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Hamel K, Moncada EL, Sheeler C, Rosa JG, Gilliat S, Zhang Y, Cvetanovic M. Cerebellar Heterogeneity and Selective vulnerability in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 (SCA1). Neurobiol Dis 2024; 197:106530. [PMID: 38750673 PMCID: PMC11184674 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106530] [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: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneity is one of the key features of the healthy brain and selective vulnerability characterizes many, if not all, neurodegenerative diseases. While cerebellum contains majority of brain cells, neither its heterogeneity nor selective vulnerability in disease are well understood. Here we describe molecular, cellular and functional heterogeneity in the context of healthy cerebellum as well as in cerebellar disease Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 (SCA1). We first compared disease pathology in cerebellar vermis and hemispheres across anterior to posterior axis in a knock-in SCA1 mouse model. Using immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated earlier and more severe pathology of PCs and glia in the posterior cerebellar vermis of SCA1 mice. We also demonstrate heterogeneity of Bergmann glia in the unaffected, wild-type mice. Then, using RNA sequencing, we found both shared, as well as, posterior cerebellum-specific molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis that include exacerbated gene dysregulation, increased number of altered signaling pathways, and decreased pathway activity scores in the posterior cerebellum of SCA1 mice. We demonstrated unexpectedly large differences in the gene expression between posterior and anterior cerebellar vermis of wild-type mice, indicative of robust intraregional heterogeneity of gene expression in the healthy cerebellum. Additionally, we found that SCA1 disease profoundly reduces intracerebellar heterogeneity of gene expression. Further, using fiber photometry, we found that population level PC calcium activity was altered in the posterior lobules in SCA1 mice during walking. We also identified regional differences in the population level activity of Purkinje cells (PCs) in unrestrained wild-type mice that were diminished in SCA1 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Juao-Guilherme Rosa
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, USA; Current affiliation Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Boston University, 677 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Stephen Gilliat
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, USA; Current affiliation Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, USA; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6(th) Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, USA; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6(th) Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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2
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Tejwani L, Ravindra NG, Lee C, Cheng Y, Nguyen B, Luttik K, Ni L, Zhang S, Morrison LM, Gionco J, Xiang Y, Yoon J, Ro H, Haidery F, Grijalva RM, Bae E, Kim K, Martuscello RT, Orr HT, Zoghbi HY, McLoughlin HS, Ranum LPW, Shakkottai VG, Faust PL, Wang S, van Dijk D, Lim J. Longitudinal single-cell transcriptional dynamics throughout neurodegeneration in SCA1. Neuron 2024; 112:362-383.e15. [PMID: 38016472 PMCID: PMC10922326 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegeneration is a protracted process involving progressive changes in myriad cell types that ultimately results in the death of vulnerable neuronal populations. To dissect how individual cell types within a heterogeneous tissue contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of a neurodegenerative disorder, we performed longitudinal single-nucleus RNA sequencing of mouse and human spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) cerebellar tissue, establishing continuous dynamic trajectories of each cell population. Importantly, we defined the precise transcriptional changes that precede loss of Purkinje cells and, for the first time, identified robust early transcriptional dysregulation in unipolar brush cells and oligodendroglia. Finally, we applied a deep learning method to predict disease state accurately and identified specific features that enable accurate distinction of wild-type and SCA1 cells. Together, this work reveals new roles for diverse cerebellar cell types in SCA1 and provides a generalizable analysis framework for studying neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Tejwani
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - Neal G Ravindra
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Changwoo Lee
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Yubao Cheng
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Billy Nguyen
- University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Kimberly Luttik
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Luhan Ni
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Shupei Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Logan M Morrison
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - John Gionco
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Yangfei Xiang
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | | | - Hannah Ro
- Yale College, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | | | - Rosalie M Grijalva
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | | | - Kristen Kim
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Regina T Martuscello
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Harry T Orr
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Huda Y Zoghbi
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hayley S McLoughlin
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
| | - Laura P W Ranum
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for Neurogenetics, College of Medicine, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Vikram G Shakkottai
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Phyllis L Faust
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Siyuan Wang
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - David van Dijk
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - Janghoo Lim
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Wu Tsai Institute, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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3
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Shorrock HK, Lennon CD, Aliyeva A, Davey EE, DeMeo CC, Pritchard CE, Planco L, Velez JM, Mascorro-Huamancaja A, Shin DS, Cleary JD, Berglund JA. Widespread alternative splicing dysregulation occurs presymptomatically in CAG expansion spinocerebellar ataxias. Brain 2024; 147:486-504. [PMID: 37776516 PMCID: PMC10834251 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of dominantly inherited neurodegenerative diseases, several of which are caused by CAG expansion mutations (SCAs 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 12) and more broadly belong to the large family of over 40 microsatellite expansion diseases. While dysregulation of alternative splicing is a well defined driver of disease pathogenesis across several microsatellite diseases, the contribution of alternative splicing in CAG expansion SCAs is poorly understood. Furthermore, despite extensive studies on differential gene expression, there remains a gap in our understanding of presymptomatic transcriptomic drivers of disease. We sought to address these knowledge gaps through a comprehensive study of 29 publicly available RNA-sequencing datasets. We identified that dysregulation of alternative splicing is widespread across CAG expansion mouse models of SCAs 1, 3 and 7. These changes were detected presymptomatically, persisted throughout disease progression, were repeat length-dependent, and were present in brain regions implicated in SCA pathogenesis including the cerebellum, pons and medulla. Across disease progression, changes in alternative splicing occurred in genes that function in pathways and processes known to be impaired in SCAs, such as ion channels, synaptic signalling, transcriptional regulation and the cytoskeleton. We validated several key alternative splicing events with known functional consequences, including Trpc3 exon 9 and Kcnma1 exon 23b, in the Atxn1154Q/2Q mouse model. Finally, we demonstrated that alternative splicing dysregulation is responsive to therapeutic intervention in CAG expansion SCAs with Atxn1 targeting antisense oligonucleotide rescuing key splicing events. Taken together, these data demonstrate that widespread presymptomatic dysregulation of alternative splicing in CAG expansion SCAs may contribute to disease onset, early neuronal dysfunction and may represent novel biomarkers across this devastating group of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claudia D Lennon
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Asmer Aliyeva
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Biology, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Emily E Davey
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Cristina C DeMeo
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | | | - Lori Planco
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Jose M Velez
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Biology, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | | | - Damian S Shin
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - John D Cleary
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - J Andrew Berglund
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Biology, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
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4
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Pérot JB, Niewiadomska-Cimicka A, Brouillet E, Trottier Y, Flament J. Longitudinal MRI and 1H-MRS study of SCA7 mouse forebrain reveals progressive multiregional atrophy and early brain metabolite changes indicating early neuronal and glial dysfunction. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296790. [PMID: 38227598 PMCID: PMC10790999 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
SpinoCerebellar Ataxia type 7 (SCA7) is an inherited disorder caused by CAG triplet repeats encoding polyglutamine expansion in the ATXN7 protein, which is part of the transcriptional coactivator complex SAGA. The mutation primarily causes neurodegeneration in the cerebellum and retina, as well as several forebrain structures. The SCA7140Q/5Q knock-in mouse model recapitulates key disease features, including loss of vision and motor performance. To characterize the temporal progression of brain degeneration of this model, we performed a longitudinal study spanning from early to late symptomatic stages using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and in vivo 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Compared to wild-type mouse littermates, MRI analysis of SCA7 mice shows progressive atrophy of defined brain structures, with the striatum, thalamus and cortex being the first and most severely affected. The volume loss of these structures coincided with increased motor impairments in SCA7 mice, suggesting an alteration of the sensory-motor network, as observed in SCA7 patients. MRI also reveals atrophy of the hippocampus and anterior commissure at mid-symptomatic stage and the midbrain and brain stem at late stage. 1H-MRS of hippocampus, a brain region previously shown to be dysfunctional in patients, reveals early and progressive metabolic alterations in SCA7 mice. Interestingly, abnormal glutamine accumulation precedes the hippocampal atrophy and the reduction in myo-inositol and total N-acetyl-aspartate concentrations, two markers of glial and neuronal damage, respectively. Together, our results indicate that non-cerebellar alterations and glial and neuronal metabolic impairments may play a crucial role in the development of SCA7 mouse pathology, particularly at early stages of the disease. Degenerative features of forebrain structures in SCA7 mice correspond to current observations made in patients. Our study thus provides potential biomarkers that could be used for the evaluation of future therapeutic trials using the SCA7140Q/5Q model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Pérot
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Fontenay-aux-Roses, 92260, France
- Institut du Cerveau–Paris Brain Institute–ICM, Sorbonne Université, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Anna Niewiadomska-Cimicka
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, 67404, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7104, Illkirch, 67404, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, 67404, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, 67404, France
| | - Emmanuel Brouillet
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Fontenay-aux-Roses, 92260, France
| | - Yvon Trottier
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, 67404, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7104, Illkirch, 67404, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, 67404, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, 67404, France
| | - Julien Flament
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Fontenay-aux-Roses, 92260, France
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5
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Olmos V, Thompson EN, Gogia N, Luttik K, Veeranki V, Ni L, Sim S, Chen K, Krause DS, Lim J. Dysregulation of alternative splicing in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:138-149. [PMID: 37802886 PMCID: PMC10979408 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad170] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 is caused by an expansion of the polyglutamine tract in ATAXIN-1. Ataxin-1 is broadly expressed throughout the brain and is involved in regulating gene expression. However, it is not yet known if mutant ataxin-1 can impact the regulation of alternative splicing events. We performed RNA sequencing in mouse models of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 and identified that mutant ataxin-1 expression abnormally leads to diverse splicing events in the mouse cerebellum of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. We found that the diverse splicing events occurred in a predominantly cell autonomous manner. A majority of the transcripts with misregulated alternative splicing events were previously unknown, thus allowing us to identify overall new biological pathways that are distinctive to those affected by differential gene expression in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. We also provide evidence that the splicing factor Rbfox1 mediates the effect of mutant ataxin-1 on misregulated alternative splicing and that genetic manipulation of Rbfox1 expression modifies neurodegenerative phenotypes in a Drosophila model of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 in vivo. Together, this study provides novel molecular mechanistic insight into the pathogenesis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 and identifies potential therapeutic strategies for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Olmos
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Evrett N Thompson
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, 10 Amistad Street, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, 10 Amistad Street, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Neha Gogia
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Kimberly Luttik
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Vaishnavi Veeranki
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Luhan Ni
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Serena Sim
- Yale College, 433 Temple Street, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Kelly Chen
- Yale College, 433 Temple Street, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Diane S Krause
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, 10 Amistad Street, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, 10 Amistad Street, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, 10 Amistad Street, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 10 Amistad Street, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Janghoo Lim
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, 10 Amistad Street, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, and Repair, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale School of Medicine, 100 College, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
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6
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Tkáč I, Xie T, Shah N, Larson S, Dubinsky JM, Gomez-Pastor R, McLoughlin HS, Orr HT, Eberly LE, Öz G. Regional sex differences in neurochemical profiles of healthy mice measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 9.4 tesla. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1278828. [PMID: 37954878 PMCID: PMC10634209 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1278828] [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: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine sex differences in the neurochemical concentrations measured by in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) of healthy mice on a genetic background commonly used for neurodegenerative disease models. Methods 1H MRS data collected from wild type mice with C57BL/6 or related genetic backgrounds in seven prior studies were used in this retrospective analysis. To be included, data had to be collected at 9.4 tesla magnetic field using advanced 1H MRS protocols, with isoflurane anesthesia and similar animal handling protocols, and a similar number of datasets from male and female mice had to be available for the brain regions analyzed. Overall, 155 spectra from female mice and 166 spectra from male mice (321 in total), collected from six brain regions (brainstem, cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and striatum) at various ages were included. Results Concentrations of taurine, total creatine (creatine + phosphocreatine), ascorbate, glucose and glutamate were consistently higher in male vs. female mice in most brain regions. Striatum was an exception with similar total creatine in male and female mice. The sex difference pattern in the hypothalamus was notably different from other regions. Interaction between sex and age was significant for total creatine and taurine in the cerebellum and hippocampus. Conclusion Sex differences in regional neurochemical levels are small but significant and age-dependent, with consistent male-female differences across most brain regions. The neuroendocrine region hypothalamus displays a different pattern of sex differences in neurochemical levels. Differences in energy metabolism and cellular density may underlie the differences, with higher metabolic rates in females and higher osmoregulatory and antioxidant capacity in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Tkáč
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Tiankai Xie
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Nitya Shah
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Sarah Larson
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Janet M. Dubinsky
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Rocio Gomez-Pastor
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | | | - Harry T. Orr
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Lynn E. Eberly
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Gülin Öz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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Morrison LM, Huang H, Handler HP, Fu M, Bushart DD, Pappas SS, Orr HT, Shakkottai VG. Increased intrinsic membrane excitability is associated with hypertrophic olivary degeneration in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.23.563657. [PMID: 37961407 PMCID: PMC10634770 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.23.563657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
One of the characteristic areas of brainstem degeneration across multiple spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) is the inferior olive (IO), a medullary nucleus that plays a key role in motor learning. In addition to its vulnerability in SCAs, the IO is also susceptible to a distinct pathology known as hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD). Clinically, HOD has been exclusively observed after lesions in the brainstem disrupt inhibitory afferents to the IO. Here, for the first time, we describe HOD in another context: spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). Using the genetically-precise SCA1 knock-in mouse model (SCA1-KI; both sexes used), we assessed SCA1-associated changes in IO neuron structure and function. Concurrent with degeneration, we found that SCA1-KI IO neurons are hypertrophic, exhibiting early dendrite lengthening and later somatic expansion. Unlike in previous descriptions of HOD, we observed no clear loss of IO inhibitory innervation; nevertheless, patch-clamp recordings from brainstem slices reveal that SCA1-KI IO neurons are hyperexcitable. Rather than synaptic disinhibition, we identify increases in intrinsic membrane excitability as the more likely mechanism underlying this novel SCA1 phenotype. Specifically, transcriptome analysis indicates that SCA1-KI IO hyperexcitability is associated with a reduced medullary expression of ion channels responsible for spike afterhyperpolarization (AHP) in IO neurons - a result that has a functional consequence, as SCA1-KI IO neuron spikes exhibit a diminished AHP. These results reveal membrane excitability as a potential link between disparate causes of IO degeneration, suggesting that HOD can result from any cause, intrinsic or extrinsic, that increases excitability of the IO neuron membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan M. Morrison
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Haoran Huang
- Medical Scientist Training Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
- College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - Hillary P. Handler
- Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, University of Minnesota Fairview Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Min Fu
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - David D. Bushart
- College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - Samuel S. Pappas
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Harry T. Orr
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Vikram G. Shakkottai
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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8
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McLoughlin HS, Gundry K, Rainwater O, Schuster KH, Wellik IG, Zalon AJ, Benneyworth MA, Eberly LE, Öz G. Antisense Oligonucleotide Silencing Reverses Abnormal Neurochemistry in Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3 Mice. Ann Neurol 2023; 94:658-671. [PMID: 37243335 PMCID: PMC10543567 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common dominantly inherited ataxia, and biomarkers are needed to noninvasively monitor disease progression and treatment response. Anti-ATXN3 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) treatment has been shown to mitigate neuropathology and rescue motor phenotypes in SCA3 mice. Here, we investigated whether repeated ASO administration reverses brainstem and cerebellar neurochemical abnormalities by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). METHODS Symptomatic SCA3 mice received intracerebroventricular treatment of ASO or vehicle and were compared to wild-type vehicle-treated littermates. To quantify neurochemical changes in treated mice, longitudinal 9.4T MRS of cerebellum and brainstem was performed. Acquired magnetic resonance (MR) group means were analyzed by 2-way analysis of variance mixed-effects sex-adjusted analysis with post hoc Sidak correlation for multiple comparisons. Pearson correlations were used to relate SCA3 pathology and behavior. RESULTS MR spectra yielded 15 to 16 neurochemical concentrations in the cerebellum and brainstem. ASO treatment in SCA3 mice resulted in significant total choline rescue and partial reversals of taurine, glutamine, and total N-acetylaspartate across both regions. Some ASO-rescued neurochemicals correlated with reduction in diseased protein and nuclear ATXN3 accumulation. ASO-corrected motor activity correlated with total choline and total N-acetylaspartate levels early in disease. INTERPRETATION SCA3 mouse cerebellar and brainstem neurochemical trends parallel those in patients with SCA3. Decreased total choline may reflect oligodendrocyte abnormalities, decreased total N-acetylaspartate highlights neuronal health disturbances, and high glutamine may indicate gliosis. ASO treatment fully or partially reversed select neurochemical abnormalities in SCA3 mice, indicating the potential for these measures to serve as noninvasive treatment biomarkers in future SCA3 gene silencing trials. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:658-671.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katherine Gundry
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Orion Rainwater
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Isabel G. Wellik
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Annie J. Zalon
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Lynn E. Eberly
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Gülin Öz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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9
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Tejwani L, Jung Y, Kokubu H, Sowmithra S, Ni L, Lee C, Sanders B, Lee PJ, Xiang Y, Luttik K, Soriano A, Yoon J, Park J, Ro HH, Ju H, Liao C, Tieze SM, Rigo F, Jafar-Nejad P, Lim J. Reduction of nemo-like kinase increases lysosome biogenesis and ameliorates TDP-43-related neurodegeneration. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e138207. [PMID: 37384409 PMCID: PMC10425213 DOI: 10.1172/jci138207] [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: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although mutations in TARDBP, encoding transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43), account for less than 1% of all ALS cases, TDP-43-positive aggregates are present in nearly all ALS patients, including patients with sporadic ALS (sALS) or carrying other familial ALS-causing (fALS-causing) mutations. Interestingly, TDP-43 inclusions are also present in subsets of patients with frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease; therefore, methods of activating intracellular protein quality control machinery capable of clearing toxic cytoplasmic TDP-43 species may alleviate disease-related phenotypes. Here, we identify a function of nemo-like kinase (Nlk) as a negative regulator of lysosome biogenesis. Genetic or pharmacological reduction of Nlk increased lysosome formation and improved clearance of aggregated TDP-43. Furthermore, Nlk reduction ameliorated pathological, behavioral, and life span deficits in 2 distinct mouse models of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Because many toxic proteins can be cleared through the autophagy/lysosome pathway, targeted reduction of Nlk represents a potential approach to therapy development for multiple neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Tejwani
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
| | - Youngseob Jung
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Hiroshi Kokubu
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sowmithra Sowmithra
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Luhan Ni
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Changwoo Lee
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
| | - Benjamin Sanders
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
| | - Paul J. Lee
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
| | - Yangfei Xiang
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kimberly Luttik
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
| | | | | | - Junhyun Park
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
| | | | - Hyoungseok Ju
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | | | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, California, USA
| | | | - Janghoo Lim
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, and
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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10
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Mortberg MA, Gentile JE, Nadaf N, Vanderburg C, Simmons S, Dubinsky D, Slamin A, Maldonado S, Petersen C, Jones N, Kordasiewicz H, Zhao H, Vallabh S, Minikel E. A single-cell map of antisense oligonucleotide activity in the brain. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:7109-7124. [PMID: 37188501 PMCID: PMC10415122 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) dosed into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) distribute broadly throughout the central nervous system (CNS). By modulating RNA, they hold the promise of targeting root molecular causes of disease and hold potential to treat myriad CNS disorders. Realization of this potential requires that ASOs must be active in the disease-relevant cells, and ideally, that monitorable biomarkers also reflect ASO activity in these cells. The biodistribution and activity of such centrally delivered ASOs have been deeply characterized in rodent and non-human primate (NHP) models, but usually only in bulk tissue, limiting our understanding of the distribution of ASO activity across individual cells and across diverse CNS cell types. Moreover, in human clinical trials, target engagement is usually monitorable only in a single compartment, CSF. We sought a deeper understanding of how individual cells and cell types contribute to bulk tissue signal in the CNS, and how these are linked to CSF biomarker outcomes. We employed single nucleus transcriptomics on tissue from mice treated with RNase H1 ASOs against Prnp and Malat1 and NHPs treated with an ASO against PRNP. Pharmacologic activity was observed in every cell type, though sometimes with substantial differences in magnitude. Single cell RNA count distributions implied target RNA suppression in every single sequenced cell, rather than intense knockdown in only some cells. Duration of action up to 12 weeks post-dose differed across cell types, being shorter in microglia than in neurons. Suppression in neurons was generally similar to, or more robust than, the bulk tissue. In macaques, PrP in CSF was lowered 40% in conjunction with PRNP knockdown across all cell types including neurons, arguing that a CSF biomarker readout is likely to reflect ASO pharmacodynamic effect in disease-relevant cells in a neuronal disorder. Our results provide a reference dataset for ASO activity distribution in the CNS and establish single nucleus sequencing as a method for evaluating cell type specificity of oligonucleotide therapeutics and other modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A Mortberg
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Juliana E Gentile
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Naeem M Nadaf
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Charles Vanderburg
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sean Simmons
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Dan Dubinsky
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | - Adam Slamin
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | - Salome Maldonado
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | - Caroline L Petersen
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | - Nichole Jones
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA
| | | | - Hien T Zhao
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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11
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Coarelli G, Coutelier M, Durr A. Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias: new genes and progress towards treatments. Lancet Neurol 2023; 22:735-749. [PMID: 37479376 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(23)00068-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Dominantly inherited spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are associated with phenotypes that range from pure cerebellar to multisystemic. The list of implicated genes has lengthened in the past 5 years with the inclusion of SCA37/DAB1, SCA45/FAT2, SCA46/PLD3, SCA47/PUM1, SCA48/STUB1, SCA50/NPTX1, SCA25/PNPT1, SCA49/SAM9DL, and SCA27B/FGF14. In some patients, co-occurrence of multiple potentially pathogenic variants can explain variable penetrance or more severe phenotypes. Given this extreme clinical and genetic heterogeneity, genome sequencing should become the diagnostic tool of choice but is still not available in many clinical settings. Treatments tested in phase 2 and phase 3 studies, such as riluzole and transcranial direct current stimulation of the cerebellum and spinal cord, have given conflicting results. To enable early intervention, preataxic carriers of pathogenic variants should be assessed with biomarkers, such as neurofilament light chain and brain MRI; these biomarkers could also be used as outcome measures, given that clinical outcomes are not useful in the preataxic phase. The development of bioassays measuring the concentration of the mutant protein (eg, ataxin-3) might facilitate monitoring of target engagement by gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Coarelli
- Sorbonne Université, ICM Institut du Cerveau, Pitié-Salpeêtrieère University Hospital, Paris, France; Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Marie Coutelier
- Sorbonne Université, ICM Institut du Cerveau, Pitié-Salpeêtrieère University Hospital, Paris, France; Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Durr
- Sorbonne Université, ICM Institut du Cerveau, Pitié-Salpeêtrieère University Hospital, Paris, France; Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
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12
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Nikom D, Zheng S. Alternative splicing in neurodegenerative disease and the promise of RNA therapies. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:457-473. [PMID: 37336982 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00717-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing generates a myriad of RNA products and protein isoforms of different functions from a single gene. Dysregulated alternative splicing has emerged as a new mechanism broadly implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson disease and repeat expansion diseases. Understanding the mechanisms and functional outcomes of abnormal splicing in neurological disorders is vital in developing effective therapies to treat mis-splicing pathology. In this Review, we discuss emerging research and evidence of the roles of alternative splicing defects in major neurodegenerative diseases and summarize the latest advances in RNA-based therapeutic strategies to target these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Nikom
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
- Center for RNA Biology and Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Sika Zheng
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA.
- Center for RNA Biology and Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA.
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA.
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13
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Buijsen RAM, Hu M, Sáez-González M, Notopoulou S, Mina E, Koning W, Gardiner SL, van der Graaf LM, Daoutsali E, Pepers BA, Mei H, van Dis V, Frimat JP, van den Maagdenberg AMJM, Petrakis S, van Roon-Mom WMC. Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 Characteristics in Patient-Derived Fibroblast and iPSC-Derived Neuronal Cultures. Mov Disord 2023; 38:1428-1442. [PMID: 37278528 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29446] [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: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the ataxin-1 protein resulting in neuropathology including mutant ataxin-1 protein aggregation, aberrant neurodevelopment, and mitochondrial dysfunction. OBJECTIVES Identify SCA1-relevant phenotypes in patient-specific fibroblasts and SCA1 induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) neuronal cultures. METHODS SCA1 iPSCs were generated and differentiated into neuronal cultures. Protein aggregation and neuronal morphology were evaluated using fluorescent microscopy. Mitochondrial respiration was measured using the Seahorse Analyzer. The multi-electrode array (MEA) was used to identify network activity. Finally, gene expression changes were studied using RNA-seq to identify disease-specific mechanisms. RESULTS Bioenergetics deficits in patient-derived fibroblasts and SCA1 neuronal cultures showed altered oxygen consumption rate, suggesting involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in SCA1. In SCA1 hiPSC-derived neuronal cells, nuclear and cytoplasmic aggregates were identified similar in localization as aggregates in SCA1 postmortem brain tissue. SCA1 hiPSC-derived neuronal cells showed reduced dendrite length and number of branching points while MEA recordings identified delayed development in network activity in SCA1 hiPSC-derived neuronal cells. Transcriptome analysis identified 1050 differentially expressed genes in SCA1 hiPSC-derived neuronal cells associated with synapse organization and neuron projection guidance, where a subgroup of 151 genes was highly associated with SCA1 phenotypes and linked to SCA1 relevant signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS Patient-derived cells recapitulate key pathological features of SCA1 pathogenesis providing a valuable tool for the identification of novel disease-specific processes. This model can be used for high throughput screenings to identify compounds, which may prevent or rescue neurodegeneration in this devastating disease. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Michel Hu
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Sáez-González
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Sofia Notopoulou
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleni Mina
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Winette Koning
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah L Gardiner
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Linda M van der Graaf
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Elena Daoutsali
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Barry A Pepers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Vera van Dis
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Philippe Frimat
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Arn M J M van den Maagdenberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Spyros Petrakis
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
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14
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Manto M, Cendelin J, Strupp M, Mitoma H. Advances in cerebellar disorders: pre-clinical models, therapeutic targets, and challenges. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:965-987. [PMID: 37768297 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2263911] [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: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cerebellar ataxias (CAs) represent neurological disorders with multiple etiologies and a high phenotypic variability. Despite progress in the understanding of pathogenesis, few therapies are available so far. Closing the loop between preclinical studies and therapeutic trials is important, given the impact of CAs upon patients' health and the roles of the cerebellum in multiple domains. Because of a rapid advance in research on CAs, it is necessary to summarize the main findings and discuss future directions. AREAS COVERED We focus our discussion on preclinical models, cerebellar reserve, the therapeutic management of CAs, and suitable surrogate markers. We searched Web of Science and PubMed using keywords relevant to cerebellar diseases, therapy, and preclinical models. EXPERT OPINION There are many symptomatic and/or disease-modifying therapeutic approaches under investigation. For therapy development, preclinical studies, standardization of disease evaluation, safety assessment, and demonstration of clinical improvements are essential. Stage of the disease and the level of the cerebellar reserve determine the goals of the therapy. Deficits in multiple categories and heterogeneity of CAs may require disease-, stage-, and symptom-specific therapies. More research is needed to clarify how therapies targeting the cerebellum influence both basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex, poorly explored domains in CAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Manto
- Service des Neurosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Jan Cendelin
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Strupp
- Department of Neurology and German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Hiroshi Mitoma
- Department of Medical Education, Tokyo medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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15
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Sucha M, Benediktova S, Tichanek F, Jedlicka J, Kapl S, Jelinkova D, Purkartova Z, Tuma J, Kuncova J, Cendelin J. Experimental Treatment with Edaravone in a Mouse Model of Spinocerebellar Ataxia 1. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10689. [PMID: 37445867 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Edaravone is a mitochondrially targeted drug with a suggested capability to modify the course of diverse neurological diseases. Nevertheless, edaravone has not been tested yet in the context of spinocerebellar ataxia 1 (SCA1), an incurable neurodegenerative disease characterized mainly by cerebellar disorder, with a strong contribution of inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. This study aimed to address this gap, exploring the potential of edaravone to slow down SCA1 progression in a mouse knock-in SCA1 model. SCA1154Q/2Q and healthy SCA12Q/2Q mice were administered either edaravone or saline daily for more than 13 weeks. The functional impairments were assessed via a wide spectrum of behavioral assays reflecting motor and cognitive deficits and behavioral abnormalities. Moreover, we used high-resolution respirometry to explore mitochondrial function, and immunohistochemical and biochemical tools to assess the magnitude of neurodegeneration, inflammation, and neuroplasticity. Data were analyzed using (hierarchical) Bayesian regression models, combined with the methods of multivariate statistics. Our analysis pointed out various previously documented neurological and behavioral deficits of SCA1 mice. However, we did not detect any plausible therapeutic effect of edaravone on either behavioral dysfunctions or other disease hallmarks in SCA1 mice. Thus, our results did not provide support for the therapeutic potential of edaravone in SCA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Sucha
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Simona Benediktova
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Tichanek
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Jedlicka
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Mitochondrial Laboratory, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Stepan Kapl
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurophysiology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Dana Jelinkova
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenka Purkartova
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Tuma
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Kuncova
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Mitochondrial Laboratory, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Cendelin
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 76, 323 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
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16
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Huang H, Shakkottai VG. Targeting Ion Channels and Purkinje Neuron Intrinsic Membrane Excitability as a Therapeutic Strategy for Cerebellar Ataxia. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1350. [PMID: 37374132 DOI: 10.3390/life13061350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In degenerative neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, a convergence of widely varying insults results in a loss of dopaminergic neurons and, thus, the motor symptoms of the disease. Dopamine replacement therapy with agents such as levodopa is a mainstay of therapy. Cerebellar ataxias, a heterogeneous group of currently untreatable conditions, have not been identified to have a shared physiology that is a target of therapy. In this review, we propose that perturbations in cerebellar Purkinje neuron intrinsic membrane excitability, a result of ion channel dysregulation, is a common pathophysiologic mechanism that drives motor impairment and vulnerability to degeneration in cerebellar ataxias of widely differing genetic etiologies. We further propose that treatments aimed at restoring Purkinje neuron intrinsic membrane excitability have the potential to be a shared therapy in cerebellar ataxia akin to levodopa for Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Huang
- Medical Scientist Training Program, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Vikram G Shakkottai
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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17
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van Prooije T, Ruigrok S, van den Berkmortel N, Maas RPPWM, Wijn S, van Roon-Mom WMC, van de Warrenburg B, Grutters JPC. The potential value of disease-modifying therapy in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 1: an early health economic modeling study. J Neurol 2023:10.1007/s00415-023-11704-3. [PMID: 37076599 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11704-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There currently is no disease-modifying therapy for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). Genetic interventions, such as RNA-based therapies, are being developed but those currently available are very expensive. Early evaluation of costs and benefits is, therefore, crucial. By developing a health economic model, we aimed to provide first insights into the potential cost-effectiveness of RNA-based therapies for SCA1 in the Netherlands. METHODS We simulated disease progression of individuals with SCA1 using a patient-level state-transition model. Five hypothetical treatment strategies with different start and endpoints and level of effectiveness (5-50% reduction in disease progression) were evaluated. Consequences of each strategy were measured in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), survival, healthcare costs, and maximum costs to be cost effective. RESULTS Most QALYs (6.68) are gained when therapy starts during the pre-ataxic stage and continues during the entire disease course. Incremental costs are lowest (- €14,048) if therapy is stopped when the severe ataxia stage is reached. The maximum costs per year to be cost-effective are €19,630 in the "stop after moderate ataxia stage" strategy at 50% effectiveness. DISCUSSION Our model indicates that the maximum price for a hypothetical therapy to be cost-effective is considerably lower than currently available RNA-based therapies. Most value for money can be gained by slowing progression in the early and moderate stages of SCA1 and by stopping therapy upon entering the severe ataxia stage. To allow for such a strategy, it is crucial to identify individuals in early stages of disease, preferably just before symptom onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teije van Prooije
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne Ruigrok
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Niels van den Berkmortel
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roderick P P W M Maas
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Stan Wijn
- Department of Operating Rooms, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Bart van de Warrenburg
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Janneke P C Grutters
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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18
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Santos C, Malheiro S, Correia M, Damásio J. Gene Suppression Therapies in Hereditary Cerebellar Ataxias: A Systematic Review of Animal Studies. Cells 2023; 12:cells12071037. [PMID: 37048110 PMCID: PMC10093402 DOI: 10.3390/cells12071037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Hereditary cerebellar ataxias (HCAs) are a heterogenous group of neurodegenerative disorders associated with severe disability. Treatment options are limited and overall restricted to symptomatic approaches, leading to poor prognoses. In recent years, there has been extensive research on gene suppression therapies (GSTs) as a new hope for disease-modifying strategies. In this article, we aim to perform a review of in vivo studies investigating the efficacy and safety profile of GSTs in HCAs. Methods: A structured PubMed® search on GSTs in HCAs from January 1993 up to October 2020 was performed. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined, and the selection process was conducted accordingly. The screening process was independently carried out by two authors and was initially based on title and abstract, followed by full-text reading. The risk-of-bias assessment was performed with SYRCLE’s tool. A data extraction sheet was created to collect relevant information from each selected article. Results: The initial search yielded 262 papers, of which 239 were excluded. An additional article was obtained following reference scrutiny, resulting in a total of 24 articles for final analysis. Most studies were not clear on the tools used to assess bias. In SCA1, SCA2, MJD/SCA3 and SCA7, RNA interference (iRNA) and antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapies proved to be well tolerated and effective in suppressing mutant proteins, improving neuropathological features and the motor phenotype. In SCA6, the phenotype was improved, but no investigation of adverse effects was performed. In FRDA, only the suppression efficacy of the electroporation of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats associated with Cas9 enzyme system (CRISPR-Cas9) system was tested and confirmed. Conclusion: The literature reviewed suggests that GSTs are well tolerated and effective in suppressing the targeted proteins, improving neuropathological features and the motor phenotype in vivo. Nonetheless, there is no guarantee that these results are free of bias. Moreover, further investigation is still needed to clarify the GST effect on HCAs such as FRDA, SCA6 and SCA2.
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19
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Rosa JG, Hamel K, Soles A, Sheeler C, Borgenheimer E, Gilliat S, Sbrocco K, Ghanoum F, Handler HP, Forster C, Rainwater O, Cvetanovic M. BDNF is altered in a brain-region specific manner and rescues deficits in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 178:106023. [PMID: 36724861 PMCID: PMC9969743 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an adult-onset, dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by the expanded polyQ tract in the protein ATAXIN1 (ATXN1) and characterized by progressive motor and cognitive impairments. There are no disease-modifying treatments or cures for SCA1. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays important role in cerebellar physiology and has shown therapeutic potential for cerebellar pathology in the transgenic mouse model of SCA1, ATXN1[82Q] line that overexpress mutant ATXN1 under a cerebellar Purkinje-cell-specific promoter. Here we demonstrate decreased expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the cerebellum and medulla of patients with SCA1. Early stages of disease seem most amenable to therapy. Thus, we next quantified Bdnf expression in Atxn1154Q/2Q mice, a knock-in mouse model of SCA1, during the early symptomatic disease stage in four clinically relevant brain regions: cerebellum, medulla, hippocampus and motor cortex. We found that during the early stages of disease, Bdnf mRNA expression is reduced in the hippocampus and cerebellum, while it is increased in the cortex and brainstem. Importantly, we observed that pharmacological delivery of recombinant BDNF improved motor and cognitive performance, and mitigated pathology in the cerebellum and hippocampus of Atxn1154Q/2Q mice. Our findings demonstrate brain-region specific deficiency of BDNF in SCA1 and show that reversal of low BDNF levels offers the potential for meaningful treatment of motor and cognitive deficits in SCA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juao-Guilherme Rosa
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Katherine Hamel
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Alyssa Soles
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Carrie Sheeler
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Ella Borgenheimer
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Stephen Gilliat
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Kaelin Sbrocco
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Ferris Ghanoum
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Hillary P. Handler
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America,Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, United States of America
| | | | - Orion Rainwater
- Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, United States of America.
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
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20
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Handler HP, Duvick L, Mitchell JS, Cvetanovic M, Reighard M, Soles A, Mather KB, Rainwater O, Serres S, Nichols-Meade T, Coffin SL, You Y, Ruis BL, O'Callaghan B, Henzler C, Zoghbi HY, Orr HT. Decreasing mutant ATXN1 nuclear localization improves a spectrum of SCA1-like phenotypes and brain region transcriptomic profiles. Neuron 2023; 111:493-507.e6. [PMID: 36577403 PMCID: PMC9957934 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a dominant trinucleotide repeat neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and premature death. Degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells is a frequent and prominent pathological feature of SCA1. We previously showed that transport of ATXN1 to Purkinje cell nuclei is required for pathology, where mutant ATXN1 alters transcription. To examine the role of ATXN1 nuclear localization broadly in SCA1-like disease pathogenesis, CRISPR-Cas9 was used to develop a mouse with an amino acid alteration (K772T) in the nuclear localization sequence of the expanded ATXN1 protein. Characterization of these mice indicates that proper nuclear localization of mutant ATXN1 contributes to many disease-like phenotypes including motor dysfunction, cognitive deficits, and premature lethality. RNA sequencing analysis of genes with expression corrected to WT levels in Atxn1175QK772T/2Q mice indicates that transcriptomic aspects of SCA1 pathogenesis differ between the cerebellum, brainstem, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary P Handler
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Lisa Duvick
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jason S Mitchell
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Molly Reighard
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Alyssa Soles
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kathleen B Mather
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Orion Rainwater
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Shannah Serres
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Tessa Nichols-Meade
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Stephanie L Coffin
- Program in Genetics & Genomics and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yun You
- Mouse Genetics Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Brian L Ruis
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Brennon O'Callaghan
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Christine Henzler
- RISS Bioinformatics, Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Huda Y Zoghbi
- Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Pediatrics, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Harry T Orr
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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21
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Mortberg MA, Gentile JE, Nadaf N, Vanderburg C, Simmons S, Dubinsky D, Slamin A, Maldonado S, Petersen CL, Jones N, Kordasiewicz HB, Zhao HT, Vallabh SM, Minikel EV. A single-cell map of antisense oligonucleotide activity in the brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.14.528473. [PMID: 36824749 PMCID: PMC9948956 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.14.528473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) dosed into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) distribute broadly throughout the brain and hold the promise of treating myriad brain diseases by modulating RNA. CNS tissue is not routinely biopsied in living individuals, leading to reliance on CSF biomarkers to inform on drug target engagement. Animal models can link CSF biomarkers to brain parenchyma, but our understanding of how individual cells contribute to bulk tissue signal is limited. Here we employed single nucleus transcriptomics on tissue from mice treated with RNase H1 ASOs against Prnp and Malat1 and macaques treated with an ASO against PRNP . Activity was observed in every cell type, though sometimes with substantial differences in magnitude. Single cell RNA count distributions implied target suppression in every single sequenced cell, rather than intense knockdown in only some cells. Duration of action up to 12 weeks post-dose differed across cell types, being shorter in microglia than in neurons. Suppression in neurons was generally similar to, or more robust than, the bulk tissue. In macaques, PrP in CSF was lowered 40% in conjunction with PRNP knockdown across all cell types including neurons, arguing that a CSF biomarker readout is likely to reflect disease-relevant cells in a neuronal disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A Mortberg
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Juliana E Gentile
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Naeem Nadaf
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Charles Vanderburg
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Sean Simmons
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Dan Dubinsky
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Adam Slamin
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Salome Maldonado
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Caroline L Petersen
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Nichole Jones
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | | | - Hien T Zhao
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts GeneralHospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts GeneralHospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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22
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Putka AF, Mato JP, McLoughlin HS. Myelinating Glia: Potential Therapeutic Targets in Polyglutamine Spinocerebellar Ataxias. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040601. [PMID: 36831268 PMCID: PMC9953858 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Human studies, in combination with animal and cellular models, support glial cells as both major contributors to neurodegenerative diseases and promising therapeutic targets. Among glial cells, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells are the myelinating glial cells of the central and peripheral nervous system, respectively. In this review, we discuss the contributions of these central and peripheral myelinating glia to the pathomechanisms of polyglutamine (polyQ) spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) types 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 17. First, we highlight the function of oligodendrocytes in healthy conditions and how they are disrupted in polyQ SCA patients and diseased model systems. We then cover the role of Schwann cells in peripheral nerve function and repair as well as their possible role in peripheral neuropathy in polyQ SCAs. Finally, we discuss potential polyQ SCA therapeutic interventions in myelinating glial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra F. Putka
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Juan P. Mato
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Hayley S. McLoughlin
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Correspondence:
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23
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Tichanek F. Psychiatric-Like Impairments in Mouse Models of Spinocerebellar Ataxias. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 22:14-25. [PMID: 35000108 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01367-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Many patients with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) suffer from diverse neuropsychiatric issues, including memory impairments, apathy, depression, or anxiety. These neuropsychiatric aspects contribute per se to the reduced quality of life and worse prognosis. However, the extent to which SCA-related neuropathology directly contributes to these issues remains largely unclear. Behavioral profiling of various SCA mouse models can bring new insight into this question. This paper aims to synthesize recent findings from behavioral studies of SCA patients and mouse models. The role of SCA neuropathology for shaping psychiatric-like impairments may be exemplified in mouse models of SCA1. These mice evince robust cognitive impairments which are shaped by both the cerebellar as well as out-of-cerebellar pathology. Although emotional-related alternations are also present, they seem to be less robust and more affected by the specific distribution and character of the neuropathology. For example, cerebellar-specific pathology seems to provoke behavioral disinhibition, leading to seemingly decreased anxiety, whereas complex SCA1 neuropathology induces anxiety-like phenotype. In SCA1 mice with complex neuropathology, some of the psychiatric-like impairments are present even before marked cerebellar degeneration and ataxia and correlate with hippocampal atrophy. Similarly, complete or partial deletion of the implicated gene (Atxn1) leads to cognitive dysfunction and anxiety-like behavior, respectively, without apparent ataxia and cerebellar degeneration. Altogether, these findings collectively suggest that the neuropsychiatric issues have a biological basis partially independent of the cerebellum. As some neuropsychiatric issues may stem from weakening the function of the implicated gene, therapeutic reduction of its expression by molecular approaches may not necessarily mitigate the neuropsychiatric issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Tichanek
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 1655/76, 323 00, Plzen, Czech Republic.
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 1655/76, 323 00, Plzen, Czech Republic.
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24
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Zarate N, Gundry K, Yu D, Casby J, Eberly LE, Öz G, Gomez-Pastor R. Neurochemical correlates of synapse density in a Huntington's disease mouse model. J Neurochem 2023; 164:226-241. [PMID: 36272099 PMCID: PMC9892354 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Striatal medium spiny neurons are highly susceptible in Huntington's disease (HD), resulting in progressive synaptic perturbations that lead to neuronal dysfunction and death. Non-invasive imaging techniques, such as proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1 H-MRS), are used in HD mouse models and patients with HD to monitor neurochemical changes associated with neuronal health. However, the association between brain neurochemical alterations and synaptic dysregulation remains unknown, limiting our ability to monitor potential treatments that may affect synapse function. We conducted in vivo longitudinal 1 H-MRS in the striatum followed by ex vivo analyses of excitatory synapse density of two synaptic circuits disrupted in HD, thalamo-striatal (T-S), and cortico-striatal (C-S) pathways, to assess the relationship between neurochemical alterations and changes in synapse density. We used the zQ175(Tg/0) HD mouse model as well as zQ175 mice lacking one allele of CK2α'(zQ175(Tg/0) :CK2α'(+/-) ), a kinase previously shown to regulate synapse function in HD. Longitudinal analyses of excitatory synapse density showed early and sustained reduction in T-S synapses in zQ175 mice, preceding C-S synapse depletion, which was rescued in zQ175:CK2α'(+/-) . Changes in T-S and C-S synapses were accompanied by progressive alterations in numerous neurochemicals between WT and HD mice. Linear regression analyses showed C-S synapse number positively correlated with 1 H-MRS-measured levels of GABA, while T-S synapse number positively correlated with levels of phosphoethanolamine and negatively correlated with total creatine levels. These associations suggest that these neurochemical concentrations measured by 1 H-MRS may facilitate monitoring circuit-specific synaptic dysfunction in the zQ175 mouse model and in other HD pre-clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Zarate
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Katherine Gundry
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Dahyun Yu
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Jordan Casby
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Lynn E Eberly
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.,Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Gülin Öz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Rocio Gomez-Pastor
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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25
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Abstract
This narrative review aims at providing an update on the management of inherited cerebellar ataxias (ICAs), describing main clinical entities, genetic analysis strategies and recent therapeutic developments. Initial approach facing a patient with cerebellar ataxia requires family medical history, physical examination, exclusions of acquired causes and genetic analysis, including Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). To guide diagnosis, several algorithms and a new genetic nomenclature for recessive cerebellar ataxias have been proposed. The challenge of NGS analysis is the identification of causative variant, trio analysis being usually the most appropriate option. Public genomic databases as well as pathogenicity prediction software facilitate the interpretation of NGS results. We also report on key clinical points for the diagnosis of the main ICAs, including Friedreich ataxia, CANVAS, polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias, Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. Rarer forms should not be neglected because of diagnostic biomarkers availability, disease-modifying treatments, or associated susceptibility to malignancy. Diagnostic difficulties arise from allelic and phenotypic heterogeneity as well as from the possibility for one gene to be associated with both dominant and recessive inheritance. To complicate the phenotype, cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome can be associated with some subtypes of cerebellar ataxia. Lastly, we describe new therapeutic leads: antisense oligonucleotides approach in polyglutamine SCAs and viral gene therapy in Friedreich ataxia. This review provides support for diagnosis, genetic counseling and therapeutic management of ICAs in clinical practice.
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26
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Brown JL, Hart DW, Boyle GE, Brown TG, LaCroix M, Baraibar AM, Pelzel R, Kim M, Sherman MA, Boes S, Sung M, Cole T, Lee MK, Araque A, Lesné SE. SNCA genetic lowering reveals differential cognitive function of alpha-synuclein dependent on sex. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:180. [PMID: 36517890 PMCID: PMC9749314 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01480-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy for neurological disease has been successful in clinical settings and its potential has generated hope for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We previously described that ablating SNCA encoding for α-synuclein (αSyn) in a mouse model of AD was beneficial. Here, we sought to demonstrate whether transient reduction of αSyn expression using ASOSNCA could be therapeutic in a mouse model of AD. The efficacy of the ASOSNCA was measured via immunocytochemistry, RT-qPCR and western blotting. To assess spatial learning and memory, ASOSNCA or PBS-injected APP and non-transgenic (NTG) mice, and separate groups of SNCA-null mice, were tested on the Barnes circular maze. Hippocampal slice electrophysiology and transcriptomic profiling were used to explore synaptic function and differential gene expression between groups. Reduction of SNCA transcripts alleviated cognitive deficits in male transgenic animals, but surprisingly, not in females. To determine the functional cause of this differential effect, we assessed memory function in SNCA-null mice. Learning and memory were intact in male mice but impaired in female animals, revealing that the role of αSyn on cognitive function is sex-specific. Transcriptional analyses identified a differentially expressed gene network centered around EGR1, a central modulator of learning and memory, in the hippocampi of SNCA-null mice. Thus, these novel results demonstrate that the function of αSyn on memory differs between male and female brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Brown
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (Room 4-114), 2101 Sixth Street SE, CDC 2641, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Damyan W. Hart
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (Room 4-114), 2101 Sixth Street SE, CDC 2641, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Gabriel E. Boyle
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (Room 4-114), 2101 Sixth Street SE, CDC 2641, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
- Present Address: Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Taylor G. Brown
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (Room 4-114), 2101 Sixth Street SE, CDC 2641, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Michael LaCroix
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (Room 4-114), 2101 Sixth Street SE, CDC 2641, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
- Present Address: Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Andrés M. Baraibar
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Present Address: Department of Neurosciences, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
| | - Ross Pelzel
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (Room 4-114), 2101 Sixth Street SE, CDC 2641, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Minwoo Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (Room 4-114), 2101 Sixth Street SE, CDC 2641, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Mathew A. Sherman
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (Room 4-114), 2101 Sixth Street SE, CDC 2641, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Samuel Boes
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (Room 4-114), 2101 Sixth Street SE, CDC 2641, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Michelle Sung
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (Room 4-114), 2101 Sixth Street SE, CDC 2641, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
- Present Address: Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA
| | - Tracy Cole
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Carlsbad, CA USA
- Present Address: n-Lorem Foundation, Carlsbad, CA 92010 USA
| | - Michael K. Lee
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (Room 4-114), 2101 Sixth Street SE, CDC 2641, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Alfonso Araque
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - Sylvain E. Lesné
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Wallin Medical Biosciences Building (Room 4-114), 2101 Sixth Street SE, CDC 2641, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
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Suppressing gain-of-function proteins via CRISPR/Cas9 system in SCA1 cells. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20285. [PMID: 36434031 PMCID: PMC9700751 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24299-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
SCAs are autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorders caused by a gain-of-function protein with toxic activities, containing an expanded polyQ tract in the coding region. There are no treatments available to delay the onset, stop or slow down the progression of these pathologies. In this work we focus our attention on SCA1 which is one of the most common genotypes circulating in Italy. Here, we develop a CRISPR/Cas9-based approach to reduce both forms of the ATXN1 protein, normal and mutated with expanded polyQ. We started with the screening of 10 different sgRNAs able to target Exon 8 of the ATXN1 gene. The two most promising sgRNAs were validated in fibroblasts isolated from SCA1 patients, following the identification of the best transfection method for this type of cell. Our silencing approach significantly downregulated the expression of ataxin1, due to large deletions and the introduction of small changes in the ATXN1 gene, evidenced by NGS analysis, without major effects on cell viability. Furthermore, very few significant guide RNA-dependent off-target effects were observed. These preliminary results not only allowed us to identify the best transfection method for SCA1 fibroblasts, but strongly support CRISPR/Cas9 as a promising approach for the treatment of expanded polyQ diseases. Further investigations will be needed to verify the efficacy of our silencing system in SCA1 neurons and animal models.
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Borgenheimer E, Hamel K, Sheeler C, Moncada FL, Sbrocco K, Zhang Y, Cvetanovic M. Single nuclei RNA sequencing investigation of the Purkinje cell and glial changes in the cerebellum of transgenic Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:998408. [PMID: 36457352 PMCID: PMC9706545 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.998408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cells constitute half the population of the human brain and are essential for normal brain function. Most, if not all, brain diseases are characterized by reactive gliosis, a process by which glial cells respond and contribute to neuronal pathology. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by a severe degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) and cerebellar gliosis. SCA1 is caused by an abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the gene Ataxin1 (ATXN1). While several studies reported the effects of mutant ATXN1 in Purkinje cells, it remains unclear how cerebellar glia respond to dysfunctional Purkinje cells in SCA1. To address this question, we performed single nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA seq) on cerebella of early stage Pcp2-ATXN1[82Q] mice, a transgenic SCA1 mouse model expressing mutant ATXN1 only in Purkinje cells. We found no changes in neuronal and glial proportions in the SCA1 cerebellum at this early disease stage compared to wild-type controls. Importantly, we observed profound non-cell autonomous and potentially neuroprotective reactive gene and pathway alterations in Bergmann glia, velate astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in response to Purkinje cell dysfunction.
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Spatial and Temporal Diversity of Astrocyte Phenotypes in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 Mice. Cells 2022; 11:cells11203323. [PMID: 36291186 PMCID: PMC9599982 DOI: 10.3390/cells11203323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
While astrocyte heterogeneity is an important feature of the healthy brain, less is understood about spatiotemporal heterogeneity of astrocytes in brain disease. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the gene Ataxin1 (ATXN1). We characterized astrocytes across disease progression in the four clinically relevant brain regions, cerebellum, brainstem, hippocampus, and motor cortex, of Atxn1154Q/2Q mice, a knock-in mouse model of SCA1. We found brain region-specific changes in astrocyte density and GFAP expression and area, early in the disease and prior to neuronal loss. Expression of astrocytic core homeostatic genes was also altered in a brain region-specific manner and correlated with neuronal activity, indicating that astrocytes may compensate or exacerbate neuronal dysfunction. Late in disease, expression of astrocytic homeostatic genes was reduced in all four brain regions, indicating loss of astrocyte functions. We observed no obvious correlation between spatiotemporal changes in microglia and spatiotemporal astrocyte alterations, indicating a complex orchestration of glial phenotypes in disease. These results support spatiotemporal diversity of glial phenotypes as an important feature of the brain disease that may contribute to SCA1 pathogenesis in a brain region and disease stage-specific manner.
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Ru D, Li J, Xie O, Peng L, Jiang H, Qiu R. Explainable artificial intelligence based on feature optimization for age at onset prediction of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Front Neuroinform 2022; 16:978630. [PMID: 36110986 PMCID: PMC9468717 DOI: 10.3389/fninf.2022.978630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Existing treatments can only delay the progression of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD) after onset, so the prediction of the age at onset (AAO) can facilitate early intervention and follow-up to improve treatment efficacy. The objective of this study was to develop an explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) based on feature optimization to provide an interpretable and more accurate AAO prediction. A total of 1,008 affected SCA3/MJD subjects from mainland China were analyzed. The expanded cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeats of 10 polyQ-related genes were genotyped and included in related models as potential AAO modifiers. The performance of 4 feature optimization methods and 10 machine learning (ML) algorithms were compared, followed by building the XAI based on the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). The model constructed with an artificial neural network (ANN) and feature optimization of Crossing-Correlation-StepSVM performed best and achieved a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.653 and mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and median absolute error (MedianAE) of 4.544, 6.090, and 3.236 years, respectively. The XAI explained the predicted results, which suggests that the factors affecting the AAO were complex and associated with gene interactions. An XAI based on feature optimization can improve the accuracy of AAO prediction and provide interpretable and personalized prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danlei Ru
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jinchen Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ouyi Xie
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Linliu Peng
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hong Jiang
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, China
| | - Rong Qiu
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- *Correspondence: Rong Qiu
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Luttik K, Olmos V, Owens A, Khan A, Yun J, Driessen T, Lim J. Identifying Disease Signatures in the Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 Mouse Cortex. Cells 2022; 11:2632. [PMID: 36078042 PMCID: PMC9454518 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurodegenerative disease spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is known to lead to the progressive degeneration of specific neuronal populations, including cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs), brainstem cranial nerve nuclei and inferior olive nuclei, and spinocerebellar tracts. The disease-causing protein ataxin-1 is fairly ubiquitously expressed throughout the brain and spinal cord, but most studies have primarily focused on the role of ataxin-1 in the cerebellum and brainstem. Therefore, the functions of ataxin-1 and the effects of SCA1 mutations in other brain regions including the cortex are not well-known. Here, we characterized pathology in the motor cortex of a SCA1 mouse model and performed RNA sequencing in this brain region to investigate the impact of mutant ataxin-1 towards transcriptomic alterations. We identified progressive cortical pathology and significant transcriptomic changes in the motor cortex of a SCA1 mouse model. We also identified progressive, region-specific, colocalization of p62 protein with mutant ataxin-1 aggregates in broad brain regions, but not the cerebellum or brainstem. A cross-regional comparison of the SCA1 cortical and cerebellar transcriptomic changes identified both common and unique gene expression changes between the two regions, including shared synaptic dysfunction and region-specific kinase regulation. These findings suggest that the cortex is progressively impacted via both shared and region-specific mechanisms in SCA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Luttik
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Victor Olmos
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Ashley Owens
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | | | - Joy Yun
- Yale College, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Terri Driessen
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Janghoo Lim
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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Luttik K, Tejwani L, Ju H, Driessen T, Smeets CJLM, Edamakanti CR, Khan A, Yun J, Opal P, Lim J. Differential effects of Wnt-β-catenin signaling in Purkinje cells and Bergmann glia in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2208513119. [PMID: 35969780 PMCID: PMC9407543 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208513119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive ataxia and degeneration of specific neuronal populations, including Purkinje cells (PCs) in the cerebellum. Previous studies have demonstrated a critical role for various evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways in cerebellar patterning, such as the Wnt-β-catenin pathway; however, the roles of these pathways in adult cerebellar function and cerebellar neurodegeneration are largely unknown. In this study, we found that Wnt-β-catenin signaling activity was progressively enhanced in multiple cell types in the adult SCA1 mouse cerebellum, and that activation of this signaling occurs in an ataxin-1 polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion-dependent manner. Genetic manipulation of the Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway in specific cerebellar cell populations revealed that activation of Wnt-β-catenin signaling in PCs alone was not sufficient to induce SCA1-like phenotypes, while its activation in astrocytes, including Bergmann glia (BG), resulted in gliosis and disrupted BG localization, which was replicated in SCA1 mouse models. Our studies identify a mechanism in which polyQ-expanded ataxin-1 positively regulates Wnt-β-catenin signaling and demonstrate that different cell types have distinct responses to the enhanced Wnt-β-catenin signaling in the SCA1 cerebellum, underscoring an important role of BG in SCA1 pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Luttik
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Leon Tejwani
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Hyoungseok Ju
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Terri Driessen
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
| | | | | | | | - Joy Yun
- Yale College, New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Puneet Opal
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Janghoo Lim
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, and Repair, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
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Olmos V, Gogia N, Luttik K, Haidery F, Lim J. The extra-cerebellar effects of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1): looking beyond the cerebellum. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:404. [PMID: 35802260 PMCID: PMC9993484 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04419-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is one of nine polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases and is characterized as an adult late-onset, progressive, dominantly inherited genetic disease. SCA1 is caused by an increase in the number of CAG repeats in the ATXN1 gene leading to an expanded polyQ tract in the ATAXIN-1 protein. ATAXIN-1 is broadly expressed throughout the brain. However, until recently, SCA1 research has primarily centered on the cerebellum, given the characteristic cerebellar Purkinje cell loss observed in patients, as well as the progressive motor deficits, including gait and limb incoordination, that SCA1 patients present with. There are, however, also other symptoms such as respiratory problems, cognitive defects and memory impairment, anxiety, and depression observed in SCA1 patients and mouse models, which indicate that there are extra-cerebellar effects of SCA1 that cannot be explained solely through changes in the cerebellar region of the brain alone. The existing gap between human and mouse model studies of extra-cerebellar regions in SCA1 makes it difficult to answer many important questions in the field. This review will cover both the cerebellar and extra-cerebellar effects of SCA1 and highlight the need for further investigations into the impact of mutant ATXN1 expression in these regions. This review will also discuss implications of extra-cerebellar effects not only for SCA1 but other neurodegenerative diseases showing diverse pathology as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Olmos
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, BCMM 154E, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Neha Gogia
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, BCMM 154E, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Kimberly Luttik
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, BCMM 154E, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, BCMM 154E, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | | | - Janghoo Lim
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, BCMM 154E, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, BCMM 154E, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, BCMM 154E, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, BCMM 154E, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Avenue, BCMM 154E, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
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Wilke C, Mengel D, Schöls L, Hengel H, Rakowicz M, Klockgether T, Durr A, Filla A, Melegh B, Schüle R, Reetz K, Jacobi H, Synofzik M. Levels of Neurofilament Light at the Preataxic and Ataxic Stages of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1. Neurology 2022; 98:e1985-e1996. [PMID: 35264424 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000200257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Neurofilament light (NfL) appears to be a promising fluid biomarker in repeat-expansion spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), with piloting studies in mixed SCA cohorts suggesting that NfL might be increased at the ataxic stage of SCA type 1 (SCA1). We here hypothesized that NfL is increased not only at the ataxic stage of SCA1, but also at its (likely most treatment-relevant) preataxic stage. METHODS We assessed serum NfL (sNfL) and CSF NfL (cNfL) levels in both preataxic and ataxic SCA1, leveraging a multicentric cohort recruited at 6 European university centers, and clinical follow-up data, including actually observed (rather than only predicted) conversion to the ataxic stage. Levels of sNfL and cNfL were assessed by single-molecule array and ELISA technique, respectively. RESULTS Forty individuals with SCA1 (23 preataxic, 17 ataxic) and 89 controls were enrolled, including 11 preataxic individuals converting to the ataxic stage. sNfL levels were increased at the preataxic (median 15.5 pg/mL [interquartile range 10.5-21.1 pg/mL]) and ataxic stage (31.6 pg/mL [26.2-37.7 pg/mL]) compared to controls (6.0 pg/mL [4.7-8.6 pg/mL]), yielding high age-corrected effect sizes (preataxic: r = 0.62, ataxic: r = 0.63). sNfL increases were paralleled by increases of cNfL at both the preataxic and ataxic stage. In preataxic individuals, sNfL levels increased with proximity to predicted ataxia onset, with significant sNfL elevations already 5 years before onset, and confirmed in preataxic individuals with actually observed ataxia onset. sNfL increases were detected already in preataxic individuals with SCA1 without volumetric atrophy of cerebellum or pons, suggesting that sNfL might be more sensitive to early preataxic neurodegeneration than the currently known most change-sensitive regions in volumetric MRI. Using longitudinal sNfL measurements, we estimated sample sizes for clinical trials with the reduction of sNfL as the endpoint. DISCUSSION sNfL levels might provide easily accessible peripheral biomarkers in both preataxic and ataxic SCA1, allowing stratification of preataxic individuals regarding proximity to onset, early detection of neurodegeneration even before volumetric MRI alterations, and potentially capture of treatment response in clinical trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01037777. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE This study provides Class III evidence that NfL levels are increased in both ataxic and preataxic SCA1 and are associated with ataxia onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Wilke
- From the Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (C.W., D.M., M.S.) and Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases (L.S., H.H., R.S.), Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (C.W., D.M., L.S., H.H., R.S., M.S.), Tübingen, Germany; First Department of Neurology (M.R.), Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurology (T.K.), University Hospital Bonn; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (T.K., H.J.), Bonn, Germany; Sorbonne Université (A.D.), Paris Brain Institute, APHP, INSERM, CNRS, France; Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences (A.F.), Federico II University Naples, Italy; Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research Center (B.M.), University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary; Department of Neurology (K.R.), RWTH Aachen University; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (K.R.), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen; and Department of Neurology (H.J.), University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Mengel
- From the Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (C.W., D.M., M.S.) and Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases (L.S., H.H., R.S.), Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (C.W., D.M., L.S., H.H., R.S., M.S.), Tübingen, Germany; First Department of Neurology (M.R.), Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurology (T.K.), University Hospital Bonn; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (T.K., H.J.), Bonn, Germany; Sorbonne Université (A.D.), Paris Brain Institute, APHP, INSERM, CNRS, France; Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences (A.F.), Federico II University Naples, Italy; Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research Center (B.M.), University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary; Department of Neurology (K.R.), RWTH Aachen University; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (K.R.), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen; and Department of Neurology (H.J.), University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ludger Schöls
- From the Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (C.W., D.M., M.S.) and Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases (L.S., H.H., R.S.), Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (C.W., D.M., L.S., H.H., R.S., M.S.), Tübingen, Germany; First Department of Neurology (M.R.), Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurology (T.K.), University Hospital Bonn; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (T.K., H.J.), Bonn, Germany; Sorbonne Université (A.D.), Paris Brain Institute, APHP, INSERM, CNRS, France; Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences (A.F.), Federico II University Naples, Italy; Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research Center (B.M.), University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary; Department of Neurology (K.R.), RWTH Aachen University; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (K.R.), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen; and Department of Neurology (H.J.), University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Holger Hengel
- From the Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (C.W., D.M., M.S.) and Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases (L.S., H.H., R.S.), Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (C.W., D.M., L.S., H.H., R.S., M.S.), Tübingen, Germany; First Department of Neurology (M.R.), Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurology (T.K.), University Hospital Bonn; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (T.K., H.J.), Bonn, Germany; Sorbonne Université (A.D.), Paris Brain Institute, APHP, INSERM, CNRS, France; Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences (A.F.), Federico II University Naples, Italy; Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research Center (B.M.), University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary; Department of Neurology (K.R.), RWTH Aachen University; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (K.R.), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen; and Department of Neurology (H.J.), University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria Rakowicz
- From the Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (C.W., D.M., M.S.) and Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases (L.S., H.H., R.S.), Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (C.W., D.M., L.S., H.H., R.S., M.S.), Tübingen, Germany; First Department of Neurology (M.R.), Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurology (T.K.), University Hospital Bonn; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (T.K., H.J.), Bonn, Germany; Sorbonne Université (A.D.), Paris Brain Institute, APHP, INSERM, CNRS, France; Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences (A.F.), Federico II University Naples, Italy; Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research Center (B.M.), University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary; Department of Neurology (K.R.), RWTH Aachen University; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (K.R.), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen; and Department of Neurology (H.J.), University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Klockgether
- From the Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (C.W., D.M., M.S.) and Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases (L.S., H.H., R.S.), Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (C.W., D.M., L.S., H.H., R.S., M.S.), Tübingen, Germany; First Department of Neurology (M.R.), Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurology (T.K.), University Hospital Bonn; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (T.K., H.J.), Bonn, Germany; Sorbonne Université (A.D.), Paris Brain Institute, APHP, INSERM, CNRS, France; Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences (A.F.), Federico II University Naples, Italy; Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research Center (B.M.), University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary; Department of Neurology (K.R.), RWTH Aachen University; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (K.R.), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen; and Department of Neurology (H.J.), University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Durr
- From the Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (C.W., D.M., M.S.) and Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases (L.S., H.H., R.S.), Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (C.W., D.M., L.S., H.H., R.S., M.S.), Tübingen, Germany; First Department of Neurology (M.R.), Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurology (T.K.), University Hospital Bonn; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (T.K., H.J.), Bonn, Germany; Sorbonne Université (A.D.), Paris Brain Institute, APHP, INSERM, CNRS, France; Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences (A.F.), Federico II University Naples, Italy; Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research Center (B.M.), University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary; Department of Neurology (K.R.), RWTH Aachen University; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (K.R.), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen; and Department of Neurology (H.J.), University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alessandro Filla
- From the Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (C.W., D.M., M.S.) and Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases (L.S., H.H., R.S.), Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (C.W., D.M., L.S., H.H., R.S., M.S.), Tübingen, Germany; First Department of Neurology (M.R.), Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurology (T.K.), University Hospital Bonn; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (T.K., H.J.), Bonn, Germany; Sorbonne Université (A.D.), Paris Brain Institute, APHP, INSERM, CNRS, France; Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences (A.F.), Federico II University Naples, Italy; Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research Center (B.M.), University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary; Department of Neurology (K.R.), RWTH Aachen University; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (K.R.), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen; and Department of Neurology (H.J.), University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bela Melegh
- From the Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (C.W., D.M., M.S.) and Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases (L.S., H.H., R.S.), Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (C.W., D.M., L.S., H.H., R.S., M.S.), Tübingen, Germany; First Department of Neurology (M.R.), Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurology (T.K.), University Hospital Bonn; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (T.K., H.J.), Bonn, Germany; Sorbonne Université (A.D.), Paris Brain Institute, APHP, INSERM, CNRS, France; Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences (A.F.), Federico II University Naples, Italy; Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research Center (B.M.), University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary; Department of Neurology (K.R.), RWTH Aachen University; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (K.R.), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen; and Department of Neurology (H.J.), University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rebecca Schüle
- From the Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (C.W., D.M., M.S.) and Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases (L.S., H.H., R.S.), Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (C.W., D.M., L.S., H.H., R.S., M.S.), Tübingen, Germany; First Department of Neurology (M.R.), Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurology (T.K.), University Hospital Bonn; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (T.K., H.J.), Bonn, Germany; Sorbonne Université (A.D.), Paris Brain Institute, APHP, INSERM, CNRS, France; Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences (A.F.), Federico II University Naples, Italy; Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research Center (B.M.), University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary; Department of Neurology (K.R.), RWTH Aachen University; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (K.R.), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen; and Department of Neurology (H.J.), University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Reetz
- From the Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (C.W., D.M., M.S.) and Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases (L.S., H.H., R.S.), Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (C.W., D.M., L.S., H.H., R.S., M.S.), Tübingen, Germany; First Department of Neurology (M.R.), Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurology (T.K.), University Hospital Bonn; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (T.K., H.J.), Bonn, Germany; Sorbonne Université (A.D.), Paris Brain Institute, APHP, INSERM, CNRS, France; Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences (A.F.), Federico II University Naples, Italy; Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research Center (B.M.), University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary; Department of Neurology (K.R.), RWTH Aachen University; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (K.R.), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen; and Department of Neurology (H.J.), University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Heike Jacobi
- From the Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (C.W., D.M., M.S.) and Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases (L.S., H.H., R.S.), Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (C.W., D.M., L.S., H.H., R.S., M.S.), Tübingen, Germany; First Department of Neurology (M.R.), Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurology (T.K.), University Hospital Bonn; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (T.K., H.J.), Bonn, Germany; Sorbonne Université (A.D.), Paris Brain Institute, APHP, INSERM, CNRS, France; Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences (A.F.), Federico II University Naples, Italy; Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research Center (B.M.), University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary; Department of Neurology (K.R.), RWTH Aachen University; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (K.R.), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen; and Department of Neurology (H.J.), University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- From the Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases (C.W., D.M., M.S.) and Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases (L.S., H.H., R.S.), Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (C.W., D.M., L.S., H.H., R.S., M.S.), Tübingen, Germany; First Department of Neurology (M.R.), Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurology (T.K.), University Hospital Bonn; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (T.K., H.J.), Bonn, Germany; Sorbonne Université (A.D.), Paris Brain Institute, APHP, INSERM, CNRS, France; Department of Neuroscience and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences (A.F.), Federico II University Naples, Italy; Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research Center (B.M.), University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary; Department of Neurology (K.R.), RWTH Aachen University; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (K.R.), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen; and Department of Neurology (H.J.), University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany
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Lee WS, Al-Ramahi I, Jeong HH, Jang Y, Lin T, Adamski CJ, Lavery LA, Rath S, Richman R, Bondar VV, Alcala E, Revelli JP, Orr HT, Liu Z, Botas J, Zoghbi HY. Cross-species genetic screens identify transglutaminase 5 as a regulator of polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-1. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:e156616. [PMID: 35499073 PMCID: PMC9057624 DOI: 10.1172/jci156616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative disorders are caused by abnormal accumulation of misfolded proteins. In spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), accumulation of polyglutamine-expanded (polyQ-expanded) ataxin-1 (ATXN1) causes neuronal toxicity. Lowering total ATXN1, especially the polyQ-expanded form, alleviates disease phenotypes in mice, but the molecular mechanism by which the mutant ATXN1 is specifically modulated is not understood. Here, we identified 22 mutant ATXN1 regulators by performing a cross-species screen of 7787 and 2144 genes in human cells and Drosophila eyes, respectively. Among them, transglutaminase 5 (TG5) preferentially regulated mutant ATXN1 over the WT protein. TG enzymes catalyzed cross-linking of ATXN1 in a polyQ-length-dependent manner, thereby preferentially modulating mutant ATXN1 stability and oligomerization. Perturbing Tg in Drosophila SCA1 models modulated mutant ATXN1 toxicity. Moreover, TG5 was enriched in the nuclei of SCA1-affected neurons and colocalized with nuclear ATXN1 inclusions in brain tissue from patients with SCA1. Our work provides a molecular insight into SCA1 pathogenesis and an opportunity for allele-specific targeting for neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won-Seok Lee
- Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Science Program, and
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ismael Al-Ramahi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Hyun-Hwan Jeong
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pediatrics-Neurology, and
| | - Youjin Jang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Tao Lin
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Carolyn J. Adamski
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Laura A. Lavery
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Smruti Rath
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ronald Richman
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Vitaliy V. Bondar
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Elizabeth Alcala
- Exceptional Research Opportunities Program, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jean-Pierre Revelli
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Harry T. Orr
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Zhandong Liu
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pediatrics-Neurology, and
| | - Juan Botas
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Huda Y. Zoghbi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pediatrics-Neurology, and
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
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Orengo JP, Nitschke L, van der Heijden ME, Ciaburri NA, Orr HT, Zoghbi HY. Reduction of mutant ATXN1 rescues premature death in a conditional SCA1 mouse model. JCI Insight 2022; 7:e154442. [PMID: 35290244 PMCID: PMC9089789 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.154442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder. As disease progresses, motor neurons are affected, and their dysfunction contributes toward the inability to maintain proper respiratory function, a major driving force for premature death in SCA1. To investigate the isolated role of motor neurons in SCA1, we created a conditional SCA1 (cSCA1) mouse model. This model suppresses expression of the pathogenic SCA1 allele with a floxed stop cassette. cSCA1 mice crossed to a ubiquitous Cre line recapitulate all the major features of the original SCA1 mouse model; however, they took twice as long to develop. We found that the cSCA1 mice produced less than half of the pathogenic protein compared with the unmodified SCA1 mice at 3 weeks of age. In contrast, restricted expression of the pathogenic SCA1 allele in motor neurons only led to a decreased distance traveled of mice in the open field assay and did not affect body weight or survival. We conclude that a 50% or greater reduction of the mutant protein has a dramatic effect on disease onset and progression; furthermore, we conclude that expression of polyglutamine-expanded ATXN1 at this level specifically in motor neurons is not sufficient to cause premature lethality.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. Orengo
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and
| | - Larissa Nitschke
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Meike E. van der Heijden
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Nicholas A. Ciaburri
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Harry T. Orr
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Huda Y. Zoghbi
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
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Lipid Dyshomeostasis and Inherited Cerebellar Ataxia. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:3800-3828. [PMID: 35420383 PMCID: PMC9148275 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02826-2] [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: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Cerebellar ataxia is a form of ataxia that originates from dysfunction of the cerebellum, but may involve additional neurological tissues. Its clinical symptoms are mainly characterized by the absence of voluntary muscle coordination and loss of control of movement with varying manifestations due to differences in severity, in the site of cerebellar damage and in the involvement of extracerebellar tissues. Cerebellar ataxia may be sporadic, acquired, and hereditary. Hereditary ataxia accounts for the majority of cases. Hereditary ataxia has been tentatively divided into several subtypes by scientists in the field, and nearly all of them remain incurable. This is mainly because the detailed mechanisms of these cerebellar disorders are incompletely understood. To precisely diagnose and treat these diseases, studies on their molecular mechanisms have been conducted extensively in the past. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that some common pathogenic mechanisms exist within each subtype of inherited ataxia. However, no reports have indicated whether there is a common mechanism among the different subtypes of inherited cerebellar ataxia. In this review, we summarize the available references and databases on neurological disorders characterized by cerebellar ataxia and show that a subset of genes involved in lipid homeostasis form a new group that may cause ataxic disorders through a common mechanism. This common signaling pathway can provide a valuable reference for future diagnosis and treatment of ataxic disorders.
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Bunting EL, Hamilton J, Tabrizi SJ. Polyglutamine diseases. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2022; 72:39-47. [PMID: 34488036 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine diseases are a collection of nine CAG trinucleotide expansion disorders, presenting with a spectrum of neurological and clinical phenotypes. Recent human, mouse and cell studies of Huntington's disease have highlighted the role of DNA repair genes in somatic expansion of the CAG repeat region, modifying disease pathogenesis. Incomplete splicing of the HTT gene has also been shown to occur in humans, with the resulting exon 1 fragment most probably contributing to the Huntington's disease phenotype. In the spinocerebellar ataxias, studies have converged on transcriptional dysregulation of ion channels as a key disease modifier. In addition, advances have been made in understanding how increased levels of toxic, polyglutamine-expanded proteins can arise in the spinocerebellar ataxias through post-transcriptional and -translational modifications and autophagic mechanisms. Recent studies in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy implicate similar pathogenic pathways to the more common polyglutamine diseases, highlighting autophagy stimulation as a potential therapeutic target. Finally, the therapeutic use of antisense oligonucleotides in several polyglutamine diseases has shown preclinical benefits and serves as potential future therapies in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Bunting
- UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Joseph Hamilton
- UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
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Abstract
RNA-based therapeutics have entered the mainstream with seemingly limitless possibilities to treat all categories of neurological disease. Here, common RNA-based drug modalities such as antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs, RNA aptamers, RNA-based vaccines and mRNA drugs are reviewed highlighting their current and potential applications. Rapid progress has been made across rare genetic diseases and neurodegenerative disorders, but safe and effective delivery to the brain remains a significant challenge for many applications. The advent of individualized RNA-based therapies for ultra-rare diseases is discussed against the backdrop of the emergence of this field into more common conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and ischaemic stroke. There remains significant untapped potential in the use of RNA-based therapeutics for behavioural disorders and tumours of the central nervous system; coupled with the accelerated development expected over the next decade, the true potential of RNA-based therapeutics to transform the therapeutic landscape in neurology remains to be uncovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Anthony
- Centre for Physical Activity and Life Sciences, University of Northampton, Northampton, UK
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Loureiro JR, Castro AF, Figueiredo AS, Silveira I. Molecular Mechanisms in Pentanucleotide Repeat Diseases. Cells 2022; 11:cells11020205. [PMID: 35053321 PMCID: PMC8773600 DOI: 10.3390/cells11020205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of neurodegenerative diseases resulting from repeat expansion has increased extraordinarily in recent years. In several of these pathologies, the repeat can be transcribed in RNA from both DNA strands producing, at least, one toxic RNA repeat that causes neurodegeneration by a complex mechanism. Recently, seven diseases have been found caused by a novel intronic pentanucleotide repeat in distinct genes encoding proteins highly expressed in the cerebellum. These disorders are clinically heterogeneous being characterized by impaired motor function, resulting from ataxia or epilepsy. The role that apparently normal proteins from these mutant genes play in these pathologies is not known. However, recent advances in previously known spinocerebellar ataxias originated by abnormal non-coding pentanucleotide repeats point to a gain of a toxic function by the pathogenic repeat-containing RNA that abnormally forms nuclear foci with RNA-binding proteins. In cells, RNA foci have been shown to be formed by phase separation. Moreover, the field of repeat expansions has lately achieved an extraordinary progress with the discovery that RNA repeats, polyglutamine, and polyalanine proteins are crucial for the formation of nuclear membraneless organelles by phase separation, which is perturbed when they are expanded. This review will cover the amazing advances on repeat diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana R. Loureiro
- Genetics of Cognitive Dysfunction Laboratory, i3S- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (J.R.L.); (A.F.C.); (A.S.F.)
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana F. Castro
- Genetics of Cognitive Dysfunction Laboratory, i3S- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (J.R.L.); (A.F.C.); (A.S.F.)
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana S. Figueiredo
- Genetics of Cognitive Dysfunction Laboratory, i3S- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (J.R.L.); (A.F.C.); (A.S.F.)
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Silveira
- Genetics of Cognitive Dysfunction Laboratory, i3S- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (J.R.L.); (A.F.C.); (A.S.F.)
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-2240-8800
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Behbahanipour M, García-Pardo J, Ventura S. Decoding the role of coiled-coil motifs in human prion-like proteins. Prion 2021; 15:143-154. [PMID: 34428113 PMCID: PMC8386614 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2021.1961569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions are self-propagating proteins that cause fatal neurodegenerative diseases in humans. However, increasing evidence suggests that eukaryotic cells exploit prion conformational conversion for functional purposes. A recent study delineated a group of twenty prion-like proteins in humans, characterized by the presence of low-complexity glutamine-rich sequences with overlapping coiled-coil (CCs) motifs. This is the case of Mediator complex subunit 15 (MED15), which is overexpressed in a wide range of human cancers. Biophysical studies demonstrated that the prion-like domain (PrLD) of MED15 forms homodimers in solution, sustained by CCs interactions. Furthermore, the same coiled-coil (CC) region plays a crucial role in the PrLD structural transition to a transmissible β-sheet amyloid state. In this review, we discuss the role of CCs motifs and their contribution to amyloid transitions in human prion-like domains (PrLDs), while providing a comprehensive overview of six predicted human prion-like proteins involved in transcription, gene expression, or DNA damage response and associated with human disease, whose PrLDs contain or overlap with CCs sequences. Finally, we try to rationalize how these molecular signatures might relate to both their function and involvement in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molood Behbahanipour
- Institut De Biotecnologia I De Biomedicina (Ibb) and Departament De Bioquímica I Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autónoma De Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier García-Pardo
- Institut De Biotecnologia I De Biomedicina (Ibb) and Departament De Bioquímica I Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autónoma De Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador Ventura
- Institut De Biotecnologia I De Biomedicina (Ibb) and Departament De Bioquímica I Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autónoma De Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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42
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Zhang Y, Quraishi IH, McClure H, Williams LA, Cheng Y, Kale S, Dempsey GT, Agrawal S, Gerber DJ, McManus OB, Kaczmarek LK. Suppression of Kv3.3 channels by antisense oligonucleotides reverses biochemical effects and motor impairment in spinocerebellar ataxia type 13 mice. FASEB J 2021; 35:e22053. [PMID: 34820911 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101356r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in KCNC3, the gene that encodes the Kv3.3 voltage dependent potassium channel, cause Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 13 (SCA13), a disease associated with disrupted motor behaviors, progressive cerebellar degeneration, and abnormal auditory processing. The Kv3.3 channel directly binds Hax-1, a cell survival protein. A disease-causing mutation, Kv3.3-G592R, causes overstimulation of Tank Binding Kinase 1 (Tbk1) in the cerebellum, resulting in the degradation of Hax-1 by promoting its trafficking into multivesicular bodies and then to lysosomes. We have now tested the effects of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) directed against the Kv3.3 channel on both wild type mice and those bearing the Kv3.3-G592R-encoding mutation. Intracerebroventricular infusion of the Kcnc3-specific ASO suppressed both mRNA and protein levels of the Kv3.3 channel. In wild-type animals, this produced no change in levels of activated Tbk1, Hax-1 or Cd63, a tetraspanin marker for late endosomes/multivesicular bodies. In contrast, in mice homozygous for the Kv3.3-G592R-encoding mutation, the same ASO reduced Tbk1 activation and levels of Cd63, while restoring the expression of Hax-1 in the cerebellum. The motor behavior of the mice was tested using a rotarod assay. Surprisingly, the active ASO had no effects on the motor behavior of wild type mice but restored the behavior of the mutant mice to those of age-matched wild type animals. Our findings indicate that, in mature intact animals, suppression of Kv3.3 expression can reverse the deleterious effects of a SCA13 mutation while having little effect on wild type animals. Thus, targeting Kv3.3 expression may prove a viable therapeutic approach for SCA13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Imran H Quraishi
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Heather McClure
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Leonard K Kaczmarek
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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43
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McIntosh CS, Li D, Wilton SD, Aung-Htut MT. Polyglutamine Ataxias: Our Current Molecular Understanding and What the Future Holds for Antisense Therapies. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1499. [PMID: 34829728 PMCID: PMC8615177 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) ataxias are a heterogenous group of neurological disorders all caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat located in the coding region of each unique causative gene. To date, polyQ ataxias encompass six disorders: spinocerebellar ataxia types 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 17 and account for a larger group of disorders simply known as polyglutamine disorders, which also includes Huntington's disease. These diseases are typically characterised by progressive ataxia, speech and swallowing difficulties, lack of coordination and gait, and are unfortunately fatal in nature, with the exception of SCA6. All the polyQ spinocerebellar ataxias have a hallmark feature of neuronal aggregations and share many common pathogenic mechanisms, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired proteasomal function, and autophagy impairment. Currently, therapeutic options are limited, with no available treatments that slow or halt disease progression. Here, we discuss the common molecular and clinical presentations of polyQ spinocerebellar ataxias. We will also discuss the promising antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics being developed as treatments for these devastating diseases. With recent advancements and therapeutic approvals of various antisense therapies, it is envisioned that some of the studies reviewed may progress into clinical trials and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig S. McIntosh
- Molecular Therapy Laboratory, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute Murdoch University, Discovery Way, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia; (C.S.M.); (D.L.); (S.D.W.)
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Dunhui Li
- Molecular Therapy Laboratory, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute Murdoch University, Discovery Way, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia; (C.S.M.); (D.L.); (S.D.W.)
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Steve D. Wilton
- Molecular Therapy Laboratory, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute Murdoch University, Discovery Way, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia; (C.S.M.); (D.L.); (S.D.W.)
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - May T. Aung-Htut
- Molecular Therapy Laboratory, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute Murdoch University, Discovery Way, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia; (C.S.M.); (D.L.); (S.D.W.)
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
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44
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Keiser MS, Ranum PT, Yrigollen CM, Carrell EM, Smith GR, Muehlmatt AL, Chen YH, Stein JM, Wolf RL, Radaelli E, Lucas TJ, Gonzalez-Alegre P, Davidson BL. Toxicity after AAV delivery of RNAi expression constructs into nonhuman primate brain. Nat Med 2021; 27:1982-1989. [PMID: 34663988 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01522-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 can prevent and reverse behavioral deficits and neuropathological readouts in mouse models, with safety and benefit lasting over many months. The RNAi trigger, expressed from adeno-associated virus vectors (AAV.miS1), also corrected misregulated microRNAs (miRNA) such as miR150. Subsequently, we showed that the delivery method was scalable, and that AAV.miS1 was safe in short-term pilot nonhuman primate (NHP) studies. To advance the technology to patients, investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies in NHPs were initiated. After AAV.miS1 delivery to deep cerebellar nuclei, we unexpectedly observed cerebellar toxicity. Both small-RNA-seq and studies using AAVs devoid of miRNAs showed that this was not a result of saturation of the endogenous miRNA processing machinery. RNA-seq together with sequencing of the AAV product showed that, despite limited amounts of cross-packaged material, there was substantial inverted terminal repeat (ITR) promoter activity that correlated with neuropathologies. ITR promoter activity was reduced by altering the miS1 expression context. The surprising contrast between our rodent and NHP findings highlight the need for extended safety studies in multiple species when assessing new therapeutics for human application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan S Keiser
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Paul T Ranum
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Carolyn M Yrigollen
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ellie M Carrell
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Geary R Smith
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amy L Muehlmatt
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yong Hong Chen
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joel M Stein
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ronald L Wolf
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Enrico Radaelli
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Timothy J Lucas
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Pedro Gonzalez-Alegre
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Beverly L Davidson
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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45
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Wozniak EAL, Chen Z, Paul S, Yang P, Figueroa KP, Friedrich J, Tschumperlin T, Berken M, Ingram M, Henzler C, Pulst SM, Orr HT. Cholecystokinin 1 receptor activation restores normal mTORC1 signaling and is protective to Purkinje cells of SCA mice. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109831. [PMID: 34644575 PMCID: PMC8916043 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of genetic diseases characterized by progressive ataxia and neurodegeneration, often in cerebellar Purkinje neurons. A SCA1 mouse model, Pcp2-ATXN1[30Q]D776, has severe ataxia in absence of progressive Purkinje neuron degeneration and death. Previous RNA-seq analyses identify cerebellar upregulation of the peptide hormone cholecystokinin (Cck) in Pcp2-ATXN1[30Q]D776 mice. Importantly, absence of Cck1 receptor (Cck1R) in Pcp2-ATXN1[30Q]D776 mice confers a progressive disease with Purkinje neuron death. Administration of a Cck1R agonist, A71623, to Pcp2-ATXN1[30Q]D776;Cck-/- and Pcp2-AXTN1[82Q] mice dampens Purkinje neuron pathology and associated deficits in motor performance. In addition, A71623 administration improves motor performance of Pcp2-ATXN2[127Q] SCA2 mice. Moreover, the Cck1R agonist A71623 corrects mTORC1 signaling and improves expression of calbindin in cerebella of AXTN1[82Q] and ATXN2[127Q] mice. These results indicate that manipulation of the Cck-Cck1R pathway is a potential therapeutic target for treatment of diseases involving Purkinje neuron degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A L Wozniak
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Zhao Chen
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Sharan Paul
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Praseuth Yang
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Karla P Figueroa
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jill Friedrich
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Tyler Tschumperlin
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Michael Berken
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Melissa Ingram
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Christine Henzler
- RISS Bioinformatics, Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Stefan M Pulst
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| | - Harry T Orr
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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46
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Vázquez-Mojena Y, León-Arcia K, González-Zaldivar Y, Rodríguez-Labrada R, Velázquez-Pérez L. Gene Therapy for Polyglutamine Spinocerebellar Ataxias: Advances, Challenges, and Perspectives. Mov Disord 2021; 36:2731-2744. [PMID: 34628681 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) comprise a heterogeneous group of six autosomal dominant ataxias caused by cytosine-adenine-guanine repeat expansions in the coding region of single genes. Currently, there is no curative or disease-slowing treatment for these disorders, but their monogenic inheritance has informed rationales for development of gene therapy strategies. In fact, RNA interference strategies have shown promising findings in cellular and/or animal models of SCA1, SCA3, SCA6, and SCA7. In addition, antisense oligonucleotide therapy has provided encouraging proofs of concept in models of SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, and SCA7, but they have not yet progressed to clinical trials. On the contrary, the gene editing strategies, such as the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR/Cas9), have been introduced to a limited extent in these disorders. In this article, we review the available literature about gene therapy in polyglutamine SCAs and discuss the main technological and ethical challenges toward the prospect of their use in future clinical trials. Although antisense oligonucleotide therapies are further along the path to clinical phases, the recent failure of three clinical trials in Huntington's disease may delay their utilization for polyglutamine SCAs, but they offer lessons that could optimize the likelihood of success in potential future clinical studies. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Cendelin J, Cvetanovic M, Gandelman M, Hirai H, Orr HT, Pulst SM, Strupp M, Tichanek F, Tuma J, Manto M. Consensus Paper: Strengths and Weaknesses of Animal Models of Spinocerebellar Ataxias and Their Clinical Implications. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 21:452-481. [PMID: 34378174 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-021-01311-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) represent a large group of hereditary degenerative diseases of the nervous system, in particular the cerebellum, and other systems that manifest with a variety of progressive motor, cognitive, and behavioral deficits with the leading symptom of cerebellar ataxia. SCAs often lead to severe impairments of the patient's functioning, quality of life, and life expectancy. For SCAs, there are no proven effective pharmacotherapies that improve the symptoms or substantially delay disease progress, i.e., disease-modifying therapies. To study SCA pathogenesis and potential therapies, animal models have been widely used and are an essential part of pre-clinical research. They mainly include mice, but also other vertebrates and invertebrates. Each animal model has its strengths and weaknesses arising from model animal species, type of genetic manipulation, and similarity to human diseases. The types of murine and non-murine models of SCAs, their contribution to the investigation of SCA pathogenesis, pathological phenotype, and therapeutic approaches including their advantages and disadvantages are reviewed in this paper. There is a consensus among the panel of experts that (1) animal models represent valuable tools to improve our understanding of SCAs and discover and assess novel therapies for this group of neurological disorders characterized by diverse mechanisms and differential degenerative progressions, (2) thorough phenotypic assessment of individual animal models is required for studies addressing therapeutic approaches, (3) comparative studies are needed to bring pre-clinical research closer to clinical trials, and (4) mouse models complement cellular and invertebrate models which remain limited in terms of clinical translation for complex neurological disorders such as SCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Cendelin
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 75, 323 00, Plzen, Czech Republic. .,Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 75, 323 00, Plzen, Czech Republic.
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Mandi Gandelman
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, 175 North Medical Drive East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Hirokazu Hirai
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neural Repair, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.,Viral Vector Core, Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Harry T Orr
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Stefan M Pulst
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, 175 North Medical Drive East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Michael Strupp
- Department of Neurology and German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Campus Grosshadern, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Filip Tichanek
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 75, 323 00, Plzen, Czech Republic.,Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 75, 323 00, Plzen, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Tuma
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, alej Svobody 75, 323 00, Plzen, Czech Republic.,The Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC 7843, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Mario Manto
- Unité des Ataxies Cérébelleuses, Service de Neurologie, CHU-Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium.,Service des Neurosciences, Université de Mons, UMons, Mons, Belgium
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48
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Zhang N, Bewick B, Schultz J, Tiwari A, Krencik R, Zhang A, Adachi K, Xia G, Yun K, Sarkar P, Ashizawa T. DNAzyme Cleavage of CAG Repeat RNA in Polyglutamine Diseases. Neurotherapeutics 2021; 18:1710-1728. [PMID: 34160773 PMCID: PMC8609077 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-021-01075-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
CAG repeat expansion is the genetic cause of nine incurable polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases with neurodegenerative features. Silencing repeat RNA holds great therapeutic value. Here, we developed a repeat-based RNA-cleaving DNAzyme that catalyzes the destruction of expanded CAG repeat RNA of six polyQ diseases with high potency. DNAzyme preferentially cleaved the expanded allele in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) cells. While cleavage was non-allele-specific for spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) cells, treatment of DNAzyme leads to improved cell viability without affecting mitochondrial metabolism or p62-dependent aggresome formation. DNAzyme appears to be stable in mouse brain for at least 1 month, and an intermediate dosage of DNAzyme in a SCA3 mouse model leads to a significant reduction of high molecular weight ATXN3 proteins. Our data suggest that DNAzyme is an effective RNA silencing molecule for potential treatment of multiple polyQ diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX USA
| | - Brittani Bewick
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX USA
| | - Jason Schultz
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX USA
| | - Anjana Tiwari
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX USA
| | - Robert Krencik
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX USA
| | - Aijun Zhang
- Center for Bioenergetics, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX USA
| | - Kaho Adachi
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, UC-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Guangbin Xia
- Indiana University School of Medicine-Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN USA
| | - Kyuson Yun
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX USA
| | - Partha Sarkar
- Department of Neurology and Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, UTMB Health, Galveston, TX USA
| | - Tetsuo Ashizawa
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX USA
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49
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Hommersom MP, Buijsen RAM, van Roon-Mom WMC, van de Warrenburg BPC, van Bokhoven H. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Modelling of Spinocerebellar Ataxias. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 18:441-456. [PMID: 34031815 PMCID: PMC8930896 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-021-10184-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) constitute a large group of phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous disorders that mainly present with dysfunction of the cerebellum as their main hallmark. Although animal and cell models have been highly instrumental for our current insight into the underlying disease mechanisms of these neurodegenerative disorders, they do not offer the full human genetic and physiological context. The advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and protocols to differentiate these into essentially every cell type allows us to closely model SCAs in a human context. In this review, we systematically summarize recent findings from studies using hiPSC-based modelling of SCAs, and discuss what knowledge has been gained from these studies. We conclude that hiPSC-based models are a powerful tool for modelling SCAs as they contributed to new mechanistic insights and have the potential to serve the development of genetic therapies. However, the use of standardized methods and multiple clones of isogenic lines are essential to increase validity and reproducibility of the insights gained. Graphical Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina P Hommersom
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bart P C van de Warrenburg
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Hans van Bokhoven
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
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50
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Brooker SM, Edamakanti CR, Akasha SM, Kuo SH, Opal P. Spinocerebellar ataxia clinical trials: opportunities and challenges. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2021; 8:1543-1556. [PMID: 34019331 PMCID: PMC8283160 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of dominantly inherited diseases that share the defining feature of progressive cerebellar ataxia. The disease process, however, is not confined to the cerebellum; other areas of the brain, in particular, the brainstem, are also affected, resulting in a high burden of morbidity and mortality. Currently, there are no disease‐modifying treatments for the SCAs, but preclinical research has led to the development of therapeutic agents ripe for testing in patients. Unfortunately, due to the rarity of these diseases and their slow and variable progression, there are substantial hurdles to overcome in conducting clinical trials. While the epidemiological features of the SCAs are immutable, the feasibility of conducting clinical trials is being addressed through a combination of strategies. These include improvements in clinical outcome measures, the identification of imaging and fluid biomarkers, and innovations in clinical trial design. In this review, we highlight current challenges in initiating clinical trials for the SCAs and also discuss pathways for researchers and clinicians to mitigate these challenges and harness opportunities for clinical trial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Brooker
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Sara M Akasha
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sheng-Han Kuo
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.,Initiative for Columbia Ataxia and Tremor, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Puneet Opal
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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