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Prajjwal P, Shashank S, Al-Ezzi SMS, Sharma B, Aubourg O, Kaushish A, Marsool MDM, Nagre A, Asharaf S. Frontotemporal dementia: Addressing the scattered harbingers of genetics and its relationship with glucose metabolism, bipolar disorder, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Dis Mon 2023; 69:101545. [PMID: 36925418 DOI: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2023.101545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal Dementia, also known by the name Pick's disease, is a rare form of dementia that can run for several generations. The two key characteristics are argyrophilic, spherical intraneuronal inclusions, which most frequently impact the frontal and temporal poles, and localized cortical atrophy (Pick bodies). Although personality decline and memory loss are frequently more severe than the visuospatial and apraxia disorders that are common in Alzheimer's disease, clinical overlap with other non-Alzheimer degenerative disorders is being increasingly recognized. The limbic system, which includes the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and amygdala, typically experiences the greatest levels of neuronal loss and degeneration. In the hippocampus's dentate fascia, several Pick bodies are frequently seen. Leukoencephalopathy and inflated cortical neurons are less specific symptoms (Pick cells). In this paper, we review the factors leading to Picks disease along with its pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, imaging, treatment, prognosis, and a comprehensive discussion on the same. We have also discussed the relationship of frontotemporal dementia with glucose metabolism, bipolar disorder, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, all of which are emerging fields of interest and need more studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyadarshi Prajjwal
- Department of Neurology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College, Pune, India
| | - Singam Shashank
- Department of Neurology, Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Bhavya Sharma
- Medical Student, Department of Medicine, Medical College, Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
| | - Obed Aubourg
- Doctor of Medicine, University of Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Akshita Kaushish
- MSc Biochemistry, Dolphin Institute of Biomedical and Natural Sciences, Dehradun, India
| | | | - Abhijit Nagre
- Medical Student, Department of Medicine, Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai, India
| | - Shahnaz Asharaf
- Department of Neurology, Travancore Medical College, Kollam, Kerala, India
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Lu Y, West RJH, Pons M, Sweeney ST, Gao FB. Ik2/TBK1 and Hook/Dynein, an adaptor complex for early endosome transport, are genetic modifiers of FTD-associated mutant CHMP2B toxicity in Drosophila. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14221. [PMID: 32848189 PMCID: PMC7450086 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71097-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in CHMP2B, encoding a protein in the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) machinery, causes frontotemporal dementia linked to chromosome 3 (FTD3). FTD, the second most common form of pre-senile dementia, can also be caused by genetic mutations in other genes, including TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1). How FTD-causing disease genes interact is largely unknown. We found that partial loss function of Ik2, the fly homologue of TBK1 also known as I-kappaB kinase ε (IKKε), enhanced the toxicity of mutant CHMP2B in the fly eye and that Ik2 overexpression suppressed the effect of mutant CHMP2B in neurons. Partial loss of function of Spn-F, a downstream phosphorylation target of Ik2, greatly enhanced the mutant CHMP2B phenotype. An interactome analysis to understand cellular processes regulated by Spn-F identified a network of interacting proteins including Spn-F, Ik2, dynein light chain, and Hook, an adaptor protein in early endosome transport. Partial loss of function of dynein light chain or Hook also enhanced mutant CHMP2B toxicity. These findings identify several evolutionarily conserved genes, including ik2/TBK1, cut up (encoding dynein light chain) and hook, as genetic modifiers of FTD3-associated mutant CHMP2B toxicity and implicate early endosome transport as a potential contributing pathway in FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubing Lu
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Ryan J H West
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Marine Pons
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Sean T Sweeney
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Fen-Biao Gao
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
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Habib R, Noureen N, Nadeem N. Decoding Common Features of Neurodegenerative Disorders: From Differentially Expressed Genes to Pathways. Curr Genomics 2018; 19:300-312. [PMID: 29755292 PMCID: PMC5930451 DOI: 10.2174/1389202918666171005100549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodegeneration is a progressive/irreversible loss of neurons, building blocks of our nervous system. Their degeneration gradually collapses the entire structural and functional system manifesting in myriads of clinical disorders categorized as Neurodegenerative Disorders (NDs) such as Alzheimer's Disease, (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). NDs are characterized by a puzzling interplay of molecular and cellular defects affecting subset of neuronal populations in specific affected brain areas. OBJECTIVE In present study, comparative in silico analysis was performed by utilizing gene expression datasets of AD, PD, FTD and ALS to identify potential common features to gain insights into complex molecular pathophysiology of the selected NDs. METHODS Gene expression data of four disorders were subjected to the identification of Differential Gene Expression (DEG) and their mapping on biological processes, KEGG pathways and molecular functions. Detailed comparative analysis was performed to highlight the common grounds of these dis-orders at various stages. RESULTS Astoundingly, 106 DEGs were found to be common across all disorders. Alongwith in total 100 GO terms and 7 KEGG pathways were found to be significantly enriched across all disorders. EGFR, CDC42 and CREBBP have been identified as the significantly interacting nodes in gene-gene in-teraction and in Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network as well. Furthermore, interaction of common DEGs targets with miRNA's has been scrutinized. CONCLUSION The complex molecular underpinnings of these disorders are currently elusive. Despite heterogeneous clinical and pathological expressions, common features have been recognized in many NDs which provide evidence of their convergence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nighat Noureen
- Address correspondence to this author at the Biosciences Department, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan; Tel: + (051) 9247000-6104; E-mail:
| | - Neha Nadeem
- Biosciences Department, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
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Zanardini R, Benussi L, Fostinelli S, Saraceno C, Ciani M, Borroni B, Padovani A, Binetti G, Ghidoni R. Serum C-Peptide, Visfatin, Resistin, and Ghrelin are Altered in Sporadic and GRN-Associated Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 61:1053-1060. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-170747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Zanardini
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Luisa Benussi
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Fostinelli
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Claudia Saraceno
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Miriam Ciani
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuliano Binetti
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
- MAC Memory Center, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberta Ghidoni
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
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Fisher TJ, Schwartz AC, Greenspan HN, Heinrich TW. Dementia: A complex disease with multiple etiologies and multiple treatments. Int J Psychiatry Med 2017; 51:171-81. [PMID: 26941207 DOI: 10.1177/0091217416636579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
As the population of the United States ages, the rates of dementia are also likely to increase. Clinicians will, therefore, likely be asked to evaluate and treat an escalating number of patients experiencing a decline in multiple domains of cognitive function, which is the hallmark of neurocognitive disorders. It is also probable that clinicians will be confronted with management dilemmas related to the myriad of psychological and behavioral problems that often occur as a consequence of the neurocognitive impairment. In fact, these behavioral and psychological issues might be the initial symptoms that lead the patient to present to the clinician. Dementia has multiple potential etiologies, and a careful diagnostic assessment is imperative to best characterize the specific type of dementia impacting the patient. This is important, as knowing the type of dementia helps the clinician choose the most effective treatment. Potential treatments should be interdisciplinary in scope, patient/family-centered, and may include both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis J Fisher
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Ann C Schwartz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Heather N Greenspan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Thomas W Heinrich
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Götzl JK, Lang CM, Haass C, Capell A. Impaired protein degradation in FTLD and related disorders. Ageing Res Rev 2016; 32:122-139. [PMID: 27166223 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2016.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Revised: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Impaired protein degradation has been discussed as a cause or consequence of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. More recently, evidence accumulated that dysfunctional protein degradation may play a role in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Since in almost all neurodegenerative diseases, protein aggregates are disease-defining hallmarks, it is most likely that impaired protein degradation contributes to disease onset and progression. In the majority of FTD cases, the pathological protein aggregates contain either microtubuleassociated protein tau or TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP)-43. Aggregates are also positive for ubiquitin and p62/sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) indicating that these aggregates are targeted for degradation. FTD-linked mutations in genes encoding three autophagy adaptor proteins, p62/SQSTM1, ubiquilin 2 and optineurin, indicate that impaired autophagy might cause FTD. Furthermore, the strongest evidence for lysosomal impairment in FTD is provided by the progranulin (GRN) gene, which is linked to FTD and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. In this review, we summarize the observations that have been made during the last years linking the accumulation of disease-associated proteins in FTD to impaired protein degradation pathways. In addition, we take resent findings for nucleocytoplasmic transport defects of TDP-43, as discussed for hexanucleotide repeat expansions in C9orf72 into account and provide a hypothesis how the interplay of altered nuclear transport and protein degradation leads to the accumulation of protein deposits.
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Gaspar R, Santana I, Mendes C, Fernandes AS, Duro D, Simões M, Luís D, Santos MJ, Grazina M. Genetic Variation of MT-ND Genes in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration: Biochemical Phenotype-Genotype Correlation. NEURODEGENER DIS 2015; 15:70-80. [DOI: 10.1159/000380766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Suh HS, Lo Y, Choi N, Letendre S, Lee SC. Evidence of the innate antiviral and neuroprotective properties of progranulin. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98184. [PMID: 24878635 PMCID: PMC4039467 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Compelling data exist that show that normal levels of progranulin (PGRN) are required for successful CNS aging. PGRN production is also modulated by inflammation and infection, but no data are available on the production and role of PGRN during CNS HIV infection. METHODS To determine the relationships between PGRN and HIV disease, neurocognition, and inflammation, we analyzed 107 matched CSF and plasma samples from CHARTER, a well-characterized HIV cohort. Levels of PGRN were determined by ELISA and compared to levels of several inflammatory mediators (IFNγ, IL-6, IL-10, IP-10, MCP-1, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-4 and IL-13), as well as clinical, virologic and demographic parameters. The relationship between HIV infection and PGRN was also examined in HIV-infected primary human microglial cultures. RESULTS In plasma, PGRN levels correlated with the viral load (VL, p<0.001). In the CSF of subjects with undetectable VL, lower PGRN was associated with neurocognitive impairment (p = 0.046). CSF PGRN correlated with CSF IP-10, TNFα and IL-10, and plasma PGRN correlated with plasma IP-10. In vitro, microglial HIV infection increased PGRN production and PGRN knockdown increased HIV replication, demonstrating that PGRN is an innate antiviral protein. CONCLUSIONS We propose that PGRN plays dual roles in people living with HIV disease. With active HIV replication, PGRN is induced in infected macrophages and microglia and functions as an antiviral protein. In individuals without active viral replication, decreased PGRN production contributes to neurocognitive dysfunction, probably through a diminution of its neurotrophic functions. Our results have implications for the pathogenesis, biomarker studies and therapy for HIV diseases including HIV-associated neurocognitive dysfunction (HAND).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon-Sook Suh
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (HSS); (SCL)
| | - Yungtai Lo
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Namjong Choi
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Scott Letendre
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Sunhee C. Lee
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (HSS); (SCL)
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Deng H, Gao K, Jankovic J. The role of FUS gene variants in neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Rev Neurol 2014; 10:337-48. [DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2014.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Gascon E, Gao FB. The emerging roles of microRNAs in the pathogenesis of frontotemporal dementia-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTD-ALS) spectrum disorders. J Neurogenet 2014; 28:30-40. [PMID: 24506814 DOI: 10.3109/01677063.2013.876021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) share some clinical, pathological, and molecular features as part of a common neurodegenerative spectrum disorder. In recent years, enormous progress has been made in identifying both pathological proteins and genetic mutations associated with FTD-ALS. However, the molecular pathogenic mechanisms of disease onset and progression remain largely unknown. Recent studies have uncovered unexpected links between FTD-ALS and multiple aspects of RNA metabolism, setting the stage for further understanding of the disorder. Here, the authors will focus on microRNAs and review the emerging roles of these small RNAs in several aspects of FTD-ALS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Gascon
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts , USA
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Albuquerque B, Häussler A, Vannoni E, Wolfer DP, Tegeder I. Learning and memory with neuropathic pain: impact of old age and progranulin deficiency. Front Behav Neurosci 2013; 7:174. [PMID: 24319417 PMCID: PMC3837228 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent neuropathic pain is a frequent consequence of peripheral nerve injuries, particularly in the elderly. Using the IntelliCage we studied if sciatic nerve injury obstructed learning and memory in young and aged mice, each in wild type and progranulin deficient mice, which develop premature signs of brain aging. Both young and aged mice developed long-term nerve injury-evoked hyperalgesia and allodynia. In both genotypes, aged mice with neuropathic pain showed high error rates in place avoidance acquisition tasks. However, once learnt, these aged mice with neuropathic pain showed a significantly stronger maintenance of the aversive memory. Nerve injury did not affect place preference behavior in neither genotype, neither in young nor aged mice. However, nerve injury in progranulin deficient mice impaired the learning of spatial sequences of awarded places, particularly in the aged mice. This task required a discrimination of clockwise and anti-clockwise sequences. The chaining failure occurred only in progranulin deficient mice after nerve injury, but not in sham operated or wildtype mice, suggesting that progranulin was particularly important for compensatory adaptations after nerve injury. In contrast, all aged mice with neuropathic pain, irrespective of the genotype, had a long maintenance of aversive memory suggesting a negative alliance and possibly mutual aggravation of chronic neuropathic pain and aversive memory at old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Albuquerque
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, pharmazentrum frankfurt, Goethe-University Hospital Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Almeida MR, Baldeiras I, Ribeiro MH, Santiago B, Machado C, Massano J, Guimarães J, Resende Oliveira C, Santana I. Progranulin peripheral levels as a screening tool for the identification of subjects with progranulin mutations in a Portuguese cohort. NEURODEGENER DIS 2013; 13:214-23. [PMID: 24022032 DOI: 10.1159/000352022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progranulin (PGRN) mutations are associated with different clinical phenotypes, including frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), corticobasal syndrome (CBS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). As all pathogenic PGRN mutations identified so far cause disease through haploinsufficiency, determination of PGRN levels has been proposed as a reliable method to identify mutation carriers. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the accuracy of peripheral PGRN levels in the identification of the PGRN mutation carriers detected thus far in our Portuguese cohort. METHODS Serum PGRN levels were measured in 244 subjects (124 patients in the spectrum of FTLD, 2 asymptomatic descendants of a FTLD patient, 56 AD patients and 64 controls) by a novel commercial ELISA kit. RESULTS Low PGRN levels were detected in 7 individuals (5 behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, 1 CBS, and 1 still clinically unaffected) that constituted the group of the null PGRN mutation carriers previously identified in our molecular diagnostic laboratory. The pathogenic mutations found consisted of 4 insertion-deletions, causing frameshifts resulting in premature stop codons, 3 of which were novel. In addition, a normal PGRN level was found in a patient harboring a novel missense variant. For this novel ELISA kit, we established a PGRN cut-off level that identified with 100% accuracy the pathogenic mutation carriers. CONCLUSION This study supports the use of a novel assay for the determination of PGRN levels as a screening procedure to identify patients harboring null PGRN mutations. This approach would significantly decrease the required PGRN mutation analysis workload and should be extended to other clinical phenotypes than behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and to apparently sporadic cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rosário Almeida
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Dobson-Stone C, Luty AA, Thompson EM, Blumbergs P, Brooks WS, Short CL, Field CD, Panegyres PK, Hecker J, Solski JA, Blair IP, Fullerton JM, Halliday GM, Schofield PR, Kwok JBJ. Frontotemporal dementia-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis syndrome locus on chromosome 16p12.1-q12.2: genetic, clinical and neuropathological analysis. Acta Neuropathol 2013; 125:523-33. [PMID: 23338750 PMCID: PMC3611035 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-013-1078-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2012] [Revised: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Numerous families exhibiting both frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have been described, and although many of these have been shown to harbour a repeat expansion in C9ORF72, several C9ORF72-negative FTD-ALS families remain. We performed neuropathological and genetic analysis of a large European Australian kindred (Aus-12) with autosomal dominant inheritance of dementia and/or ALS. Affected Aus-12 members developed either ALS or dementia; some of those with dementia also had ALS and/or extrapyramidal features. Neuropathology was most consistent with frontotemporal lobar degeneration with type B TDP pathology, but with additional phosphorylated tau pathology consistent with corticobasal degeneration. Aus-12 DNA samples were negative for mutations in all known dementia and ALS genes, including C9ORF72 and FUS. Genome-wide linkage analysis provided highly suggestive evidence (maximum multipoint LOD score of 2.9) of a locus on chromosome 16p12.1-16q12.2. Affected individuals shared a chromosome 16 haplotype flanked by D16S3103 and D16S489, spanning 37.9 Mb, with a smaller suggestive disease haplotype spanning 24.4 Mb defined by recombination in an elderly unaffected individual. Importantly, this smaller region does not overlap with FUS. Whole-exome sequencing identified four variants present in the maximal critical region that segregate with disease. Linkage analysis incorporating these variants generated a maximum multipoint LOD score of 3.0. These results support the identification of a locus on chromosome 16p12.1-16q12.2 responsible for an unusual cluster of neurodegenerative phenotypes. This region overlaps with a separate locus on 16q12.1-q12.2 reported in an independent ALS family, indicating that this region may harbour a second major locus for FTD-ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Dobson-Stone
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker St, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031 Australia
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Agnes A. Luty
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker St, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031 Australia
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Elizabeth M. Thompson
- SA Clinical Genetics Service, SA Pathology, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Peter Blumbergs
- Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, Australia
| | - William S. Brooks
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker St, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031 Australia
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Cathy L. Short
- Department of Neurology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Colin D. Field
- Division of Rehabilitation and Aged Care, Memory Clinic, Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, Adelaide, Australia
- Present Address: Adelaide Dementia Driving Clinic, North Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Jane Hecker
- Department of General Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Jennifer A. Solski
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ian P. Blair
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Janice M. Fullerton
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker St, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031 Australia
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Glenda M. Halliday
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker St, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031 Australia
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter R. Schofield
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker St, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031 Australia
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - John B. J. Kwok
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker St, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031 Australia
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Dobson-Stone C, Hallupp M, Loy CT, Thompson EM, Haan E, Sue CM, Panegyres PK, Razquin C, Seijo-Martínez M, Rene R, Gascon J, Campdelacreu J, Schmoll B, Volk AE, Brooks WS, Schofield PR, Pastor P, Kwok JBJ. C9ORF72 repeat expansion in Australian and Spanish frontotemporal dementia patients. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56899. [PMID: 23437264 PMCID: PMC3577667 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2012] [Accepted: 01/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9ORF72 has been established as a common cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, the minimum repeat number necessary for disease pathogenesis is not known. The aims of our study were to determine the frequency of the C9ORF72 repeat expansion in two FTD patient collections (one Australian and one Spanish, combined n = 190), to examine C9ORF72 expansion allele length in a subset of FTD patients, and to examine C9ORF72 allele length in ‘non-expansion’ patients (those with <30 repeats). The C9ORF72 repeat expansion was detected in 5–17% of patients (21–41% of familial FTD patients). For one family, the expansion was present in the proband but absent in the mother, who was diagnosed with dementia at age 68. No association was found between C9ORF72 non-expanded allele length and age of onset and in the Spanish sample mean allele length was shorter in cases than in controls. Southern blotting analysis revealed that one of the nine ‘expansion-positive’ patients examined, who had neuropathologically confirmed frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 pathology, harboured an ‘intermediate’ allele with a mean size of only ∼65 repeats. Our study indicates that the C9ORF72 repeat expansion accounts for a significant proportion of Australian and Spanish FTD cases. However, C9ORF72 allele length does not influence the age at onset of ‘non-expansion’ FTD patients in the series examined. Expansion of the C9ORF72 allele to as little as ∼65 repeats may be sufficient to cause disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Dobson-Stone
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Clement T. Loy
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Huntington Disease Service, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Elizabeth M. Thompson
- South Australia Clinical Genetics Service, Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Eric Haan
- South Australia Clinical Genetics Service, Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Carolyn M. Sue
- Department of Neurogenetics, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Cristina Razquin
- Neurogenetics Laboratory, Division of Neurosciences, Center for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Ramon Rene
- Department of Neurology, Hospital de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Gascon
- Department of Neurology, Hospital de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Birgit Schmoll
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - William S. Brooks
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter R. Schofield
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Pau Pastor
- Neurogenetics Laboratory, Division of Neurosciences, Center for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Neurology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra School of Medicine, Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - John B. J. Kwok
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Bahia VS, Takada LT, Deramecourt V. Neuropathology of frontotemporal lobar degeneration: a review. Dement Neuropsychol 2013; 7:19-26. [PMID: 29213815 PMCID: PMC5619540 DOI: 10.1590/s1980-57642013dn70100004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2012] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is the second most common cause of presenile dementia. Three main clinical variants are widely recognized within the FTLD spectrum: the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), semantic dementia (SD) and progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA). FTLD represents a highly heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders which are best classified according to the main protein component of pathological neuronal and glial inclusions. The most common pathological class of FTLD is associated with the TDP-43 protein (FTLD-TDP), while FTLD-Tau is considered slightly less common while the FTLD-FUS (Fused in sarcoma protein) pathology is rare. In this review, these three major pathological types of FTLD are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valéria Santoro Bahia
- MD, PhD. Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology Unit,
Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São
Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo SP, Brazil
| | - Leonel Tadao Takada
- MD, Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology Unit, Department
of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of
Medicine, São Paulo SP, Brazil
| | - Vincent Deramecourt
- MD, PhD, Univ Lille Nord de France, Laboratory of
Excellence DISTALZ, Memory Clinic, Histology and Pathology Department, Lille,
France
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16
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Kleinberger G, Capell A, Haass C, Van Broeckhoven C. Mechanisms of granulin deficiency: lessons from cellular and animal models. Mol Neurobiol 2012; 47:337-60. [PMID: 23239020 PMCID: PMC3538123 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-012-8380-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2012] [Accepted: 11/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The identification of causative mutations in the (pro)granulin gene (GRN) has been a major breakthrough in the research on frontotemporal dementia (FTD). So far, all FTD-associated GRN mutations are leading to neurodegeneration through a “loss-of-function” mechanism, encouraging researchers to develop a growing number of cellular and animal models for GRN deficiency. GRN is a multifunctional secreted growth factor, and loss of its function can affect different cellular processes. Besides loss-of-function (i.e., mostly premature termination codons) mutations, which cause GRN haploinsufficiency through reduction of GRN expression, FTD-associated GRN missense mutations have also been identified. Several of these missense mutations are predicted to increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases through altering various key biological properties of GRN-like protein secretion, proteolytic processing, and neurite outgrowth. With the use of cellular and animal models for GRN deficiency, the portfolio of GRN functions has recently been extended to include functions in important biological processes like energy and protein homeostasis, inflammation as well as neuronal survival, neurite outgrowth, and branching. Furthermore, GRN-deficient animal models have been established and they are believed to be promising disease models as they show accelerated aging and recapitulate at least some neuropathological features of FTD. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms leading to GRN deficiency and the lessons we learned from the established cellular and animal models. Furthermore, we discuss how these insights might help in developing therapeutic strategies for GRN-associated FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gernot Kleinberger
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp-CDE, Universiteitsplein 1, Antwerp, 2610, Belgium
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17
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Suh HS, Choi N, Tarassishin L, Lee SC. Regulation of progranulin expression in human microglia and proteolysis of progranulin by matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12). PLoS One 2012; 7:e35115. [PMID: 22509390 PMCID: PMC3324426 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2012] [Accepted: 03/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The essential role of progranulin (PGRN) as a neurotrophic factor has been demonstrated by the discovery that haploinsufficiency due to GRN gene mutations causes frontotemporal lobar dementia. In addition to neurons, microglia in vivo express PGRN, but little is known about the regulation of PGRN expression by microglia. Goal In the current study, we examined the regulation of expression and function of PGRN, its proteolytic enzyme macrophage elastase (MMP-12), as well as the inhibitor of PGRN proteolysis, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), in human CNS cells. Methods Cultures of primary human microglia and astrocytes were stimulated with the TLR ligands (LPS or poly IC), Th1 cytokines (IL-1/IFNγ), or Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-13). Results were analyzed by Q-PCR, immunoblotting or ELISA. The roles of MMP-12 and SLPI in PGRN cleavage were also examined. Results Unstimulated microglia produced nanogram levels of PGRN, and PGRN release from microglia was suppressed by the TLR ligands or IL-1/IFNγ, but increased by IL-4 or IL-13. Unexpectedly, while astrocytes stimulated with proinflammatory factors released large amounts of SLPI, none were detected in microglial cultures. We also identified MMP-12 as a PGRN proteolytic enzyme, and SLPI as an inhibitor of MMP-12-induced PGRN proteolysis. Experiments employing PGRN siRNA demonstrated that microglial PGRN was involved in the cytokine and chemokine production following TLR3/4 activation, with its effect on TNFα being the most conspicuous. Conclusions Our study is the first detailed examination of PGRN in human microglia. Our results establish microglia as a significant source of PGRN, and MMP-12 and SLPI as modulators of PGRN proteolysis. Negative and positive regulation of microglial PGRN release by the proinflammatory/Th1 and the Th2 stimuli, respectively, suggests a fundamentally different aspect of PGRN regulation compared to other known microglial activation products. Microglial PGRN appears to function as an endogenous modulator of innate immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon-Sook Suh
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America.
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18
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Ghidoni R, Stoppani E, Rossi G, Piccoli E, Albertini V, Paterlini A, Glionna M, Pegoiani E, Agnati LF, Fenoglio C, Scarpini E, Galimberti D, Morbin M, Tagliavini F, Binetti G, Benussi L. Optimal Plasma Progranulin Cutoff Value for Predicting Null Progranulin Mutations in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Multicenter Italian Study. NEURODEGENER DIS 2012; 9:121-7. [DOI: 10.1159/000333132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2011] [Accepted: 09/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Xu J, Xilouri M, Bruban J, Shioi J, Shao Z, Papazoglou I, Vekrellis K, Robakis NK. Extracellular progranulin protects cortical neurons from toxic insults by activating survival signaling. Neurobiol Aging 2011; 32:2326.e5-16. [PMID: 21820214 PMCID: PMC3375317 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2011] [Revised: 06/08/2011] [Accepted: 06/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
To reduce damage from toxic insults such as glutamate excitotoxicity and oxidative stresses, neurons may deploy an array of neuroprotective mechanisms. Recent reports show that progranulin (PGRN) gene null or missense mutations leading to inactive protein, are linked to frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), suggesting that survival of certain neuronal populations needs full expression of functional PGRN. Here we show that extracellular PGRN stimulates phosphorylation/activation of the neuronal MEK/extracellular regulated kinase (ERK)/p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (p90RSK) and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt cell survival pathways and rescues cortical neurons from cell death induced by glutamate or oxidative stress. Pharmacological inhibition of MEK/ERK/p90RSK signaling blocks the PGRN-induced phosphorylation and neuroprotection against glutamate toxicity while inhibition of either MEK/ERK/p90RSK or PI3K/Akt blocks PGRN protection against neurotoxin MPP(+). Inhibition of both pathways had synergistic effects on PGRN-dependent neuroprotection against MPP(+) toxicity suggesting both pathways contribute to the neuroprotective activities of PGRN. Extracellular PGRN is remarkably stable in neuronal cultures indicating neuroprotective activities are associated with full-length protein. Together, our data show that extracellular PGRN acts as a neuroprotective factor and support the hypothesis that in FTLD reduction of functional brain PGRN results in reduced survival signaling and decreased neuronal protection against excitotoxicity and oxidative stress leading to accelerated neuronal cell death. That extracellular PGRN has neuroprotective functions against toxic insults suggests that in vitro preparations of this protein may be used therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jindong Xu
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetics of Neurodegeneration, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA 10029
| | - Maria Xilouri
- Division of Basic Neurosciences, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece 11527
| | - Julien Bruban
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetics of Neurodegeneration, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA 10029
| | - Junichi Shioi
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetics of Neurodegeneration, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA 10029
| | - Zhiping Shao
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetics of Neurodegeneration, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA 10029
| | - Ioannis Papazoglou
- Division of Basic Neurosciences, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece 11527
| | - Kostas Vekrellis
- Division of Basic Neurosciences, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece 11527
| | - Nikolaos K. Robakis
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetics of Neurodegeneration, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA 10029
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20
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Meeus B, Verstraeten A, Crosiers D, Engelborghs S, Van den Broeck M, Mattheijssens M, Peeters K, Corsmit E, Elinck E, Pickut B, Vandenberghe R, Cras P, De Deyn PP, Van Broeckhoven C, Theuns J. DLB and PDD: a role for mutations in dementia and Parkinson disease genes? Neurobiol Aging 2011; 33:629.e5-629.e18. [PMID: 22118943 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2011] [Revised: 09/05/2011] [Accepted: 10/15/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Based on the substantial overlap in clinical and pathological characteristics of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson disease with dementia (PDD) with Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD) we hypothesized that these disorders might share underlying genetic factors. The contribution of both sequence and copy number variants (CNVs) in known AD and PD genes to the genetic etiology of DLB and PDD however is currently unclear. Therefore, we performed a gene-based mutation analysis of all major AD and PD genes in 99 DLB and 75 PDD patients, including familial and sporadic forms, from Flanders, Belgium. Also, copy number variants in APP, SNCA, and PARK2 were determined. In the AD genes we detected proven pathogenic missense mutations in PSEN1 and PSEN2, and 2 novel missense variants in PSEN2 and MAPT. In the PD genes we identified 1 SNCA duplication, the LRRK2 R1441C founder mutation and 4 novel heterozygous missense variants with unknown pathogenicity. Our results suggest a contribution of established AD and PD genes to the genetic etiology of DLB and PDD though to a limited extent. They do support the hypothesis of a genetic overlap between members of the Lewy body disease spectrum, but additional genes still have to exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bram Meeus
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, Department of Molecular Genetics, VIB, Antwerpen, Belgium
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Kabashi E, Bercier V, Lissouba A, Liao M, Brustein E, Rouleau GA, Drapeau P. FUS and TARDBP but not SOD1 interact in genetic models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. PLoS Genet 2011; 7:e1002214. [PMID: 21829392 PMCID: PMC3150442 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2010] [Accepted: 06/17/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the SOD1 and TARDBP genes have been commonly identified in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Recently, mutations in the Fused in sarcoma gene (FUS) were identified in familial (FALS) ALS cases and sporadic (SALS) patients. Similarly to TDP-43 (coded by TARDBP gene), FUS is an RNA binding protein. Using the zebrafish (Danio rerio), we examined the consequences of expressing human wild-type (WT) FUS and three ALS–related mutations, as well as their interactions with TARDBP and SOD1. Knockdown of zebrafish Fus yielded a motor phenotype that could be rescued upon co-expression of wild-type human FUS. In contrast, the two most frequent ALS–related FUS mutations, R521H and R521C, unlike S57Δ, failed to rescue the knockdown phenotype, indicating loss of function. The R521H mutation caused a toxic gain of function when expressed alone, similar to the phenotype observed upon knockdown of zebrafish Fus. This phenotype was not aggravated by co-expression of both mutant human TARDBP (G348C) and FUS (R521H) or by knockdown of both zebrafish Tardbp and Fus, consistent with a common pathogenic mechanism. We also observed that WT FUS rescued the Tardbp knockdown phenotype, but not vice versa, suggesting that TARDBP acts upstream of FUS in this pathway. In addition we observed that WT SOD1 failed to rescue the phenotype observed upon overexpression of mutant TARDBP or FUS or upon knockdown of Tardbp or Fus; similarly, WT TARDBP or FUS also failed to rescue the phenotype induced by mutant SOD1 (G93A). Finally, overexpression of mutant SOD1 exacerbated the motor phenotype caused by overexpression of mutant FUS. Together our results indicate that TARDBP and FUS act in a pathogenic pathway that is independent of SOD1. Mutations in the SOD1, TARDBP, and FUS genes have been commonly identified in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). However, possible interactions between these ALS–causative genetic mutations have not been examined. Here we expressed each of three human FUS mutations (R521H, R521C, and S57Δ) in zebrafish embryos, with or without knocking down the zebrafish homolog Fus, and observed a motor phenotype consisting of significant behavioral (touch-evoked escape response) and cellular (shortened axonal projections from motor neurons) deficits due to loss of function for the R521H and R521C mutations and/or toxic gain of function solely for the R521H mutation. Wild-type FUS could rescue the Tardbp knockdown phenotype, but not vice versa, suggesting that TARDBP is upstream of FUS in this pathway responsible for motor neuron disorder. Furthermore, neither TARDBP nor FUS were able to modify and/or rescue the motor phenotype caused by mutant SOD1, and likewise SOD1 failed to rescue the phenotype of zebrafish expressing mutant TARDBP or FUS. Our results indicate that TARDBP acts upstream of FUS in a pathogenic pathway that is distinct from that of SOD1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edor Kabashi
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Groupe de Recherche Sur le Système Nerveux Central, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
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23
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Dormann D, Haass C. TDP-43 and FUS: a nuclear affair. Trends Neurosci 2011; 34:339-48. [PMID: 21700347 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2011.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2011] [Revised: 05/05/2011] [Accepted: 05/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Misfolded TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and Fused-In-Sarcoma (FUS) protein have recently been identified as pathological hallmarks of the neurodegenerative disorders amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) characterized by the presence of ubiquitin-positive inclusions (FTLD-U). Although TDP-43 and FUS are normally located predominantly in the nucleus, pathological TDP-43 and FUS inclusions are mostly found in the cytosol. Cytosolic deposition is paralleled by a striking nuclear depletion of either protein. Based on a number of recent findings, we postulate that defects in nuclear import are an important step towards TDP-43 and FUS dysfunction. Failure of nuclear transport can arise from mutations within a nuclear localization signal or from age-related decline of nuclear import mechanisms. We propose that nuclear import defects in combination with additional hits, for example cellular stress and genetic risk factors, may be a central underlying cause of ALS and FTLD-U pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothee Dormann
- Adolf-Butenandt-Institute, Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, Schillerstr. 44, 80336 Munich, Germany
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Budini M, Buratti E. TDP-43 autoregulation: implications for disease. J Mol Neurosci 2011; 45:473-9. [PMID: 21681666 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-011-9573-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2011] [Accepted: 06/06/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
TDP-43 is a nuclear protein that has been shown to play a central role in RNA metabolism. In recent years, this protein has become very important in the study of neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). These diseases share, as common feature, the presence of abnormally aggregated, posttranslationally modified, and mislocalized TDP-43 in the cell cytoplasm of both neurons and glial cells. A major question in TDP-43 research is represented by the investigation of the mechanism(s) that trigger this process and its potential consequences. Regarding the first issue, it is likely that relative protein expression levels might play an important role as has been demonstrated for many protein aggregation processes. In fact, the eventual misregulation of TDP-43 expression leading to enhanced protein production might well correlate with enhanced aggregation, and thus results in increasingly harmful gain- or loss-of-function effects on cellular metabolism. For this reason, it is important to determine the mechanisms that act to regulate TDP-43 levels within the cell. In normal conditions, it is now clear that TDP-43 can modulate its own protein levels through a negative feedback loop triggered by binding to its own RNA in the 3'UTR region leading to mRNA degradation. This work discusses how an eventual disruption of this mechanism might affect TDP-43 pathology, focusing in particular on its association with stress granules and intrinsic aggregation properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Budini
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Padriciano 99, 34012, Trieste, Italy
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25
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Guo W, Chen Y, Zhou X, Kar A, Ray P, Chen X, Rao EJ, Yang M, Ye H, Zhu L, Liu J, Xu M, Yang Y, Wang C, Zhang D, Bigio EH, Mesulam M, Shen Y, Xu Q, Fushimi K, Wu JY. An ALS-associated mutation affecting TDP-43 enhances protein aggregation, fibril formation and neurotoxicity. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2011; 18:822-30. [PMID: 21666678 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2010] [Accepted: 04/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in TARDBP, encoding TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43), are associated with TDP-43 proteinopathies, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). We compared wild-type TDP-43 and an ALS-associated mutant TDP-43 in vitro and in vivo. The A315T mutant enhances neurotoxicity and the formation of aberrant TDP-43 species, including protease-resistant fragments. The C terminus of TDP-43 shows sequence similarity to prion proteins. Synthetic peptides flanking residue 315 form amyloid fibrils in vitro and cause neuronal death in primary cultures. These data provide evidence for biochemical similarities between TDP-43 and prion proteins, raising the possibility that TDP-43 derivatives may cause spreading of the disease phenotype among neighboring neurons. Our work also suggests that decreasing the abundance of neurotoxic TDP-43 species, enhancing degradation or clearance of such TDP-43 derivatives and blocking the spread of the disease phenotype may have therapeutic potential for TDP-43 proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weirui Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
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Ertekin-Taner N. Gene expression endophenotypes: a novel approach for gene discovery in Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2011; 6:31. [PMID: 21569597 PMCID: PMC3113300 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1326-6-31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2011] [Accepted: 05/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Uncovering the underlying genetic component of any disease is key to the understanding of its pathophysiology and may open new avenues for development of therapeutic strategies and biomarkers. In the past several years, there has been an explosion of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) resulting in the discovery of novel candidate genes conferring risk for complex diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. Despite this success, there still remains a substantial genetic component for many complex traits and conditions that is unexplained by the GWAS findings. Additionally, in many cases, the mechanism of action of the newly discovered disease risk variants is not inherently obvious. Furthermore, a genetic region with multiple genes may be identified via GWAS, making it difficult to discern the true disease risk gene. Several alternative approaches are proposed to overcome these potential shortcomings of GWAS, including the use of quantitative, biologically relevant phenotypes. Gene expression levels represent an important class of endophenotypes. Genetic linkage and association studies that utilize gene expression levels as endophenotypes determined that the expression levels of many genes are under genetic influence. This led to the postulate that there may exist many genetic variants that confer disease risk via modifying gene expression levels. Results from the handful of genetic studies which assess gene expression level endophenotypes in conjunction with disease risk suggest that this combined phenotype approach may both increase the power for gene discovery and lead to an enhanced understanding of their mode of action. This review summarizes the evidence in support of gene expression levels as promising endophenotypes in the discovery and characterization of novel candidate genes for complex diseases, which may also represent a novel approach in the genetic studies of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner
- Mayo Clinic Florida, Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, 4500 San Pablo Road, Birdsall 210, Jacksonville, Florida 32224 USA.
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Zhang T, Mullane PC, Periz G, Wang J. TDP-43 neurotoxicity and protein aggregation modulated by heat shock factor and insulin/IGF-1 signaling. Hum Mol Genet 2011; 20:1952-65. [PMID: 21355045 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddr076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) plays a key role in the neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. The nature of the TDP-43-mediated neurotoxicity associated with these diseases is not yet understood. Here, we have established transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans models that express human TDP-43 variants in the nervous system, including the full-length wild-type (WT) and mutant proteins and a pathologic C-terminal fragment. The C. elegans models developed severe locomotor defects associated with the aggregation of TDP-43 in neurons. In comparison to parallel Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase worm models, transgenic full-length TDP-43, including the WT protein, was highly neurotoxic. In addition, TDP-43 demonstrated an unusually high tendency to aggregate, a property intrinsic to the WT protein. The C-terminal 25 kDa fragment of TDP-43 was unstable but remarkably aggregation-prone. Distinct disulfide-linked TDP-43 dimers and oligomers were detected. In C. elegans, the neurotoxicity and the protein aggregation of TDP-43 were regulated by environmental temperature and heat shock transcriptional factor 1, indicating that a deficiency in protein quality control is a risk factor for TDP-43 proteinopathy. Furthermore, the neurotoxicity and the protein aggregation of TDP-43 can be significantly attenuated by a deficiency in the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling in C. elegans and mammalian cells. These results suggest that protein misfolding underlies the aging-dependent neurodegeneration associated with TDP-43 and that the insulin/IGF-1 signaling may be a target for therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Uversky VN. Targeting intrinsically disordered proteins in neurodegenerative and protein dysfunction diseases: another illustration of the D(2) concept. Expert Rev Proteomics 2010; 7:543-64. [PMID: 20653509 DOI: 10.1586/epr.10.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Many biologically active proteins, which are usually called intrinsically disordered or natively unfolded proteins, lack stable tertiary and/or secondary structure under physiological conditions in vitro. Their functions complement the functional repertoire of ordered proteins, with intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) often being involved in regulation, signaling and control. Their amino acid sequences and compositions are very different from those of ordered proteins, making reliable identification of IDPs possible at the proteome level. IDPs are highly abundant in various human diseases, including neurodegeneration and other protein dysfunction maladies and, therefore, represent attractive novel drug targets. Some of the aspects of IDPs, as well as their roles in neurodegeneration and protein dysfunction diseases, are discussed in this article, together with the peculiarities of IDPs as potential drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir N Uversky
- Institute for Intrinsically Disordered Protein Research, Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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Cova L, Silani V. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: applications of stem cells - an update. STEM CELLS AND CLONING-ADVANCES AND APPLICATIONS 2010; 3:145-56. [PMID: 24198520 PMCID: PMC3781739 DOI: 10.2147/sccaa.s8662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a growing public health challenge, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains a fatal incurable disease. The advent of stem cell therapy has opened new horizons for both researchers and ALS patients, desperately looking for a treatment. ALS must be considered a systemic disease affecting many cell phenotypes besides motor neurons, even outside the central nervous system. Cell replacement therapy needs to address the specific neurobiological issues of ALS to safely and efficiently reach clinical settings. Moreover, the enormous potential of induced pluripotent cells directly derived from patients for modeling and understanding the pathological mechanisms, in correlation with the discoveries of new genes and animal models, provides new opportunities that need to be integrated with previously described transplantation strategies. Finally, a careful evaluation of preclinical data in conjunction with wary patient choice in clinical trials needs to be established in order to generate meaningful results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Cova
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
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Jucker M. The benefits and limitations of animal models for translational research in neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Med 2010; 16:1210-4. [PMID: 21052075 DOI: 10.1038/nm.2224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Age-related neurodegenerative diseases are largely limited to humans and rarely occur spontaneously in animals. Genetically engineered mouse models recapitulate aspects of the corresponding human diseases and are instrumental in studying disease mechanisms and testing therapeutic strategies. If considered within the range of their validity, mouse models have been predictive of clinical outcome. Translational failure is less the result of the incomplete nature of the models than of inadequate preclinical studies and misinterpretation of the models. This commentary summarizes current models and highlights key questions we should be asking about animal models, as well as questions that cannot be answered with the current models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Jucker
- Department of Cellular Neurology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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Abstract
Why, with all the progress in the field of neurodegeneration, do we still lack disease-modifying drugs that tackle the primary defect of severe cell loss? How much progress has been made toward this goal? Have we spent our time and resources wisely? And, most important, is there room for improvement? This commentary highlights several problems faced by researchers in studying the genetic etiology of neurodegenerative diseases and seeks to provide direction in overcoming some of these obstacles.
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Progranulin promotes neurite outgrowth and neuronal differentiation by regulating GSK-3β. Protein Cell 2010; 1:552-62. [PMID: 21204008 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-010-0067-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2010] [Accepted: 06/04/2010] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Progranulin (PGRN) has recently emerged as a key player in a subset of frontotemporal dementias (FTD). Numerous mutations in the progranulin gene have been identified in patients with familial or sporadic frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). In order to understand the molecular mechanisms by which PGRN deficiency leads to FTLD, we examined activity of PGRN in mouse cortical and hippocampal neurons and in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Treatment of mouse neurons with PGRN protein resulted in an increase in neurite outgrowth, supporting the role of PGRN as a neurotrophic factor. PGRN treatment stimulated phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) in cultured neurons. Knockdown of PGRN in SH-SY5Y cells impaired retinoic acid induced differentiation and reduced the level of phosphorylated GSK-3β. PGRN knockdown cells were also more sensitized to staurosporine-induced apoptosis. These results reveal an important role of PGRN in neurite outgrowth and involvement of GSK-3β in mediating PGRN activity. Identification of GSK-3β activation as a downstream event for PGRN signaling provides a mechanistic explanation for PGRN activity in the nervous system. Our work also suggest that loss of axonal growth stimulation during neural injury repair or deficits in axonal repair may contribute to neuronal damage or axonal loss in FTLD associated with PGRN mutations. Finally, our study suggests that modulating GSK-3β or similar signaling events may provide therapeutic benefits for FTLD cases associated with PGRN mutations.
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