi, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Fogarty MJ, Mu EWH, Lavidis NA, Noakes PG, Bellingham MC. Size‐dependent dendritic maladaptations of hypoglossal motor neurons in SOD1
G93A
mice. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2020; 304:1562-1581. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.24542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Fogarty
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA
| | - Erica W. H. Mu
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Nickolas A. Lavidis
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Peter G. Noakes
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Mark C. Bellingham
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Agudelo A, St Amand V, Grissom L, Lafond D, Achilli T, Sahin A, Reenan R, Stilwell G. Age-dependent degeneration of an identified adult leg motor neuron in a Drosophila SOD1 model of ALS. Biol Open 2020; 9:bio049692. [PMID: 32994185 PMCID: PMC7595701 DOI: 10.1242/bio.049692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in humans. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor neuron loss leading to paralysis and inevitable death in affected individuals. Using a gene replacement strategy to introduce disease mutations into the orthologous Drosophila sod1 (dsod1) gene, here, we characterize changes at the neuromuscular junction using longer-lived dsod1 mutant adults. Homozygous dsod1H71Y/H71Y or dsod1null/null flies display progressive walking defects with paralysis of the third metathoracic leg. In dissected legs, we assessed age-dependent changes in a single identified motor neuron (MN-I2) innervating the tibia levitator muscle. At adult eclosion, MN-I2 of dsod1H71Y/H71Y or sod1null/null flies is patterned similar to wild-type flies indicating no readily apparent developmental defects. Over the course of 10 days post-eclosion, MN-I2 shows an overall reduction in arborization with bouton swelling and loss of the post-synaptic marker discs-large (dlg) in mutant dsod1 adults. In addition, increases in polyubiquitinated proteins correlate with the timing and extent of MN-I2 changes. Because similar phenotypes are observed between flies homozygous for either dsod1H71Y or dsod1null alleles, we conclude these NMJ changes are mainly associated with sod loss-of-function. Together these studies characterize age-related morphological and molecular changes associated with axonal retraction in a Drosophila model of ALS that recapitulate an important aspect of the human disease.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Agudelo
- Department of Biology, Rhode Island College, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence, RI, 02908 USA
| | - Victoria St Amand
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912 USA
| | - Lindsey Grissom
- Department of Biology, Rhode Island College, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence, RI, 02908 USA
| | - Danielle Lafond
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912 USA
| | - Toni Achilli
- Department of Biology, Rhode Island College, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence, RI, 02908 USA
| | - Asli Sahin
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912 USA
| | - Robert Reenan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912 USA
| | - Geoff Stilwell
- Department of Biology, Rhode Island College, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence, RI, 02908 USA
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Colín E, Ramírez-Jarquín UN, Tapia R. Early motor deficits in the phalangeal fine movements induced by chronic AMPA infusion in the rat spinal cord assessed by a novel method: Phalangeal tension recording test. Neurosci Lett 2020; 739:135411. [PMID: 33086093 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135411] [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: 01/11/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Motor behavior alterations are a shared hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases affecting motor circuits, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases. In patients and transgenic animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis fine movements controlled by distal muscles are the first to be affected, but its study and knowledge remain poorly understood, mainly because most of the tests used for describing the motor alterations are focused on the function of proximal muscles and gross movements. In this study we demonstrate that alterations of phalangeal fine movements can be quantitatively evaluated using a novel procedure designed by us, phalangeal tension recording test, which showed high sensitivity to detect such alterations. The evaluation was carried out during the motor neuron (MN) degenerative process induced by the acute and chronic overactivation of AMPA receptors in the lumbar rat spinal cord, using previously described models. The new method allowed the quantification of significant alterations of the fine movements of the hindpaws phalanges when AMPA was infused in the lumbar segment controlling the distal muscles, but not when a more rostral spinal segment was infused, and these alterations were not detected by the rotarod or the stride tests. These changes occurred before the paralysis of the hindlimbs. Studying the early distal motor alterations before the total paralysis at late stages is essential for understanding the initial consequences of MN degeneration and therefore for designing new strategies for the control, treatment and prevention of MN diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Colín
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Uri Nimrod Ramírez-Jarquín
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Tapia
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Bhaskaran S, Pollock N, C. Macpherson P, Ahn B, Piekarz KM, Staunton CA, Brown JL, Qaisar R, Vasilaki A, Richardson A, McArdle A, Jackson MJ, Brooks SV, Van Remmen H. Neuron-specific deletion of CuZnSOD leads to an advanced sarcopenic phenotype in older mice. Aging Cell 2020; 19:e13225. [PMID: 32886862 PMCID: PMC7576239 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-associated loss of muscle mass and function (sarcopenia) has a profound effect on the quality of life in the elderly. Our previous studies show that CuZnSOD deletion in mice (Sod1-/- mice) recapitulates sarcopenia phenotypes, including elevated oxidative stress and accelerated muscle atrophy, weakness, and disruption of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). To determine whether deletion of Sod1 initiated in neurons in adult mice is sufficient to induce muscle atrophy, we treated young (2- to 4-month-old) Sod1flox/SlickHCre mice with tamoxifen to generate i-mn-Sod1KO mice. CuZnSOD protein was 40-50% lower in neuronal tissue in i-mn-Sod1KO mice. Motor neuron number in ventral spinal cord was reduced 28% at 10 months and more than 50% in 18- to 22-month-old i-mn-Sod1KO mice. By 24 months, 22% of NMJs in i-mn-Sod1KO mice displayed a complete lack of innervation and deficits in specific force that are partially reversed by direct muscle stimulation, supporting the loss of NMJ structure and function. Muscle mass was significantly reduced by 16 months of age and further decreased at 24 months of age. Overall, our findings show that neuronal-specific deletion of CuZnSOD is sufficient to cause motor neuron loss in young mice, but that NMJ disruption, muscle atrophy, and weakness are not evident until past middle age. These results suggest that loss of innervation is critical but may not be sufficient until the muscle reaches a threshold beyond which it cannot compensate for neuronal loss or rescue additional fibers past the maximum size of the motor unit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shylesh Bhaskaran
- Aging & Metabolism Research ProgramOklahoma Medical Research FoundationOklahoma CityOKUSA
| | - Natalie Pollock
- Department of Musculoskeletal BiologyInstitute of Ageing and Chronic DiseaseMRC‐Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Peter C. Macpherson
- Department of Molecular and Integrative PhysiologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMIUSA
| | - Bumsoo Ahn
- Aging & Metabolism Research ProgramOklahoma Medical Research FoundationOklahoma CityOKUSA
| | - Katarzyna M. Piekarz
- Aging & Metabolism Research ProgramOklahoma Medical Research FoundationOklahoma CityOKUSA
- Oklahoma Center For NeuroscienceUniversity of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterOklahoma CityOKUSA
| | - Caroline A. Staunton
- Department of Musculoskeletal BiologyInstitute of Ageing and Chronic DiseaseMRC‐Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Jacob L. Brown
- Aging & Metabolism Research ProgramOklahoma Medical Research FoundationOklahoma CityOKUSA
| | - Rizwan Qaisar
- Aging & Metabolism Research ProgramOklahoma Medical Research FoundationOklahoma CityOKUSA
| | - Aphrodite Vasilaki
- Department of Musculoskeletal BiologyInstitute of Ageing and Chronic DiseaseMRC‐Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Arlan Richardson
- Oklahoma City VA Medical CenterOklahoma CityOKUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterOklahoma CityOKUSA
| | - Anne McArdle
- Department of Musculoskeletal BiologyInstitute of Ageing and Chronic DiseaseMRC‐Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Malcolm J. Jackson
- Department of Musculoskeletal BiologyInstitute of Ageing and Chronic DiseaseMRC‐Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Susan V. Brooks
- Department of Molecular and Integrative PhysiologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMIUSA
| | - Holly Van Remmen
- Aging & Metabolism Research ProgramOklahoma Medical Research FoundationOklahoma CityOKUSA
- Oklahoma City VA Medical CenterOklahoma CityOKUSA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Properties of Glial Cell at the Neuromuscular Junction Are Incompatible with Synaptic Repair in the SOD1G37R ALS Mouse Model. J Neurosci 2020; 40:7759-7777. [PMID: 32859714 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1748-18.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting motoneurons (MNs) in a motor-unit (MU)-dependent manner. Glial dysfunction contributes to numerous aspects of the disease. At the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), early alterations in perisynaptic Schwann cell (PSC), glial cells at this synapse, may impact their ability to regulate NMJ stability and repair. Indeed, muscarinic receptors (mAChRs) regulate the repair phenotype of PSCs and are overactivated at disease-resistant NMJs [soleus muscle (SOL)] in SOD1G37R mice. However, it remains unknown whether this is the case at disease-vulnerable NMJs and whether it translates into an impairment of PSC-dependent repair mechanisms. We used SOL and sternomastoid (STM) muscles from SOD1G37R mice and performed Ca2+-imaging to monitor PSC activity and used immunohistochemistry to analyze their repair and phagocytic properties. We show that PSC mAChR-dependent activity was transiently increased at disease-vulnerable NMJs (STM muscle). Furthermore, PSCs from both muscles extended disorganized processes from denervated NMJs and failed to initiate or guide nerve terminal sprouts at disease-vulnerable NMJs, a phenomenon essential for compensatory reinnervation. This was accompanied by a failure of numerous PSCs to upregulate galectin-3 (MAC-2), a marker of glial axonal debris phagocytosis, on NMJ denervation in SOD1 mice. Finally, differences in these PSC-dependent NMJ repair mechanisms were MU type dependent, thus reflecting MU vulnerability in ALS. Together, these results reveal that neuron-glia communication is ubiquitously altered at the NMJ in ALS. This appears to prevent PSCs from adopting a repair phenotype, resulting in a maladapted response to denervation at the NMJ in ALS.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Understanding how the complex interplay between neurons and glial cells ultimately lead to the degeneration of motor neurons and loss of motor function is a fundamental question to comprehend amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). An early and persistent alteration of glial cell activity takes place at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the output of motor neurons, but its impact on NMJ repair remains unknown. Here, we reveal that glial cells at disease-vulnerable NMJs often fail to guide compensatory nerve terminal sprouts and to adopt a phagocytic phenotype on denervated NMJs in SOD1G37R mice. These results show that glial cells at the NMJ elaborate an inappropriate response to NMJ degeneration in a manner that reflects motor-unit (MU) vulnerability and potentially impairs compensatory reinnervation.
Collapse
|
48
|
Harrison JM, Rafuse VF. Muscle fiber-type specific terminal Schwann cell pathology leads to sprouting deficits following partial denervation in SOD1 G93A mice. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 145:105052. [PMID: 32827689 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset disease characterized by the progressive death of motoneurons and denervation of muscle fibers. To restore motor function, surviving motoneurons in partially denervated muscles typically sprout axons to reinnervate denervated endplates. However, studies on the SOD1G93A rodent models of ALS indicate that sprouting is significantly limited in fast, but not slow, twitch muscles after disease onset. This limitation hastens the rate of muscle weakness and loss of motor function. The causes of this limitation are currently unknown. Sprouting could be limited because the SOD1G93A mutation weakens motoneurons making them incapable of expanding their field of innervation. Alternatively, motoneurons may be capable of sprouting, but unable to do so due to the loss of a permissive sprouting environment. To distinguish between the two possibilities, we compared the sprouting capacity of motoneuron subtypes by partially denervating the fast twitch plantaris (composed of type IIa/IIb muscle fibers) and slow twitch soleus muscles (type I/IIa fibers) prior to disease onset and weakening in SOD1G93A and WT mice. We found that only motoneurons innervating the SOD1G93A plantaris had a limited sprouting capacity. This was correlated with the selective loss of terminal Schwann cells (TSCs) at IIb fibers and an increase in macrophage infiltration. Treating SOD1G93A mice with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, masitinib, significantly reduced infiltration, prevented TSC loss, and increased the sprouting capacity to near normal. These results suggest that TSCs at denervated type IIb muscle fibers are aberrantly targeted by infiltrating macrophages in SOD1G93A mice, and their loss accounts, at least in part, for the compromised sprouting capacity of the largest motoneurons during early stages of ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Harrison
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 1X5, Canada; Brain Repair Centre, Life Sciences Research Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Victor F Rafuse
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 1X5, Canada; Brain Repair Centre, Life Sciences Research Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
De Paola E, Forcina L, Pelosi L, Pisu S, La Rosa P, Cesari E, Nicoletti C, Madaro L, Mercatelli N, Biamonte F, Nobili A, D'Amelio M, De Bardi M, Volpe E, Caporossi D, Sette C, Musarò A, Paronetto MP. Sam68 splicing regulation contributes to motor unit establishment in the postnatal skeletal muscle. Life Sci Alliance 2020; 3:3/10/e201900637. [PMID: 32753528 PMCID: PMC7409371 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201900637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sam68 ensures the establishment of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and motor unit integrity by orchestrating a neuronal splicing program. RNA-binding proteins orchestrate the composite life of RNA molecules and impact most physiological processes, thus underlying complex phenotypes. The RNA-binding protein Sam68 regulates differentiation processes by modulating splicing, polyadenylation, and stability of select transcripts. Herein, we found that Sam68−/− mice display altered regulation of alternative splicing in the spinal cord of key target genes involved in synaptic functions. Analysis of the motor units revealed that Sam68 ablation impairs the establishment of neuromuscular junctions and causes progressive loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord. Importantly, alterations of neuromuscular junction morphology and properties in Sam68−/− mice correlate with defects in muscle and motor unit integrity. Sam68−/− muscles display defects in postnatal development, with manifest signs of atrophy. Furthermore, fast-twitch muscles in Sam68−/− mice show structural features typical of slow-twitch muscles, suggesting alterations in the metabolic and functional properties of myofibers. Collectively, our data identify a key role for Sam68 in muscle development and suggest that proper establishment of motor units requires timely expression of synaptic splice variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa De Paola
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico," Rome, Italy.,IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Forcina
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Pelosi
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Pisu
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Piergiorgio La Rosa
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cesari
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Institute of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Nicoletti
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Madaro
- Institute of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Neri Mercatelli
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico," Rome, Italy.,IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Biamonte
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Nobili
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Medicine, University Campus-Biomedico, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello D'Amelio
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Medicine, University Campus-Biomedico, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco De Bardi
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Volpe
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Caporossi
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico," Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Sette
- IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy .,Institute of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Musarò
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Paronetto
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico," Rome, Italy .,IRCCS (Institute for Treatment and Research) Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Just-Borràs L, Hurtado E, Cilleros-Mañé V, Biondi O, Charbonnier F, Tomàs M, Garcia N, Tomàs J, Lanuza MA. Running and swimming prevent the deregulation of the BDNF/TrkB neurotrophic signalling at the neuromuscular junction in mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:3027-3040. [PMID: 31646358 PMCID: PMC11104938 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03337-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nerve-induced muscle contraction regulates the BDNF/TrkB neurotrophic signalling to retrogradely modulate neurotransmission and protect the neuromuscular junctions and motoneurons. In muscles with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, this pathway is strongly misbalanced and neuromuscular junctions are destabilized, which may directly cause the motoneuron degeneration and muscular atrophy observed in this disease. Here, we sought to demonstrate (1) that physical exercise, whose recommendation has been controversial in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, would be a good option for its therapy, because it normalizes and improves the altered neurotrophin pathway and (2) a plausible molecular mechanism underlying its positive effect. SOD1-G93A mice were trained following either running or swimming-based protocols since the beginning of the symptomatic phase (day 70 of age) until day 115. Next, the full BDNF pathway, including receptors, downstream kinases and proteins related with neurotransmission, was characterized and motoneuron survival was analysed. The results establish that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-induced damaging molecular changes in the BDNF/TrkB pathway are reduced, prevented or even overcompensated by precisely defined exercise protocols that modulate TrkB isoforms and neurotransmission regulatory proteins and reduce motoneuron death. Altogether, the maintenance of the BDNF/TrkB signalling and the downstream pathway, particularly after the swimming protocol, adds new molecular evidence of the benefits of physical exercise to reduce the impact of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These results are encouraging since they reveal an improvement even starting the therapy after the onset of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laia Just-Borràs
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain
| | - Erica Hurtado
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain
| | - Víctor Cilleros-Mañé
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain
| | - Olivier Biondi
- UMR-S1124, INSERM, Faculté des Sciences Fondamentales et Biomédicales, Université Paris Descartes, 45 Rue des Saints-Pères, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Charbonnier
- UMR-S1124, INSERM, Faculté des Sciences Fondamentales et Biomédicales, Université Paris Descartes, 45 Rue des Saints-Pères, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Marta Tomàs
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain
| | - Neus Garcia
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain
| | - Josep Tomàs
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain.
| | - Maria A Lanuza
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|