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de Calbiac H, Renault S, Haouy G, Jung V, Roger K, Zhou Q, Campanari ML, Chentout L, Demy DL, Marian A, Goudin N, Edbauer D, Guerrera C, Ciura S, Kabashi E. Poly-GP accumulation due to C9orf72 loss of function induces motor neuron apoptosis through autophagy and mitophagy defects. Autophagy 2024; 20:2164-2185. [PMID: 39316747 PMCID: PMC11423671 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2024.2358736] [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: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) of the C9orf72 gene is the most frequent cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a devastative neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor neuron degeneration. C9orf72 HRE is associated with lowered levels of C9orf72 expression and its translation results in the production of dipeptide-repeats (DPRs). To recapitulate C9orf72-related ALS disease in vivo, we developed a zebrafish model where we expressed glycine-proline (GP) DPR in a c9orf72 knockdown context. We report that C9orf72 gain- and loss-of-function properties act synergistically to induce motor neuron degeneration and paralysis with poly(GP) accumulating preferentially within motor neurons along with Sqstm1/p62 aggregation indicating macroautophagy/autophagy deficits. Poly(GP) levels were shown to accumulate upon c9orf72 downregulation and were comparable to levels assessed in autopsy samples of patients carrying C9orf72 HRE. Chemical boosting of autophagy using rapamycin or apilimod, is able to rescue motor deficits. Proteomics analysis of zebrafish-purified motor neurons unravels mitochondria dysfunction confirmed through a comparative analysis of previously published C9orf72 iPSC-derived motor neurons. Consistently, 3D-reconstructions of motor neuron demonstrate that poly(GP) aggregates colocalize to mitochondria, thus inducing their elongation and swelling and the failure of their processing by mitophagy, with mitophagy activation through urolithin A preventing locomotor deficits. Finally, we report apoptotic-related increased amounts of cleaved Casp3 (caspase 3, apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase) and rescue of motor neuron degeneration by constitutive inhibition of Casp9 or treatment with decylubiquinone. Here we provide evidence of key pathogenic steps in C9ALS-FTD that can be targeted through pharmacological avenues, thus raising new therapeutic perspectives for ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hortense de Calbiac
- Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Team Translational Research for Neurological Diseases, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Solène Renault
- Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Team Translational Research for Neurological Diseases, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Grégoire Haouy
- Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Team Translational Research for Neurological Diseases, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Jung
- Proteomics Platform 3P5Necker, INSERM US24/CNRS UMS, Paris Descartes University, Structure Fédérative de Recherche Necker, Paris, France
| | - Kevin Roger
- Proteomics Platform 3P5Necker, INSERM US24/CNRS UMS, Paris Descartes University, Structure Fédérative de Recherche Necker, Paris, France
| | - Qihui Zhou
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (Synergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Maria-Letizia Campanari
- Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Team Translational Research for Neurological Diseases, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Loïc Chentout
- Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Team Translational Research for Neurological Diseases, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Doris Lou Demy
- Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Team Translational Research for Neurological Diseases, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Anca Marian
- Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Team Translational Research for Neurological Diseases, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Goudin
- Imaging Core Facility, INSERM US24/CNRS UMS3633, Paris, France
| | - Dieter Edbauer
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (Synergy), Munich, Germany
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), Munich, Germany
| | - Chiara Guerrera
- Proteomics Platform 3P5Necker, INSERM US24/CNRS UMS, Paris Descartes University, Structure Fédérative de Recherche Necker, Paris, France
| | - Sorana Ciura
- Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Team Translational Research for Neurological Diseases, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Edor Kabashi
- Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Team Translational Research for Neurological Diseases, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
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2
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Adil O, Adeyeye C, Shamsi MH. Electrografted Laser-Induced Graphene: Direct Detection of Neurodegenerative Disease Biomarker in Cerebrospinal Fluid. ACS Sens 2024; 9:4748-4757. [PMID: 39145609 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c01150] [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] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
There are more than 50 neurodegenerative disorders, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one of the most common disorders that poses diagnostic and treatment challenges. The poly glycine-proline (polyGP) dipeptide repeat is a toxic protein that has been recognized as a pharmacodynamic biomarker of C9orf72-associated (c9+) ALS, a subtype of ALS that originates from genetic mutation. Early detection of polyGP will help healthcare providers start timely gene therapy. Herein, we developed a label-free electrochemical immunoassay for the simple detection of polyGP in unprocessed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected from ALS patients in the National ALS Biorepository. For the first time, an electrografted laser-induced graphene (E-LIG) electrode system was employed in a sandwich format to detect polyGP using a label-free electrochemical impedance technique. The results show that the E-LIG-modified surface exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity in buffer and CSF media with limit of detection values of 0.19 and 0.27 ng/mL, respectively. The precision of the calibration model was better in CSF than in the buffer. The E-LIG immunosensor can easily select polyGP targets in the presence of other dipeptide proteins translated from the c9 gene. Further study with CSF samples from ALS patients demonstrated that the label-free E-LIG-based immunosensor not only quantified polyGP in the complex CSF matrix but also distinguished between c9+ and non-c9- ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omair Adil
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois 62901, United States
| | - Comfort Adeyeye
- School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois 62901, United States
| | - Mohtashim H Shamsi
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois 62901, United States
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3
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Babu S, Nicholson KA, Rothstein JD, Swenson A, Sampognaro PJ, Pant P, Macklin EA, Spruill S, Paganoni S, Gendron TF, Prudencio M, Petrucelli L, Nix D, Landrette S, Nkrumah E, Fandrick K, Edwards J, Young PR. Apilimod dimesylate in C9orf72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomized phase 2a clinical trial. Brain 2024; 147:2998-3008. [PMID: 38606777 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae109] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Apilimod dimesylate is a first-in-class phosphoinositide kinase, FYVE-type zinc finger-containing (PIKfyve) inhibitor with a favourable clinical safety profile and has demonstrated activity in preclinical C9orf72 and TDP-43 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) models. In this ALS clinical trial, the safety, tolerability, CNS penetrance and modulation of pharmacodynamic target engagement biomarkers were evaluated. This phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, biomarker-end-point clinical trial was conducted in four US centres (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05163886). Participants with C9orf72 repeat expansions were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive twice-daily oral treatment with 125 mg apilimod dimesylate capsules or matching placebo for 12 weeks, followed by a 12-week open-label extension. Safety was measured as the occurrence of treatment-emergent or serious adverse events attributable to the study drug and tolerability at trial completion or treatment over 12 weeks. Changes from baseline in plasma and CSF and concentrations of apilimod dimesylate and its active metabolites and of pharmacodynamic biomarkers of PIKfyve inhibition [soluble glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (sGPNMB) upregulation] and disease-specific CNS target engagement [poly(GP)] were measured. Between 16 December 2021 and 7 July 2022, 15 eligible participants were enrolled. There were no drug-related serious adverse events reported in the trial. Fourteen (93%) participants completed the double-blind period with 99% dose compliance [n = 9 (90%) apilimod dimesylate; n = 5 (100%) placebo]. At Week 12, apilimod dimesylate was measurable in CSF at 1.63 ng/ml [standard deviation (SD): 0.937]. At Week 12, apilimod dimesylate increased plasma sGPNMB by >2.5-fold (P < 0.001), indicating PIKfyve inhibition, and lowered CSF poly(GP) protein levels by 73% (P < 0.001), indicating CNS tissue-level proof of mechanism. Apilimod dimesylate met prespecified key safety and biomarker end-points in this phase 2a trial and demonstrated CNS penetrance and pharmacodynamic target engagement. Apilimod dimesylate was observed to result in the greatest reduction in CSF poly(GP) levels observed to date in C9orf72 clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suma Babu
- Sean M Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Katharine A Nicholson
- Sean M Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Sanofi, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Rothstein
- Department of Neurology, Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andrea Swenson
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa city, IA 52242, USA
| | - Paul J Sampognaro
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Pravin Pant
- Sean M Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Eric A Macklin
- Biostatistics Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Susan Spruill
- Applied Statistics and Consulting, Spruce Pine, NC 28777, USA
| | - Sabrina Paganoni
- Sean M Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Tania F Gendron
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
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Thompson EG, Spead O, Akerman SC, Curcio C, Zaepfel BL, Kent ER, Philips T, Vijayakumar BG, Zacco A, Zhou W, Nagappan G, Rothstein JD. A robust evaluation of TDP-43, poly GP, cellular pathology and behavior in a AAV-C9ORF72 (G 4C 2) 66 mouse model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.27.607409. [PMID: 39253499 PMCID: PMC11383318 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.27.607409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
The G4C2 hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9ORF72 is the major genetic cause of both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) (C9-ALS/FTD). Despite considerable efforts, the development of mouse models of C9-ALS/FTD useful for therapeutic development has proven challenging due to the intricate interplay of genetic and molecular factors underlying this neurodegenerative disorder, in addition to species differences. This study presents a robust investigation of the cellular pathophysiology and behavioral outcomes in a previously described AAV mouse model of C9-ALS expressing 66 G4C2 hexanucleotide repeats. Despite displaying key molecular ALS pathological markers including RNA foci, dipeptide repeat (DPR) protein aggregation, p62 positive stress granule formation as well as mild gliosis, the AAV-(G4C2)66 mouse model in this study exhibits negligible neuronal loss, no motor deficits, and functionally unimpaired TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43). While our findings indicate and support that this is a robust and pharmacologically tractable model for investigating the molecular mechanisms and cellular consequences of (G4C2) repeat driven DPR pathology, it is not suitable for investigating the development of disease associated neurodegeneration, TDP-43 dysfunction, gliosis, and motor performance. Our findings underscore the complexity of ALS pathogenesis involving genetic mutations and protein dysregulation and highlight the need for more comprehensive model systems that reliably replicate the multifaceted cellular and behavioral aspects of C9-ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily G Thompson
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Olivia Spead
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - S Can Akerman
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Carrie Curcio
- Glaxo Smith Kline Research and Development, 1250 S. Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Benjamin L Zaepfel
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Erica R Kent
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Thomas Philips
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Balaji G Vijayakumar
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Anna Zacco
- Glaxo Smith Kline Research and Development, 1250 S. Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Weibo Zhou
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Guhan Nagappan
- Glaxo Smith Kline Research and Development, 1250 S. Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Rothstein
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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5
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Wang H, Zeng R. Aberrant protein aggregation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol 2024; 271:4826-4851. [PMID: 38869826 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12485-z] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease. As its pathological mechanisms are not well understood, there are no efficient therapeutics for it at present. While it is highly heterogenous both etiologically and clinically, it has a common salient hallmark, i.e., aberrant protein aggregation (APA). The upstream pathogenesis and the downstream effects of APA in ALS are sophisticated and the investigation of this pathology would be of consequence for understanding ALS. In this paper, the pathomechanism of APA in ALS and the candidate treatment strategies for it are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaixiu Wang
- Department Neurology, Shanxi Provincial Peoples Hospital: Fifth Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030012, China.
- Beijing Ai-Si-Kang Medical Technology Co. Ltd., No. 18 11th St Economical & Technological Development Zone, Beijing, 100176, China.
| | - Rong Zeng
- Department Neurology, Shanxi Provincial Peoples Hospital: Fifth Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030012, China
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6
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Rajabi D, Khanmohammadi S, Rezaei N. The role of long noncoding RNAs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Rev Neurosci 2024; 35:533-547. [PMID: 38452377 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2023-0155] [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: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with a poor prognosis leading to death. The diagnosis and treatment of ALS are inherently challenging due to its complex pathomechanism. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides involved in different cellular processes, incisively gene expression. In recent years, more studies have been conducted on lncRNA classes and interference in different disease pathologies, showing their promising contribution to diagnosing and treating neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discussed the role of lncRNAs like NEAT1 and C9orf72-as in ALS pathogenesis mechanisms caused by mutations in different genes, including TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43), fused in sarcoma (FUS), superoxide dismutase type 1 (SOD1). NEAT1 is a well-established lncRNA in ALS pathogenesis; hence, we elaborate on its involvement in forming paraspeckles, stress response, inflammatory response, and apoptosis. Furthermore, antisense lncRNAs (as-lncRNAs), a key group of transcripts from the opposite strand of genes, including ZEB1-AS1 and ATXN2-AS, are discussed as newly identified components in the pathology of ALS. Ultimately, we review the current standing of using lncRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic agents and the future vision of further studies on lncRNA applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darya Rajabi
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Felestin St., Keshavarz Blvd., Tehran, 1416634793, Iran
| | - Shaghayegh Khanmohammadi
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Felestin St., Keshavarz Blvd., Tehran, 1416634793, Iran
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, No 63, Gharib Ave, Keshavarz Blv, Tehran, 1419733151, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Children's Medical Center, No 63, Gharib Ave, Keshavarz Blv, Tehran, 1419733151, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, No 63, Gharib Ave, Keshavarz Blv, Tehran, 1419733151, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Children's Medical Center, No 63, Gharib Ave, Keshavarz Blv, Tehran, 1419733151, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Felestin St., Keshavarz Blvd., Tehran, 1416634793, Iran
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7
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Chen KY, Park H, Subramaniam AR. Massively parallel identification of sequence motifs triggering ribosome-associated mRNA quality control. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:7171-7187. [PMID: 38647082 PMCID: PMC11229359 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Decay of mRNAs can be triggered by ribosome slowdown at stretches of rare codons or positively charged amino acids. However, the full diversity of sequences that trigger co-translational mRNA decay is poorly understood. To comprehensively identify sequence motifs that trigger mRNA decay, we use a massively parallel reporter assay to measure the effect of all possible combinations of codon pairs on mRNA levels in S. cerevisiae. In addition to known mRNA-destabilizing sequences, we identify several dipeptide repeats whose translation reduces mRNA levels. These include combinations of positively charged and bulky residues, as well as proline-glycine and proline-aspartate dipeptide repeats. Genetic deletion of the ribosome collision sensor Hel2 rescues the mRNA effects of these motifs, suggesting that they trigger ribosome slowdown and activate the ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) pathway. Deep mutational scanning of an mRNA-destabilizing dipeptide repeat reveals a complex interplay between the charge, bulkiness, and location of amino acid residues in conferring mRNA instability. Finally, we show that the mRNA effects of codon pairs are predictive of the effects of endogenous sequences. Our work highlights the complexity of sequence motifs driving co-translational mRNA decay in eukaryotes, and presents a high throughput approach to dissect their requirements at the codon level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine Y Chen
- Basic Sciences Division and Computational Biology Section of the Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Heungwon Park
- Basic Sciences Division and Computational Biology Section of the Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Arvind Rasi Subramaniam
- Basic Sciences Division and Computational Biology Section of the Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
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8
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Evans LJ, O'Brien D, Shaw PJ. Current neuroprotective therapies and future prospects for motor neuron disease. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 176:327-384. [PMID: 38802178 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2024.04.003] [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: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Four medications with neuroprotective disease-modifying effects are now in use for motor neuron disease (MND). With FDA approvals for tofersen, relyvrio and edaravone in just the past year, 2022 ended a quarter of a century when riluzole was the sole such drug to offer to patients. The acceleration of approvals may mean we are witnessing the beginning of a step-change in how MND can be treated. Improvements in understanding underlying disease biology has led to more therapies being developed to target specific and multiple disease mechanisms. Consideration for how the pipeline of new therapeutic agents coming through in clinical and preclinical development can be more effectively evaluated with biomarkers, advances in patient stratification and clinical trial design pave the way for more successful translation for this archetypal complex neurodegenerative disease. While it must be cautioned that only slowed rates of progression have so far been demonstrated, pre-empting rapid neurodegeneration by using neurofilament biomarkers to signal when to treat, as is currently being trialled with tofersen, may be more effective for patients with known genetic predisposition to MND. Early intervention with personalized medicines could mean that for some patients at least, in future we may be able to substantially treat what is considered by many to be one of the most distressing diseases in medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Evans
- The Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, and the NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - David O'Brien
- The Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, and the NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Pamela J Shaw
- The Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, and the NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
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9
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Irwin KE, Sheth U, Wong PC, Gendron TF. Fluid biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a review. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:9. [PMID: 38267984 PMCID: PMC10809579 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00685-6] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons. Presently, three FDA-approved drugs are available to help slow functional decline for patients with ALS, but no cure yet exists. With an average life expectancy of only two to five years after diagnosis, there is a clear need for biomarkers to improve the care of patients with ALS and to expedite ALS treatment development. Here, we provide a review of the efforts made towards identifying diagnostic, prognostic, susceptibility/risk, and response fluid biomarkers with the intent to facilitate a more rapid and accurate ALS diagnosis, to better predict prognosis, to improve clinical trial design, and to inform interpretation of clinical trial results. Over the course of 20 + years, several promising fluid biomarker candidates for ALS have emerged. These will be discussed, as will the exciting new strategies being explored for ALS biomarker discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Irwin
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Udit Sheth
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Philip C Wong
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Tania F Gendron
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
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Sattler R, Traynor BJ, Robertson J, Van Den Bosch L, Barmada SJ, Svendsen CN, Disney MD, Gendron TF, Wong PC, Turner MR, Boxer A, Babu S, Benatar M, Kurnellas M, Rohrer JD, Donnelly CJ, Bustos LM, Van Keuren-Jensen K, Dacks PA, Sabbagh MN. Roadmap for C9ORF72 in Frontotemporal Dementia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Report on the C9ORF72 FTD/ALS Summit. Neurol Ther 2023; 12:1821-1843. [PMID: 37847372 PMCID: PMC10630271 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-023-00548-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
A summit held March 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona (USA) focused on the intronic hexanucleotide expansion in the C9ORF72 gene and its relevance in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; C9ORF72-FTD/ALS). The goal of this summit was to connect basic scientists, clinical researchers, drug developers, and individuals affected by C9ORF72-FTD/ALS to evaluate how collaborative efforts across the FTD-ALS disease spectrum might break down existing disease silos. Presentations and discussions covered recent discoveries in C9ORF72-FTD/ALS disease mechanisms, availability of disease biomarkers and recent advances in therapeutic development, and clinical trial design for prevention and treatment for individuals affected by C9ORF72-FTD/ALS and asymptomatic pathological expansion carriers. The C9ORF72-associated hexanucleotide repeat expansion is an important locus for both ALS and FTD. C9ORF72-FTD/ALS may be characterized by loss of function of the C9ORF72 protein and toxic gain of functions caused by both dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins and hexanucleotide repeat RNA. C9ORF72-FTD/ALS therapeutic strategies discussed at the summit included the use of antisense oligonucleotides, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene silencing and gene delivery, and engineered small molecules targeting RNA structures associated with the C9ORF72 expansion. Neurofilament light chain, DPR proteins, and transactive response (TAR) DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43)-associated molecular changes were presented as biomarker candidates. Similarly, brain imaging modalities (i.e., magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and positron emission tomography [PET]) measuring structural, functional, and metabolic changes were discussed as important tools to monitor individuals affected with C9ORF72-FTD/ALS, at both pre-symptomatic and symptomatic disease stages. Finally, summit attendees evaluated current clinical trial designs available for FTD or ALS patients and concluded that therapeutics relevant to FTD/ALS patients, such as those specifically targeting C9ORF72, may need to be tested with composite endpoints covering clinical symptoms of both FTD and ALS. The latter will require novel clinical trial designs to be inclusive of all patient subgroups spanning the FTD/ALS spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Sattler
- Barrow Neurological Institute, 2910 N Third Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
| | - Bryan J Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Janice Robertson
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology and KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sami J Barmada
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Matthew D Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Herbert Wertheim UF-Scripps Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Tania F Gendron
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Philip C Wong
- Departments of Pathology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Adam Boxer
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Suma Babu
- Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Benatar
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33129, USA
| | | | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Christopher J Donnelly
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, Brain Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lynette M Bustos
- Barrow Neurological Institute, 2910 N Third Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | | | - Penny A Dacks
- The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration and FTD Disorders Registry, King of Prussia, PA, USA
| | - Marwan N Sabbagh
- Barrow Neurological Institute, 2910 N Third Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
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11
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Rothstein JD, Baskerville V, Rapuri S, Mehlhop E, Jafar-Nejad P, Rigo F, Bennett F, Mizielinska S, Isaacs A, Coyne AN. G 2C 4 targeting antisense oligonucleotides potently mitigate TDP-43 dysfunction in human C9orf72 ALS/FTD induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 147:1. [PMID: 38019311 PMCID: PMC10840905 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02652-3] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The G4C2 repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene is the most common genetic cause of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Many studies suggest that dipeptide repeat proteins produced from this repeat are toxic, yet, the contribution of repeat RNA toxicity is under investigated and even less is known regarding the pathogenicity of antisense repeat RNA. Recently, two clinical trials targeting G4C2 (sense) repeat RNA via antisense oligonucleotide failed despite a robust decrease in sense-encoded dipeptide repeat proteins demonstrating target engagement. Here, in this brief report, we show that G2C4 antisense, but not G4C2 sense, repeat RNA is sufficient to induce TDP-43 dysfunction in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived neurons (iPSNs). Unexpectedly, only G2C4, but not G4C2 sense strand targeting, ASOs mitigate deficits in TDP-43 function in authentic C9orf72 ALS/FTD patient iPSNs. Collectively, our data suggest that the G2C4 antisense repeat RNA may be an important therapeutic target and provide insights into a possible explanation for the recent G4C2 ASO clinical trial failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Rothstein
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Victoria Baskerville
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sampath Rapuri
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Emma Mehlhop
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | | | - Sarah Mizielinska
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Adrian Isaacs
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Alyssa N Coyne
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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12
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Ortega JA, Sasselli IR, Boccitto M, Fleming AC, Fortuna TR, Li Y, Sato K, Clemons TD, Mckenna ED, Nguyen TP, Anderson EN, Asin J, Ichida JK, Pandey UB, Wolin SL, Stupp SI, Kiskinis E. CLIP-Seq analysis enables the design of protective ribosomal RNA bait oligonucleotides against C9ORF72 ALS/FTD poly-GR pathophysiology. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf7997. [PMID: 37948524 PMCID: PMC10637751 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf7997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia patients with a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9ORF72 (C9-HRE) accumulate poly-GR and poly-PR aggregates. The pathogenicity of these arginine-rich dipeptide repeats (R-DPRs) is thought to be driven by their propensity to bind low-complexity domains of multivalent proteins. However, the ability of R-DPRs to bind native RNA and the significance of this interaction remain unclear. Here, we used computational and experimental approaches to characterize the physicochemical properties of R-DPRs and their interaction with RNA. We find that poly-GR predominantly binds ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in cells and exhibits an interaction that is predicted to be energetically stronger than that for associated ribosomal proteins. Critically, modified rRNA "bait" oligonucleotides restore poly-GR-associated ribosomal deficits and ameliorate poly-GR toxicity in patient neurons and Drosophila models. Our work strengthens the hypothesis that ribosomal function is impaired by R-DPRs, highlights a role for direct rRNA binding in mediating ribosomal dysfunction, and presents a strategy for protecting against C9-HRE pathophysiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan A. Ortega
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapy, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08907, Spain
| | - Ivan R. Sasselli
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián 20014, Spain
- Centro de Fisica de Materiales (CFM), CSIC-UPV/EHU, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Marco Boccitto
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Andrew C. Fleming
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Tyler R. Fortuna
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Yichen Li
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Kohei Sato
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Tristan D. Clemons
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Elizabeth D. Mckenna
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Thao P. Nguyen
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Eric N. Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Jesus Asin
- Department of Statistical Methods, School of Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50018, Spain
| | - Justin K. Ichida
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Udai B. Pandey
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Sandra L. Wolin
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Samuel I. Stupp
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Evangelos Kiskinis
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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13
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Chen KY, Park H, Subramaniam AR. Massively parallel identification of sequence motifs triggering ribosome-associated mRNA quality control. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.27.559793. [PMID: 37808677 PMCID: PMC10557687 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.27.559793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Decay of mRNAs can be triggered by ribosome slowdown at stretches of rare codons or positively charged amino acids. However, the full diversity of sequences that trigger co-translational mRNA decay is poorly understood. To comprehensively identify sequence motifs that trigger mRNA decay, we use a massively parallel reporter assay to measure the effect of all possible combinations of codon pairs on mRNA levels in S. cerevisiae. In addition to known mRNA-destabilizing sequences, we identify several dipeptide repeats whose translation reduces mRNA levels. These include combinations of positively charged and bulky residues, as well as proline-glycine and proline-aspartate dipeptide repeats. Genetic deletion of the ribosome collision sensor Hel2 rescues the mRNA effects of these motifs, suggesting that they trigger ribosome slowdown and activate the ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) pathway. Deep mutational scanning of an mRNA-destabilizing dipeptide repeat reveals a complex interplay between the charge, bulkiness, and location of amino acid residues in conferring mRNA instability. Finally, we show that the mRNA effects of codon pairs are predictive of the effects of endogenous sequences. Our work highlights the complexity of sequence motifs driving co-translational mRNA decay in eukaryotes, and presents a high throughput approach to dissect their requirements at the codon level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine Y. Chen
- Basic Sciences Division and Computational Biology Section of the Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Heungwon Park
- Basic Sciences Division and Computational Biology Section of the Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Arvind Rasi Subramaniam
- Basic Sciences Division and Computational Biology Section of the Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
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14
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Kortazar-Zubizarreta I, Manero-Azua A, Afonso-Agüera J, Perez de Nanclares G. C9ORF72 Gene GGGGCC Hexanucleotide Expansion: A High Clinical Variability from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis to Frontotemporal Dementia. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1396. [PMID: 37763163 PMCID: PMC10532825 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13091396] [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: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The expanded GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat (HRE) in the non-coding region of the C9ORF72 gene (C9ORF72-HRE) is the most common genetic cause of familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), FTD, and concurrent ALS and FTD (ALS-FTD), in addition to contributing to the sporadic forms of these diseases. Both syndromes overlap not only genetically, but also sharing similar clinical and neuropathological findings, being considered as a spectrum. In this paper we describe the clinical-genetic findings in a Basque family with different manifestations within the spectrum, our difficulties in reaching the diagnosis, and a narrative review, carried out as a consequence, of the main features associated with C9ORF72-HRE. Family members underwent a detailed clinical assessment, neurological examination, and genetic analysis by repeat-primed PCR. We studied 10 relatives of a symptomatic carrier of the C9ORF72-HRE expansion. Two of them presented the expansion in the pathological range, one of them was symptomatic whereas the other one remained asymptomatic at 72 years. Given the great intrafamilial clinical variability of C9ORF72-HRE, the characterization of patients and family members with particular clinical and genetic subgroups within ALS and FTD becomes a bottleneck for medication development, in particular for genetically focused medicines for ALS and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izaro Kortazar-Zubizarreta
- Department of Neurology, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Araba University Hospital-Txagorritxu, 01009 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Africa Manero-Azua
- Molecular (Epi) Genetics Laboratory, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Araba University Hospital, 01009 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; (A.M.-A.); (G.P.d.N.)
| | - Juan Afonso-Agüera
- Department of Neurology, Central University Hospital of Asturias, 33006 Oviedo, Spain;
| | - Guiomar Perez de Nanclares
- Molecular (Epi) Genetics Laboratory, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Araba University Hospital, 01009 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; (A.M.-A.); (G.P.d.N.)
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15
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Sonobe Y, Lee S, Krishnan G, Gu Y, Kwon DY, Gao FB, Roos RP, Kratsios P. Translation of dipeptide repeat proteins in C9ORF72 ALS/FTD through unique and redundant AUG initiation codons. eLife 2023; 12:e83189. [PMID: 37675986 PMCID: PMC10541178 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83189] [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: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9ORF72 is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). A hallmark of ALS/FTD pathology is the presence of dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins, produced from both sense GGGGCC (poly-GA, poly-GP, poly-GR) and antisense CCCCGG (poly-PR, poly-PG, poly-PA) transcripts. Translation of sense DPRs, such as poly-GA and poly-GR, depends on non-canonical (non-AUG) initiation codons. Here, we provide evidence for canonical AUG-dependent translation of two antisense DPRs, poly-PR and poly-PG. A single AUG is required for synthesis of poly-PR, one of the most toxic DPRs. Unexpectedly, we found redundancy between three AUG codons necessary for poly-PG translation. Further, the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2D (EIF2D), which was previously implicated in sense DPR synthesis, is not required for AUG-dependent poly-PR or poly-PG translation, suggesting that distinct translation initiation factors control DPR synthesis from sense and antisense transcripts. Our findings on DPR synthesis from the C9ORF72 locus may be broadly applicable to many other nucleotide repeat expansion disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshifumi Sonobe
- University of Chicago Medical CenterChicagoUnited States
- Department of Neurology, University of Chicago Medical CenterChicagoUnited States
- Neuroscience Institute, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Soojin Lee
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Gopinath Krishnan
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Yuanzheng Gu
- Neuromuscular & Movement Disorders, BiogenCambridgeUnited States
| | - Deborah Y Kwon
- Neuromuscular & Movement Disorders, BiogenCambridgeUnited States
| | - Fen-Biao Gao
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterUnited States
| | - Raymond P Roos
- University of Chicago Medical CenterChicagoUnited States
- Department of Neurology, University of Chicago Medical CenterChicagoUnited States
- Neuroscience Institute, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Paschalis Kratsios
- Neuroscience Institute, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
- Department of Neurobiology, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
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16
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Grossman M, Seeley WW, Boxer AL, Hillis AE, Knopman DS, Ljubenov PA, Miller B, Piguet O, Rademakers R, Whitwell JL, Zetterberg H, van Swieten JC. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2023; 9:40. [PMID: 37563165 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-023-00447-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is one of the most common causes of early-onset dementia and presents with early social-emotional-behavioural and/or language changes that can be accompanied by a pyramidal or extrapyramidal motor disorder. About 20-25% of individuals with FTLD are estimated to carry a mutation associated with a specific FTLD pathology. The discovery of these mutations has led to important advances in potentially disease-modifying treatments that aim to slow progression or delay disease onset and has improved understanding of brain functioning. In both mutation carriers and those with sporadic disease, the most common underlying diagnoses are linked to neuronal and glial inclusions containing tau (FTLD-tau) or TDP-43 (FTLD-TDP), although 5-10% of patients may have inclusions containing proteins from the FUS-Ewing sarcoma-TAF15 family (FTLD-FET). Biomarkers definitively identifying specific pathological entities in sporadic disease have been elusive, which has impeded development of disease-modifying treatments. Nevertheless, disease-monitoring biofluid and imaging biomarkers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are likely to serve as useful measures of treatment response during trials of disease-modifying treatments. Symptomatic trials using novel approaches such as transcranial direct current stimulation are also beginning to show promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray Grossman
- Department of Neurology and Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William W Seeley
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Adam L Boxer
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Argye E Hillis
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Peter A Ljubenov
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bruce Miller
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Olivier Piguet
- School of Psychology and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rosa Rademakers
- VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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17
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Bagyinszky E, Hulme J, An SSA. Studies of Genetic and Proteomic Risk Factors of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Inspire Biomarker Development and Gene Therapy. Cells 2023; 12:1948. [PMID: 37566027 PMCID: PMC10417729 DOI: 10.3390/cells12151948] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease affecting the upper and lower motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, motor impairments, disabilities and death. Approximately 5-10% of ALS cases are associated with positive family history (familial ALS or fALS), whilst the remainder are sporadic (sporadic ALS, sALS). At least 50 genes have been identified as causative or risk factors for ALS. Established pathogenic variants include superoxide dismutase type 1 (SOD1), chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (c9orf72), TAR DNA Binding Protein (TARDBP), and Fused In Sarcoma (FUS); additional ALS-related genes including Charged Multivesicular Body Protein 2B (CHMP2B), Senataxin (SETX), Sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1), TANK Binding Kinase 1 (TBK1) and NIMA Related Kinase 1 (NEK1), have been identified. Mutations in these genes could impair different mechanisms, including vesicle transport, autophagy, and cytoskeletal or mitochondrial functions. So far, there is no effective therapy against ALS. Thus, early diagnosis and disease risk predictions remain one of the best options against ALS symptomologies. Proteomic biomarkers, microRNAs, and extracellular vehicles (EVs) serve as promising tools for disease diagnosis or progression assessment. These markers are relatively easy to obtain from blood or cerebrospinal fluids and can be used to identify potential genetic causative and risk factors even in the preclinical stage before symptoms appear. In addition, antisense oligonucleotides and RNA gene therapies have successfully been employed against other diseases, such as childhood-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which could also give hope to ALS patients. Therefore, an effective gene and biomarker panel should be generated for potentially "at risk" individuals to provide timely interventions and better treatment outcomes for ALS patients as soon as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Bagyinszky
- Graduate School of Environment Department of Industrial and Environmental Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam-si 13120, Republic of Korea;
| | - John Hulme
- Graduate School of Environment Department of Industrial and Environmental Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam-si 13120, Republic of Korea;
| | - Seong Soo A. An
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam-si 13120, Republic of Korea
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18
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Fujino Y, Ueyama M, Ishiguro T, Ozawa D, Ito H, Sugiki T, Murata A, Ishiguro A, Gendron T, Mori K, Tokuda E, Taminato T, Konno T, Koyama A, Kawabe Y, Takeuchi T, Furukawa Y, Fujiwara T, Ikeda M, Mizuno T, Mochizuki H, Mizusawa H, Wada K, Ishikawa K, Onodera O, Nakatani K, Petrucelli L, Taguchi H, Nagai Y. FUS regulates RAN translation through modulating the G-quadruplex structure of GGGGCC repeat RNA in C9orf72-linked ALS/FTD. eLife 2023; 12:RP84338. [PMID: 37461319 PMCID: PMC10393046 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal expansions of GGGGCC repeat sequence in the noncoding region of the C9orf72 gene is the most common cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (C9-ALS/FTD). The expanded repeat sequence is translated into dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs) by noncanonical repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation. Since DPRs play central roles in the pathogenesis of C9-ALS/FTD, we here investigate the regulatory mechanisms of RAN translation, focusing on the effects of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) targeting GGGGCC repeat RNAs. Using C9-ALS/FTD model flies, we demonstrated that the ALS/FTD-linked RBP FUS suppresses RAN translation and neurodegeneration in an RNA-binding activity-dependent manner. Moreover, we found that FUS directly binds to and modulates the G-quadruplex structure of GGGGCC repeat RNA as an RNA chaperone, resulting in the suppression of RAN translation in vitro. These results reveal a previously unrecognized regulatory mechanism of RAN translation by G-quadruplex-targeting RBPs, providing therapeutic insights for C9-ALS/FTD and other repeat expansion diseases.
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Grants
- Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Brain Protein Aging and Dementia Control) 17H05699 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Brain Protein Aging and Dementia Control) 17H05705 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Transformative Research Areas (A) (Multifaceted Proteins) 20H05927 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Strategic Research Program for Brain Sciences 11013026 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Scientific Research (B) 21H02840 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Scientific Research (B) 20H03602 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Scientific Research (C) 15K09331 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Scientific Research (C) 19K07823 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Scientific Research (C) 17K07291 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Young Scientists (A) 17H05091 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Young Scientists (B) 25860733 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Challenging Exploratory Research 24659438 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Challenging Exploratory Research 18K19515 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Health Labor Sciences Research Grant for Research on Development of New Drugs H24-Soyaku-Sogo-002 Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan
- Strategic Research Program for Brain Sciences JP15dm0107026 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
- Strategic Research Program for Brain Sciences JP20dm0107061 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
- Practical Research Projects for Rare/Intractable Diseases JP16ek0109018 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
- Practical Research Projects for Rare/Intractable Diseases JP19ek0109222 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
- Practical Research Projects for Rare/Intractable Diseases JP20ek0109316 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
- Platform Project for Supporting Drug Discovery and Life Science Research JP19am0101072 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
- Intramural Research Grants for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders 27-7 National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
- Intramural Research Grants for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders 27-9 National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
- Intramural Research Grants for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders 30-3 National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
- Intramural Research Grants for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders 30-9 National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
- Intramural Research Grants for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders 3-9 National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
- IBC Grant H28 Japan Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association
- 2017 Takeda Science Foundation
- 2016 Takeda Science Foundation
- 2018 SENSHIN Medical Research Foundation
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzo Fujino
- Department of Neurology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Morio Ueyama
- Department of Neurology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
- Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taro Ishiguro
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisaku Ozawa
- Department of Neurology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
- Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Hayato Ito
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Sugiki
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Asako Murata
- Department of Regulatory Bioorganic Chemistry, The Institute of Scientific and28 Industrial Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akira Ishiguro
- Research Center for Micro-nano Technology, Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tania Gendron
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, United States
| | - Kohji Mori
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Eiichi Tokuda
- Department of Chemistry, Keio University, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tomoya Taminato
- Department of Neurology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
- Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Takuya Konno
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Branch, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Akihide Koyama
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Branch, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yuya Kawabe
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toshihide Takeuchi
- Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
- Life Science Research Institute, Kindai University, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Toshimichi Fujiwara
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Manabu Ikeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toshiki Mizuno
- Department of Neurology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hideki Mochizuki
- Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidehiro Mizusawa
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiji Wada
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kinya Ishikawa
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Osamu Onodera
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Branch, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakatani
- Department of Regulatory Bioorganic Chemistry, The Institute of Scientific and28 Industrial Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Hideki Taguchi
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
- Cell Biology Center, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Nagai
- Department of Neurology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
- Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
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19
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Lorenzini I, Alsop E, Levy J, Gittings LM, Lall D, Rabichow BE, Moore S, Pevey R, Bustos LM, Burciu C, Bhatia D, Singer M, Saul J, McQuade A, Tzioras M, Mota TA, Logemann A, Rose J, Almeida S, Gao FB, Marks M, Donnelly CJ, Hutchins E, Hung ST, Ichida J, Bowser R, Spires-Jones T, Blurton-Jones M, Gendron TF, Baloh RH, Van Keuren-Jensen K, Sattler R. Moderate intrinsic phenotypic alterations in C9orf72 ALS/FTD iPSC-microglia despite the presence of C9orf72 pathological features. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1179796. [PMID: 37346371 PMCID: PMC10279871 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1179796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
While motor and cortical neurons are affected in C9orf72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD), it remains largely unknown if and how non-neuronal cells induce or exacerbate neuronal damage. We differentiated C9orf72 ALS/FTD patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells into microglia (iPSC-MG) and examined their intrinsic phenotypes. Similar to iPSC motor neurons, C9orf72 ALS/FTD iPSC-MG mono-cultures form G4C2 repeat RNA foci, exhibit reduced C9orf72 protein levels, and generate dipeptide repeat proteins. Healthy control and C9orf72 ALS/FTD iPSC-MG equally express microglial specific genes and perform microglial functions, including inflammatory cytokine release and phagocytosis of extracellular cargos, such as synthetic amyloid beta peptides and healthy human brain synaptoneurosomes. RNA sequencing analysis revealed select transcriptional changes of genes associated with neuroinflammation or neurodegeneration in diseased microglia yet no significant differentially expressed microglial-enriched genes. Moderate molecular and functional differences were observed in C9orf72 iPSC-MG mono-cultures despite the presence of C9orf72 pathological features suggesting that a diseased microenvironment may be required to induce phenotypic changes in microglial cells and the associated neuronal dysfunction seen in C9orf72 ALS/FTD neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ileana Lorenzini
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Eric Alsop
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Jennifer Levy
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Lauren M. Gittings
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Deepti Lall
- Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Benjamin E. Rabichow
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Stephen Moore
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Ryan Pevey
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Lynette M. Bustos
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Camelia Burciu
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Divya Bhatia
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Mo Singer
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Justin Saul
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Amanda McQuade
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Makis Tzioras
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Brain Discovery Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas A. Mota
- Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Amber Logemann
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Jamie Rose
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Brain Discovery Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Almeida
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Fen-Biao Gao
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Michael Marks
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Christopher J. Donnelly
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Hutchins
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Shu-Ting Hung
- Department of Stem Cell Biology Regenerative Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Justin Ichida
- Department of Stem Cell Biology Regenerative Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Robert Bowser
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Tara Spires-Jones
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Brain Discovery Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mathew Blurton-Jones
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Tania F. Gendron
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Robert H. Baloh
- Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | | | - Rita Sattler
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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20
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Liu Y, Huang Z, Liu H, Ji Z, Arora A, Cai D, Wang H, Liu M, Simko EAJ, Zhang Y, Periz G, Liu Z, Wang J. DNA-initiated epigenetic cascades driven by C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat. Neuron 2023; 111:1205-1221.e9. [PMID: 36822200 PMCID: PMC10121948 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) is the most frequent genetic cause of the neurodegenerative diseases amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Here, we describe the pathogenic cascades that are initiated by the C9orf72 HRE DNA. The HRE DNA binds to its protein partner DAXX and promotes its liquid-liquid phase separation, which is capable of reorganizing genomic structures. An HRE-dependent nuclear accumulation of DAXX drives chromatin remodeling and epigenetic changes such as histone hypermethylation and hypoacetylation in patient cells. While regulating global gene expression, DAXX plays a key role in the suppression of basal and stress-inducible expression of C9orf72 via chromatin remodeling and epigenetic modifications of the promoter of the major C9orf72 transcript. Downregulation of DAXX or rebalancing the epigenetic modifications mitigates the stress-induced sensitivity of C9orf72-patient-derived motor neurons. These studies reveal a C9orf72 HRE DNA-dependent regulatory mechanism for both local and genomic architectural changes in the relevant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Zhiyuan Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Honghe Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Zhicheng Ji
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Amit Arora
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Danfeng Cai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Hongjin Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Mingming Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Eric A J Simko
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Yanjun Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Goran Periz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Zhe Liu
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Jiou Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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21
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Sanchez-Tejerina D, Llaurado A, Sotoca J, Lopez-Diego V, Vidal Taboada JM, Salvado M, Juntas-Morales R. Biofluid Biomarkers in the Prognosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Recent Developments and Therapeutic Applications. Cells 2023; 12:cells12081180. [PMID: 37190090 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons for which effective therapies are lacking. One of the most explored areas of research in ALS is the discovery and validation of biomarkers that can be applied to clinical practice and incorporated into the development of innovative therapies. The study of biomarkers requires an adequate theoretical and operational framework, highlighting the "fit-for-purpose" concept and distinguishing different types of biomarkers based on common terminology. In this review, we aim to discuss the current status of fluid-based prognostic and predictive biomarkers in ALS, with particular emphasis on those that are the most promising ones for clinical trial design and routine clinical practice. Neurofilaments in cerebrospinal fluid and blood are the main prognostic and pharmacodynamic biomarkers. Furthermore, several candidates exist covering various pathological aspects of the disease, such as immune, metabolic and muscle damage markers. Urine has been studied less often and should be explored for its possible advantages. New advances in the knowledge of cryptic exons introduce the possibility of discovering new biomarkers. Collaborative efforts, prospective studies and standardized procedures are needed to validate candidate biomarkers. A combined biomarkers panel can provide a more detailed disease status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Sanchez-Tejerina
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Neurology Department, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Peripheral Nervous System Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institut (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- European Reference Network on Rare Neuromuscular Diseases (ERN EURO-NMD), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Medicine Department, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelon, Spain
| | - Arnau Llaurado
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Neurology Department, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Peripheral Nervous System Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institut (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- European Reference Network on Rare Neuromuscular Diseases (ERN EURO-NMD), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Sotoca
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Neurology Department, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Peripheral Nervous System Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institut (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- European Reference Network on Rare Neuromuscular Diseases (ERN EURO-NMD), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Veronica Lopez-Diego
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Neurology Department, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Peripheral Nervous System Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institut (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- European Reference Network on Rare Neuromuscular Diseases (ERN EURO-NMD), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose M Vidal Taboada
- Peripheral Nervous System Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institut (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Medicine Department, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelon, Spain
| | - Maria Salvado
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Neurology Department, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Peripheral Nervous System Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institut (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- European Reference Network on Rare Neuromuscular Diseases (ERN EURO-NMD), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raul Juntas-Morales
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Neurology Department, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Peripheral Nervous System Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institut (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- European Reference Network on Rare Neuromuscular Diseases (ERN EURO-NMD), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Medicine Department, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelon, Spain
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22
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Van't Spijker HM, Almeida S. How villains are made: The translation of dipeptide repeat proteins in C9ORF72-ALS/FTD. Gene 2023; 858:147167. [PMID: 36621656 PMCID: PMC9928902 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
A hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9ORF72 gene is the most common genetic alteration associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). These neurodegenerative diseases share genetic, clinical and pathological features. The mutation in C9ORF72 appears to drive pathogenesis through a combination of loss of C9ORF72 normal function and gain of toxic effects due to the repeat expansion, which result in aggregation prone expanded RNAs and dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins. Studies in cellular and animal models indicate that the DPR proteins are the more toxic species. Thus, a large body of research has focused on identifying the cellular pathways most directly impacted by these toxic proteins, with the goal of characterizing disease pathogenesis and nominating potential targets for therapeutic development. The preventative block of the production of the toxic proteins before they can cause harm is a second strategy of intense focus. Despite the considerable amount of effort dedicated to this prophylactic approach, it is still unclear how the DPR proteins are synthesized from RNAs harboring repeat expansions. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the specific protein translation mechanisms shown to account for the synthesis of DPR proteins. We will then discuss how enhanced understanding of the composition of these toxic effectors could help in refining disease mechanisms, and paving the way to identify and design effective prophylactic therapies for C9ORF72 ALS-FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen M Van't Spijker
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Sandra Almeida
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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23
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Tu WY, Xu W, Zhang J, Qi S, Bai L, Shen C, Zhang K. C9orf72 poly-GA proteins impair neuromuscular transmission. Zool Res 2023; 44:331-340. [PMID: 36799225 PMCID: PMC10083233 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating motoneuron disease, in which lower motoneurons lose control of skeletal muscles. Degeneration of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) occurs at the initial stage of ALS. Dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs) from G4C2 repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation are known to cause C9orf72-associated ALS (C9-ALS). However, DPR inclusion burdens are weakly correlated with neurodegenerative areas in C9-ALS patients, indicating that DPRs may exert cell non-autonomous effects, in addition to the known intracellular pathological mechanisms. Here, we report that poly-GA, the most abundant form of DPR in C9-ALS, is released from cells. Local administration of poly-GA proteins in peripheral synaptic regions causes muscle weakness and impaired neuromuscular transmission in vivo. The NMJ structure cannot be maintained, as evidenced by the fragmentation of postsynaptic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters and distortion of presynaptic nerve terminals. Mechanistic study demonstrated that extracellular poly-GA sequesters soluble Agrin ligands and inhibits Agrin-MuSK signaling. Our findings provide a novel cell non-autonomous mechanism by which poly-GA impairs NMJs in C9-ALS. Thus, targeting NMJs could be an early therapeutic intervention for C9-ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Yo Tu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Department of Neurobiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310020, China
| | - Wentao Xu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Department of Neurobiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310020, China
| | - Jianmin Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Department of Neurobiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310020, China
| | - Shuyuan Qi
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Department of Neurobiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310020, China
| | - Lei Bai
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Department of Neurobiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310020, China
| | - Chengyong Shen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Department of Neurobiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310020, China
- MOE Frontier Science, Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China. E-mail:
| | - Kejing Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, Department of Neurobiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310020, China. E-mail:
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24
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Mehta PR, Brown AL, Ward ME, Fratta P. The era of cryptic exons: implications for ALS-FTD. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:16. [PMID: 36922834 PMCID: PMC10018954 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00608-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 is an RNA-binding protein with a crucial nuclear role in splicing, and mislocalises from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in a range of neurodegenerative disorders. TDP-43 proteinopathy spans a spectrum of incurable, heterogeneous, and increasingly prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, including the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia disease spectrum and a significant fraction of Alzheimer's disease. There are currently no directed disease-modifying therapies for TDP-43 proteinopathies, and no way to distinguish who is affected before death. It is now clear that TDP-43 proteinopathy leads to a number of molecular changes, including the de-repression and inclusion of cryptic exons. Importantly, some of these cryptic exons lead to the loss of crucial neuronal proteins and have been shown to be key pathogenic players in disease pathogenesis (e.g., STMN2), as well as being able to modify disease progression (e.g., UNC13A). Thus, these aberrant splicing events make promising novel therapeutic targets to restore functional gene expression. Moreover, presence of these cryptic exons is highly specific to patients and areas of the brain affected by TDP-43 proteinopathy, offering the potential to develop biomarkers for early detection and stratification of patients. In summary, the discovery of cryptic exons gives hope for novel diagnostics and therapeutics on the horizon for TDP-43 proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puja R Mehta
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Anna-Leigh Brown
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Michael E Ward
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Pietro Fratta
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
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25
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Mead RJ, Shan N, Reiser HJ, Marshall F, Shaw PJ. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a neurodegenerative disorder poised for successful therapeutic translation. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:185-212. [PMID: 36543887 PMCID: PMC9768794 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00612-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 109.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disease caused by degeneration of motor neurons. As with all major neurodegenerative disorders, development of disease-modifying therapies has proven challenging for multiple reasons. Nevertheless, ALS is one of the few neurodegenerative diseases for which disease-modifying therapies are approved. Significant discoveries and advances have been made in ALS preclinical models, genetics, pathology, biomarkers, imaging and clinical readouts over the last 10-15 years. At the same time, novel therapeutic paradigms are being applied in areas of high unmet medical need, including neurodegenerative disorders. These developments have evolved our knowledge base, allowing identification of targeted candidate therapies for ALS with diverse mechanisms of action. In this Review, we discuss how this advanced knowledge, aligned with new approaches, can enable effective translation of therapeutic agents from preclinical studies through to clinical benefit for patients with ALS. We anticipate that this approach in ALS will also positively impact the field of drug discovery for neurodegenerative disorders more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Mead
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Keapstone Therapeutics, The Innovation Centre, Broomhall, Sheffield, UK
| | - Ning Shan
- Aclipse Therapeutics, Radnor, PA, US
| | | | - Fiona Marshall
- MSD UK Discovery Centre, Merck, Sharp and Dohme (UK) Limited, London, UK
| | - Pamela J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
- Keapstone Therapeutics, The Innovation Centre, Broomhall, Sheffield, UK.
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26
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Vidovic M, Müschen LH, Brakemeier S, Machetanz G, Naumann M, Castro-Gomez S. Current State and Future Directions in the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2023; 12:736. [PMID: 36899872 PMCID: PMC10000757 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of upper and lower motor neurons, resulting in progressive weakness of all voluntary muscles and eventual respiratory failure. Non-motor symptoms, such as cognitive and behavioral changes, frequently occur over the course of the disease. Considering its poor prognosis with a median survival time of 2 to 4 years and limited causal treatment options, an early diagnosis of ALS plays an essential role. In the past, diagnosis has primarily been determined by clinical findings supported by electrophysiological and laboratory measurements. To increase diagnostic accuracy, reduce diagnostic delay, optimize stratification in clinical trials and provide quantitative monitoring of disease progression and treatment responsivity, research on disease-specific and feasible fluid biomarkers, such as neurofilaments, has been intensely pursued. Advances in imaging techniques have additionally yielded diagnostic benefits. Growing perception and greater availability of genetic testing facilitate early identification of pathogenic ALS-related gene mutations, predictive testing and access to novel therapeutic agents in clinical trials addressing disease-modified therapies before the advent of the first clinical symptoms. Lately, personalized survival prediction models have been proposed to offer a more detailed disclosure of the prognosis for the patient. In this review, the established procedures and future directions in the diagnostics of ALS are summarized to serve as a practical guideline and to improve the diagnostic pathway of this burdensome disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Vidovic
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Svenja Brakemeier
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Gerrit Machetanz
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Marcel Naumann
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht Kossel”, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Sergio Castro-Gomez
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Geriatric Psychiatry/Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Physiology II, University Hospital Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Institute of Innate Immunity, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
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27
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Zhang F, Rakhimbekova A, Lashley T, Madl T. Brain regions show different metabolic and protein arginine methylation phenotypes in frontotemporal dementias and Alzheimer's disease. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 221:102400. [PMID: 36581185 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102400] [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: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disease with multiple histopathological subtypes. FTD patients share similar symptoms with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Hence, FTD patients are commonly misdiagnosed as AD, despite the consensus clinical diagnostic criteria. It is therefore of great clinical need to identify a biomarker that can distinguish FTD from AD and control individuals, and potentially further differentiate between FTD pathological subtypes. We conducted a metabolomic analysis on post-mortem human brain tissue from three regions: cerebellum, frontal cortex and occipital cortex from control, FTLD-TDP type A, type A-C9, type C and AD. Our results indicate that the brain subdivisions responsible for different functions show different metabolic patterns. We further explored the region-specific metabolic characteristics of different FTD subtypes and AD patients. Different FTD subtypes and AD share similar metabolic phenotypes in the cerebellum, but AD exhibited distinct metabolic patterns in the frontal and occipital regions compared to FTD. The identified brain region-specific metabolite biomarkers could provide a tool for distinguishing different FTD subtypes and AD and provide the first insights into the metabolic changes of FTLD-TDP type A, type A-C9, type C and AD in different regions of the brain. The importance of protein arginine methylation in neurodegenerative disease has come to light, so we investigated whether the arginine methylation level contributes to disease pathogenesis. Our findings provide new insights into the relationship between arginine methylation and metabolic changes in FTD subtypes and AD that could be further explored, to study the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangrong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Cancer (Fujian Medical University), Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China; Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Research Unit Integrative Structural Biology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Anastasia Rakhimbekova
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Research Unit Integrative Structural Biology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
| | - Tobias Madl
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Research Unit Integrative Structural Biology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
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28
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Barbo M, Ravnik-Glavač M. Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14020325. [PMID: 36833252 PMCID: PMC9956314 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is described as a fatal and rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the degeneration of upper motor neurons in the primary motor cortex and lower motor neurons of the brainstem and spinal cord. Due to ALS's slowly progressive characteristic, which is often accompanied by other neurological comorbidities, its diagnosis remains challenging. Perturbations in vesicle-mediated transport and autophagy as well as cell-autonomous disease initiation in glutamatergic neurons have been revealed in ALS. The use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) may be key in accessing pathologically relevant tissues for ALS, as EVs can cross the blood-brain barrier and be isolated from the blood. The number and content of EVs may provide indications of the disease pathogenesis, its stage, and prognosis. In this review, we collected a recent study aiming at the identification of EVs as a biomarker of ALS with respect to the size, quantity, and content of EVs in the biological fluids of patients compared to controls.
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29
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Mori K, Gotoh S, Uozumi R, Miyamoto T, Akamine S, Kawabe Y, Tagami S, Ikeda M. RNA Dysmetabolism and Repeat-Associated Non-AUG Translation in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis due to C9orf72 Hexanucleotide Repeat Expansion. JMA J 2023; 6:9-15. [PMID: 36793534 PMCID: PMC9908409 DOI: 10.31662/jmaj.2022-0160] [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: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathological features of frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) due to C9orf72 GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat expansion include early dipeptide repeats, repeat RNA foci, and subsequent TDP-43 pathologies. Since the discovery of the repeat expansion, extensive studies have elucidated the disease mechanism of how the repeat causes neurodegeneration. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of abnormal repeat RNA metabolism and repeat-associated non-AUG translation in C9orf72 frontotemporal lobar degeneration/ALS. For repeat RNA metabolism, we specifically focus on the role of hnRNPA3, the repeat RNA-binding protein, and the EXOSC10/RNA exosome complex, an intracellular RNA-degrading enzyme. In addition, the mechanism of repeat-associated non-AUG translation inhibition via TMPyP4, a repeat RNA-binding compound, is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohji Mori
- Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Shiho Gotoh
- Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Ryota Uozumi
- Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Tesshin Miyamoto
- Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan,Seifukai Ibaraki Hospital, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shoshin Akamine
- Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Yuya Kawabe
- Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan,Minoh Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Minoh, Japan
| | - Shinji Tagami
- Minoh Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Minoh, Japan,Health and Counseling Center, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan
| | - Manabu Ikeda
- Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
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30
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Chen X, Zhou L, Cui C, Sun J. Evolving markers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Adv Clin Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
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31
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del Campo M, Zetterberg H, Gandy S, Onyike CU, Oliveira F, Udeh‐Momoh C, Lleó A, Teunissen CE, Pijnenburg Y. New developments of biofluid-based biomarkers for routine diagnosis and disease trajectories in frontotemporal dementia. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:2292-2307. [PMID: 35235699 PMCID: PMC9790674 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) covers a spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders with different phenotypes, genetic backgrounds, and pathological states. Its clinicopathological diversity challenges the diagnostic process and the execution of clinical trials, calling for specific diagnostic biomarkers of pathologic FTD types. There is also a need for biomarkers that facilitate disease staging, quantification of severity, monitoring in clinics and observational studies, and for evaluation of target engagement and treatment response in clinical trials. This review discusses current FTD biofluid-based biomarker knowledge taking into account the differing applications. The limitations, knowledge gaps, and challenges for the development and implementation of such markers are also examined. Strategies to overcome these hurdles are proposed, including the technologies available, patient cohorts, and collaborative research initiatives. Access to robust and reliable biomarkers that define the exact underlying pathophysiological FTD process will meet the needs for specific diagnosis, disease quantitation, clinical monitoring, and treatment development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta del Campo
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la SaludFacultad de FarmaciaUniversidad San Pablo‐CEUCEU UniversitiesMadridSpain
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Institute of Neuroscience and PhysiologyThe Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden,Clinical Neurochemistry LaboratorySahlgrenska University HospitalMölndalSweden,UK Dementia Research Institute at UCLLondonUK,Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUCL Institute of NeurologyLondonUK,Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesHong KongChina
| | - Sam Gandy
- Department of NeurologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Chiadi U Onyike
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and NeuropsychiatryThe Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Fabricio Oliveira
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryEscola Paulista de MedicinaFederal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP)São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Chi Udeh‐Momoh
- Ageing Epidemiology Research UnitSchool of Public HealthFaculty of MedicineImperial College LondonLondonUK,Translational Health SciencesFaculty of MedicineUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Alberto Lleó
- Neurology DepartmentHospital de la Santa Creu I Sant PauBarcelonaSpain
| | - Charlotte E. Teunissen
- Neurochemistry LaboratoryDepartment of Clinical ChemistryAmsterdam NeuroscienceAmsterdam University Medical CentersVrije UniversiteitAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Yolande Pijnenburg
- Alzheimer Center AmsterdamDepartment of NeurologyAmsterdam NeuroscienceVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdam UMCAmsterdamthe Netherlands
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32
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Sturmey E, Malaspina A. Blood biomarkers in ALS: challenges, applications and novel frontiers. Acta Neurol Scand 2022; 146:375-388. [PMID: 36156207 PMCID: PMC9828487 DOI: 10.1111/ane.13698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease among adults. With diagnosis reached relatively late into the disease process, extensive motor cell loss narrows the window for therapeutic opportunities. Clinical heterogeneity in ALS and the lack of disease-specific biomarkers have so far led to large-sized clinical trials with long follow-up needed to define clinical outcomes. In advanced ALS patients, there is presently limited scope to use imaging or invasive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection as a source of disease biomarkers. The development of more patient-friendly and accessible blood biomarker assays is hampered by analytical hurdles like the matrix effect of blood components. However, blood also provides the opportunity to identify disease-specific adaptive changes of the stoichiometry and conformation of target proteins and the endogenous immunological response to low-abundance brain peptides, such as neurofilaments (Nf). Among those biomarkers under investigation in ALS, the change in concentration before or after diagnosis of Nf has been shown to aid prognostication and to allow the a priori stratification of ALS patients into smaller sized and clinically more homogeneous cohorts, supporting more affordable clinical trials. Here, we discuss the technical hurdles affecting reproducible and sensitive biomarker measurement in blood. We also summarize the state of the art of non-CSF biomarkers in the study of prognosis, disease progression, and treatment response. We will then address the potential as disease-specific biomarkers of the newly discovered cryptic peptides which are formed down-stream of TDP-43 loss of function, the hallmark of ALS pathobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellie Sturmey
- Centre of Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Andrea Malaspina
- Centre of Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.,Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
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33
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable, devastating neurodegenerative disease. Still, the diagnosis is mainly based on clinical symptoms, and the treatment options are strongly limited. However, the pipeline of potential treatments currently tested in clinical trials is promising. This review will discuss developments in ALS biomarker research and applications within the last 2 years and suggest future directions and needs. RECENT FINDINGS The diagnostic and prognostic utility of neurofilaments, a general marker for axoneuronal degeneration, has been confirmed by further studies in patients with ALS, and neurofilaments are finding their way into routine diagnostic and clinical trials. Additionally, there have been advancements in developing and implementing disease-specific biomarkers, especially in patients with a genetic variant, such as SOD1 or C9orf72 . Here, biomarkers have already been used as target markers and outcome parameters for novel treatment approaches. In addition, several novel biomarkers have shown encouraging results but should be discussed in the context of their early stage of assay and clinical establishment. SUMMARY The first biomarkers have found their way into clinical routine in ALS. In light of an increasing pipeline of potential treatments, further progress in discovering and implementing novel and existing biomarkers is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Witzel
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg
| | - Kristina Mayer
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg
| | - Patrick Oeckl
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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34
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Wilson KM, Katona E, Glaria I, Carcolé M, Swift IJ, Sogorb-Esteve A, Heller C, Bouzigues A, Heslegrave AJ, Keshavan A, Knowles K, Patil S, Mohapatra S, Liu Y, Goyal J, Sanchez-Valle R, Laforce RJ, Synofzik M, Rowe JB, Finger E, Vandenberghe R, Butler CR, Gerhard A, Van Swieten JC, Seelaar H, Borroni B, Galimberti D, de Mendonça A, Masellis M, Tartaglia MC, Otto M, Graff C, Ducharme S, Schott JM, Malaspina A, Zetterberg H, Boyanapalli R, Rohrer JD, Isaacs AM. Development of a sensitive trial-ready poly(GP) CSF biomarker assay for C9orf72-associated frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2022; 93:761-771. [PMID: 35379698 PMCID: PMC9279742 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-328710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A GGGGCC repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene is the most common cause of genetic frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). As potential therapies targeting the repeat expansion are now entering clinical trials, sensitive biomarker assays of target engagement are urgently required. Our objective was to develop such an assay. METHODS We used the single molecule array (Simoa) platform to develop an immunoassay for measuring poly(GP) dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs) generated by the C9orf72 repeat expansion in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of people with C9orf72-associated FTD/ALS. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS We show the assay to be highly sensitive and robust, passing extensive qualification criteria including low intraplate and interplate variability, a high precision and accuracy in measuring both calibrators and samples, dilutional parallelism, tolerance to sample and standard freeze-thaw and no haemoglobin interference. We used this assay to measure poly(GP) in CSF samples collected through the Genetic FTD Initiative (N=40 C9orf72 and 15 controls). We found it had 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity and a large window for detecting target engagement, as the C9orf72 CSF sample with the lowest poly(GP) signal had eightfold higher signal than controls and on average values from C9orf72 samples were 38-fold higher than controls, which all fell below the lower limit of quantification of the assay. These data indicate that a Simoa-based poly(GP) DPR assay is suitable for use in clinical trials to determine target engagement of therapeutics aimed at reducing C9orf72 repeat-containing transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Wilson
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Eszter Katona
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Idoia Glaria
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Mireia Carcolé
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Imogen J Swift
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Aitana Sogorb-Esteve
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Carolin Heller
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Arabella Bouzigues
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Amanda J Heslegrave
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Ashvini Keshavan
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Kathryn Knowles
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | | | | | - Yuanjing Liu
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jaya Goyal
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Raquel Sanchez-Valle
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacións Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Robert Jr Laforce
- Clinique Interdisciplinaire de Mémoire, Département des Sciences Neurologiques, CHU de Québec, and Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - James B Rowe
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust and Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elizabeth Finger
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rik Vandenberghe
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Neurology Service, University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christopher R Butler
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Alexander Gerhard
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Departments of Geriatric Medicine and Nuclear Medicine, University of Duisburg- Essen, University of Duisburg- Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Harro Seelaar
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniela Galimberti
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Centro Dino Ferrari, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Mario Masellis
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - M Carmela Tartaglia
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Sports Concussion Project, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Caroline Graff
- Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Bioclinicum, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
- Unit for Hereditary Dementias, Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Simon Ducharme
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jonathan M Schott
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Andrea Malaspina
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry Blizard Institute, London, UK
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | | | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Adrian M Isaacs
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
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35
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Boros BD, Schoch KM, Kreple CJ, Miller TM. Antisense Oligonucleotides for the Study and Treatment of ALS. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1145-1158. [PMID: 35653060 PMCID: PMC9587169 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01247-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor neuron loss. ALS is now associated with mutations in numerous genes, many of which cause disease in part through toxic gain-of-function mechanisms. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are small sequences of DNA that can reduce expression of a target gene at the post-transcriptional level, making them attractive for neutralizing mutant or toxic gene products. Advancements in the medicinal chemistries of ASOs have improved their pharmacodynamic profile to allow safe and effective delivery to the central nervous system. ASO therapies for ALS have rapidly developed over the last two decades, and ASOs that target SOD1, C9orf72, FUS, and ATXN2 are now in clinical trials for familial or sporadic forms of ALS. This review discusses the current state of ASO therapies for ALS, outlining their successes from preclinical development to early clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin D Boros
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, Box 8111, 115 Biotechnology Bldg, 660 S. Euclid Ave, MO, 63110, St. Louis, USA
| | - Kathleen M Schoch
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, Box 8111, 115 Biotechnology Bldg, 660 S. Euclid Ave, MO, 63110, St. Louis, USA
| | - Collin J Kreple
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, Box 8111, 115 Biotechnology Bldg, 660 S. Euclid Ave, MO, 63110, St. Louis, USA
| | - Timothy M Miller
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, Box 8111, 115 Biotechnology Bldg, 660 S. Euclid Ave, MO, 63110, St. Louis, USA.
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36
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Gene Therapy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11132066. [PMID: 35805149 PMCID: PMC9265980 DOI: 10.3390/cells11132066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene mutation, in 1993, as the first genetic abnormality in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), over 50 genes have been identified as either cause or modifier in ALS and ALS/frontotemporal dementia (FTD) spectrum disease. Mutations in C9orf72, SOD1, TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TARDBP), and fused in sarcoma (FUS) genes are the four most common ones. During the last three decades, tremendous effort has been made worldwide to reveal biological pathways underlying the pathogenesis of these gene mutations in ALS/FTD. Accordingly, targeting etiologic genes (i.e., gene therapies) to suppress their toxic effects have been investigated widely. It includes four major strategies: (i) removal or inhibition of abnormal transcribed RNA using microRNA or antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), (ii) degradation of abnormal mRNA using RNA interference (RNAi), (iii) decrease or inhibition of mutant proteins (e.g., using antibodies against misfolded proteins), and (iv) DNA genome editing with methods such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR/Cas). The promising results of these studies have led to the application of some of these strategies into ALS clinical trials, especially for C9orf72 and SOD1. In this paper, we will overview advances in gene therapy in ALS/FTD, focusing on C9orf72, SOD1, TARDBP, and FUS genes.
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Liu Y, Andreucci A, Iwamoto N, Yin Y, Yang H, Liu F, Bulychev A, Hu XS, Lin X, Lamore S, Patil S, Mohapatra S, Purcell-Estabrook E, Taborn K, Dale E, Vargeese C. Preclinical evaluation of WVE-004, aninvestigational stereopure oligonucleotide forthe treatment of C9orf72-associated ALS or FTD. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 28:558-570. [PMID: 35592494 PMCID: PMC9092894 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A large hexanucleotide (G4C2) repeat expansion in the first intronic region of C9orf72 is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain how the repeat expansion drives disease, and we hypothesize that a variant-selective approach, in which transcripts affected by the repeat expansion are preferentially decreased, has the potential to address most of them. We report a stereopure antisense oligonucleotide, WVE-004, that executes this variant-selective mechanism of action. WVE-004 dose-dependently and selectively reduces repeat-containing transcripts in patient-derived motor neurons carrying a C9orf72-repeat expansion, as well as in the spinal cord and cortex of C9 BAC transgenic mice. In mice, selective transcript knockdown was accompanied by substantial decreases in dipeptide-repeat proteins, which are pathological biomarkers associated with the repeat expansion, and by preservation of healthy C9orf72 protein expression. These in vivo effects were durable, persisting for at least 6 months. These data support the advancement of WVE-004 as an investigational stereopure antisense oligonucleotide targeting C9orf72 for the treatment of C9orf72-associated ALS or FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjing Liu
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Amy Andreucci
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Naoki Iwamoto
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yuan Yin
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Hailin Yang
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Fangjun Liu
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Alexey Bulychev
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Xiao Shelley Hu
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Xuena Lin
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sarah Lamore
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Saurabh Patil
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | | | - Kristin Taborn
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Elena Dale
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Chandra Vargeese
- Wave Life Sciences, 733 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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38
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Recent Advances in Frontotemporal Dementia. Neurol Sci 2022:1-10. [DOI: 10.1017/cjn.2022.69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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39
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Krishnan G, Raitcheva D, Bartlett D, Prudencio M, McKenna-Yasek DM, Douthwright C, Oskarsson BE, Ladha S, King OD, Barmada SJ, Miller TM, Bowser R, Watts JK, Petrucelli L, Brown RH, Kankel MW, Gao FB. Poly(GR) and poly(GA) in cerebrospinal fluid as potential biomarkers for C9ORF72-ALS/FTD. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2799. [PMID: 35589711 PMCID: PMC9119980 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30387-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
GGGGCC repeat expansion in C9ORF72, which can be translated in both sense and antisense directions into five dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins, including poly(GP), poly(GR), and poly(GA), is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Here we developed sensitive assays that can detect poly(GA) and poly(GR) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with C9ORF72 mutations. CSF poly(GA) and poly(GR) levels did not correlate with age at disease onset, disease duration, or rate of decline of ALS Functional Rating Scale, and the average levels of these DPR proteins were similar in symptomatic and pre-symptomatic patients with C9ORF72 mutations. However, in a patient with C9ORF72-ALS who was treated with antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting the aberrant C9ORF72 transcript, CSF poly(GA) and poly(GR) levels decreased approximately 50% within 6 weeks, indicating they may serve as sensitive fluid-based biomarkers in studies directed against the production of GGGGCC repeat RNAs or DPR proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopinath Krishnan
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | | | - Daniel Bartlett
- Biomarkers, Clinical Sciences Biogen, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | | | - Diane M McKenna-Yasek
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Catherine Douthwright
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | | | - Shafeeq Ladha
- Departments of Neurology and Translational Neuroscience, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and Barrow Neurological Institute, 350W Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Oliver D King
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Sami J Barmada
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, 4005 BSRB, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA
| | - Timothy M Miller
- Department of Neurology, Washington University, Saint Louis, MI, 63110, USA
| | - Robert Bowser
- Departments of Neurology and Translational Neuroscience, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and Barrow Neurological Institute, 350W Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Jonathan K Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | | | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Mark W Kankel
- Neuromuscular & Movement Disorders, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
- Apple Tree Partners (ATP) Research Labs, Branford, CT, 06405, USA.
| | - Fen-Biao Gao
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
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Akiyama T, Koike Y, Petrucelli L, Gitler AD. Cracking the cryptic code in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia: Towards therapeutic targets and biomarkers. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e818. [PMID: 35567447 PMCID: PMC9098226 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two devastating human neurodegenerative diseases. A hallmark pathological feature of both diseases is the depletion of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43 from the nucleus in the brain and spinal cord of patients. A major function of TDP-43 is to repress the inclusion of cryptic exons during RNA splicing. When it becomes depleted from the nucleus in disease, this function is lost, and recently, several key cryptic splicing targets of TDP-43 have emerged, including STMN2, UNC13A, and others. UNC13A is a major ALS/FTD risk gene, and the genetic variations that increase the risk for disease seem to do so by making the gene more susceptible to cryptic exon inclusion when TDP-43 function is impaired. Here, we discuss the prospects and challenges of harnessing these cryptic splicing events as novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers. Deciphering this new cryptic code may be a touchstone for ALS and FTD diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Akiyama
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Yuka Koike
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | | | - Aaron D Gitler
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.,Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA
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How can we define the presymptomatic C9orf72 disease in 2022? An overview on the current definitions of preclinical and prodromal phases. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2022; 178:426-436. [PMID: 35525633 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2022.03.007] [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: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Repeat expansions in C9orf72 gene are the main genetic cause of frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and related phenotypes. With the advent of disease-modifying treatments, the presymptomatic disease phase is getting increasing interest as an ideal time window in which innovant therapeutic approaches could be administered. Recommendations issued from international study groups distinguish between a preclinical disease stage, during which lesions accumulate in absence of any symptoms or signs, and a prodromal stage, marked by the appearance the first subtle cognitive, behavioral, psychiatric and motor signs, before the full-blown disease. This paper summarizes the current definitions and criteria for these stages, in particular focusing on how fluid-based, neuroimaging and cognitive biomarkers can be useful to monitor disease trajectory across the presymptomatic phase, as well as to detect the earliest signs of clinical conversion. Continuous advances in the knowledge of C9orf72 pathophysiology, and the integration of biomarkers in the clinical evaluation of mutation carriers will allow a better diagnostic definition of C9orf72 disease spectrum from the earliest stages, with relevant impact on the possibility of disease prevention.
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42
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Dreger M, Steinbach R, Otto M, Turner MR, Grosskreutz J. Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of disease activity and progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2022; 93:422-435. [PMID: 35105727 PMCID: PMC8921583 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-327503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a relentlessly progressive neurodegenerative disease, and only modest disease-modifying strategies have been established to date. Numerous clinical trials have been conducted in the past years, but have been severely hampered by the wide-ranging heterogeneity of both the biological origins and clinical characteristics of the disease. Thus, reliable biomarkers of disease activity are urgently needed to stratify patients into homogenous groups with aligned disease trajectories to allow a more effective design of clinical trial. In this review, the most promising candidate biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with ALS will be summarised. Correlations between biomarker levels and clinical outcome parameters are discussed, while highlighting potential pitfalls and intercorrelations of these clinical parameters. Several CSF molecules have shown potential as biomarkers of progression and prognosis, but large, international, multicentric and longitudinal studies are crucial for validation. A more standardised choice of clinical endpoints in these studies, as well as the application of individualised models of clinical progression, would allow the quantification of disease trajectories, thereby allowing a more accurate analysis of the clinical implications of candidate biomarkers. Additionally, a comparative analysis of several biomarkers and ideally the application of a multivariate analysis including comprehensive genotypic, phenotypic and clinical characteristics collectively contributing to biomarker levels in the CSF, could promote their verification. Thus, reliable prognostic markers and markers of disease activity may improve clinical trial design and patient management in the direction of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Dreger
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Thüringen, Germany
| | - Robert Steinbach
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Thüringen, Germany
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, University of Halle (Saale), Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Julian Grosskreutz
- Precision Neurology, Department of Neurology, University of Luebeck Human Medicine, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
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43
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Dharmadasa T, Scaber J, Edmond E, Marsden R, Thompson A, Talbot K, Turner MR. Genetic testing in motor neurone disease. Pract Neurol 2022; 22:107-116. [PMID: 35027459 PMCID: PMC8938673 DOI: 10.1136/practneurol-2021-002989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A minority (10%-15%) of cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND), are currently attributable to pathological variants in a single identifiable gene. With the emergence of new therapies targeting specific genetic subtypes of ALS, there is an increasing role for routine genetic testing for all those with a definite diagnosis. However, potential harm to both affected individuals and particularly to asymptomatic relatives can arise from the indiscriminate use of genetic screening, not least because of uncertainties around incomplete penetrance and variants of unknown significance. The most common hereditary cause of ALS, an intronic hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9ORF72, may be associated with frontotemporal dementia independently within the same pedigree. The boundary of what constitutes a possible family history of MND has therefore extended to include dementia and associated psychiatric presentations. Notwithstanding the important role of clinical genetics specialists, all neurologists need a basic understanding of the current place of genetic testing in MND, which holds lessons for other neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanuja Dharmadasa
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Jakub Scaber
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Evan Edmond
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Rachael Marsden
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Alexander Thompson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
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44
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Biomarkers in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: The State of the Art in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052580. [PMID: 35269723 PMCID: PMC8910056 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease, characterized by the progressive loss of lower motor neurons, weakness and muscle atrophy. ALS lacks an effective cure and diagnosis is often made by exclusion. Thus, it is imperative to search for biomarkers. Biomarkers can help in understanding ALS pathomechanisms, identification of targets for treatment and development of effective therapies. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) represent a valid source for biomarkers compared to cerebrospinal fluid, as they are simple to collect, and to plasma, because of the possibility of detecting lower expressed proteins. They are a reliable model for patients’ stratification. This review provides an overview on PBMCs as a potential source of biomarkers in ALS. We focused on altered RNA metabolism (coding/non-coding RNA), including RNA processing, mRNA stabilization, transport and translation regulation. We addressed protein abnormalities (aggregation, misfolding and modifications); specifically, we highlighted that SOD1 appears to be the most characterizing protein in ALS. Finally, we emphasized the correlation between biological parameters and disease phenotypes, as regards prognosis, severity and clinical features. In conclusion, even though further studies are needed to standardize the use of PBMCs as a tool for biomarker investigation, they represent a promising approach in ALS research.
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Katzeff JS, Bright F, Phan K, Kril JJ, Ittner LM, Kassiou M, Hodges JR, Piguet O, Kiernan MC, Halliday GM, Kim WS. Biomarker discovery and development for frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain 2022; 145:1598-1609. [PMID: 35202463 PMCID: PMC9166557 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia refers to a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by behaviour and language alterations and focal brain atrophy. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of motor neurons resulting in muscle wasting and paralysis. Frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are considered to exist on a disease spectrum given substantial overlap of genetic and molecular signatures. The predominant genetic abnormality in both frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is an expanded hexanucleotide repeat sequence in the C9orf72 gene. In terms of brain pathology, abnormal aggregates of TAR-DNA-binding protein-43 are predominantly present in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. Currently, sensitive and specific diagnostic and disease surveillance biomarkers are lacking for both diseases. This has impeded the capacity to monitor disease progression during life and the development of targeted drug therapies for the two diseases. The purpose of this review is to examine the status of current biofluid biomarker discovery and development in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The major pathogenic proteins implicated in different frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis molecular subtypes and proteins associated with neurodegeneration and the immune system will be discussed. Furthermore, the use of mass spectrometry-based proteomics as an emerging tool to identify new biomarkers in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will be summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared S Katzeff
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Fiona Bright
- The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine Phan
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jillian J Kril
- The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lars M Ittner
- Dementia Research Centre and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael Kassiou
- The University of Sydney, School of Chemistry, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John R Hodges
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Woojin Scott Kim
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Liu F, Morderer D, Wren MC, Vettleson-Trutza SA, Wang Y, Rabichow BE, Salemi MR, Phinney BS, Oskarsson B, Dickson DW, Rossoll W. Proximity proteomics of C9orf72 dipeptide repeat proteins identifies molecular chaperones as modifiers of poly-GA aggregation. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:22. [PMID: 35164882 PMCID: PMC8842533 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01322-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The most common inherited cause of two genetically and clinico-pathologically overlapping neurodegenerative diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), is the presence of expanded GGGGCC intronic hexanucleotide repeats in the C9orf72 gene. Aside from haploinsufficiency and toxic RNA foci, another non-exclusive disease mechanism is the non-canonical translation of the repeat RNA into five different dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), which form neuronal inclusions in affected patient brains. While evidence from cellular and animal models supports a toxic gain-of-function of pathologic poly-GA, poly-GR, and poly-PR aggregates in promoting deposition of TDP-43 pathology and neurodegeneration in affected brain areas, the relative contribution of DPRs to the disease process in c9FTD/ALS patients remains unclear. Here we have used the proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID) proximity proteomics approach to investigate the formation and collective composition of DPR aggregates using cellular models. While interactomes of arginine rich poly-GR and poly-PR aggregates overlapped and were enriched for nucleolar and ribosomal proteins, poly-GA aggregates demonstrated a distinct association with proteasomal components, molecular chaperones (HSPA1A/HSP70, HSPA8/HSC70, VCP/p97), co-chaperones (BAG3, DNAJA1A) and other factors that regulate protein folding and degradation (SQSTM1/p62, CALR, CHIP/STUB1). Experiments in cellular models of poly-GA pathology show that molecular chaperones and co-chaperones are sequestered to the periphery of dense cytoplasmic aggregates, causing depletion from their typical cellular localization. Their involvement in the pathologic process is confirmed in autopsy brain tissue, where HSPA8, BAG3, VCP, and its adapter protein UBXN6 show a close association with poly-GA aggregates in the frontal cortex, temporal cortex, and hippocampus of c9FTLD and c9ALS cases. The association of heat shock proteins and co-chaperones with poly-GA led us to investigate their potential role in reducing its aggregation. We identified HSP40 co-chaperones of the DNAJB family as potent modifiers that increased the solubility of poly-GA, highlighting a possible novel therapeutic avenue and a central role of molecular chaperones in the pathogenesis of human C9orf72-linked diseases.
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Kandasamy P, Liu Y, Aduda V, Akare S, Alam R, Andreucci A, Boulay D, Bowman K, Byrne M, Cannon M, Chivatakarn O, Shelke JD, Iwamoto N, Kawamoto T, Kumarasamy J, Lamore S, Lemaitre M, Lin X, Longo K, Looby R, Marappan S, Metterville J, Mohapatra S, Newman B, Paik IH, Patil S, Purcell-Estabrook E, Shimizu M, Shum P, Standley S, Taborn K, Tripathi S, Yang H, Yin Y, Zhao X, Dale E, Vargeese C. Impact of guanidine-containing backbone linkages on stereopure antisense oligonucleotides in the CNS. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:5401-5423. [PMID: 35106589 PMCID: PMC9177980 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Attaining sufficient tissue exposure at the site of action to achieve the desired pharmacodynamic effect on a target is an important determinant for any drug discovery program, and this can be particularly challenging for oligonucleotides in deep tissues of the CNS. Herein, we report the synthesis and impact of stereopure phosphoryl guanidine-containing backbone linkages (PN linkages) to oligonucleotides acting through an RNase H-mediated mechanism, using Malat1 and C9orf72 as benchmarks. We found that the incorporation of various types of PN linkages to a stereopure oligonucleotide backbone can increase potency of silencing in cultured neurons under free-uptake conditions 10-fold compared with similarly modified stereopure phosphorothioate (PS) and phosphodiester (PO)-based molecules. One of these backbone types, called PN-1, also yielded profound silencing benefits throughout the mouse brain and spinal cord at low doses, improving both the potency and durability of response, especially in difficult to reach brain tissues. Given these benefits in preclinical models, the incorporation of PN linkages into stereopure oligonucleotides with chimeric backbone modifications has the potential to render regions of the brain beyond the spinal cord more accessible to oligonucleotides and, consequently, may also expand the scope of neurological indications amenable to oligonucleotide therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xuena Lin
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Pochi Shum
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | - Kris Taborn
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | - Hailin Yang
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yuan Yin
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Xiansi Zhao
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Elena Dale
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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48
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Del Rosso G, Carlomagno Y, Todd TW, Jones CY, Prudencio M, Daughrity LM, Yue M, Jansen-West K, Tong J, Shao W, Wu Y, Castanedes-Casey M, Tabassian L, Oskarsson B, Ling K, Rigo F, Dickson DW, Yao TP, Petrucelli L, Cook CN, Zhang YJ. HDAC6 Interacts With Poly (GA) and Modulates its Accumulation in c9FTD/ALS. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:809942. [PMID: 35096836 PMCID: PMC8790530 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.809942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aberrant translation of a repeat expansion in chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72), the most common cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), results in the accumulation of toxic dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins in the central nervous system We have found that, among the sense DPR proteins, HDAC6 specifically interacts with the poly (GA) and co-localizes with inclusions in both patient tissue and a mouse model of this disease (c9FTD/ALS). Overexpression of HDAC6 increased poly (GA) levels in cultured cells independently of HDAC6 deacetylase activity, suggesting that HDAC6 can modulate poly (GA) pathology through a mechanism that depends upon their physical interaction. Moreover, decreasing HDAC6 expression by stereotaxic injection of antisense oligonucleotides significantly reduced the number of poly (GA) inclusions in c9FTD/ALS mice. These findings suggest that pharmacologically reducing HDAC6 levels could be of therapeutic value in c9FTD/ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Del Rosso
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Yari Carlomagno
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Tiffany W Todd
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Caroline Y Jones
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Mercedes Prudencio
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | | | - Mei Yue
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Karen Jansen-West
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Jimei Tong
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Wei Shao
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Yanwei Wu
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | | | - Lilia Tabassian
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Björn Oskarsson
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Karen Ling
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, United States
| | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, United States
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Tso-Pang Yao
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Leonard Petrucelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Casey N Cook
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Yong Jie Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, United States
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49
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Fourier A, Quadrio I. Proteinopathies associated to repeat expansion disorders. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2022; 129:173-185. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-021-02454-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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50
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Giacomelli E, Vahsen BF, Calder EL, Xu Y, Scaber J, Gray E, Dafinca R, Talbot K, Studer L. Human stem cell models of neurodegeneration: From basic science of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to clinical translation. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:11-35. [PMID: 34995492 PMCID: PMC8785905 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by progressive cell loss leading to disruption of the structure and function of the central nervous system. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was among the first of these disorders modeled in patient-specific iPSCs, and recent findings have translated into some of the earliest iPSC-inspired clinical trials. Focusing on ALS as an example, we evaluate the status of modeling neurodegenerative diseases using iPSCs, including methods for deriving and using disease-relevant neuronal and glial lineages. We further highlight the remaining challenges in exploiting the full potential of iPSC technology for understanding and potentially treating neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Giacomelli
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Björn F Vahsen
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Elizabeth L Calder
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yinyan Xu
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), CAMS Oxford Institute (COI), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Jakub Scaber
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Elizabeth Gray
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Ruxandra Dafinca
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
| | - Lorenz Studer
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA.
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