1
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Choi ES, Hnath B, Sha CM, Dokholyan NV. Unveiling the double-edged sword: SOD1 trimers possess tissue-selective toxicity and bind septin-7 in motor neuron-like cells. Structure 2024:S0969-2126(24)00319-8. [PMID: 39208794 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.08.002] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Misfolded species of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) are associated with increased death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) models compared to insoluble protein aggregates. The mechanism by which structurally independent SOD1 trimers cause cellular toxicity is unknown but may drive disease pathology. Here, we uncovered the SOD1 trimer interactome-a map of potential tissue-selective protein-binding partners in the brain, spinal cord, and skeletal muscle. We identified binding partners and key pathways associated with SOD1 trimers and found that trimers may affect normal cellular functions such as dendritic spine morphogenesis and synaptic function in the central nervous system and cellular metabolism in skeletal muscle. We discovered SOD1 trimer-selective enrichment of genes. We performed detailed computational and biochemical characterization of SOD1 trimer protein binding for septin-7. Our investigation highlights key proteins and pathways within distinct tissues, revealing a plausible intersection of genetic and pathophysiological mechanisms in ALS through interactions involving SOD1 trimers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Sue Choi
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Brianna Hnath
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Congzhou Mike Sha
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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2
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Hale OJ, Wells TR, Mead RJ, Cooper HJ. Mass spectrometry imaging of SOD1 protein-metal complexes in SOD1G93A transgenic mice implicates demetalation with pathology. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6518. [PMID: 39117623 PMCID: PMC11310518 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50514-7] [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: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by degeneration of motor neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). Mutations in the metalloenzyme SOD1 are associated with inherited forms of ALS and cause a toxic gain of function thought to be mediated by dimer destabilization and misfolding. SOD1 binds two Cu and two Zn ions in its homodimeric form. We have applied native ambient mass spectrometry imaging to visualize the spatial distributions of intact metal-bound SOD1G93A complexes in SOD1G93A transgenic mouse spinal cord and brain sections and evaluated them against disease pathology. The molecular specificity of our approach reveals that metal-deficient SOD1G93A species are abundant in CNS structures correlating with ALS pathology whereas fully metalated SOD1G93A species are homogenously distributed. Monomer abundance did not correlate with pathology. We also show that the dimer-destabilizing post-translational modification, glutathionylation, has limited influence on the spatial distribution of SOD1 dimers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver J Hale
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Tyler R Wells
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Richard J Mead
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK.
| | - Helen J Cooper
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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3
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Benatar M, Hansen T, Rom D, Geist MA, Blaettler T, Camu W, Kuzma-Kozakiewicz M, van den Berg LH, Morales RJ, Chio A, Andersen PM, Pradat PF, Lange D, Van Damme P, Mora G, Grudniak M, Elliott M, Petri S, Olney N, Ladha S, Goyal NA, Meyer T, Hanna MG, Quinn C, Genge A, Zinman L, Jabari D, Shoesmith C, Ludolph AC, Neuwirth C, Nations S, Shefner JM, Turner MR, Wuu J, Bennett R, Dang H, Sundgreen C. Safety and efficacy of arimoclomol in patients with early amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ORARIALS-01): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, phase 3 trial. Lancet Neurol 2024; 23:687-699. [PMID: 38782015 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(24)00134-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder leading to muscle weakness and respiratory failure. Arimoclomol, a heat-shock protein-70 (HSP70) co-inducer, is neuroprotective in animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, with multiple mechanisms of action, including clearance of protein aggregates, a pathological hallmark of sporadic and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of arimoclomol in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. METHODS ORARIALS-01 was a multinational, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial done at 29 centres in 12 countries in Europe and North America. Patients were eligible if they were aged 18 years or older and met El Escorial criteria for clinically possible, probable, probable laboratory-supported, definite, or familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; had an ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised score of 35 or more; and had slow vital capacity at 70% or more of the value predicted on the basis of the participant's age, height, and sex. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) in blocks of 6, stratified by use of a stable dose of riluzole or no riluzole use, to receive oral arimoclomol citrate 1200 mg/day (400 mg three times per day) or placebo. The Randomisation sequence was computer generated centrally. Investigators, study personnel, and study participants were masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was the Combined Assessment of Function and Survival (CAFS) rank score over 76 weeks of treatment. The primary outcome and safety were analysed in the modified intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03491462, and is completed. FINDINGS Between July 31, 2018, and July 17, 2019, 287 patients were screened, 245 of whom were enrolled in the trial and randomly assigned. The modified intention-to-treat population comprised 239 patients (160 in the arimoclomol group and 79 in the placebo group): 151 (63%) were male and 88 (37%) were female; mean age was 57·6 years (SD 10·9). CAFS score over 76 weeks did not differ between groups (mean 0·51 [SD 0·29] in the arimoclomol group vs 0·49 [0·28] in the placebo group; p=0·62). Cliff's delta comparing the two groups was 0·039 (95% CI -0·116 to 0·194). Proportions of participants who died were similar between the treatment groups: 29 (18%) of 160 patients in the arimoclomol group and 18 (23%) of 79 patients in the placebo group. Most deaths were due to disease progression. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal. Adverse events were more often deemed treatment-related in the arimoclomol group (104 [65%]) than in the placebo group (41 [52%]) and more often led to treatment discontinuation in the arimoclomol group (26 [16%]) than in the placebo group (four [5%]). INTERPRETATION Arimoclomol did not improve efficacy outcomes compared with placebo. Although available biomarker data are insufficient to preclude future strategies that target the HSP response, safety data suggest that a higher dose of arimoclomol would not have been tolerated. FUNDING Orphazyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Benatar
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
| | | | - Dror Rom
- Prosoft Clinical, Chesterbrook, PA, USA
| | | | | | - William Camu
- Department of Neurology University of Montpellier, CHU Montpellier, INM INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Raul Juntas Morales
- Department of Neurology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adriano Chio
- Rita Levi Montalcini Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Peter M Andersen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Dale Lange
- Department of Neurology, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA
| | - Philip Van Damme
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gabriele Mora
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Mariusz Grudniak
- Research and Development Department, Polish Stem Cell Bank, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Matthew Elliott
- University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nicholas Olney
- Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence Brain and Spine Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Shafeeq Ladha
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Namita A Goyal
- Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Meyer
- Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael G Hanna
- University College London, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - Colin Quinn
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Angela Genge
- Department of Neurology, Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Duaa Jabari
- Department of Neurology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Christen Shoesmith
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Christoph Neuwirth
- Neuromuscular Disease Unit/ALS Clinic, Kantonspital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland
| | | | - Jeremy M Shefner
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Joanne Wuu
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
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4
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Mielke JK, Klingeborn M, Schultz EP, Markham EL, Reese ED, Alam P, Mackenzie IR, Ly CV, Caughey B, Cashman NR, Leavens MJ. Seeding activity of human superoxide dismutase 1 aggregates in familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis postmortem neural tissues by real-time quaking-induced conversion. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:100. [PMID: 38884646 PMCID: PMC11182821 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02752-8] [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: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease with average lifespan of 2-5 years after diagnosis. The identification of novel prognostic and pharmacodynamic biomarkers are needed to facilitate therapeutic development. Metalloprotein human superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is known to accumulate and form aggregates in patient neural tissue with familial ALS linked to mutations in their SOD1 gene. Aggregates of SOD1 have also been detected in other forms of ALS, including the sporadic form and the most common familial form linked to abnormal hexanucleotide repeat expansions in the Chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9ORF72) gene. Here, we report the development of a real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) seed amplification assay using a recombinant human SOD1 substrate to measure SOD1 seeding activity in postmortem spinal cord and motor cortex tissue from persons with different ALS etiologies. Our SOD1 RT-QuIC assay detected SOD1 seeds in motor cortex and spinal cord dilutions down to 10-5. Importantly, we detected SOD1 seeding activity in specimens from both sporadic and familial ALS cases, with the latter having mutations in either their SOD1 or C9ORF72 genes. Analyses of RT-QuIC parameters indicated similar lag phases in spinal cords of sporadic and familial ALS patients, but higher ThT fluorescence maxima by SOD1 familial ALS specimens and sporadic ALS thoracic cord specimens. For a subset of sporadic ALS patients, motor cortex and spinal cords were examined, with seeding activity in both anatomical regions. Our results suggest SOD1 seeds are in ALS patient neural tissues not linked to SOD1 mutation, suggesting that SOD1 seeding activity may be a promising biomarker, particularly in sporadic ALS cases for whom genetic testing is uninformative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin K Mielke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, McLaughlin Research Institute, 1520 23rd St. South, Great Falls, MT, 59405, USA
| | - Mikael Klingeborn
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, McLaughlin Research Institute, 1520 23rd St. South, Great Falls, MT, 59405, USA
| | - Eric P Schultz
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive ISB #106, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Erin L Markham
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, McLaughlin Research Institute, 1520 23rd St. South, Great Falls, MT, 59405, USA
| | - Emily D Reese
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, McLaughlin Research Institute, 1520 23rd St. South, Great Falls, MT, 59405, USA
| | - Parvez Alam
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S. 4th St., Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Ian R Mackenzie
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Cindy V Ly
- Department of Neurology, Washington University, 660 S. Euclid Ave, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Byron Caughey
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S. 4th St., Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Neil R Cashman
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Moses J Leavens
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, McLaughlin Research Institute, 1520 23rd St. South, Great Falls, MT, 59405, USA.
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5
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Tsekrekou M, Giannakou M, Papanikolopoulou K, Skretas G. Protein aggregation and therapeutic strategies in SOD1- and TDP-43- linked ALS. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1383453. [PMID: 38855322 PMCID: PMC11157337 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1383453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with severe socio-economic impact. A hallmark of ALS pathology is the presence of aberrant cytoplasmic inclusions composed of misfolded and aggregated proteins, including both wild-type and mutant forms. This review highlights the critical role of misfolded protein species in ALS pathogenesis, particularly focusing on Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), and emphasizes the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies targeting these misfolded proteins directly. Despite significant advancements in understanding ALS mechanisms, the disease remains incurable, with current treatments offering limited clinical benefits. Through a comprehensive analysis, the review focuses on the direct modulation of the misfolded proteins and presents recent discoveries in small molecules and peptides that inhibit SOD1 and TDP-43 aggregation, underscoring their potential as effective treatments to modify disease progression and improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tsekrekou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Giannakou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Papanikolopoulou
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre “Alexander Fleming”, Vari, Greece
- ResQ Biotech, Patras Science Park, Rio, Greece
| | - Georgios Skretas
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
- ResQ Biotech, Patras Science Park, Rio, Greece
- Institute for Bio-innovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre “Alexander Fleming”, Vari, Greece
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6
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Pokrishevsky E, DuVal MG, McAlary L, Louadi S, Pozzi S, Roman A, Plotkin SS, Dijkstra A, Julien JP, Allison WT, Cashman NR. Tryptophan residues in TDP-43 and SOD1 modulate the cross-seeding and toxicity of SOD1. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107207. [PMID: 38522514 PMCID: PMC11087967 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of motor neurons. Neuronal superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) inclusion bodies are characteristic of familial ALS with SOD1 mutations, while a hallmark of sporadic ALS is inclusions containing aggregated WT TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43). We show here that co-expression of mutant or WT TDP-43 with SOD1 leads to misfolding of endogenous SOD1 and aggregation of SOD1 reporter protein SOD1G85R-GFP in human cell cultures and promotes synergistic axonopathy in zebrafish. Intriguingly, this pathological interaction is modulated by natively solvent-exposed tryptophans in SOD1 (tryptophan-32) and TDP-43 RNA-recognition motif RRM1 (tryptophan-172), in concert with natively sequestered TDP-43 N-terminal domain tryptophan-68. TDP-43 RRM1 intrabodies reduce WT SOD1 misfolding in human cell cultures, via blocking tryptophan-172. Tryptophan-68 becomes antibody-accessible in aggregated TDP-43 in sporadic ALS motor neurons and cell culture. 5-fluorouridine inhibits TDP-43-induced G85R-GFP SOD1 aggregation in human cell cultures and ameliorates axonopathy in zebrafish, via its interaction with SOD1 tryptophan-32. Collectively, our results establish a novel and potentially druggable tryptophan-mediated mechanism whereby two principal ALS disease effector proteins might directly interact in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Pokrishevsky
- Department of Medicine, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michéle G DuVal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Luke McAlary
- Department of Medicine, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah Louadi
- Department of Medicine, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Silvia Pozzi
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; CERVO Brain Research Center, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Andrei Roman
- Department of Medicine, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Steven S Plotkin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anke Dijkstra
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; CERVO Brain Research Center, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - W Ted Allison
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Neil R Cashman
- Department of Medicine, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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7
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Hu Y, Chen W, Wei C, Jiang S, Li S, Wang X, Xu R. Pathological mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1036-1044. [PMID: 37862206 PMCID: PMC10749610 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.382985] [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: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis refers to a neurodegenerative disease involving the motor system, the cause of which remains unexplained despite several years of research. Thus, the journey to understanding or treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is still a long one. According to current research, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is likely not due to a single factor but rather to a combination of mechanisms mediated by complex interactions between molecular and genetic pathways. The progression of the disease involves multiple cellular processes and the interaction between different complex mechanisms makes it difficult to identify the causative factors of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Here, we review the most common amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated pathogenic genes and the pathways involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as summarize currently proposed potential mechanisms responsible for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease and their evidence for involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In addition, we discuss current emerging strategies for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Studying the emergence of these new therapies may help to further our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yushu Hu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Wenzhi Chen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Caihui Wei
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Shishi Jiang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Shu Li
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Renshi Xu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College; The Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
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8
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Zambon AA, Falzone YM, Bolino A, Previtali SC. Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for neuromuscular diseases. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:198. [PMID: 38678519 PMCID: PMC11056344 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05229-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Neuromuscular diseases encompass a heterogeneous array of disorders characterized by varying onset ages, clinical presentations, severity, and progression. While these conditions can stem from acquired or inherited causes, this review specifically focuses on disorders arising from genetic abnormalities, excluding metabolic conditions. The pathogenic defect may primarily affect the anterior horn cells, the axonal or myelin component of peripheral nerves, the neuromuscular junction, or skeletal and/or cardiac muscles. While inherited neuromuscular disorders have been historically deemed not treatable, the advent of gene-based and molecular therapies is reshaping the treatment landscape for this group of condition. With the caveat that many products still fail to translate the positive results obtained in pre-clinical models to humans, both the technological development (e.g., implementation of tissue-specific vectors) as well as advances on the knowledge of pathogenetic mechanisms form a collective foundation for potentially curative approaches to these debilitating conditions. This review delineates the current panorama of therapies targeting the most prevalent forms of inherited neuromuscular diseases, emphasizing approved treatments and those already undergoing human testing, offering insights into the state-of-the-art interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Andrea Zambon
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Institute for Experimental Neurology, Inspe, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Yuri Matteo Falzone
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Institute for Experimental Neurology, Inspe, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bolino
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Institute for Experimental Neurology, Inspe, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Carlo Previtali
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Institute for Experimental Neurology, Inspe, Milan, Italy.
- Neurology Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
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9
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Tzeplaeff L, Jürs AV, Wohnrade C, Demleitner AF. Unraveling the Heterogeneity of ALS-A Call to Redefine Patient Stratification for Better Outcomes in Clinical Trials. Cells 2024; 13:452. [PMID: 38474416 PMCID: PMC10930688 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite tremendous efforts in basic research and a growing number of clinical trials aiming to find effective treatments, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains an incurable disease. One possible reason for the lack of effective causative treatment options is that ALS may not be a single disease entity but rather may represent a clinical syndrome, with diverse genetic and molecular causes, histopathological alterations, and subsequent clinical presentations contributing to its complexity and variability among individuals. Defining a way to subcluster ALS patients is becoming a central endeavor in the field. Identifying specific clusters and applying them in clinical trials could enable the development of more effective treatments. This review aims to summarize the available data on heterogeneity in ALS with regard to various aspects, e.g., clinical, genetic, and molecular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tzeplaeff
- Department of Neurology, Rechts der Isar Hospital, Technical University of Munich, 81675 München, Germany
| | - Alexandra V. Jürs
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht Kossel”, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Camilla Wohnrade
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Antonia F. Demleitner
- Department of Neurology, Rechts der Isar Hospital, Technical University of Munich, 81675 München, Germany
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10
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Graber DJ, Cook WJ, Sentman ML, Murad-Mabaera JM, Sentman CL. Human CD4+CD25+ T cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor against aberrant superoxide dismutase 1 trigger antigen-specific immunomodulation. Cytotherapy 2024; 26:126-135. [PMID: 38043051 PMCID: PMC10872388 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2023.11.007] [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] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease associated with motor neuron degeneration, accumulation of aggregated misfolded proteins and neuroinflammation in motor regions of the central nervous system (CNS). Clinical trials using regulatory T cells (Tregs) are ongoing because of Tregs' immunomodulatory function, ability to traffic to the CNS, high numbers correlating with slower disease in ALS and disease-modifying activity in ALS mouse models. In the current study, a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) was developed and characterized in human Tregs to enhance their immunomodulatory activity when in contact with an ALS protein aggregate. METHODS A CAR (DG05-28-3z) consisting of a human superoxide dismutase 1 (hSOD1)-binding single-chain variable fragment, CD28 hinge, transmembrane and co-stimulatory domain and CD3ζ signaling domain was created and expressed in human Tregs. Human Tregs were isolated by either magnetic enrichment for CD4+CD25hi cells (Enr-Tregs) or cell sorting for CD4+CD25hiCD127lo cells (FP-Tregs), transduced and expanded for 17 days. RESULTS The CAR bound preferentially to the ALS mutant G93A-hSOD1 protein relative to the wild-type hSOD1 protein. The CAR Tregs produced IL-10 when cultured with aggregated G93A-hSOD1 proteins or spinal cord explants from G93A-hSOD1 transgenic mice. Co-culturing DG05-28-3z CAR Tregs with human monocytes/macrophages inhibited production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and reactive oxygen species. Expanded FP-Tregs resulted in more robust Tregs compared with Enr-Tregs. FP-Tregs produced similar IL-10 and less interferon gamma, had lower Treg-specific demethylated region methylation and expressed higher FoxP3 and CD39. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, this study demonstrates that gene-modified Tregs can be developed to target an aggregated ALS-relevant protein to elicit CAR-mediated Treg effector functions and provides an approach for generating Treg therapies for ALS with the goal of enhanced disease site-specific immunomodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Graber
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA; Center for Synthetic Immunity, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - W James Cook
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA; Center for Synthetic Immunity, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Marie-Louise Sentman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA; Center for Synthetic Immunity, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | | | - Charles L Sentman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA; Center for Synthetic Immunity, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
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11
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Wong CH, Rahat A, Chang HC. Fused in sarcoma regulates glutamate signaling and oxidative stress response. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 210:172-182. [PMID: 38007141 PMCID: PMC10872661 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in fused in sarcoma (fust-1) are linked to ALS. However, how these ALS causative mutations alter physiological processes and lead to the onset of ALS remains largely unknown. By obtaining humanized fust-1 ALS mutations via CRISPR-CAS9, we generated a C. elegans ALS model. Homozygous fust-1 ALS mutant and fust-1 deletion animals are viable in C. elegans. This allows us to better characterize the molecular mechanisms of fust-1-dependent responses. We found FUST-1 plays a role in regulating superoxide dismutase, glutamate signaling, and oxidative stress. FUST-1 suppresses SOD-1 and VGLUT/EAT-4 in the nervous system. FUST-1 also regulates synaptic AMPA-type glutamate receptor GLR-1. We found that fust-1 ALS mutations act as loss-of-function in SOD-1 and VGLUT/EAT-4 phenotypes, whereas the fust-1 ALS mutations act as gain-of-function in redox homeostasis and the microbe-induced oxidative stress response. We hypothesized that FUST-1 is a link between glutamate signaling and SOD-1. Our results may provide new insights into the human ALS alleles and their roles in pathological mechanisms that lead to ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiong-Hee Wong
- Department of Emergency Medicine, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, 104217, Taiwan
| | - Abu Rahat
- Integrative Neuroscience Program, SUNY Binghamton, Vestal, NY, 13850, USA
| | - Howard C Chang
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA.
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12
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Morichon L, Hirtz C, Tiers L, Mezghrani A, Raoul C, Esselin F, La Cruz ED, Julien JP, Camu W, Lehmann S. Ultrasensitive digital immunoassays for SOD1 conformation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Bioanalysis 2023; 15:927-936. [PMID: 37650499 DOI: 10.4155/bio-2023-0103] [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] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to detect misfolded Cu/Zn SOD1 as a potential biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Materials & methods: Two ultrasensitive immunodetection assays were developed for the quantification of total and misfolded SOD1. Results: The detection of total and misfolded SOD1 was possible in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Total SOD1 was increased in cerebrospinal fluid from ALS patients. Misfolded SOD1 had low and variable expression in both control and ALS patient samples. Conclusion: These assays hold promise for improving our understanding of ALS and its detection, and could lead to more effective treatment options in the future. Further studies in larger cohorts are now required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Morichon
- LBPC-PPC, University of Montpellier, CHU Montpellier, INM INSERM, Montpellier, 34295, France
| | - Christophe Hirtz
- LBPC-PPC, University of Montpellier, CHU Montpellier, INM INSERM, Montpellier, 34295, France
| | - Laurent Tiers
- LBPC-PPC, University of Montpellier, CHU Montpellier, INM INSERM, Montpellier, 34295, France
| | | | - Cédric Raoul
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, 34295, France
| | - Florence Esselin
- Department of Neurology, University of Montpellier, CHU Montpellier, INM, INSERM, Montpellier, 34295, France
| | - Elisa De La Cruz
- Department of Neurology, University of Montpellier, CHU Montpellier, INM, INSERM, Montpellier, 34295, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, University Laval, Quebec City, 23027, Canada
| | - William Camu
- Department of Neurology, University of Montpellier, CHU Montpellier, INM, INSERM, Montpellier, 34295, France
| | - Sylvain Lehmann
- LBPC-PPC, University of Montpellier, CHU Montpellier, INM INSERM, Montpellier, 34295, France
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, 34295, France
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13
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Arnold FJ, Nguyen AD, Bedlack RS, Bennett CL, La Spada AR. Intercellular transmission of pathogenic proteins in ALS: Exploring the pathogenic wave. Neurobiol Dis 2023:106218. [PMID: 37394036 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106218] [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: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), disease symptoms and pathology typically spread in a predictable spatiotemporal pattern beginning at a focal site of onset and progressing along defined neuroanatomical tracts. Like other neurodegenerative diseases, ALS is characterized by the presence of protein aggregates in postmortem patient tissue. Cytoplasmic, ubiquitin-positive aggregates of TDP-43 are observed in approximately 97% of sporadic and familial ALS patients, while SOD1 inclusions are likely specific to cases of SOD1-ALS. Additionally, the most common subtype of familial ALS, caused by a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the first intron of the C9orf72 gene (C9-ALS), is further characterized by the presence of aggregated dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs). As we will describe, cell-to-cell propagation of these pathological proteins tightly correlates with the contiguous spread of disease. While TDP-43 and SOD1 are capable of seeding protein misfolding and aggregation in a prion-like manner, C9orf72 DPRs appear to induce (and transmit) a 'disease state' more generally. Multiple mechanisms of intercellular transport have been described for all of these proteins, including anterograde and retrograde axonal transport, extracellular vesicle secretion, and macropinocytosis. In addition to neuron-to-neuron transmission, transmission of pathological proteins occurs between neurons and glia. Given that the spread of ALS disease pathology corresponds with the spread of symptoms in patients, the various mechanisms by which ALS-associated protein aggregates propagate through the central nervous system should be closely examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- F J Arnold
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - A D Nguyen
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - R S Bedlack
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - C L Bennett
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - A R La Spada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Departments of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; UCI Center for Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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14
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Szebényi K, Barrio-Hernandez I, Gibbons GM, Biasetti L, Troakes C, Beltrao P, Lakatos A. A human proteogenomic-cellular framework identifies KIF5A as a modulator of astrocyte process integrity with relevance to ALS. Commun Biol 2023; 6:678. [PMID: 37386082 PMCID: PMC10310856 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05041-4] [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: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies identified several disease-causing mutations in neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the contribution of genetic variants to pathway disturbances and their cell type-specific variations, especially in glia, is poorly understood. We integrated ALS GWAS-linked gene networks with human astrocyte-specific multi-omics datasets to elucidate pathognomonic signatures. It predicts that KIF5A, a motor protein kinesin-1 heavy-chain isoform, previously detected only in neurons, can also potentiate disease pathways in astrocytes. Using postmortem tissue and super-resolution structured illumination microscopy in cell-based perturbation platforms, we provide evidence that KIF5A is present in astrocyte processes and its deficiency disrupts structural integrity and mitochondrial transport. We show that this may underly cytoskeletal and trafficking changes in SOD1 ALS astrocytes characterised by low KIF5A levels, which can be rescued by c-Jun N-terminal Kinase-1 (JNK1), a kinesin transport regulator. Altogether, our pipeline reveals a mechanism controlling astrocyte process integrity, a pre-requisite for synapse maintenance and suggests a targetable loss-of-function in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kornélia Szebényi
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | | | - George M Gibbons
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK
| | - Luca Biasetti
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Pedro Beltrao
- European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK.
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland.
| | - András Lakatos
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK.
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK.
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15
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Lim SM, Nahm M, Kim SH. Proteostasis and Ribostasis Impairment as Common Cell Death Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Diseases. J Clin Neurol 2023; 19:101-114. [PMID: 36854331 PMCID: PMC9982182 DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2022.0379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The cellular homeostasis of proteins (proteostasis) and RNA metabolism (ribostasis) are essential for maintaining both the structure and function of the brain. However, aging, cellular stress conditions, and genetic contributions cause disturbances in proteostasis and ribostasis that lead to protein misfolding, insoluble aggregate deposition, and abnormal ribonucleoprotein granule dynamics. In addition to neurons being primarily postmitotic, nondividing cells, they are more susceptible to the persistent accumulation of abnormal aggregates. Indeed, defects associated with the failure to maintain proteostasis and ribostasis are common pathogenic components of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Furthermore, the neuronal deposition of misfolded and aggregated proteins can cause both increased toxicity and impaired physiological function, which lead to neuronal dysfunction and cell death. There is recent evidence that irreversible liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is responsible for the pathogenic aggregate formation of disease-related proteins, including tau, α-synuclein, and RNA-binding proteins, including transactive response DNA-binding protein 43, fused in sarcoma, and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1. Investigations of LLPS and its control therefore suggest that chaperone/disaggregase, which reverse protein aggregation, are valuable therapeutic targets for effective treatments for neurological diseases. Here we review and discuss recent studies to highlight the importance of understanding the common cell death mechanisms of proteostasis and ribostasis in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Min Lim
- Cell Therapy Center and Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Minyeop Nahm
- Dementia Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Korea
| | - Seung Hyun Kim
- Cell Therapy Center and Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
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16
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Park JH, Nordström U, Tsiakas K, Keskin I, Elpers C, Mannil M, Heller R, Nolan M, Alburaiky S, Zetterström P, Hempel M, Schara-Schmidt U, Biskup S, Steinacker P, Otto M, Weishaupt J, Hahn A, Santer R, Marquardt T, Marklund SL, Andersen PM. The motor system is exceptionally vulnerable to absence of the ubiquitously expressed superoxide dismutase-1. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad017. [PMID: 36793789 PMCID: PMC9924500 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Superoxide dismutase-1 is a ubiquitously expressed antioxidant enzyme. Mutations in SOD1 can cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, probably via a toxic gain-of-function involving protein aggregation and prion-like mechanisms. Recently, homozygosity for loss-of-function mutations in SOD1 has been reported in patients presenting with infantile-onset motor neuron disease. We explored the bodily effects of superoxide dismutase-1 enzymatic deficiency in eight children homozygous for the p.C112Wfs*11 truncating mutation. In addition to physical and imaging examinations, we collected blood, urine and skin fibroblast samples. We used a comprehensive panel of clinically established analyses to assess organ function and analysed oxidative stress markers, antioxidant compounds, and the characteristics of the mutant Superoxide dismutase-1. From around 8 months of age, all patients exhibited progressive signs of both upper and lower motor neuron dysfunction, cerebellar, brain stem, and frontal lobe atrophy and elevated plasma neurofilament concentration indicating ongoing axonal damage. The disease progression seemed to slow down over the following years. The p.C112Wfs*11 gene product is unstable, rapidly degraded and no aggregates were found in fibroblast. Most laboratory tests indicated normal organ integrity and only a few modest deviations were found. The patients displayed anaemia with shortened survival of erythrocytes containing decreased levels of reduced glutathione. A variety of other antioxidants and oxidant damage markers were within normal range. In conclusion, non-neuronal organs in humans show a remarkable tolerance to absence of Superoxide dismutase-1 enzymatic activity. The study highlights the enigmatic specific vulnerability of the motor system to both gain-of-function mutations in SOD1 and loss of the enzyme as in the here depicted infantile superoxide dismutase-1 deficiency syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien H Park
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden,Department of General Paediatrics, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Ulrika Nordström
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Konstantinos Tsiakas
- Department of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Isil Keskin
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Pathology, Umeå University, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Christiane Elpers
- Department of General Paediatrics, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Manoj Mannil
- Clinic for Radiology, University Hospital Münster, WWU University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Raoul Heller
- Starship Children’s Health, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Melinda Nolan
- Starship Children’s Health, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Salam Alburaiky
- Starship Children’s Health, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Per Zetterström
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Clinical Chemistry, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Maja Hempel
- Department of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany,Current address: Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Saskia Biskup
- CeGAT GmbH and Praxis für Humangenetik Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Petra Steinacker
- Department of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jochen Weishaupt
- Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andreas Hahn
- Department of Child Neurology, Justus Liebig University, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - René Santer
- Department of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Marquardt
- Department of General Paediatrics, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Stefan L Marklund
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Clinical Chemistry, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Peter M Andersen
- Correspondence to: Peter Munch Andersen Department of Clinical Science, Neurosciences Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden E-mail:
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17
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Forsberg KM, Graffmo KS, Stenvall E, Tabikh N, Marklund SL, Brännström T, Andersen PM. Widespread CNS pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis homozygous for the D90A SOD1 mutation. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 145:13-28. [PMID: 36385230 PMCID: PMC9807479 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02519-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the gene encoding the ubiquitously expressed free radical scavenging enzyme superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) are found in 2-6% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. The most frequent SOD1 mutation worldwide is D90A. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by this mutation has some unusual features: the heredity is usually recessive, the phenotype is stereotypic with slowly evolving motor symptoms beginning in the legs and may also include sensory, autonomic, and urinary bladder involvement. Furthermore, the mutant protein resembles the wild type, with normal content and enzymatic activity in the central nervous system. Here, we report neuropathological findings in nine patients homozygous for the D90A mutation. All nine had numerous small granular inclusions immunoreactive for misfolded SOD1 in motor neurons and glial nuclei in the spinal cord and brainstem. In addition to degeneration of the corticospinal tracts, all patients had degeneration of the dorsal columns. We also found intense gliosis in circumscribed cortical areas of the frontal and temporal lobes and in the insula. In these areas and in adjacent white matter, there were SOD1 staining neuropil threads. A few SOD1-immunopositive cytoplasmic neuronal inclusions were observed in cortical areas, as were glial nuclear inclusions. As suggested by the symptoms and signs and earlier neurophysiological and imaging investigations, the histopathology in patients homozygous for the D90A SOD1 extends beyond the motor system to include cognitive and sensory cortical areas. However, even in the patients that had a symptomatic disease duration of more than 2 or 3 decades and lived into their 70s or 80s, there were no SOD1-inclusion pathology and no typical dysfunction (apart from the musculature) in non-nervous organs. Thus, only specific parts of the CNS seem to be vulnerable to toxicity provoked by homozygously expressed mutant SOD1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin M Forsberg
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences, Umeå University, 90185, Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Medical Biosciences, Pathology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Karin S Graffmo
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Pathology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Erica Stenvall
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Pathology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Naima Tabikh
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Pathology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Stefan L Marklund
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Clinical Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Thomas Brännström
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Pathology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Peter M Andersen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences, Umeå University, 90185, Umeå, Sweden.
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18
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Ng W, Ng SY. Remodeling of astrocyte secretome in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: uncovering novel targets to combat astrocyte-mediated toxicity. Transl Neurodegener 2022; 11:54. [PMID: 36567359 PMCID: PMC9791755 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00332-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset paralytic disease characterized by progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons in the motor cortex, brainstem and spinal cord. Motor neuron degeneration is typically caused by a combination of intrinsic neuronal (cell autonomous) defects as well as extrinsic (non-cell autonomous) factors such as astrocyte-mediated toxicity. Astrocytes are highly plastic cells that react to their microenvironment to mediate relevant responses. In neurodegeneration, astrocytes often turn reactive and in turn secrete a slew of factors to exert pro-inflammatory and neurotoxic effects. Various efforts have been carried out to characterize the diseased astrocyte secretome over the years, revealing that pro-inflammatory chemokines, cytokines and microRNAs are the main players in mediating neuronal death. As metabolomic technologies mature, these studies begin to shed light on neurotoxic metabolites such as secreted lipids. In this focused review, we will discuss changes in the astrocyte secretome during ALS. In particular, we will discuss the components of the reactive astrocyte secretome that contribute to neuronal death in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winanto Ng
- grid.418812.60000 0004 0620 9243Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673 Singapore
| | - Shi-Yan Ng
- grid.418812.60000 0004 0620 9243Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673 Singapore
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19
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Trist BG, Fifita JA, Hogan A, Grima N, Smith B, Troakes C, Vance C, Shaw C, Al-Sarraj S, Blair IP, Double KL. Co-deposition of SOD1, TDP-43 and p62 proteinopathies in ALS: evidence for multifaceted pathways underlying neurodegeneration. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:122. [PMID: 36008843 PMCID: PMC9404564 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01421-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple neurotoxic proteinopathies co-exist within vulnerable neuronal populations in all major neurodegenerative diseases. Interactions between these pathologies may modulate disease progression, suggesting they may constitute targets for disease-modifying treatments aiming to slow or halt neurodegeneration. Pairwise interactions between superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and ubiquitin-binding protein 62/sequestosome 1 (p62) proteinopathies have been reported in multiple transgenic cellular and animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), however corresponding examination of these relationships in patient tissues is lacking. Further, the coalescence of all three proteinopathies has not been studied in vitro or in vivo to date. These data are essential to guide therapeutic development and enhance the translation of relevant therapies into the clinic. Our group recently profiled SOD1 proteinopathy in post-mortem spinal cord tissues from familial and sporadic ALS cases, demonstrating an abundance of structurally-disordered (dis)SOD1 conformers which become mislocalized within these vulnerable neurons compared with those of aged controls. To explore any relationships between this, and other, ALS-linked proteinopathies, we profiled TDP-43 and p62 within spinal cord motor neurons of the same post-mortem tissue cohort using multiplexed immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. We identified distinct patterns of SOD1, TDP43 and p62 co-deposition and subcellular mislocalization between motor neurons of familial and sporadic ALS cases, which we primarily attribute to SOD1 gene status. Our data demonstrate co-deposition of p62 with mutant and wild-type disSOD1 and phosphorylated TDP-43 in familial and sporadic ALS spinal cord motor neurons, consistent with attempts by p62 to mitigate SOD1 and TDP-43 deposition. Wild-type SOD1 and TDP-43 co-deposition was also frequently observed in ALS cases lacking SOD1 mutations. Finally, alterations to the subcellular localization of the three proteins were tightly correlated, suggesting close relationships between the regulatory mechanisms governing the subcellular compartmentalization of these proteins. Our study is the first to profile spatial relationships between SOD1, TDP-43 and p62 pathologies in post-mortem spinal cord motor neurons of ALS patients, previously only studied in vitro. Our findings suggest interactions between these three key ALS-linked proteins are likely to modulate the formation of their respective proteinopathies, and perhaps the rate of motor neuron degeneration, in ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin G Trist
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
| | - Jennifer A Fifita
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alison Hogan
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Natalie Grima
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bradley Smith
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Camberwell, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Caroline Vance
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Camberwell, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Christopher Shaw
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Camberwell, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Safa Al-Sarraj
- London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Ian P Blair
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kay L Double
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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20
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4-Phenylbutyric Acid (4-PBA) Derivatives Prevent SOD1 Amyloid Aggregation In Vitro with No Effect on Disease Progression in SOD1-ALS Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169403. [PMID: 36012668 PMCID: PMC9409193 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169403] [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: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons. Mutations in the superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene, causing protein misfolding and aggregation, were suggested as the pathogenic mechanisms involved in familial ALS cases. In the present study, we investigated the potential therapeutic effect of C4 and C5, two derivatives of the chemical chaperone 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA). By combining in vivo and in vitro techniques, we show that, although C4 and C5 successfully inhibited amyloid aggregation of recombinant mutant SOD1 in a dose-dependent manner, they failed to suppress the accumulation of misfolded SOD1. Moreover, C4 or C5 daily injections to SOD1G93A mice following onset had no effect on either the accumulation of misfolded SOD1 or the neuroinflammatory response in the spinal cord and, consequently, failed to extend the survival of SOD1G93A mice or to improve their motor symptoms. Finally, pharmacokinetic (PK) studies demonstrated that high concentrations of C4 and C5 reached the brain and spinal cord but only for a short period of time. Thus, our findings suggest that use of such chemical chaperones for ALS drug development may need to be optimized for more effective results.
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21
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Synucleinopathy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Potential Avenue for Antisense Therapeutics? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169364. [PMID: 36012622 PMCID: PMC9409035 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169364] [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: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common adult-onset motor neuron disease classified as both a neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorder. With a complex aetiology and no current cure for ALS, broadening the understanding of disease pathology and therapeutic avenues is required to progress with patient care. Alpha-synuclein (αSyn) is a hallmark for disease in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, and multiple system atrophy. A growing body of evidence now suggests that αSyn may also play a pathological role in ALS, with αSyn-positive Lewy bodies co-aggregating alongside known ALS pathogenic proteins, such as SOD1 and TDP-43. This review endeavours to capture the scope of literature regarding the aetiology and development of ALS and its commonalities with "synucleinopathy disorders". We will discuss the involvement of αSyn in ALS and motor neuron disease pathology, and the current theories and strategies for therapeutics in ALS treatment, as well as those targeting αSyn for synucleinopathies, with a core focus on small molecule RNA technologies.
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22
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Gosset P, Camu W, Raoul C, Mezghrani A. Prionoids in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac145. [PMID: 35783556 PMCID: PMC9242622 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the third most frequent neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. ALS is characterized by the selective and progressive loss of motoneurons in the spinal cord, brainstem and cerebral cortex. Clinical manifestations typically occur in midlife and start with focal muscle weakness, followed by the rapid and progressive wasting of muscles and subsequent paralysis. As with other neurodegenerative diseases, the condition typically begins at an initial point and then spreads along neuroanatomical tracts. This feature of disease progression suggests the spreading of prion-like proteins called prionoids in the affected tissues, which is similar to the spread of prion observed in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Intensive research over the last decade has proposed the ALS-causing gene products Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1, TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa, and fused in sarcoma as very plausible prionoids contributing to the spread of the pathology. In this review, we will discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to the propagation of these prionoids in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Gosset
- INM, Univ Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier 34095, France
| | - William Camu
- INM, Univ Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier 34095, France
| | - Cedric Raoul
- INM, Univ Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier 34095, France
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23
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Trist BG, Genoud S, Roudeau S, Rookyard A, Abdeen A, Cottam V, Hare DJ, White M, Altvater J, Fifita JA, Hogan A, Grima N, Blair IP, Kysenius K, Crouch PJ, Carmona A, Rufin Y, Claverol S, Van Malderen S, Falkenberg G, Paterson DJ, Smith B, Troakes C, Vance C, Shaw CE, Al-Sarraj S, Cordwell S, Halliday G, Ortega R, Double KL. Altered SOD1 maturation and post-translational modification in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spinal cord. Brain 2022; 145:3108-3130. [PMID: 35512359 PMCID: PMC9473357 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant self-assembly and toxicity of wild-type and mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) has been widely examined in silico, in vitro, and in transgenic animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Detailed examination of the protein in disease-affected tissues from ALS patients, however, remains scarce. We employed histological, biochemical and analytical techniques to profile alterations to SOD1 protein deposition, subcellular localization, maturation and post-translational modification in post-mortem spinal cord tissues from ALS cases and controls. Tissues were dissected into ventral and dorsal spinal cord grey matter to assess the specificity of alterations within regions of motor neuron degeneration. We provide evidence of the mislocalization and accumulation of structurally-disordered, immature SOD1 protein conformers in spinal cord motor neurons of SOD1-linked and non-SOD1-linked familial ALS cases, and sporadic ALS cases, compared with control motor neurons. These changes were collectively associated with instability and mismetallation of enzymatically-active SOD1 dimers, as well as alterations to SOD1 post-translational modifications and molecular chaperones governing SOD1 maturation. Atypical changes to SOD1 protein were largely restricted to regions of neurodegeneration in ALS cases, and clearly differentiated all forms of ALS from controls. Substantial heterogeneity in the presence of these changes was also observed between ALS cases. Our data demonstrates that varying forms of SOD1 proteinopathy are a common feature of all forms of ALS, and support the presence of one or more convergent biochemical pathways leading to SOD1 proteinopathy in ALS. The majority of these alterations are specific to regions of neurodegeneration, and may therefore constitute valid targets for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin G Trist
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Sian Genoud
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Stéphane Roudeau
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, CENBG, UMR 5797, F-33170 Gradignan, France
| | - Alexander Rookyard
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Amr Abdeen
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Veronica Cottam
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Dominic J Hare
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.,Atomic Medicine Initiative, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Melanie White
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jens Altvater
- Sydney Mass Spectrometry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jennifer A Fifita
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alison Hogan
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Natalie Grima
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian P Blair
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kai Kysenius
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Peter J Crouch
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Asuncion Carmona
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, CENBG, UMR 5797, F-33170 Gradignan, France
| | - Yann Rufin
- Plateforme Biochimie, University of Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Stijn Van Malderen
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gerald Falkenberg
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - David J Paterson
- Australian Synchrotron, ANSTO, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Bradley Smith
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Camberwell, SE5 9RT, London, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, 5 Cutcombe Road, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Caroline Vance
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Camberwell, SE5 9RT, London, UK
| | - Christopher E Shaw
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, 5 Cutcombe Road, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Safa Al-Sarraj
- London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, SE5 8AF, London, UK
| | - Stuart Cordwell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Glenda Halliday
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Richard Ortega
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, CENBG, UMR 5797, F-33170 Gradignan, France
| | - Kay L Double
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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24
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Milicevic K, Rankovic B, Andjus PR, Bataveljic D, Milovanovic D. Emerging Roles for Phase Separation of RNA-Binding Proteins in Cellular Pathology of ALS. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:840256. [PMID: 35372329 PMCID: PMC8965147 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.840256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is emerging as a major principle for the mesoscale organization of proteins, RNAs, and membrane-bound organelles into biomolecular condensates. These condensates allow for rapid cellular responses to changes in metabolic activities and signaling. Nowhere is this regulation more important than in neurons and glia, where cellular physiology occurs simultaneously on a range of time- and length-scales. In a number of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), misregulation of biomolecular condensates leads to the formation of insoluble aggregates-a pathological hallmark of both sporadic and familial ALS. Here, we summarize how the emerging knowledge about the LLPS of ALS-related proteins corroborates with their aggregation. Understanding the mechanisms that lead to protein aggregation in ALS and how cells respond to these aggregates promises to open new directions for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Milicevic
- Center for Laser Microscopy, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry “Ivan Djaja”, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Branislava Rankovic
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany
| | - Pavle R. Andjus
- Center for Laser Microscopy, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry “Ivan Djaja”, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danijela Bataveljic
- Center for Laser Microscopy, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry “Ivan Djaja”, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dragomir Milovanovic
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany
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25
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Reyes-Leiva D, Dols-Icardo O, Sirisi S, Cortés-Vicente E, Turon-Sans J, de Luna N, Blesa R, Belbin O, Montal V, Alcolea D, Fortea J, Lleó A, Rojas-García R, Illán-Gala I. Pathophysiological Underpinnings of Extra-Motor Neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: New Insights From Biomarker Studies. Front Neurol 2022; 12:750543. [PMID: 35115992 PMCID: PMC8804092 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.750543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) lie at opposing ends of a clinical, genetic, and neuropathological continuum. In the last decade, it has become clear that cognitive and behavioral changes in patients with ALS are more frequent than previously recognized. Significantly, these non-motor features can impact the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of ALS. Partially overlapping neuropathological staging systems have been proposed to describe the distribution of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) aggregates outside the corticospinal tract. However, the relationship between TDP-43 inclusions and neurodegeneration is not absolute and other pathophysiological processes, such as neuroinflammation (with a prominent role of microglia), cortical hyperexcitability, and synaptic dysfunction also play a central role in ALS pathophysiology. In the last decade, imaging and biofluid biomarker studies have revealed important insights into the pathophysiological underpinnings of extra-motor neurodegeneration in the ALS-FTLD continuum. In this review, we first summarize the clinical and pathophysiological correlates of extra-motor neurodegeneration in ALS. Next, we discuss the diagnostic and prognostic value of biomarkers in ALS and their potential to characterize extra-motor neurodegeneration. Finally, we debate about how biomarkers could improve the diagnosis and classification of ALS. Emerging imaging biomarkers of extra-motor neurodegeneration that enable the monitoring of disease progression are particularly promising. In addition, a growing arsenal of biofluid biomarkers linked to neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation are improving the diagnostic accuracy and identification of patients with a faster progression rate. The development and validation of biomarkers that detect the pathological aggregates of TDP-43 in vivo are notably expected to further elucidate the pathophysiological underpinnings of extra-motor neurodegeneration in ALS. Novel biomarkers tracking the different aspects of ALS pathophysiology are paving the way to precision medicine approaches in the ALS-FTLD continuum. These are essential steps to improve the diagnosis and staging of ALS and the design of clinical trials testing novel disease-modifying treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Reyes-Leiva
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, CIBERER, Valencia, Spain
| | - Oriol Dols-Icardo
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonia Sirisi
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Cortés-Vicente
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, CIBERER, Valencia, Spain
| | - Janina Turon-Sans
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, CIBERER, Valencia, Spain
| | - Noemi de Luna
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, CIBERER, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rafael Blesa
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Olivia Belbin
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Victor Montal
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Alcolea
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Fortea
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Lleó
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricard Rojas-García
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, CIBERER, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ignacio Illán-Gala
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Ignacio Illán-Gala
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26
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Wang H, Kodavati M, Britz GW, Hegde ML. DNA Damage and Repair Deficiency in ALS/FTD-Associated Neurodegeneration: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Implication. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:784361. [PMID: 34975400 PMCID: PMC8716463 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.784361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging studies reveal that neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), are commonly linked to DNA damage accumulation and repair deficiency. Neurons are particularly vulnerable to DNA damage due to their high metabolic activity, relying primarily on oxidative phosphorylation, which leads to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and subsequent DNA damage. Efficient and timely repair of such damage is critical for guarding the integrity of genomic DNA and for cell survival. Several genes predominantly associated with RNA/DNA metabolism have been implicated in both ALS and FTD, suggesting that the two diseases share a common underlying pathology with varied clinical manifestations. Recent studies reveal that many of the gene products, including RNA/DNA binding proteins (RBPs) TDP-43 and FUS are involved in diverse DNA repair pathways. A key question in the etiology of the ALS/FTD spectrum of neurodegeneration is the mechanisms and pathways involved in genome instability caused by dysfunctions/mutations of those RBP genes and their consequences in the central nervous system. The understanding of such converging molecular mechanisms provides insights into the underlying etiology of the rapidly progressing neurodegeneration in ALS/FTD, while also revealing novel DNA repair target avenues for therapeutic development. In this review, we summarize the common mechanisms of neurodegeneration in ALS and FTD, with a particular emphasis on the DNA repair defects induced by ALS/FTD causative genes. We also highlight the consequences of DNA repair defects in ALS/FTD and the therapeutic potential of DNA damage repair-targeted amelioration of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience Research at Neurological Surgery, Weill Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Manohar Kodavati
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Gavin W. Britz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience Research at Neurological Surgery, Weill Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Muralidhar L. Hegde
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience Research at Neurological Surgery, Weill Medical College, New York, NY, United States
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27
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Molecular Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Strategies. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10071012. [PMID: 34202494 PMCID: PMC8300638 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10071012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with the progressive loss of motor neurons, leading to a fatal paralysis. According to whether there is a family history of ALS, ALS can be roughly divided into two types: familial and sporadic. Despite decades of research, the pathogenesis of ALS is still unelucidated. To this end, we review the recent progress of ALS pathogenesis, biomarkers, and treatment strategies, mainly discuss the roles of immune disorders, redox imbalance, autophagy dysfunction, and disordered iron homeostasis in the pathogenesis of ALS, and introduce the effects of RNA binding proteins, ALS-related genes, and non-coding RNA as biomarkers on ALS. In addition, we also mention other ALS biomarkers such as serum uric acid (UA), cardiolipin (CL), chitotriosidase (CHIT1), and neurofilament light chain (NFL). Finally, we discuss the drug therapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell-exosomal therapy for ALS, attempting to find new therapeutic targets and strategies. A challenge is to study the various mechanisms of ALS as a syndrome. Biomarkers that have been widely explored are indispensable for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ALS. Moreover, the development of new genes and targets is an urgent task in this field.
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28
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Sea KW, Taylor AB, Thomas ST, Liba A, Bergman IB, Holloway SP, Cao X, Gralla EB, Valentine JS, Hart PJ, Galaleldeen A. A pH Switch Controls Zinc Binding in Tomato Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutase. Biochemistry 2021; 60:1597-1608. [PMID: 33961402 PMCID: PMC8754426 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00133] [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] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is a major antioxidant metalloenzyme that protects cells from oxidative damage by superoxide anions (O2-). Structural, biophysical, and other characteristics have in the past been compiled for mammalian SOD1s and for the highly homologous fungal and bovine SOD1s. Here, we characterize the biophysical properties of a plant SOD1 from tomato chloroplasts and present several of its crystal structures. The most unusual of these structures is a structure at low pH in which tSOD1 harbors zinc in the copper-binding site but contains no metal in the zinc-binding site. The side chain of D83, normally a zinc ligand, adopts an alternate rotameric conformation to form an unusual bidentate hydrogen bond with the side chain of D124, precluding metal binding in the zinc-binding site. This alternate conformation of D83 appears to be responsible for the previously observed pH-dependent loss of zinc from the zinc-binding site of SOD1. Titrations of cobalt into apo tSOD1 at a similar pH support the lack of an intact zinc-binding site. Further characterization of tSOD1 reveals that it is a weaker dimer relative to human SOD1 and that it can be activated in vivo through a copper chaperone for the SOD1-independent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin W. Sea
- Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, California 95401
| | - Alexander B. Taylor
- Department of Biochemistry and the X-ray Crystallography Core Laboratory, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Susan T. Thomas
- Department of Biochemistry and the X-ray Crystallography Core Laboratory, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Amir Liba
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Isabelle B. Bergman
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX 78228
| | - Stephen P. Holloway
- Department of Biochemistry and the X-ray Crystallography Core Laboratory, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Xiaohang Cao
- Department of Biochemistry and the X-ray Crystallography Core Laboratory, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Edith B. Gralla
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Joan S. Valentine
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - P. John Hart
- Department of Biochemistry and the X-ray Crystallography Core Laboratory, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Ahmad Galaleldeen
- Department of Biochemistry and the X-ray Crystallography Core Laboratory, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX 78228
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29
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Trist BG, Hilton JB, Hare DJ, Crouch PJ, Double KL. Superoxide Dismutase 1 in Health and Disease: How a Frontline Antioxidant Becomes Neurotoxic. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:9215-9246. [PMID: 32144830 PMCID: PMC8247289 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202000451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is a frontline antioxidant enzyme catalysing superoxide breakdown and is important for most forms of eukaryotic life. The evolution of aerobic respiration by mitochondria increased cellular production of superoxide, resulting in an increased reliance upon SOD1. Consistent with the importance of SOD1 for cellular health, many human diseases of the central nervous system involve perturbations in SOD1 biology. But far from providing a simple demonstration of how disease arises from SOD1 loss-of-function, attempts to elucidate pathways by which atypical SOD1 biology leads to neurodegeneration have revealed unexpectedly complex molecular characteristics delineating healthy, functional SOD1 protein from that which likely contributes to central nervous system disease. This review summarises current understanding of SOD1 biology from SOD1 genetics through to protein function and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin G. Trist
- Brain and Mind Centre and Discipline of PharmacologyThe University of Sydney, CamperdownSydneyNew South Wales2050Australia
| | - James B. Hilton
- Department of Pharmacology and TherapeuticsThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoria3052Australia
| | - Dominic J. Hare
- Brain and Mind Centre and Discipline of PharmacologyThe University of Sydney, CamperdownSydneyNew South Wales2050Australia
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoria3052Australia
- Atomic Medicine InitiativeThe University of Technology SydneyBroadwayNew South Wales2007Australia
| | - Peter J. Crouch
- Department of Pharmacology and TherapeuticsThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoria3052Australia
| | - Kay L. Double
- Brain and Mind Centre and Discipline of PharmacologyThe University of Sydney, CamperdownSydneyNew South Wales2050Australia
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30
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Rusina R, Vandenberghe R, Bruffaerts R. Cognitive and Behavioral Manifestations in ALS: Beyond Motor System Involvement. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11040624. [PMID: 33808458 PMCID: PMC8065866 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11040624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has long been considered to be a purely motor disorder. However, it has become apparent that many ALS patients develop cognitive and behavioral manifestations similar to frontotemporal dementia and the term amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal spectrum disorder (ALS-FTSD) is now used in these circumstances. This review is intended to be an overview of the cognitive and behavioral manifestations commonly encountered in ALS patients with the goal of improving case-oriented management in clinical practice. We introduce the principal ALS-FTSD subtypes and comment on their principal clinical manifestations, neuroimaging findings, neuropathological and genetic background, and summarize available therapeutic options. Diagnostic criteria for ALS-FTSD create distinct categories based on the type of neuropsychological manifestations, i.e., changes in behavior, impaired social cognition, executive dysfunction, and language or memory impairment. Cognitive impairment is found in up to 65%, while frank dementia affects about 15% of ALS patients. ALS motor and cognitive manifestations can worsen in parallel, becoming more pronounced when bulbar functions (affecting speech, swallowing, and salivation) are involved. Dementia can precede or develop after the appearance of motor symptoms. ALS-FTSD patients have a worse prognosis and shorter survival rates than patients with ALS or frontotemporal dementia alone. Important negative prognostic factors are behavioral and personality changes. From the clinician's perspective, there are five major distinguishable ALS-FTSD subtypes: ALS with cognitive impairment, ALS with behavioral impairment, ALS with combined cognitive and behavioral impairment, fully developed frontotemporal dementia in combination with ALS, and comorbid ALS and Alzheimer's disease. Although the most consistent ALS and ALS-FTSD pathology is a disturbance in transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) metabolism, alterations in microtubule-associated tau protein metabolism have also been observed in ALS-FTSD. Early detection and careful monitoring of cognitive deficits in ALS are crucial for patient and caregiver support and enable personalized management of individual patient needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Rusina
- Department of Neurology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and Thomayer University Hospital, 140 59 Prague, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +420-26108-2479
| | - Rik Vandenberghe
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (R.V.); (R.B.)
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rose Bruffaerts
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (R.V.); (R.B.)
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
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31
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Lobar Degenerations: Similarities in Genetic Background. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11030509. [PMID: 33805659 PMCID: PMC7998502 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11030509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating, uniformly lethal progressive degenerative disorder of motor neurons that overlaps with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) clinically, morphologically, and genetically. Although many distinct mutations in various genes are known to cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, it remains poorly understood how they selectively impact motor neuron biology and whether they converge on common pathways to cause neuronal degeneration. Many of the gene mutations are in proteins that share similar functions. They can be grouped into those associated with cell axon dynamics and those associated with cellular phagocytic machinery, namely protein aggregation and metabolism, apoptosis, and intracellular nucleic acid transport. Analysis of pathways implicated by mutant ALS genes has provided new insights into the pathogenesis of both familial forms of ALS (fALS) and sporadic forms (sALS), although, regrettably, this has not yet yielded definitive treatments. Many genes play an important role, with TARDBP, SQSTM1, VCP, FUS, TBK1, CHCHD10, and most importantly, C9orf72 being critical genetic players in these neurological disorders. In this mini-review, we will focus on the molecular mechanisms of these two diseases.
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32
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Nguyen PH, Ramamoorthy A, Sahoo BR, Zheng J, Faller P, Straub JE, Dominguez L, Shea JE, Dokholyan NV, De Simone A, Ma B, Nussinov R, Najafi S, Ngo ST, Loquet A, Chiricotto M, Ganguly P, McCarty J, Li MS, Hall C, Wang Y, Miller Y, Melchionna S, Habenstein B, Timr S, Chen J, Hnath B, Strodel B, Kayed R, Lesné S, Wei G, Sterpone F, Doig AJ, Derreumaux P. Amyloid Oligomers: A Joint Experimental/Computational Perspective on Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Type II Diabetes, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Chem Rev 2021; 121:2545-2647. [PMID: 33543942 PMCID: PMC8836097 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 386] [Impact Index Per Article: 128.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Protein misfolding and aggregation is observed in many amyloidogenic diseases affecting either the central nervous system or a variety of peripheral tissues. Structural and dynamic characterization of all species along the pathways from monomers to fibrils is challenging by experimental and computational means because they involve intrinsically disordered proteins in most diseases. Yet understanding how amyloid species become toxic is the challenge in developing a treatment for these diseases. Here we review what computer, in vitro, in vivo, and pharmacological experiments tell us about the accumulation and deposition of the oligomers of the (Aβ, tau), α-synuclein, IAPP, and superoxide dismutase 1 proteins, which have been the mainstream concept underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), type II diabetes (T2D), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research, respectively, for many years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong H Nguyen
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
| | - Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy
- Biophysics and Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055, United States
| | - Bikash R Sahoo
- Biophysics and Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055, United States
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Peter Faller
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 4 rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - John E Straub
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Laura Dominguez
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Joan-Emma Shea
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
- Department of Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
- Molecular Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80138, Italy
| | - Buyong Ma
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruth Nussinov
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
- Sackler Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Saeed Najafi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Son Tung Ngo
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Biophysics & Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, 33000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Antoine Loquet
- Institute of Chemistry & Biology of Membranes & Nanoobjects, (UMR5248 CBMN), CNRS, Université Bordeaux, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Mara Chiricotto
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Pritam Ganguly
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - James McCarty
- Chemistry Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington 98225, United States
| | - Mai Suan Li
- Institute for Computational Science and Technology, SBI Building, Quang Trung Software City, Tan Chanh Hiep Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Carol Hall
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States
| | - Yiming Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States
| | - Yifat Miller
- Department of Chemistry and The Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva 84105, Israel
| | | | - Birgit Habenstein
- Institute of Chemistry & Biology of Membranes & Nanoobjects, (UMR5248 CBMN), CNRS, Université Bordeaux, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Stepan Timr
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
| | - Jiaxing Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
| | - Brianna Hnath
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
| | - Birgit Strodel
- Institute of Complex Systems: Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, and Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Sylvain Lesné
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Guanghong Wei
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, and Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Science, Multiscale Research Institute of Complex Systems, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Fabio Sterpone
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
| | - Andrew J Doig
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Philippe Derreumaux
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
- Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry, Ton Duc Thang University, 33000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Ton Duc Thang University, 33000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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33
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Genç B, Gautam M, Gözütok Ö, Dervishi I, Sanchez S, Goshu GM, Koçak N, Xie E, Silverman RB, Özdinler PH. Improving mitochondria and ER stability helps eliminate upper motor neuron degeneration that occurs due to mSOD1 toxicity and TDP-43 pathology. Clin Transl Med 2021; 11:e336. [PMID: 33634973 PMCID: PMC7898037 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Upper motor neurons (UMNs) are a key component of motor neuron circuitry. Their degeneration is a hallmark for diseases, such as hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Currently there are no preclinical assays investigating cellular responses of UMNs to compound treatment, even for diseases of the UMNs. The basis of UMN vulnerability is not fully understood, and no compound has yet been identified to improve the health of diseased UMNs: two major roadblocks for building effective treatment strategies. METHODS Novel UMN reporter models, in which UMNs that are diseased because of misfolded superoxide dismutase protein (mSOD1) toxicity and TDP-43 pathology are labeled with eGFP expression, allow direct assessment of UMN response to compound treatment. Electron microscopy reveals very precise aspects of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial damage. Administration of NU-9, a compound initially identified based on its ability to reduce mSOD1 toxicity, has profound impact on improving the health and stability of UMNs, as identified by detailed cellular and ultrastructural analyses. RESULTS Problems with mitochondria and ER are conserved in diseased UMNs among different species. NU-9 has drug-like pharmacokinetic properties. It lacks toxicity and crosses the blood brain barrier. NU-9 improves the structural integrity of mitochondria and ER, reduces levels of mSOD1, stabilizes degenerating UMN apical dendrites, improves motor behavior measured by the hanging wire test, and eliminates ongoing degeneration of UMNs that become diseased both because of mSOD1 toxicity and TDP-43 pathology, two distinct and important overarching causes of motor neuron degeneration. CONCLUSIONS Mechanism-focused and cell-based drug discovery approaches not only addressed key cellular defects responsible for UMN loss, but also identified NU-9, the first compound to improve the health of diseased UMNs, neurons that degenerate in ALS, HSP, PLS, and ALS/FTLD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barış Genç
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Mukesh Gautam
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Öge Gözütok
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Ina Dervishi
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Santana Sanchez
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Gashaw M. Goshu
- Department of ChemistryNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
| | - Nuran Koçak
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Edward Xie
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Richard B. Silverman
- Department of ChemistryNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, Center for Developmental TherapeuticsNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Chemistry of Life Processes InstituteNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIL60208
| | - P. Hande Özdinler
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, Center for Developmental TherapeuticsNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
- Chemistry of Life Processes InstituteNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIL60208
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's DiseaseNorthwestern University, Feinberg School of MedicineChicagoIL60611
- Les Turner ALS CenterNorthwestern University, Feinberg School of MedicineChicagoIL60611
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34
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Kiernan MC. Metabolomic insights into neurodegene-rative disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2020; 91:1250. [PMID: 32928936 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2020-324856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Kiernan
- Bushell Chair of Neurology, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia .,Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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35
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Pröbstel AK, Zhou X, Baumann R, Wischnewski S, Kutza M, Rojas OL, Sellrie K, Bischof A, Kim K, Ramesh A, Dandekar R, Greenfield AL, Schubert RD, Bisanz JE, Vistnes S, Khaleghi K, Landefeld J, Kirkish G, Liesche-Starnecker F, Ramaglia V, Singh S, Tran EB, Barba P, Zorn K, Oechtering J, Forsberg K, Shiow LR, Henry RG, Graves J, Cree BAC, Hauser SL, Kuhle J, Gelfand JM, Andersen PM, Schlegel J, Turnbaugh PJ, Seeberger PH, Gommerman JL, Wilson MR, Schirmer L, Baranzini SE. Gut microbiota-specific IgA + B cells traffic to the CNS in active multiple sclerosis. Sci Immunol 2020; 5:5/53/eabc7191. [PMID: 33219152 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abc7191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Changes in gut microbiota composition and a diverse role of B cells have recently been implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS), a central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune disease. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is a key regulator at the mucosal interface. However, whether gut microbiota shape IgA responses and what role IgA+ cells have in neuroinflammation are unknown. Here, we identify IgA-bound taxa in MS and show that IgA-producing cells specific for MS-associated taxa traffic to the inflamed CNS, resulting in a strong, compartmentalized IgA enrichment in active MS and other neuroinflammatory diseases. Unlike previously characterized polyreactive anti-commensal IgA responses, CNS IgA cross-reacts with surface structures on specific bacterial strains but not with brain tissue. These findings establish gut microbiota-specific IgA+ cells as a systemic mediator in MS and suggest a critical role of mucosal B cells during active neuroinflammation with broad implications for IgA as an informative biomarker and IgA-producing cells as an immune subset to harness for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Katrin Pröbstel
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. .,Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel, Departments of Medicine, Biomedicine, and Clinical Research, University Hospital of Basel, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xiaoyuan Zhou
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ryan Baumann
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Sven Wischnewski
- Department of Neurology and Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael Kutza
- Department of Neurology and Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Olga L Rojas
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 18A, Canada
| | - Katrin Sellrie
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14776 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Antje Bischof
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Kicheol Kim
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Akshaya Ramesh
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ravi Dandekar
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ariele L Greenfield
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ryan D Schubert
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jordan E Bisanz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Stephanie Vistnes
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Stem Cell Research and Regeneration Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Khashayar Khaleghi
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 18A, Canada
| | - James Landefeld
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Gina Kirkish
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Friederike Liesche-Starnecker
- Department of Neuropathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Valeria Ramaglia
- Department of Neurology and Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sneha Singh
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Edwina B Tran
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Patrick Barba
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Kelsey Zorn
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Johanna Oechtering
- Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel, Departments of Medicine, Biomedicine, and Clinical Research, University Hospital of Basel, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Karin Forsberg
- Department of Clinical Science, Neurosciences, Umeå University, 90185 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lawrence R Shiow
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Stem Cell Research and Regeneration Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Roland G Henry
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jennifer Graves
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Bruce A C Cree
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Stephen L Hauser
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jens Kuhle
- Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel, Departments of Medicine, Biomedicine, and Clinical Research, University Hospital of Basel, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jeffrey M Gelfand
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Peter M Andersen
- Department of Clinical Science, Neurosciences, Umeå University, 90185 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jürgen Schlegel
- Department of Neuropathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Peter J Turnbaugh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Peter H Seeberger
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14776 Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Michael R Wilson
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Lucas Schirmer
- Department of Neurology and Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany.,Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, University of Heidelberg, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sergio E Baranzini
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. .,Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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Kim BW, Ryu J, Jeong YE, Kim J, Martin LJ. Human Motor Neurons With SOD1-G93A Mutation Generated From CRISPR/Cas9 Gene-Edited iPSCs Develop Pathological Features of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:604171. [PMID: 33328898 PMCID: PMC7710664 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.604171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by gradual degeneration and elimination of motor neurons (MNs) in the motor cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. Some familial forms of ALS are caused by genetic mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) but the mechanisms driving MN disease are unclear. Identifying the naturally occurring pathology and understanding how this mutant SOD1 can affect MNs in translationally meaningful ways in a valid and reliable human cell model remains to be established. Here, using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system and human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we generated highly pure, iPSC-derived MNs with a SOD1-G93A missense mutation. With the wild-type cell line serving as an isogenic control and MNs from a patient-derived iPSC line with an SOD1-A4V mutation as a comparator, we identified pathological phenotypes relevant to ALS. The mutant MNs accumulated misfolded and aggregated forms of SOD1 in cell bodies and processes, including axons. They also developed distinctive axonal pathologies. Mutants had axonal swellings with shorter axon length and less numbers of branch points. Moreover, structural and molecular abnormalities in presynaptic and postsynaptic size and density were found in the mutants. Finally, functional studies with microelectrode array demonstrated that the individual mutant MNs exhibited decreased number of spikes and diminished network bursting, but increased burst duration. Taken together, we identified spontaneous disease phenotypes relevant to ALS in mutant SOD1 MNs from genome-edited and patient-derived iPSCs. Our findings demonstrate that SOD1 mutations in human MNs cause cell-autonomous proteinopathy, axonopathy, synaptic pathology, and aberrant neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung Woo Kim
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jiwon Ryu
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ye Eun Jeong
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Juhyun Kim
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lee J Martin
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Trist BG, Hilton JB, Hare DJ, Crouch PJ, Double KL. Superoxide Dismutase 1 in Health and Disease: How a Frontline Antioxidant Becomes Neurotoxic. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202000451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin G. Trist
- Brain and Mind Centre and Discipline of Pharmacology The University of Sydney, Camperdown Sydney New South Wales 2050 Australia
| | - James B. Hilton
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia
| | - Dominic J. Hare
- Brain and Mind Centre and Discipline of Pharmacology The University of Sydney, Camperdown Sydney New South Wales 2050 Australia
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia
- Atomic Medicine Initiative The University of Technology Sydney Broadway New South Wales 2007 Australia
| | - Peter J. Crouch
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia
| | - Kay L. Double
- Brain and Mind Centre and Discipline of Pharmacology The University of Sydney, Camperdown Sydney New South Wales 2050 Australia
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Abstract
Abstract
Purpose of Review
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS-FTD) spectrum disorder is a rare fatal disease with strong genetic influences. The implementation of short-read sequencing methodologies in increasingly large patient cohorts has rapidly expanded our knowledge of the complex genetic architecture of the disease. We aim to convey the broad history of ALS gene discovery as context for a focused review of 11 ALS gene associations reported over the last 5 years. We also summarize the current level of genetic evidence for all previously reported genes.
Recent Findings
The history of ALS gene discovery has occurred in at least four identifiable phases, each powered by different technologies and scale of investigation. The most recent epoch, benefitting from population-scale genome data, large international consortia, and low-cost sequencing, has yielded 11 new gene associations. We summarize the current level of genetic evidence supporting these ALS genes, highlighting any genotype-phenotype or genotype-pathology correlations, and discussing preliminary understanding of molecular pathogenesis. This era has also raised uncertainty around prior ALS-associated genes and clarified the role of others.
Summary
Our understanding of the genetic underpinning of ALS has expanded rapidly over the last 25 years and has led directly to the clinical application of molecularly driven therapies. Ongoing sequencing efforts in ALS will identify new causative and risk factor genes while clarifying the status of genes reported in prior eras of research.
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Agudelo A, St Amand V, Grissom L, Lafond D, Achilli T, Sahin A, Reenan R, Stilwell G. Age-dependent degeneration of an identified adult leg motor neuron in a Drosophila SOD1 model of ALS. Biol Open 2020; 9:bio049692. [PMID: 32994185 PMCID: PMC7595701 DOI: 10.1242/bio.049692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in humans. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor neuron loss leading to paralysis and inevitable death in affected individuals. Using a gene replacement strategy to introduce disease mutations into the orthologous Drosophila sod1 (dsod1) gene, here, we characterize changes at the neuromuscular junction using longer-lived dsod1 mutant adults. Homozygous dsod1H71Y/H71Y or dsod1null/null flies display progressive walking defects with paralysis of the third metathoracic leg. In dissected legs, we assessed age-dependent changes in a single identified motor neuron (MN-I2) innervating the tibia levitator muscle. At adult eclosion, MN-I2 of dsod1H71Y/H71Y or sod1null/null flies is patterned similar to wild-type flies indicating no readily apparent developmental defects. Over the course of 10 days post-eclosion, MN-I2 shows an overall reduction in arborization with bouton swelling and loss of the post-synaptic marker discs-large (dlg) in mutant dsod1 adults. In addition, increases in polyubiquitinated proteins correlate with the timing and extent of MN-I2 changes. Because similar phenotypes are observed between flies homozygous for either dsod1H71Y or dsod1null alleles, we conclude these NMJ changes are mainly associated with sod loss-of-function. Together these studies characterize age-related morphological and molecular changes associated with axonal retraction in a Drosophila model of ALS that recapitulate an important aspect of the human disease.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Agudelo
- Department of Biology, Rhode Island College, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence, RI, 02908 USA
| | - Victoria St Amand
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912 USA
| | - Lindsey Grissom
- Department of Biology, Rhode Island College, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence, RI, 02908 USA
| | - Danielle Lafond
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912 USA
| | - Toni Achilli
- Department of Biology, Rhode Island College, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence, RI, 02908 USA
| | - Asli Sahin
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912 USA
| | - Robert Reenan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912 USA
| | - Geoff Stilwell
- Department of Biology, Rhode Island College, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence, RI, 02908 USA
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Lehmann M, Marklund M, Bolender AL, Bidhendi EE, Zetterström P, Andersen PM, Brännström T, Marklund SL, Gilthorpe JD, Nordström U. Aggregate-selective antibody attenuates seeded aggregation but not spontaneously evolving disease in SOD1 ALS model mice. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:161. [PMID: 32928301 PMCID: PMC7488686 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-01032-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that propagation of the motor neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) involves the pathogenic aggregation of disease-associated proteins that spread in a prion-like manner. We have identified two aggregate strains of human superoxide dismutase 1 (hSOD1) that arise in the CNS of transgenic mouse models of SOD1-mediated ALS. Both strains transmit template-directed aggregation and premature fatal paralysis when inoculated into the spinal cord of adult hSOD1 transgenic mice. This spread of pathogenic aggregation could be a potential target for immunotherapeutic intervention. Here we generated mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed to exposed epitopes in hSOD1 aggregate strains and identified an aggregate selective mAb that targets the aa 143-153 C-terminal extremity of hSOD1 (αSOD1143-153). Both pre-incubation of seeds with αSOD1143-153 prior to inoculation, and weekly intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration attenuated transmission of pathogenic aggregation and prolonged the survival of seed-inoculated hSOD1G85R Tg mice. In contrast, administration of a mAb targeting aa 65-72 (αSOD165-72), which exhibits high affinity towards monomeric disordered hSOD1, had an adverse effect and aggravated seed induced premature ALS-like disease. Although the mAbs reached similar concentrations in CSF, only αSOD1143-153 was found in association with aggregated hSOD1 in spinal cord homogenates. Our results suggest that an aggregate-selective immunotherapeutic approach may suppress seeded transmission of pathogenic aggregation in ALS. However, long-term administration of αSOD1143-153 was unable to prolong the lifespan of non-inoculated hSOD1G85R Tg mice. Thus, spontaneously initiated hSOD1 aggregation in spinal motor neurons may be poorly accessible to therapeutic antibodies.
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McAlary L, Yerbury JJ, Cashman NR. The prion-like nature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 175:261-296. [PMID: 32958236 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The misfolding, aggregation, and deposition of specific proteins is the key hallmark of most progressive neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is characterized by the rapid and progressive degenerations of motor neurons in the spinal cord and motor cortex, resulting in paralysis of those who suffer from it. Pathologically, there are three major aggregating proteins associated with ALS, including TAR DNA-binding protein of 43kDa (TDP-43), superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1), and fused in sarcoma (FUS). While there are ALS-associated mutations found in each of these proteins, the most prevalent aggregation pathology is that of wild-type TDP-43 (97% of cases), with the remaining split between mutant forms of SOD1 (~2%) and FUS (~1%). Considering the progressive nature of ALS and its association with the aggregation of specific proteins, a growing notion is that the spread of pathology and symptoms can be explained by a prion-like mechanism. Prion diseases are a group of highly infectious neurodegenerative disorders caused by the misfolding, aggregation, and spread of a transmissible conformer of prion protein (PrP). Pathogenic PrP is capable of converting healthy PrP into a toxic form through template-directed misfolding. Application of this finding to other neurodegenerative disorders, and in particular ALS, has revolutionized our understanding of cause and progression of these disorders. In this chapter, we first provide a background on ALS pathology and genetic origin. We then detail and discuss the evidence supporting a prion-like propagation of protein misfolding and aggregation in ALS with a particular focus on SOD1 and TDP-43 as these are the most well-established models in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- L McAlary
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - J J Yerbury
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - N R Cashman
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Does wild-type Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase have pathogenic roles in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis? Transl Neurodegener 2020; 9:33. [PMID: 32811540 PMCID: PMC7437001 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-020-00209-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by adult-onset progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. Increasing numbers of genes are found to be associated with ALS; among those, the first identified gene, SOD1 coding a Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase protein (SOD1), has been regarded as the gold standard in the research on a pathomechanism of ALS. Abnormal accumulation of misfolded SOD1 in affected spinal motor neurons has been established as a pathological hallmark of ALS caused by mutations in SOD1 (SOD1-ALS). Nonetheless, involvement of wild-type SOD1 remains quite controversial in the pathology of ALS with no SOD1 mutations (non-SOD1 ALS), which occupies more than 90% of total ALS cases. In vitro studies have revealed post-translationally controlled misfolding and aggregation of wild-type as well as of mutant SOD1 proteins; therefore, SOD1 proteins could be a therapeutic target not only in SOD1-ALS but also in more prevailing cases, non-SOD1 ALS. In order to search for evidence on misfolding and aggregation of wild-type SOD1 in vivo, we reviewed pathological studies using mouse models and patients and then summarized arguments for and against possible involvement of wild-type SOD1 in non-SOD1 ALS as well as in SOD1-ALS.
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43
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Feneberg E, Turner MR, Ansorge O, Talbot K. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with a heterozygous D91A SOD1 variant and classical ALS-TDP neuropathology. Neurology 2020; 95:595-596. [DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000010587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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44
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Tondo G, Iaccarino L, Cerami C, Vanoli GE, Presotto L, Masiello V, Coliva A, Salvi F, Bartolomei I, Mosca L, Lunetta C, Perani D. 11 C-PK11195 PET-based molecular study of microglia activation in SOD1 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:1513-1523. [PMID: 32762033 PMCID: PMC7480909 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Neuroinflammation is considered a key driver for neurodegeneration in several neurological diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). SOD1 mutations cause about 20% of familial ALS, and related pathology might generate microglial activation triggering neurodegeneration. 11C‐PK11195 is the prototypical and most validated PET radiotracer, targeting the 18‐kDa translocator protein which is overexpressed in activated microglia. In this study, we investigated microglia activation in asymptomatic (ASYM) and symptomatic (SYM) SOD1 mutated carriers, by using 11C‐PK11195 and PET imaging. Methods We included 20 subjects: 4 ASYM‐carriers, neurologically normal, 6 SYM‐carriers with probable ALS, and 10 healthy controls. A receptor parametric mapping procedure estimated 11C‐PK11195 binding potentials and voxel‐wise statistical comparisons were performed at group and single‐subject levels. Results Both the SYM‐ and ASYM‐carriers showed significant microglia activation in cortical and subcortical structures, with variable patterns at individual level. Clusters of activation were present in occipital and temporal regions, cerebellum, thalamus, and medulla oblongata. Notably, SYM‐carriers showed microglia activation also in supplementary and primary motor cortices and in the somatosensory regions. Interpretation In vivo neuroinflammation occurred in all SOD1 mutated cases since the presymptomatic stages, as shown by a significant cortical and subcortical microglia activation. The involvement of sensorimotor cortex became evident at the symptomatic disease stage. Although our data indicate the role of in vivo PET imaging for assessing resident microglia in the investigation of SOD1‐ALS pathophysiology, further studies are needed to clarify the temporal and spatial dynamics of microglia activation and its relationship with neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Tondo
- School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Leonardo Iaccarino
- School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Chiara Cerami
- In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Scuola Universitaria di Studi Superiori IUSS Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Luca Presotto
- School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Masiello
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS and San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Coliva
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS and San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Salvi
- Bellaria Hospital, IRCCS of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Lorena Mosca
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical Genetics Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Perani
- School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS and San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
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45
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Nolan M, Scott C, Gamarallage MP, Lunn D, Carpenter K, McDonough E, Meyer D, Kaanumalle S, Santamaria-Pang A, Turner MR, Talbot K, Ansorge O. Quantitative patterns of motor cortex proteinopathy across ALS genotypes. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:98. [PMID: 32616036 PMCID: PMC7331195 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-00961-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Degeneration of the primary motor cortex is a defining feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is associated with the accumulation of microscopic protein aggregates in neurons and glia. However, little is known about the quantitative burden and pattern of motor cortex proteinopathies across ALS genotypes. We combined quantitative digital image analysis with multi-level generalized linear modelling in an independent cohort of 82 ALS cases to explore the relationship between genotype, total proteinopathy load and cellular vulnerability to aggregate formation. Primary motor cortex phosphorylated (p)TDP-43 burden and microglial activation were more severe in sporadic ALS-TDP disease than C9-ALS. Oligodendroglial pTDP-43 pathology was a defining feature of ALS-TDP in sporadic ALS, C9-ALS and ALS with OPTN, HNRNPA1 or TARDBP mutations. ALS-FUS and ALS-SOD1 showed less cortical proteinopathy in relation to spinal cord pathology than ALS-TDP, where pathology was more evenly spread across the motor cortex-spinal cord axis. Neuronal pTDP-43 aggregates were rare in GAD67+ and Parvalbumin+ inhibitory interneurons, consistent with predominant accumulation in excitatory neurons. Finally, we show that cortical microglia, but not astrocytes, contain pTDP-43. Our findings suggest divergent quantitative, genotype-specific vulnerability of the ALS primary motor cortex to proteinopathies, which may have implications for our understanding of disease pathogenesis and the development of genotype-specific therapies.
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Elliott E, Bailey O, Waldron FM, Hardingham GE, Chandran S, Gregory JM. Therapeutic Targeting of Proteostasis in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Research. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:511. [PMID: 32523508 PMCID: PMC7261930 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive fatal neurodegenerative condition. There are no effective treatments. The only globally licensed medication, that prolongs life by 2–3 months, was approved by the FDA in 1995. One reason for the absence of effective treatments is disease heterogeneity noting that ALS is clinically heterogeneous and can be considered to exist on a neuropathological spectrum with frontotemporal dementia. Despite this significant clinical heterogeneity, protein misfolding has been identified as a unifying pathological feature in these cases. Based on this shared pathophysiology, we carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the therapeutic efficacy of compounds that specifically target protein misfolding in preclinical studies of both ALS and FTD. Methods: Three databases: (i) PubMed, (ii) MEDLINE, and (iii) EMBASE were searched. All studies comparing the effect of treatments targeting protein misfolding in pre-clinical ALS or FTD models to a control group were retrieved. Results: Systematic review identified 70 pre-clinical studies investigating the effects of therapies targeting protein misfolding on survival. Meta-analysis revealed that targeting protein misfolding did significantly improve survival compared to untreated controls (p < 0.001, df = 68, α = 0.05, CI 1.05–1.16), with no evidence of heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 0%). Further subgroup analyses, evaluating the effect of timing of these interventions, showed that, only treating prior to symptom onset (n = 33), significantly improved survival (p < 0.001, df = 31, α = 0.05, CI 1.08–1.29), although this likely reflects the inadequate sample size of later time points. Furthermore, arimoclomol was found to significantly reduce secondary outcome measures including: (i) histological outcomes, (ii) behavioral outcomes, and (iii) biochemical outcomes (p < 0.005). Conclusions: This analysis supports the hypothesis that protein misfolding plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ALS and FTD and that targeting protein misfolding, at least in pre-clinical models, can significantly improve survival, especially if such an intervention is administered prior to symptom onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Elliott
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Edinburgh Neuroscience, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,MRC Edinburgh Brain Bank, Academic Department of Neuropathology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Olivia Bailey
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Fergal M Waldron
- Ashworth Laboratories, Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Centre for Immunity Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Giles E Hardingham
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Edinburgh Neuroscience, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Centre for Brain Development and Repair, inStem, Bangalore, India.,MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jenna M Gregory
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,The Euan MacDonald Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Edinburgh Neuroscience, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,MRC Edinburgh Brain Bank, Academic Department of Neuropathology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Edinburgh Pathology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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47
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McCombe PA, Lee JD, Woodruff TM, Henderson RD. The Peripheral Immune System and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Neurol 2020; 11:279. [PMID: 32373052 PMCID: PMC7186478 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe neurodegenerative disease that is defined by loss of upper and lower motor neurons, associated with accumulation of protein aggregates in cells. There is also pathology in extra-motor areas of the brain, Possible causes of cell death include failure to deal with the aggregated proteins, glutamate toxicity and mitochondrial failure. ALS also involves abnormalities of metabolism and the immune system, including neuroinflammation in the brain and spinal cord. Strikingly, there are also abnormalities of the peripheral immune system, with alterations of T lymphocytes, monocytes, complement and cytokines in the peripheral blood of patients with ALS. The precise contribution of the peripheral immune system in ALS pathogenesis is an active area of research. Although some trials of immunomodulatory agents have been negative, there is strong preclinical evidence of benefit from immune modulation and further trials are currently underway. Here, we review the emerging evidence implicating peripheral immune alterations contributing to ALS, and their potential as future therapeutic targets for clinical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela A. McCombe
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Wesley Medical Research, The Wesley Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - John D. Lee
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Trent M. Woodruff
- Wesley Medical Research, The Wesley Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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48
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Vicencio E, Beltrán S, Labrador L, Manque P, Nassif M, Woehlbier U. Implications of Selective Autophagy Dysfunction for ALS Pathology. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020381. [PMID: 32046060 PMCID: PMC7072226 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal neurodegenerative disorder that progressively affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Due to the biological complexity of the disease, its etiology remains unknown. Several cellular mechanisms involved in the neurodegenerative process in ALS have been found, including the loss of RNA and protein homeostasis, as well as mitochondrial dysfunction. Insoluble protein aggregates, damaged mitochondria, and stress granules, which contain RNA and protein components, are recognized and degraded by the autophagy machinery in a process known as selective autophagy. Autophagy is a highly dynamic process whose dysregulation has now been associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, by numerous studies. In ALS, the autophagy process has been found deregulated in both familial and sporadic cases of the disease. Likewise, mutations in genes coding for proteins involved in the autophagy machinery have been reported in ALS patients, including selective autophagy receptors. In this review, we focus on the role of selective autophagy in ALS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Vicencio
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Mayor, Camino la Piramide 5750, Huechuraba 8580745, Santiago, Chile; (E.V.); (S.B.); (L.L.); (P.M.)
| | - Sebastián Beltrán
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Mayor, Camino la Piramide 5750, Huechuraba 8580745, Santiago, Chile; (E.V.); (S.B.); (L.L.); (P.M.)
| | - Luis Labrador
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Mayor, Camino la Piramide 5750, Huechuraba 8580745, Santiago, Chile; (E.V.); (S.B.); (L.L.); (P.M.)
| | - Patricio Manque
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Mayor, Camino la Piramide 5750, Huechuraba 8580745, Santiago, Chile; (E.V.); (S.B.); (L.L.); (P.M.)
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Science, Universidad Mayor, Camino la Piramide 5750, Huechuraba 8580745, Santiago, Chile
| | - Melissa Nassif
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Mayor, Camino la Piramide 5750, Huechuraba 8580745, Santiago, Chile; (E.V.); (S.B.); (L.L.); (P.M.)
- Escuela de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Camino la Piramide 5750, Huechuraba 8580745, Santiago, Chile
- Correspondence: (U.W.); (M.N.)
| | - Ute Woehlbier
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Mayor, Camino la Piramide 5750, Huechuraba 8580745, Santiago, Chile; (E.V.); (S.B.); (L.L.); (P.M.)
- Escuela de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Camino la Piramide 5750, Huechuraba 8580745, Santiago, Chile
- Correspondence: (U.W.); (M.N.)
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Mejzini R, Flynn LL, Pitout IL, Fletcher S, Wilton SD, Akkari PA. ALS Genetics, Mechanisms, and Therapeutics: Where Are We Now? Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1310. [PMID: 31866818 PMCID: PMC6909825 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 454] [Impact Index Per Article: 90.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The scientific landscape surrounding amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) continues to shift as the number of genes associated with the disease risk and pathogenesis, and the cellular processes involved, continues to grow. Despite decades of intense research and over 50 potentially causative or disease-modifying genes identified, etiology remains unexplained and treatment options remain limited for the majority of ALS patients. Various factors have contributed to the slow progress in understanding and developing therapeutics for this disease. Here, we review the genetic basis of ALS, highlighting factors that have contributed to the elusiveness of genetic heritability. The most commonly mutated ALS-linked genes are reviewed with an emphasis on disease-causing mechanisms. The cellular processes involved in ALS pathogenesis are discussed, with evidence implicating their involvement in ALS summarized. Past and present therapeutic strategies and the benefits and limitations of the model systems available to ALS researchers are discussed with future directions for research that may lead to effective treatment strategies outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Mejzini
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Loren L. Flynn
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Ianthe L. Pitout
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Sue Fletcher
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Steve D. Wilton
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - P. Anthony Akkari
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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Exercise and Neuroinflammation in Health and Disease. Int Neurourol J 2019; 23:S82-92. [PMID: 31795607 PMCID: PMC6905205 DOI: 10.5213/inj.1938214.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a central pathological feature of several acute and chronic brain diseases, including Alzheimer disease (AD), Parkinson disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS). It induces microglia activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, the production of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), pro-inflammatory cytokines, and reactive oxygen species. Exercise, which plays an important role in maintaining and improving brain health, might be a highly effective intervention for preventing neuroinflammation-related diseases. Thus, since exercise can improve the neuroimmune response, we hypothesized that exercise would attenuate neuroinflammation-related diseases. In this review, we will highlight (1) the biological mechanisms that underlie AD, PD, ALS, and MS, including the neuroinflammation pathways associated with microglia activation, NF-κB, pro-inflammatory cytokines, mitochondrial dysfunction, and reactive oxygen species, and (2) the role of exercise in neuroinflammation-related neurodegenerative diseases.
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