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van Tartwijk FW, Wunderlich LCS, Mela I, Makarchuk S, Jakobs MAH, Qamar S, Franze K, Kaminski Schierle GS, St George-Hyslop PH, Lin JQ, Holt CE, Kaminski CF. Mutation of the ALS-/FTD-Associated RNA-Binding Protein FUS Affects Axonal Development. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e2148232024. [PMID: 38692734 PMCID: PMC7616130 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2148-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Aberrant condensation and localization of the RNA-binding protein (RBP) fused in sarcoma (FUS) occur in variants of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Changes in RBP function are commonly associated with changes in axonal cytoskeletal organization and branching in neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we asked whether branching defects also occur in vivo in a model of FUS-associated disease. We use two reported Xenopus models of ALS/FTD (of either sex), the ALS-associated mutant FUS(P525L) and a mimic of hypomethylated FUS, FUS(16R). Both mutants strongly reduced axonal complexity in vivo. We also observed an axon looping defect for FUS(P525L) in the target area, which presumably arises due to errors in stop cue signaling. To assess whether the loss of axon complexity also had a cue-independent component, we assessed axonal cytoskeletal integrity in vitro. Using a novel combination of fluorescence and atomic force microscopy, we found that mutant FUS reduced actin density in the growth cone, altering its mechanical properties. Therefore, FUS mutants may induce defects during early axonal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca W van Tartwijk
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, United Kingdom
| | - Lucia C S Wunderlich
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, United Kingdom
| | - Ioanna Mela
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, United Kingdom
| | - Stanislaw Makarchuk
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 OAH, United Kingdom
| | - Maximilian A H Jakobs
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, United Kingdom
| | - Seema Qamar
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Kristian Franze
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriele S Kaminski Schierle
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, United Kingdom
| | - Peter H St George-Hyslop
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and University Health Network and Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Neurology, Taub Institute For Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irvine Medical Center, New York, New York 10032
| | - Julie Qiaojin Lin
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 OAH, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute Centre and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London SE5 9NU, United Kingdom
| | - Christine E Holt
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, United Kingdom
| | - Clemens F Kaminski
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, United Kingdom
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Musso G, Bello L, Capece G, Bozzoni V, Caumo L, Sabbatini D, Zangaro V, Sogus E, Cosma C, Petrosino A, Sorarù G, Plebani M, Pegoraro E. Neurofilament light chain and profilin-1 dynamics in 30 spinal muscular atrophy type 3 patients treated with nusinersen. Eur J Neurol 2024:e16393. [PMID: 38924263 DOI: 10.1111/ene.16393] [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: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The aim was to investigate whether neurofilament light chain (NfL) and profilin-1 (PFN-1) might qualify as surrogate disease and treatment-response biomarkers by correlating their concentrations dynamic with clinical status in a cohort of 30 adult spinal muscular atrophy type 3 patients during nusinersen therapy up to 34 months. METHODS Neurofilament light chain was measured in cerebrospinal fluid at each drug administration with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); PFN-1 concentrations were tested in serum sampled at the same time points with commercial ELISA assays. Functional motor scores were evaluated at baseline, at the end of the loading phase and at each maintenance dose and correlated to biomarker levels. The concurrent effect of age and clinical phenotype was studied. RESULTS Neurofilament light chain levels were included in the reference ranges at baseline; a significant increase was measured during loading phase until 1 month. PFN-1 was higher at baseline than in controls and then decreased during therapy until reaching control levels. Age had an effect on NfL but not on PFN-1. NfL was partially correlated to functional scores at baseline and at last time point, whilst no correlation was found for PFN-1. CONCLUSION Cerebrospinal fluid NfL levels did not qualify as an optimal surrogate treatment biomarker in adult spinal muscular atrophy patients with a long disease duration, whilst PFN-1 might to a greater extent represent lower motor neuron pathological processes. The observed biomarker level variation during the first 2 months of nusinersen treatment might suggest a limited effect on axonal remodeling or rearrangement.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Musso
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - L Bello
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - G Capece
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - V Bozzoni
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - L Caumo
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - D Sabbatini
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - V Zangaro
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - E Sogus
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - C Cosma
- Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - A Petrosino
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - G Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - M Plebani
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - E Pegoraro
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Shen W, Yan Z, Su S, Xiang P, Zhou Q, Zou M, Yang Z, Tang W, Liang Y, Chen Y. Gray and white matter abnormalities in children with type 2 and 3 SMA: A morphological assessment. Eur J Pediatr 2024; 183:1381-1388. [PMID: 38165463 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-05397-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
This study investigated the changes in brain gray and white matter structure in SMA patients and their correlation with the severity of the disease. A total of 43 SMA patients (including 22 type II and 21 type III SMA patients) and 37 healthy controls were evaluated by MRI. The gray matter volume, gray matter thickness, gray matter surface area, and white matter volume of designated brain regions automatically segmented by FreeSurfer, were compared. We evaluate clinical characteristics of SMA and study the correlation between clinical characteristics and structural changes. SMA showed significant bilateral cortical superficial area loss in the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes and global white matter volume decreases. Moreover, these patients were also found with an increased mean thickness of entire brain and right gray matter. An increased right postcentral gyrus superficial area, right central sulcus volume, and white matter volume of the right postcentral were associated with higher HFMSE scores. CONCLUSION Type 2 and 3 children SMA had extensive, multifocal, symmetrical gray and white matter alterations. Postcentral gyrus degeneration of SMA was associated with the severity of muscular atrophy. The lack of SMN protein possibly interacted with cerebellar structural changes in somatosensory areas. WHAT IS KNOWN • MRI has found brain changes in SMA patients, however, there is no unified conclusion and lack of correlation with clinical degree in children SMA with type 2-3. WHAT IS NEW • Type II and II children SMA had extensive, multifocal, symmetrical gray and white matter alterations. Postcentral gyrus degeneration of SMA was associated with the severity of muscular atrophy. Cerebellar structural changes in somatosensory areas may attribute to the lack of SMN protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanqing Shen
- Department of Interventional Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zi Yan
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Rd, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Shu Su
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Rd, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Pei Xiang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Rd, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qin Zhou
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Rd, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Mengsha Zou
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Rd, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Zhiyun Yang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Rd, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Wen Tang
- Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Rd, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yujian Liang
- Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Rd, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Yingqian Chen
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Rd, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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Deng C, Chen H. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tropomyosin receptor kinase B signaling in spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 190:106377. [PMID: 38092270 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106377] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) and its primary ligand brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are expressed in the neuromuscular system, where they affect neuronal survival, differentiation, and functions. Changes in BDNF levels and full-length TrkB (TrkB-FL) signaling have been revealed in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), two common forms of motor neuron diseases that are characterized by defective neuromuscular junctions in early disease stages and subsequently progressive muscle weakness. This review summarizes the current understanding of BDNF/TrkB-FL-related research in SMA and ALS, with an emphasis on their alterations in the neuromuscular system and possible BDNF/TrkB-FL-targeting therapeutic strategies. The limitations of current studies and future directions are also discussed, giving the hope of discovering novel and effective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunchu Deng
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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5
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Gomes BC, Peixinho N, Pisco R, Gromicho M, Pronto-Laborinho AC, Rueff J, de Carvalho M, Rodrigues AS. Differential Expression of miRNAs in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:7104-7117. [PMID: 37531027 PMCID: PMC10657797 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03520-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive motor neuron disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control, muscle atrophy and in later stages, death. Diagnosis has an average delay of 1 year after symptoms onset, which impairs early management. The identification of a specific disease biomarker could help decrease the diagnostic delay. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression levels have been proposed as ALS biomarkers, and altered function has been reported in ALS pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess the differential expression of plasma miRNAs in ALS patients and two control populations (healthy controls and ALS-mimic disorders). For that, 16 samples from each group were pooled, and then 1008 miRNAs were assessed through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). From these, ten candidate miRNAs were selected and validated in 35 ALS patients, 16 ALS-mimic disorders controls and 15 healthy controls. We also assessed the same miRNAs in two different time points of disease progression. Although we were unable to determine a miRNA signature to use as disease or condition marker, we found that miR-7-2-3p, miR-26a-1-3p, miR-224-5p and miR-206 are good study candidates to understand the pathophysiology of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Costa Gomes
- Instituto de Fisiologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
- ToxOmics, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Nuno Peixinho
- ToxOmics, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita Pisco
- ToxOmics, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Marta Gromicho
- Instituto de Fisiologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Catarina Pronto-Laborinho
- Instituto de Fisiologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - José Rueff
- ToxOmics, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mamede de Carvalho
- Instituto de Fisiologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital de Santa Maria CHULN, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - António Sebastião Rodrigues
- ToxOmics, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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6
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Seki S, Kitaoka Y, Kawata S, Nishiura A, Uchihashi T, Hiraoka SI, Yokota Y, Isomura ET, Kogo M, Tanaka S. Characteristics of Sensory Neuron Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Potential for ALS Therapy. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2967. [PMID: 38001967 PMCID: PMC10669304 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11112967] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, resulting in muscle weakness, paralysis, and, ultimately, death. Presently, no effective treatment for ALS has been established. Although motor neuron dysfunction is a hallmark of ALS, emerging evidence suggests that sensory neurons are also involved in the disease. In clinical research, 30% of patients with ALS had sensory symptoms and abnormal sensory nerve conduction studies in the lower extremities. Peroneal nerve biopsies show histological abnormalities in 90% of the patients. Preclinical research has reported several genetic abnormalities in the sensory neurons of animal models of ALS, as well as in motor neurons. Furthermore, the aggregation of misfolded proteins like TAR DNA-binding protein 43 has been reported in sensory neurons. This review aims to provide a comprehensive description of ALS-related sensory neuron dysfunction, focusing on its clinical changes and underlying mechanisms. Sensory neuron abnormalities in ALS are not limited to somatosensory issues; proprioceptive sensory neurons, such as MesV and DRG neurons, have been reported to form networks with motor neurons and may be involved in motor control. Despite receiving limited attention, sensory neuron abnormalities in ALS hold potential for new therapies targeting proprioceptive sensory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soju Seki
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, 1-8 Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
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7
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Yazar V, Ruf WP, Knehr A, Günther K, Ammerpohl O, Danzer KM, Ludolph AC. DNA Methylation Analysis in Monozygotic Twins Discordant for ALS in Blood Cells. Epigenet Insights 2023; 16:25168657231172159. [PMID: 37152709 PMCID: PMC10161312 DOI: 10.1177/25168657231172159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
ALS is a fatal motor neuron disease that displays a broad variety of phenotypes ranging from early fatal courses to slowly progressing and rather benign courses. Such divergence can also be seen in genetic ALS cases with varying phenotypes bearing specific mutations, suggesting epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation act as disease modifiers. However, the epigenotype dictated by, in addition to other mechanisms, DNA methylation is also strongly influenced by the individual's genotype. Hence, we performed a DNA methylation study using EPIC arrays on 7 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs discordant for ALS in whole blood, which serves as an ideal model for eliminating the effects of the genetic-epigenetic interplay to a large extent. We found one CpG site showing intra-pair hypermethylation in the affected co-twins, which maps to the Glutamate Ionotropic Receptor Kainate Type Subunit 1 gene (GRIK1). Additionally, we found 4 DMPs which were subsequently confirmed using 2 different statistical approaches. Differentially methylated regions or blocks could not be detected within the scope of this work. In conclusion, we revealed that despite a low sample size, monozygotic twin studies discordant for the disease can bring new insights into epigenetic processes in ALS, pointing to new target loci for further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volkan Yazar
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ulm, Germany
| | - Wolfgang P Ruf
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Antje Knehr
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Kornelia Günther
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Ole Ammerpohl
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University & Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Karin M Danzer
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
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8
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Ermanoska B, Asselbergh B, Morant L, Petrovic-Erfurth ML, Hosseinibarkooie S, Leitão-Gonçalves R, Almeida-Souza L, Bervoets S, Sun L, Lee L, Atkinson D, Khanghahi A, Tournev I, Callaerts P, Verstreken P, Yang XL, Wirth B, Rodal AA, Timmerman V, Goode BL, Godenschwege TA, Jordanova A. Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase has a noncanonical function in actin bundling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:999. [PMID: 36890170 PMCID: PMC9995517 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35908-3] [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: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Dominant mutations in tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (YARS1) and six other tRNA ligases cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth peripheral neuropathy (CMT). Loss of aminoacylation is not required for their pathogenicity, suggesting a gain-of-function disease mechanism. By an unbiased genetic screen in Drosophila, we link YARS1 dysfunction to actin cytoskeleton organization. Biochemical studies uncover yet unknown actin-bundling property of YARS1 to be enhanced by a CMT mutation, leading to actin disorganization in the Drosophila nervous system, human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, and patient-derived fibroblasts. Genetic modulation of F-actin organization improves hallmark electrophysiological and morphological features in neurons of flies expressing CMT-causing YARS1 mutations. Similar beneficial effects are observed in flies expressing a neuropathy-causing glycyl-tRNA synthetase. Hence, in this work, we show that YARS1 is an evolutionary-conserved F-actin organizer which links the actin cytoskeleton to tRNA-synthetase-induced neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biljana Ermanoska
- Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Bob Asselbergh
- Neuromics Support Facility, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
- Neuromics Support Facility, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Laura Morant
- Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Maria-Luise Petrovic-Erfurth
- Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Seyyedmohsen Hosseinibarkooie
- Institute of Human Genetics; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne; Center for Rare Diseases Cologne, University Hospital of Cologne; University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Ricardo Leitão-Gonçalves
- Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Frontiers Media SA, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Leonardo Almeida-Souza
- Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, Institute of Biotechnology & Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sven Bervoets
- Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Litao Sun
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, China
| | - LaTasha Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
- Center for Social and Clinical Research, National Minority Quality Forum, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Derek Atkinson
- Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Akram Khanghahi
- Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Ivaylo Tournev
- Department of Neurology, Medical University-Sofia, 1431, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Cognitive Science and Psychology, New Bulgarian University, 1618, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | | | - Patrik Verstreken
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, Mission Lucidity, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Xiang-Lei Yang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne; Center for Rare Diseases Cologne, University Hospital of Cologne; University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Avital A Rodal
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Vincent Timmerman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Bruce L Goode
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Tanja A Godenschwege
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Albena Jordanova
- Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium.
- Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University-Sofia, 1431, Sofia, Bulgaria.
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9
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Hennlein L, Ghanawi H, Gerstner F, Palominos García E, Yildirim E, Saal-Bauernschubert L, Moradi M, Deng C, Klein T, Appenzeller S, Sauer M, Briese M, Simon C, Sendtner M, Jablonka S. Plastin 3 rescues cell surface translocation and activation of TrkB in spinal muscular atrophy. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202204113. [PMID: 36607273 PMCID: PMC9827530 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202204113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastin 3 (PLS3) is an F-actin-bundling protein that has gained attention as a modifier of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) pathology. SMA is a lethal pediatric neuromuscular disease caused by loss of or mutations in the Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Pathophysiological hallmarks are cellular maturation defects of motoneurons prior to degeneration. Despite the observed beneficial modifying effect of PLS3, the mechanism of how it supports F-actin-mediated cellular processes in motoneurons is not yet well understood. Our data reveal disturbed F-actin-dependent translocation of the Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) to the cell surface of Smn-deficient motor axon terminals, resulting in reduced TrkB activation by its ligand brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Improved actin dynamics by overexpression of hPLS3 restores membrane recruitment and activation of TrkB and enhances spontaneous calcium transients by increasing Cav2.1/2 "cluster-like" formations in SMA axon terminals. Thus, our study provides a novel role for PLS3 in supporting correct alignment of transmembrane proteins, a key mechanism for (moto)-neuronal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Hennlein
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hanaa Ghanawi
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Florian Gerstner
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Ezgi Yildirim
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Mehri Moradi
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Chunchu Deng
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Teresa Klein
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Silke Appenzeller
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken; Core Unit Bioinformatics, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Michael Briese
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Simon
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Sendtner
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sibylle Jablonka
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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10
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Villalonga E, Mosrin C, Normand T, Girardin C, Serrano A, Žunar B, Doudeau M, Godin F, Bénédetti H, Vallée B. LIM Kinases, LIMK1 and LIMK2, Are Crucial Node Actors of the Cell Fate: Molecular to Pathological Features. Cells 2023; 12:cells12050805. [PMID: 36899941 PMCID: PMC10000741 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050805] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
LIM kinase 1 (LIMK1) and LIM kinase 2 (LIMK2) are serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases and the only two members of the LIM kinase family. They play a crucial role in the regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics by controlling actin filaments and microtubule turnover, especially through the phosphorylation of cofilin, an actin depolymerising factor. Thus, they are involved in many biological processes, such as cell cycle, cell migration, and neuronal differentiation. Consequently, they are also part of numerous pathological mechanisms, especially in cancer, where their involvement has been reported for a few years and has led to the development of a wide range of inhibitors. LIMK1 and LIMK2 are known to be part of the Rho family GTPase signal transduction pathways, but many more partners have been discovered over the decades, and both LIMKs are suspected to be part of an extended and various range of regulation pathways. In this review, we propose to consider the different molecular mechanisms involving LIM kinases and their associated signalling pathways, and to offer a better understanding of their variety of actions within the physiology and physiopathology of the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Villalonga
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire; UPR4301, CNRS, University of Orleans and INSERM, CEDEX 2, 45071 Orleans, France
| | - Christine Mosrin
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire; UPR4301, CNRS, University of Orleans and INSERM, CEDEX 2, 45071 Orleans, France
| | - Thierry Normand
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire; UPR4301, CNRS, University of Orleans and INSERM, CEDEX 2, 45071 Orleans, France
| | - Caroline Girardin
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire; UPR4301, CNRS, University of Orleans and INSERM, CEDEX 2, 45071 Orleans, France
| | - Amandine Serrano
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire; UPR4301, CNRS, University of Orleans and INSERM, CEDEX 2, 45071 Orleans, France
| | - Bojan Žunar
- Laboratory for Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Michel Doudeau
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire; UPR4301, CNRS, University of Orleans and INSERM, CEDEX 2, 45071 Orleans, France
| | - Fabienne Godin
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire; UPR4301, CNRS, University of Orleans and INSERM, CEDEX 2, 45071 Orleans, France
| | - Hélène Bénédetti
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire; UPR4301, CNRS, University of Orleans and INSERM, CEDEX 2, 45071 Orleans, France
| | - Béatrice Vallée
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire; UPR4301, CNRS, University of Orleans and INSERM, CEDEX 2, 45071 Orleans, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-(0)2-38-25-76-11
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11
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Proteomics Analysis of Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines from Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28052014. [PMID: 36903260 PMCID: PMC10004326 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28052014] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) consists of the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, caused by poorly understood mechanisms for which there is no cure. Some of the cellular perturbations associated with ALS can be detected in peripheral cells, including lymphocytes from blood. A related cell system that is very suitable for research consists of human lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), which are immortalized lymphocytes. LCLs that can be easily expanded in culture and can be maintained for long periods as stable cultures. We investigated, on a small set of LCLs, if a proteomics analysis using liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry reveals proteins that are differentially present in ALS versus healthy controls. We found that individual proteins, the cellular and molecular pathways in which these proteins participate, are detected as differentially present in the ALS samples. Some of these proteins and pathways are already known to be perturbed in ALS, while others are new and present interest for further investigations. These observations suggest that a more detailed proteomics analysis of LCLs, using a larger number of samples, represents a promising approach for investigating ALS mechanisms and to search for therapeutic agents. Proteomics data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD040240.
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12
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Muiños-Bühl A, Rombo R, Ling KK, Zilio E, Rigo F, Bennett CF, Wirth B. Long-Term SMN- and Ncald-ASO Combinatorial Therapy in SMA Mice and NCALD-ASO Treatment in hiPSC-Derived Motor Neurons Show Protective Effects. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044198. [PMID: 36835624 PMCID: PMC9961752 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
For SMA patients with only two SMN2 copies, available therapies might be insufficient to counteract lifelong motor neuron (MN) dysfunction. Therefore, additional SMN-independent compounds, supporting SMN-dependent therapies, might be beneficial. Neurocalcin delta (NCALD) reduction, an SMA protective genetic modifier, ameliorates SMA across species. In a low-dose SMN-ASO-treated severe SMA mouse model, presymptomatic intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of Ncald-ASO at postnatal day 2 (PND2) significantly ameliorates histological and electrophysiological SMA hallmarks at PND21. However, contrary to SMN-ASOs, Ncald-ASOs show a shorter duration of action limiting a long-term benefit. Here, we investigated the longer-term effect of Ncald-ASOs by additional i.c.v. bolus injection at PND28. Two weeks after injection of 500 µg Ncald-ASO in wild-type mice, NCALD was significantly reduced in the brain and spinal cord and well tolerated. Next, we performed a double-blinded preclinical study combining low-dose SMN-ASO (PND1) with 2× i.c.v. Ncald-ASO or CTRL-ASO (100 µg at PND2, 500 µg at PND28). Ncald-ASO re-injection significantly ameliorated electrophysiological defects and NMJ denervation at 2 months. Moreover, we developed and identified a non-toxic and highly efficient human NCALD-ASO that significantly reduced NCALD in hiPSC-derived MNs. This improved both neuronal activity and growth cone maturation of SMA MNs, emphasizing the additional protective effect of NCALD-ASO treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anixa Muiños-Bühl
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Roman Rombo
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Eleonora Zilio
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Frank Rigo
- IONIS Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | | | - Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases Cologne, University Hospital of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Correspondence:
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13
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Zhang K, Huang M, Li A, Wen J, Yan L, Li Y, Guo L, Senthil KS, Zhou Y, Chen G, Liu Y, Zhang X, Yao X, Qin D, Su H. DIAPH3 condensates formed by liquid-liquid phase separation act as a regulatory hub for stress-induced actin cytoskeleton remodeling. Cell Rep 2023; 42:111986. [PMID: 36640348 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Membraneless condensates, such as stress granules (SGs) and processing bodies (P-bodies), have attracted wide attention due to their unique feature of rapid response to stress without first requiring nuclear feedback. In this study, we identify diaphanous-related formin 3 (DIAPH3), an actin nucleator, as a scaffold protein to initiate liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and form abundant cytosolic phase-separated DIAPH3 granules (D-granules) in mammalian cells such as HeLa, HEK293, and fibroblasts under various stress conditions. Neither mRNAs nor known stress-associated condensate markers, such as G3BP1, G3BP2, and TIA1 for SGs and DCP1A for P-bodies, are detected in D-granules. Using overexpression and knockout of DIAPH3, pharmacological interventions, and optogenetics, we further demonstrate that stress-induced D-granules spatially sequester DIAPH3 within the condensation to inhibit the assembly of actin filaments in filopodia. This study reveals that D-granules formed by LLPS act as a regulatory hub for actin cytoskeletal remodeling in response to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Miaodan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Ang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Jing Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Lingli Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Yunhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Liman Guo
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kumaran Satyanarayanan Senthil
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Yangyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Guobing Chen
- Institute of Geriatric Immunology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Laboratory of Neuroscience in Health and Disease Institute, Guangzhou First People's Hospital School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofei Zhang
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Yao
- Department of Neurology, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dajiang Qin
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huanxing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
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14
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Adami R, Bottai D. NSC Physiological Features in Spinal Muscular Atrophy: SMN Deficiency Effects on Neurogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315209. [PMID: 36499528 PMCID: PMC9736802 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022] Open
Abstract
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency have recently approved new drugs to treat spinal muscular atrophy 1 (SMA1) in young patients, they are mostly ineffective in older patients since many motor neurons have already been lost. Therefore, understanding nervous system (NS) physiology in SMA patients is essential. Consequently, studying neural stem cells (NSCs) from SMA patients is of significant interest in searching for new treatment targets that will enable researchers to identify new pharmacological approaches. However, studying NSCs in these patients is challenging since their isolation damages the NS, making it impossible with living patients. Nevertheless, it is possible to study NSCs from animal models or create them by differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells obtained from SMA patient peripheral tissues. On the other hand, therapeutic interventions such as NSCs transplantation could ameliorate SMA condition. This review summarizes current knowledge on the physiological properties of NSCs from animals and human cellular models with an SMA background converging on the molecular and neuronal circuit formation alterations of SMA fetuses and is not focused on the treatment of SMA. By understanding how SMA alters NSC physiology, we can identify new and promising interventions that could help support affected patients.
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15
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Zhou Q, He L, Hu J, Gao Y, Shen D, Ni Y, Qin Y, Liang H, Liu J, Le W, Chen S. Increased expression of coronin-1a in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target. Front Med 2022; 16:723-735. [PMID: 35648369 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-021-0905-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease. At present, no definite ALS biomarkers are available. In this study, exosomes from the plasma of patients with ALS and healthy controls were extracted, and differentially expressed exosomal proteins were compared. Among them, the expression of exosomal coronin-1a (CORO1A) was 5.3-fold higher than that in the controls. CORO1A increased with disease progression at a certain proportion in the plasma of patients with ALS and in the spinal cord of ALS mice. CORO1A was also overexpressed in NSC-34 motor neuron-like cells, and apoptosis, oxidative stress, and autophagic protein expression were evaluated. CORO1A overexpression resulted in increased apoptosis and oxidative stress, overactivated autophagy, and hindered the formation of autolysosomes. Moreover, CORO1A activated Ca2+-dependent phosphatase calcineurin, thereby blocking the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes. The inhibition of calcineurin activation by cyclosporin A reversed the damaged autolysosomes. In conclusion, the role of CORO1A in ALS pathogenesis was discovered, potentially affecting the disease onset and progression by blocking autophagic flux. Therefore, CORO1A might be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinming Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Lu He
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jin Hu
- Department of Neurology, the First Hospital of Jiaxing & the Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314000, China
| | - Yining Gao
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Dingding Shen
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226007, China
| | - You Ni
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yuening Qin
- Department of Dermatology, The People's Hospital of Rushan, Weihai, 264500, China
| | - Huafeng Liang
- Department of Neurology, Xinrui Hospital, Wuxi, 214000, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Weidong Le
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences-Sichuan Provincial Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, China.
| | - Sheng Chen
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226007, China.
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16
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Zilio E, Piano V, Wirth B. Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:10878. [PMID: 36142791 PMCID: PMC9503857 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating neuromuscular disorder caused by recessive mutations in the SMN1 gene, globally affecting ~8-14 newborns per 100,000. The severity of the disease depends on the residual levels of functional survival of motor neuron protein, SMN. SMN is a ubiquitously expressed RNA binding protein involved in a plethora of cellular processes. In this review, we discuss the effects of SMN loss on mitochondrial functions in the neuronal and muscular systems that are the most affected in patients with spinal muscular atrophy. Our aim is to highlight how mitochondrial defects may contribute to disease progression and how restoring mitochondrial functionality may be a promising approach to develop new therapies. We also collected from previous studies a list of transcripts encoding mitochondrial proteins affected in various SMA models. Moreover, we speculate that in adulthood, when motor neurons require only very low SMN levels, the natural deterioration of mitochondria associated with aging may be a crucial triggering factor for adult spinal muscular atrophy, and this requires particular attention for therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Zilio
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Valentina Piano
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
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17
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Cytoplasmic forces functionally reorganize nuclear condensates in oocytes. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5070. [PMID: 36038550 PMCID: PMC9424315 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32675-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells remodel their cytoplasm with force-generating cytoskeletal motors. Their activity generates random forces that stir the cytoplasm, agitating and displacing membrane-bound organelles like the nucleus in somatic and germ cells. These forces are transmitted inside the nucleus, yet their consequences on liquid-like biomolecular condensates residing in the nucleus remain unexplored. Here, we probe experimentally and computationally diverse nuclear condensates, that include nuclear speckles, Cajal bodies, and nucleoli, during cytoplasmic remodeling of female germ cells named oocytes. We discover that growing mammalian oocytes deploy cytoplasmic forces to timely impose multiscale reorganization of nuclear condensates for the success of meiotic divisions. These cytoplasmic forces accelerate nuclear condensate collision-coalescence and molecular kinetics within condensates. Disrupting the forces decelerates nuclear condensate reorganization on both scales, which correlates with compromised condensate-associated mRNA processing and hindered oocyte divisions that drive female fertility. We establish that cytoplasmic forces can reorganize nuclear condensates in an evolutionary conserved fashion in insects. Our work implies that cells evolved a mechanism, based on cytoplasmic force tuning, to functionally regulate a broad range of nuclear condensates across scales. This finding opens new perspectives when studying condensate-associated pathologies like cancer, neurodegeneration and viral infections. Cytoskeletal activity generates mechanical forces known to agitate and displace membrane-bound organelles in the cytoplasm. In oocytes, Al Jord et al. discover that these cytoplasmic forces functionally remodel nuclear RNA-processing condensates across scales for developmental success.
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18
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Detering NT, Schüning T, Hensel N, Claus P. The phospho-landscape of the survival of motoneuron protein (SMN) protein: relevance for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:497. [PMID: 36006469 PMCID: PMC11071818 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04522-9] [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: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by low levels of the survival of motoneuron (SMN) Protein leading to preferential degeneration of lower motoneurons in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and brain stem. However, the SMN protein is ubiquitously expressed and there is growing evidence of a multisystem phenotype in SMA. Since a loss of SMN function is critical, it is important to decipher the regulatory mechanisms of SMN function starting on the level of the SMN protein itself. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of proteins regulate multiple functions and processes, including activity, cellular trafficking, and stability. Several PTM sites have been identified within the SMN sequence. Here, we map the identified SMN PTMs highlighting phosphorylation as a key regulator affecting localization, stability and functions of SMN. Furthermore, we propose SMN phosphorylation as a crucial factor for intracellular interaction and cellular distribution of SMN. We outline the relevance of phosphorylation of the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) gene product SMN with regard to basic housekeeping functions of SMN impaired in this neurodegenerative disease. Finally, we compare SMA patient mutations with putative and verified phosphorylation sites. Thus, we emphasize the importance of phosphorylation as a cellular modulator in a clinical perspective as a potential additional target for combinatorial SMA treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Tula Detering
- SMATHERIA gGmbH - Non-Profit Biomedical Research Institute, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Tobias Schüning
- SMATHERIA gGmbH - Non-Profit Biomedical Research Institute, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Niko Hensel
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI), Ottawa, Canada
- Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter Claus
- SMATHERIA gGmbH - Non-Profit Biomedical Research Institute, Hannover, Germany.
- Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany.
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19
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Deng C, Reinhard S, Hennlein L, Eilts J, Sachs S, Doose S, Jablonka S, Sauer M, Moradi M, Sendtner M. Impaired dynamic interaction of axonal endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes contributes to defective stimulus-response in spinal muscular atrophy. Transl Neurodegener 2022; 11:31. [PMID: 35650592 PMCID: PMC9161492 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00304-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Axonal degeneration and defects in neuromuscular neurotransmission represent a pathological hallmark in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and other forms of motoneuron disease. These pathological changes do not only base on altered axonal and presynaptic architecture, but also on alterations in dynamic movements of organelles and subcellular structures that are not necessarily reflected by static histopathological changes. The dynamic interplay between the axonal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and ribosomes is essential for stimulus-induced local translation in motor axons and presynaptic terminals. However, it remains enigmatic whether the ER and ribosome crosstalk is impaired in the presynaptic compartment of motoneurons with Smn (survival of motor neuron) deficiency that could contribute to axonopathy and presynaptic dysfunction in SMA. Methods Using super-resolution microscopy, proximity ligation assay (PLA) and live imaging of cultured motoneurons from a mouse model of SMA, we investigated the dynamics of the axonal ER and ribosome distribution and activation. Results We observed that the dynamic remodeling of ER was impaired in axon terminals of Smn-deficient motoneurons. In addition, in axon terminals of Smn-deficient motoneurons, ribosomes failed to respond to the brain-derived neurotrophic factor stimulation, and did not undergo rapid association with the axonal ER in response to extracellular stimuli. Conclusions These findings implicate impaired dynamic interplay between the ribosomes and ER in axon terminals of motoneurons as a contributor to the pathophysiology of SMA and possibly also other motoneuron diseases. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40035-022-00304-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunchu Deng
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Reinhard
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Luisa Hennlein
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Janna Eilts
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Sachs
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sören Doose
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sibylle Jablonka
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mehri Moradi
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Michael Sendtner
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.
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20
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Pushpalatha KV, Solyga M, Nakamura A, Besse F. RNP components condense into repressive RNP granules in the aging brain. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2782. [PMID: 35589695 PMCID: PMC9120078 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30066-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytoplasmic RNP condensates enriched in mRNAs and proteins are found in various cell types and associated with both buffering and regulatory functions. While a clear link has been established between accumulation of aberrant RNP aggregates and progression of aging-related neurodegenerative diseases, the impact of physiological aging on neuronal RNP condensates has never been explored. Through high-resolution imaging, we uncover that RNP components progressively cluster into large yet dynamic granules in the aging Drosophila brain. We further show that age-dependent clustering is caused by an increase in the stoichiometry of the conserved helicase Me31B/DDX6, and requires PKA kinase activity. Finally, our functional analysis reveals that mRNA species recruited to RNP condensates upon aging exhibit age-dependent translational repression, indicating that co-clustering of selected mRNAs and translation regulators into repressive condensates may contribute to the specific post-transcriptional changes in gene expression observed in the course of aging. Aberrant RNA condensates are a hallmark of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Here, the authors show that RNA condensation increases in aging Drosophila brains, triggering translation repression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mathilde Solyga
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, Institut de Biologie Valrose, Nice, France
| | - Akira Nakamura
- Department of Germline Development, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Florence Besse
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, Institut de Biologie Valrose, Nice, France.
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21
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Özer PZ, Koyunoğlu D, Son ÇD, Yurter HE, Bora G. SMN loss dysregulates microtubule-associated proteins in spinal muscular atrophy model. Mol Cell Neurosci 2022; 120:103725. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2022.103725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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22
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Kubinski S, Claus P. Protein Network Analysis Reveals a Functional Connectivity of Dysregulated Processes in ALS and SMA. Neurosci Insights 2022; 17:26331055221087740. [PMID: 35372839 PMCID: PMC8966079 DOI: 10.1177/26331055221087740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) are neurodegenerative diseases which are characterized by the loss of motoneurons within the central nervous system. SMA is a monogenic disease caused by reduced levels of the Survival of motoneuron protein, whereas ALS is a multi-genic disease with over 50 identified disease-causing genes and involvement of environmental risk factors. Although these diseases have different causes, they partially share identical phenotypes and pathomechanisms. To analyze and identify functional connections and to get a global overview of altered pathways in both diseases, protein network analyses are commonly used. Here, we used an in silico tool to test for functional associations between proteins that are involved in actin cytoskeleton dynamics, fatty acid metabolism, skeletal muscle metabolism, stress granule dynamics as well as SMA or ALS risk factors, respectively. In network biology, interactions are represented by edges which connect proteins (nodes). Our approach showed that only a few edges are necessary to present a complex protein network of different biological processes. Moreover, Superoxide dismutase 1, which is mutated in ALS, and the actin-binding protein profilin1 play a central role in the connectivity of the aforementioned pathways. Our network indicates functional links between altered processes that are described in either ALS or SMA. These links may not have been considered in the past but represent putative targets to restore altered processes and reveal overlapping pathomechanisms in both diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Kubinski
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter Claus
- Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
- SMATHERIA gGmbH – Non-Profit Biomedical Research Institute, Hannover, Germany
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23
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Arlt A, Kohlschmidt N, Hentschel A, Bartels E, Groß C, Töpf A, Edem P, Szabo N, Sickmann A, Meyer N, Schara-Schmidt U, Lau J, Lochmüller H, Horvath R, Oktay Y, Roos A, Hiz S. Novel insights into PORCN mutations, associated phenotypes and pathophysiological aspects. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022; 17:29. [PMID: 35101074 PMCID: PMC8802438 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-021-02068-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Goltz syndrome (GS) is a X-linked disorder defined by defects of mesodermal- and ectodermal-derived structures and caused by PORCN mutations. Features include striated skin-pigmentation, ocular and skeletal malformations and supernumerary or hypoplastic nipples. Generally, GS is associated with in utero lethality in males and most of the reported male patients show mosaicism (only three non-mosaic surviving males have been described so far). Also, precise descriptions of neurological deficits in GS are rare and less severe phenotypes might not only be caused by mosaicism but also by less pathogenic mutations suggesting the need of a molecular genetics and functional work-up of these rare variants. RESULTS We report two cases: one girl suffering from typical skin and skeletal abnormalities, developmental delay, microcephaly, thin corpus callosum, periventricular gliosis and drug-resistant epilepsy caused by a PORCN nonsense-mutation (c.283C > T, p.Arg95Ter). Presence of these combined neurological features indicates that CNS-vulnerability might be a guiding symptom in the diagnosis of GS patients. The other patient is a boy with a supernumerary nipple and skeletal anomalies but also, developmental delay, microcephaly, cerebral atrophy with delayed myelination and drug-resistant epilepsy as predominant features. Skin abnormalities were not observed. Genotyping revealed a novel PORCN missense-mutation (c.847G > C, p.Asp283His) absent in the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) but also identified in his asymptomatic mother. Given that non-random X-chromosome inactivation was excluded in the mother, fibroblasts of the index had been analyzed for PORCN protein-abundance and -distribution, vulnerability against additional ER-stress burden as well as for protein secretion revealing changes. CONCLUSIONS Our combined findings may suggest incomplete penetrance for the p.Asp283His variant and provide novel insights into the molecular etiology of GS by adding impaired ER-function and altered protein secretion to the list of pathophysiological processes resulting in the clinical manifestation of GS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabelle Arlt
- Institute of Clinical Genetics and Tumor Genetics, Bonn, Germany
| | | | | | - Enrika Bartels
- Institute of Clinical Genetics and Tumor Genetics, Bonn, Germany
| | - Claudia Groß
- Institute of Clinical Genetics and Tumor Genetics, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ana Töpf
- John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Pınar Edem
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Nora Szabo
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Albert Sickmann
- Leibniz Institute for Analytical Sciences (ISAS), Dortmund, Germany
| | - Nancy Meyer
- Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, University Hospital, Essen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Schara-Schmidt
- Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, University Hospital, Essen, Germany
| | - Jarred Lau
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Hanns Lochmüller
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico (CNAG-CRG), Center for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Rita Horvath
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Yavuz Oktay
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Izmir, Turkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Andreas Roos
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Semra Hiz
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Izmir, Turkey
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24
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Protein expression reveals a molecular sexual identity of avian primordial germ cells at pre-gonadal stages. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19236. [PMID: 34584135 PMCID: PMC8478952 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98454-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In poultry, in vitro propagated primordial germ cells (PGCs) represent an important tool for the cryopreservation of avian genetic resources. However, several studies have highlighted sexual differences exhibited by PGCs during in vitro propagation, which may compromise their reproductive capacities. To understand this phenomenon, we compared the proteome of pregonadal migratory male (ZZ) and female (ZW) chicken PGCs propagated in vitro by quantitative proteomic analysis using a GeLC-MS/MS strategy. Many proteins were found to be differentially abundant in chicken male and female PGCs indicating their early sexual identity. Many of the proteins more highly expressed in male PGCs were encoded by genes localised to the Z sex chromosome. This suggests that the known lack of dosage compensation of the transcription of Z-linked genes between sexes persists at the protein level in PGCs, and that this may be a key factor of their autonomous sex differentiation. We also found that globally, protein differences do not closely correlate with transcript differences indicating a selective translational mechanism in PGCs. Male and female PGC expressed protein sets were associated with differential biological processes and contained proteins known to be biologically relevant for male and female germ cell development, respectively. We also discovered that female PGCs have a higher capacity to uptake proteins from the cell culture medium than male PGCs. This study presents the first evidence of an early predetermined sex specific cell fate of chicken PGCs and their sexual molecular specificities which will enable the development of more precise sex-specific in vitro culture conditions for the preservation of avian genetic resources.
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25
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Beneficial Effects of Transplanted Human Bone Marrow Endothelial Progenitors on Functional and Cellular Components of Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier in ALS Mice. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0314-21.2021. [PMID: 34479980 PMCID: PMC8451202 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0314-21.2021] [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: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Convincing evidence of blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) alterations has been demonstrated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and barrier repair is imperative to prevent motor neuron dysfunction. We showed benefits of human bone marrow-derived CD34+ cells (hBM34+) and endothelial progenitor cells (hBM-EPCs) intravenous transplantation into symptomatic G93A SOD1 mutant mice on barrier reparative processes. These gains likely occurred by replacement of damaged endothelial cells, prolonging motor neuron survival. However, additional investigations are needed to confirm the effects of administered cells on integrity of the microvascular endothelium. The aim of this study was to determine tight junction protein levels, capillary pericyte coverage, microvascular basement membrane, and endothelial filamentous actin (F-actin) status in spinal cord capillaries of G93A SOD1 mutant mice treated with human bone marrow-derived stem cells. Tight junction proteins were detected in the spinal cords of cell-treated versus non-treated mice via Western blotting at four weeks after transplant. Capillary pericyte, basement membrane laminin, and endothelial F-actin magnitudes were determined in cervical/lumbar spinal cord tissues in ALS mice, including controls, by immunohistochemistry and fluorescent staining. Results showed that cell-treated versus media-treated ALS mice substantially increased tight junction protein levels, capillary pericyte coverage, basement membrane laminin immunoexpressions, and endothelial cytoskeletal F-actin fluorescent expressions. The greatest benefits were detected in mice receiving hBM-EPCs versus hBM34+ cells. These study results support treatment with a specific cell type derived from human bone marrow toward BSCB repair in ALS. Thus, hBM-EPCs may be advanced for clinical applications as a cell-specific approach for ALS therapy through restored barrier integrity.
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26
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Hensel N, Brickwedde H, Tsaknakis K, Grages A, Braunschweig L, Lüders KA, Lorenz HM, Lippross S, Walter LM, Tavassol F, Lienenklaus S, Neunaber C, Claus P, Hell AK. Altered bone development with impaired cartilage formation precedes neuromuscular symptoms in spinal muscular atrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:2662-2673. [PMID: 32644125 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of newborns and children caused by mutations or deletions of the survival of motoneuron gene 1 resulting in low levels of the SMN protein. While neuromuscular degeneration is the cardinal symptom of the disease, the reduction of the ubiquitously expressed SMN additionally elicits non-motoneuron symptoms. Impaired bone development is a key feature of SMA, but it is yet unknown whether this is an indirect functional consequence of muscle weakness or caused by bone-intrinsic mechanisms. Therefore, we radiologically examined SMA patients in a prospective, non-randomized cohort study characterizing bone size and bone mineral density (BMD) and performed equivalent measurements in pre-symptomatic SMA mice. BMD as well as lumbar vertebral body size were significantly reduced in SMA patients. This growth defect but not BMD reduction was confirmed in SMA mice by μCT before the onset of neuromuscular symptoms indicating that it is at least partially independent of neuromuscular degeneration. Interestingly, the number of chondroblasts in the hypertrophic zone of the growth plate was significantly reduced. This was underlined by RNAseq and expression data from developing SMA mice vertebral bodies, which revealed molecular changes related to cell division and cartilage remodeling. Together, these findings suggest a bone intrinsic defect in SMA. This phenotype may not be rescued by novel drugs that enhance SMN levels in the central nervous system only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niko Hensel
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neurosciences (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Hermann Brickwedde
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Konstantinos Tsaknakis
- Pediatric Orthopedics, Department of Trauma, Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Antonia Grages
- Pediatric Orthopedics, Department of Trauma, Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Lena Braunschweig
- Pediatric Orthopedics, Department of Trauma, Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Katja A Lüders
- Pediatric Orthopedics, Department of Trauma, Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Heiko M Lorenz
- Pediatric Orthopedics, Department of Trauma, Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Lippross
- Pediatric Orthopedics, Department of Trauma, Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Lisa M Walter
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neurosciences (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Frank Tavassol
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Lienenklaus
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and Central Animal Facility, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Peter Claus
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neurosciences (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna K Hell
- Pediatric Orthopedics, Department of Trauma, Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
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27
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Chong LC, Gandhi G, Lee JM, Yeo WWY, Choi SB. Drug Discovery of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) from the Computational Perspective: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8962. [PMID: 34445667 PMCID: PMC8396480 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), one of the leading inherited causes of child mortality, is a rare neuromuscular disease arising from loss-of-function mutations of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene, which encodes the SMN protein. When lacking the SMN protein in neurons, patients suffer from muscle weakness and atrophy, and in the severe cases, respiratory failure and death. Several therapeutic approaches show promise with human testing and three medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to date. Despite the shown promise of these approved therapies, there are some crucial limitations, one of the most important being the cost. The FDA-approved drugs are high-priced and are shortlisted among the most expensive treatments in the world. The price is still far beyond affordable and may serve as a burden for patients. The blooming of the biomedical data and advancement of computational approaches have opened new possibilities for SMA therapeutic development. This article highlights the present status of computationally aided approaches, including in silico drug repurposing, network driven drug discovery as well as artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted drug discovery, and discusses the future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chuin Chong
- Centre for Bioinformatics, School of Data Sciences, Perdana University, Suite 9.2, 9th Floor, Wisma Chase Perdana, Changkat Semantan, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia; (L.C.C.); (J.M.L.)
| | - Gayatri Gandhi
- Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine, Perdana University, Suite 9.2, 9th Floor, Wisma Chase Perdana, Changkat Semantan, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia; (G.G.); (W.W.Y.Y.)
| | - Jian Ming Lee
- Centre for Bioinformatics, School of Data Sciences, Perdana University, Suite 9.2, 9th Floor, Wisma Chase Perdana, Changkat Semantan, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia; (L.C.C.); (J.M.L.)
| | - Wendy Wai Yeng Yeo
- Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine, Perdana University, Suite 9.2, 9th Floor, Wisma Chase Perdana, Changkat Semantan, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia; (G.G.); (W.W.Y.Y.)
| | - Sy-Bing Choi
- Centre for Bioinformatics, School of Data Sciences, Perdana University, Suite 9.2, 9th Floor, Wisma Chase Perdana, Changkat Semantan, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia; (L.C.C.); (J.M.L.)
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28
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Martín-Cámara O, Cores Á, López-Alvarado P, Menéndez JC. Emerging targets in drug discovery against neurodegenerative diseases: Control of synapsis disfunction by the RhoA/ROCK pathway. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 225:113742. [PMID: 34388381 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic spine morphology is controlled by the activity of Rac1, Cdc42 and RhoA, which need to be finely balanced, and in particular RhoA/ROCK prevents the formation of new protrusions by stabilizing actin formation. These processes are crucial to the maturation process, slowing the de novo generation of new spines. The RhoA/ROCK also influences plasticity processes, and selective modulation by ROCK1 of MLC-dependent actin dynamics leads to neurite retraction, but not to spine retraction. ROCK1 is also responsible for the reduction of the readily releasable pool of synaptic vesicles. These and other evidences suggest that ROCK1 is the main isoform acting on the presynaptic neuron. On the other hand, ROCK2 seems to have broad effects on LIMK/cofilin-dependent plasticity processes such as cofilin-dependent PSD changes. The RhoA/ROCK pathway is an important factor in several different brain-related pathologies via both downstream and upstream pathways. In the aggregate, these evidences show that the RhoA/ROCK pathway has a central role in the etiopathogenesis of a large group of CNS diseases, which underscores the importance of the pharmacological modulation of RhoA/ROCK as an important pathway to drug discovery in the neurodegenerative disease area. This article aims at providing the first review of the role of compounds acting on the RhoA/ROCK pathway in the control of synaptic disfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olmo Martín-Cámara
- Unidad de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Química en Ciencias Farmacéuticas. Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel Cores
- Unidad de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Química en Ciencias Farmacéuticas. Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar López-Alvarado
- Unidad de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Química en Ciencias Farmacéuticas. Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Carlos Menéndez
- Unidad de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Química en Ciencias Farmacéuticas. Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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29
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Salucci S, Bartoletti Stella A, Battistelli M, Burattini S, Bavelloni A, Cocco LI, Gobbi P, Faenza I. How Inflammation Pathways Contribute to Cell Death in Neuro-Muscular Disorders. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1109. [PMID: 34439778 PMCID: PMC8391499 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuro-muscular disorders include a variety of diseases induced by genetic mutations resulting in muscle weakness and waste, swallowing and breathing difficulties. However, muscle alterations and nerve depletions involve specific molecular and cellular mechanisms which lead to the loss of motor-nerve or skeletal-muscle function, often due to an excessive cell death. Morphological and molecular studies demonstrated that a high number of these disorders seem characterized by an upregulated apoptosis which significantly contributes to the pathology. Cell death involvement is the consequence of some cellular processes that occur during diseases, including mitochondrial dysfunction, protein aggregation, free radical generation, excitotoxicity and inflammation. The latter represents an important mediator of disease progression, which, in the central nervous system, is known as neuroinflammation, characterized by reactive microglia and astroglia, as well the infiltration of peripheral monocytes and lymphocytes. Some of the mechanisms underlying inflammation have been linked to reactive oxygen species accumulation, which trigger mitochondrial genomic and respiratory chain instability, autophagy impairment and finally neuron or muscle cell death. This review discusses the main inflammatory pathways contributing to cell death in neuro-muscular disorders by highlighting the main mechanisms, the knowledge of which appears essential in developing therapeutic strategies to prevent the consequent neuron loss and muscle wasting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Salucci
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences (DiSB), Urbino University Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy; (M.B.); (S.B.); (P.G.)
- Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (L.I.C.); (I.F.)
| | - Anna Bartoletti Stella
- Department of Diagnostic Experimental and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Michela Battistelli
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences (DiSB), Urbino University Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy; (M.B.); (S.B.); (P.G.)
| | - Sabrina Burattini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences (DiSB), Urbino University Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy; (M.B.); (S.B.); (P.G.)
| | - Alberto Bavelloni
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Lucio Ildebrando Cocco
- Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (L.I.C.); (I.F.)
| | - Pietro Gobbi
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences (DiSB), Urbino University Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy; (M.B.); (S.B.); (P.G.)
| | - Irene Faenza
- Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (L.I.C.); (I.F.)
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30
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Nishimura AL, Arias N. Synaptopathy Mechanisms in ALS Caused by C9orf72 Repeat Expansion. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:660693. [PMID: 34140881 PMCID: PMC8203826 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.660693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a complex neurodegenerative disease caused by degeneration of motor neurons (MNs). ALS pathogenic features include accumulation of misfolded proteins, glutamate excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction at distal axon terminals, and neuronal cytoskeleton changes. Synergies between loss of C9orf72 functions and gain of function by toxic effects of repeat expansions also contribute to C9orf72-mediated pathogenesis. However, the impact of haploinsufficiency of C9orf72 on neurons and in synaptic functions requires further examination. As the motor neurons degenerate, the disease symptoms will lead to neurotransmission deficiencies in the brain, spinal cord, and neuromuscular junction. Altered neuronal excitability, synaptic morphological changes, and C9orf72 protein and DPR localization at the synapses, suggest a potential involvement of C9orf72 at synapses. In this review article, we provide a conceptual framework for assessing the putative involvement of C9orf72 as a synaptopathy, and we explore the underlying and common disease mechanisms with other neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we reflect on the major challenges of understanding C9orf72-ALS as a synaptopathy focusing on integrating mitochondrial and neuronal cytoskeleton degeneration as biomarkers and potential targets to treat ALS neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes L Nishimura
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, UK Dementia Research Institute, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Natalia Arias
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, UK Dementia Research Institute, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,INEUROPA, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
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Bora G, Hensel N, Rademacher S, Koyunoğlu D, Sunguroğlu M, Aksu-Mengeş E, Balcı-Hayta B, Claus P, Erdem-Yurter H. Microtubule-associated protein 1B dysregulates microtubule dynamics and neuronal mitochondrial transport in spinal muscular atrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:3935-3944. [PMID: 33410474 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating childhood disease primarily affecting lower motoneurons in the spinal cord. SMA is caused by the loss of functional survival of motoneuron (SMN) protein, leading to structural and functional alterations of the cytoskeleton in motoneurons and other cells. Loss of SMN results in impairments of microtubule architecture, but the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. In this study, we mechanistically analyzed the effects of SMN deficiency on microtubules, demonstrating a reduced stability together with a reduction in alpha tubulin detyrosination. This was caused by increased levels of microtubule-associated protein 1B and tubulin tyrosine ligase, resulting in mitochondrial mislocalization in SMA. Our findings suggest that altered tubulin post-translational modifications and microtubule-associated proteins are involved in the pathomechanisms of SMA, such as an impaired axonal transport of mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gamze Bora
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey
| | - Niko Hensel
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, OE 4140, Hannover Medical School, Hannover 30625, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Sebastian Rademacher
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, OE 4140, Hannover Medical School, Hannover 30625, Germany
| | - Dila Koyunoğlu
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey
| | - Merve Sunguroğlu
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey
| | - Evrim Aksu-Mengeş
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey
| | - Burcu Balcı-Hayta
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey
| | - Peter Claus
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, OE 4140, Hannover Medical School, Hannover 30625, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Hayat Erdem-Yurter
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey
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Wirth B. Spinal Muscular Atrophy: In the Challenge Lies a Solution. Trends Neurosci 2021; 44:306-322. [PMID: 33423791 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The path from gene discovery to therapy in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has been a highly challenging endeavor, but also led to one of the most successful stories in neurogenetics. In SMA, a neuromuscular disorder with an often fatal outcome until recently, with those affected never able to sit, stand, or walk, children now achieve these motoric abilities and almost age-based development when treated presymptomatically. This review summarizes the challenges along this 30-year journey. It is also meant to inspire early-career scientists not to give up when things become difficult but to try to uncover the biological underpinnings and transform the challenge into the next big discovery. Without doubt, the improvements seen with the three therapeutic strategies in SMA are impressive; many open questions remain and are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 34, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
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Tharaneetharan A, Cole M, Norman B, Romero NC, Wooltorton JRA, Harrington MA, Sun J. Functional Abnormalities of Cerebellum and Motor Cortex in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Mice. Neuroscience 2020; 452:78-97. [PMID: 33212215 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating genetic neuromuscular disease. Diffuse neuropathology has been reported in SMA patients and mouse models, however, functional changes in brain regions have not been studied. In the SMNΔ7 mouse model, we identified three types of differences in neuronal function in the cerebellum and motor cortex from two age groups: P7-9 (P7) and P11-14 (P11). Microelectrode array studies revealed significantly lower spontaneous firing and network activity in the cerebellum of SMA mice in both age groups, but it was more profound in the P11 group. In the motor cortex, however, neural activity was not different in either age group. Whole-cell patch-clamp was used to study the function of output neurons in both brain regions. In cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) of SMA mice, the input resistance was larger at P7, while capacitance was smaller at P11. In the motor cortex, no difference was observed in the passive membrane properties of layer V pyramidal neurons (PN5s). The action potential threshold of both types of output neurons was depolarized in the P11 group. We also observed lower spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory synaptic activity in PN5s and PCs respectively from P11 SMA mice. Overall, these differences suggest functional alterations in the neural network in these motor regions that change during development. Our results also suggest that neuronal dysfunction in these brain regions may contribute to the pathology of SMA. Comprehensive treatment strategies may consider motor regions outside of the spinal cord for better outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arumugarajah Tharaneetharan
- Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA
| | - Madison Cole
- Department of Psychology, Washington College, Chestertown, MD, USA
| | - Brandon Norman
- Department of Biology, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA
| | - Nayeli C Romero
- Department of Agriculture and Natural Science, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA
| | - Julian R A Wooltorton
- Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA
| | - Melissa A Harrington
- Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA
| | - Jianli Sun
- Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA.
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Rademacher S, Detering NT, Schüning T, Lindner R, Santonicola P, Wefel IM, Dehus J, Walter LM, Brinkmann H, Niewienda A, Janek K, Varela MA, Bowerman M, Di Schiavi E, Claus P. A Single Amino Acid Residue Regulates PTEN-Binding and Stability of the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Protein SMN. Cells 2020; 9:cells9112405. [PMID: 33153033 PMCID: PMC7692393 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by decreased levels of the survival of motoneuron (SMN) protein. Post-translational mechanisms for regulation of its stability are still elusive. Thus, we aimed to identify regulatory phosphorylation sites that modulate function and stability. Our results show that SMN residues S290 and S292 are phosphorylated, of which SMN pS290 has a detrimental effect on protein stability and nuclear localization. Furthermore, we propose that phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a novel phosphatase for SMN, counteracts this effect. In light of recent advancements in SMA therapies, a significant need for additional approaches has become apparent. Our study demonstrates S290 as a novel molecular target site to increase the stability of SMN. Characterization of relevant kinases and phosphatases provides not only a new understanding of SMN function, but also constitutes a novel strategy for combinatorial therapeutic approaches to increase the level of SMN in SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Rademacher
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.R.); (N.T.D.); (T.S.); (R.L.); (I.-M.W.); (J.D.); (L.M.W.); (H.B.)
| | - Nora T. Detering
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.R.); (N.T.D.); (T.S.); (R.L.); (I.-M.W.); (J.D.); (L.M.W.); (H.B.)
- Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Tobias Schüning
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.R.); (N.T.D.); (T.S.); (R.L.); (I.-M.W.); (J.D.); (L.M.W.); (H.B.)
- Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Robert Lindner
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.R.); (N.T.D.); (T.S.); (R.L.); (I.-M.W.); (J.D.); (L.M.W.); (H.B.)
| | - Pamela Santonicola
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.S.); (E.D.S.)
| | - Inga-Maria Wefel
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.R.); (N.T.D.); (T.S.); (R.L.); (I.-M.W.); (J.D.); (L.M.W.); (H.B.)
| | - Janina Dehus
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.R.); (N.T.D.); (T.S.); (R.L.); (I.-M.W.); (J.D.); (L.M.W.); (H.B.)
| | - Lisa M. Walter
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.R.); (N.T.D.); (T.S.); (R.L.); (I.-M.W.); (J.D.); (L.M.W.); (H.B.)
- Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Hella Brinkmann
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.R.); (N.T.D.); (T.S.); (R.L.); (I.-M.W.); (J.D.); (L.M.W.); (H.B.)
| | - Agathe Niewienda
- Shared Facility for Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Biochemistry, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (A.N.); (K.J.)
| | - Katharina Janek
- Shared Facility for Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Biochemistry, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (A.N.); (K.J.)
| | - Miguel A. Varela
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK; (M.A.V.); (M.B.)
- Department of Paediatrics, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Melissa Bowerman
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK; (M.A.V.); (M.B.)
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
- Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry SY10 7AG, UK
| | - Elia Di Schiavi
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.S.); (E.D.S.)
| | - Peter Claus
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.R.); (N.T.D.); (T.S.); (R.L.); (I.-M.W.); (J.D.); (L.M.W.); (H.B.)
- Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), 30559 Hannover, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Lauria F, Bernabò P, Tebaldi T, Groen EJN, Perenthaler E, Maniscalco F, Rossi A, Donzel D, Clamer M, Marchioretto M, Omersa N, Orri J, Dalla Serra M, Anderluh G, Quattrone A, Inga A, Gillingwater TH, Viero G. SMN-primed ribosomes modulate the translation of transcripts related to spinal muscular atrophy. Nat Cell Biol 2020; 22:1239-1251. [PMID: 32958857 PMCID: PMC7610479 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-020-00577-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The contribution of ribosome heterogeneity and ribosome-associated proteins to the molecular control of proteomes in health and disease remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that survival motor neuron (SMN) protein-the loss of which causes the neuromuscular disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)-binds to ribosomes and that this interaction is tissue-dependent. SMN-primed ribosomes are preferentially positioned within the first five codons of a set of mRNAs that are enriched for translational enhancer sequences in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) and rare codons at the beginning of their coding sequence. These SMN-specific mRNAs are associated with neurogenesis, lipid metabolism, ubiquitination, chromatin regulation and translation. Loss of SMN induces ribosome depletion, especially at the beginning of the coding sequence of SMN-specific mRNAs, leading to impairment of proteins that are involved in motor neuron function and stability, including acetylcholinesterase. Thus, SMN plays a crucial role in the regulation of ribosome fluxes along mRNAs encoding proteins that are relevant to SMA pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Lauria
- Institute of Biophysics, CNR Unit at Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Paola Bernabò
- Institute of Biophysics, CNR Unit at Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Toma Tebaldi
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ewout Joan Nicolaas Groen
- Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences & Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Elena Perenthaler
- Institute of Biophysics, CNR Unit at Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Federica Maniscalco
- Institute of Biophysics, CNR Unit at Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Deborah Donzel
- Institute of Biophysics, CNR Unit at Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | | | - Neža Omersa
- National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Julia Orri
- Institute of Biophysics, CNR Unit at Trento, Trento, Italy
- La Fundació Jesuïtes Educació, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Alberto Inga
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Thomas Henry Gillingwater
- Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences & Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Smeriglio P, Langard P, Querin G, Biferi MG. The Identification of Novel Biomarkers Is Required to Improve Adult SMA Patient Stratification, Diagnosis and Treatment. J Pers Med 2020; 10:jpm10030075. [PMID: 32751151 PMCID: PMC7564782 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10030075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is currently classified into five different subtypes, from the most severe (type 0) to the mildest (type 4) depending on age at onset, best motor function achieved, and copy number of the SMN2 gene. The two recent approved treatments for SMA patients revolutionized their life quality and perspectives. However, upon treatment with Nusinersen, the most widely administered therapy up to date, a high degree of variability in therapeutic response was observed in adult SMA patients. These data, together with the lack of natural history information and the wide spectrum of disease phenotypes, suggest that further efforts are needed to develop precision medicine approaches for all SMA patients. Here, we compile the current methods for functional evaluation of adult SMA patients treated with Nusinersen. We also present an overview of the known molecular changes underpinning disease heterogeneity. We finally highlight the need for novel techniques, i.e., -omics approaches, to capture phenotypic differences and to understand the biological signature in order to revise the disease classification and device personalized treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piera Smeriglio
- Centre of Research in Myology, Institute of Myology, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, 75013 Paris, France; (P.L.); (G.Q.)
- Correspondence: (P.S.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Paul Langard
- Centre of Research in Myology, Institute of Myology, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, 75013 Paris, France; (P.L.); (G.Q.)
| | - Giorgia Querin
- Centre of Research in Myology, Institute of Myology, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, 75013 Paris, France; (P.L.); (G.Q.)
- Association Institut de Myologie, Plateforme Essais Cliniques Adultes, 75013 Paris, France
- APHP, Service de Neuromyologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Maria Grazia Biferi
- Centre of Research in Myology, Institute of Myology, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, 75013 Paris, France; (P.L.); (G.Q.)
- Correspondence: (P.S.); (M.G.B.)
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Berciano MT, Castillo-Iglesias MS, Val-Bernal JF, Lafarga V, Rodriguez-Rey JC, Lafarga M, Tapia O. Mislocalization of SMN from the I-band and M-band in human skeletal myofibers in spinal muscular atrophy associates with primary structural alterations of the sarcomere. Cell Tissue Res 2020; 381:461-478. [PMID: 32676861 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03236-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by a deletion or mutation of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Reduced SMN levels lead to motor neuron degeneration and muscular atrophy. SMN protein localizes to the cytoplasm and Cajal bodies. Moreover, in myofibrils from Drosophila and mice, SMN is a sarcomeric protein localized to the Z-disc. Although SMN participates in multiple functions, including the biogenesis of spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins, its role in the sarcomere is unclear. Here, we analyzed the sarcomeric organization of SMN in human control and type I SMA skeletal myofibers. In control sarcomeres, we demonstrate that human SMN is localized to the titin-positive M-band and actin-positive I-band, and to SMN-positive granules that flanked the Z-discs. Co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed that SMN interacts with the sarcomeric protein actin, α-actinin, titin, and profilin2. In the type I SMA muscle, SMN levels were reduced, and atrophic (denervated) and hypertrophic (nondenervated) myofibers coexisted. The hypertrophied myofibers, which are potential primary targets of SMN deficiency, exhibited sites of focal or segmental alterations of the actin cytoskeleton, where the SMN immunostaining pattern was altered. Moreover, SMN was relocalized to the Z-disc in overcontracted minisarcomeres from hypertrophic myofibers. We propose that SMN could have an integrating role in the molecular components of the sarcomere. Consequently, low SMN levels might impact the normal sarcomeric architecture, resulting in the disruption of myofibrils found in SMA muscle. This primary effect might be independent of the neurogenic myopathy produced by denervation and contribute to pathophysiology of the SMA myopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- María T Berciano
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria-IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Valdecilla (IDIVAL) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Santander, Spain
| | | | - J Fernando Val-Bernal
- Unidad de Patología, Departamento de Ciencias Médicas y Quirúrgicas, Universidad de Cantabria-IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
| | - Vanesa Lafarga
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - José C Rodriguez-Rey
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria-IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
| | - Miguel Lafarga
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Valdecilla (IDIVAL) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Santander, Spain.
- Departamento de Anatomía y Biología Celular, Universidad de Cantabria-IDIVAL, Santander, Spain.
| | - Olga Tapia
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Valdecilla (IDIVAL) and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Santander, Spain.
- Universidad Europea del Atlántico, Santander, Spain.
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Furlong MA, Paul KC, Yan Q, Chuang YH, Cockburn MG, Bronstein JM, Horvath S, Ritz B. An epigenome-wide association study of ambient pyrethroid pesticide exposures in California's central valley. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 229:113569. [PMID: 32679516 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pyrethroid pesticide use is increasing worldwide, although the full extent of associated health effects is unknown. An epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) with exploratory pathway analysis may help identify potential pyrethroid-related health effects. METHODS We performed an exploratory EWAS of chronic ambient pyrethroid exposure using control participants' blood in the Parkinson's Environment and Genes Study in the Central Valley of California (N = 237). We estimated associations of living and working near agricultural pyrethroid pesticide applications in the past 5 years (binary) with site-specific differential methylation, and used a false discovery rate (FDR) cut off of 0.05 for significance. We controlled for age, sex, education, cell count, and an ancestral marker for Hispanic ethnicity. We normalized methylation values for Type I/II probe bias using Beta-Mixture Quantile (BMIQ) normalization, filtered out cross-reactive probes, and evaluated for remaining bias with Surrogate Variable Analysis (SVA). We also evaluated the effects of controlling for cell count and normalizing for Type I/II probe bias by comparing changes in effect estimates and p-values for the top hits across BMIQ and GenomeStudio normalization methods, and controlling for cell count. To facilitate broader interpretation, we annotated genes to the CpG sites and performed gene set overrepresentation analysis, using genes annotated to CpG sites that were associated with pyrethroids at a raw p < 0.05, and controlling for background representation of CpG sites on the chip. We did this for both a biological process context (Gene Ontology terms) using missMethyl, and a disease set context using WebGestalt. For these gene set overrepresentation analyses we also used an FDR cut off of 0.05 for significance of gene sets. RESULTS After controlling for cell count and applying BMIQ normalization, 4 CpG sites were differentially methylated in relation to pyrethroid exposures. When using GenomeStudio's Illumina normalization, 415 CpG sites were differentially methylated, including all four identified with the BMIQ method. In the gene set overrepresentation analyses, we identified 6 GO terms using BMIQ normalization, and 76 using Illumina normalization, including the 6 identified by BMIQ. For disease sets, we identified signals for Alzheimer's disease, leukemia and several other cancers, diabetes, birth defects, and other diseases, for both normalization methods. We identified minimal changes in effect estimates after controlling for cell count, and controlling for cell count generally weakened p-values. BMIQ normalization, however, resulted in different beta coefficients and weakened p-values. CONCLUSIONS Chronic ambient pyrethroid exposure is associated with differential methylation at CpG sites that annotate to a wide variety of disease states and biological mechanisms that align with prior research. However, this EWAS also implicates several novel diseases for future investigation, and highlights the relative importance of different background normalization methods in identifying associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Furlong
- Department of Community, Environment, and Policy, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Kimberly C Paul
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Qi Yan
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yu-Hsuan Chuang
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Myles G Cockburn
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, CA, USA
| | - Jeff M Bronstein
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Beate Ritz
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Lessons from LIMK1 enzymology and their impact on inhibitor design. Biochem J 2020; 476:3197-3209. [PMID: 31652302 PMCID: PMC6835155 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20190517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
LIM domain kinase 1 (LIMK1) is a key regulator of actin dynamics. It is thereby a potential therapeutic target for the prevention of fragile X syndrome and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Herein, we use X-ray crystallography and activity assays to describe how LIMK1 accomplishes substrate specificity, to suggest a unique ‘rock-and-poke’ mechanism of catalysis and to explore the regulation of the kinase by activation loop phosphorylation. Based on these findings, a differential scanning fluorimetry assay and a RapidFire mass spectrometry activity assay were established, leading to the discovery and confirmation of a set of small-molecule LIMK1 inhibitors. Interestingly, several of the inhibitors were inactive towards the closely related isoform LIMK2. Finally, crystal structures of the LIMK1 kinase domain in complex with inhibitors (PF-477736 and staurosporine, respectively) are presented, providing insights into LIMK1 plasticity upon inhibitor binding.
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40
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Siranosian JJ, Nery FC, Alves CRR, Siranosian BA, Lyons NJ, Eichelberger EJ, Garner R, Da Silva Duarte Lepez S, Johnstone AJ, Subramanian A, Swoboda KJ. Whole-blood dysregulation of actin-cytoskeleton pathway in adult spinal muscular atrophy patients. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:1158-1165. [PMID: 32558393 PMCID: PMC7359125 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Recent advances in therapeutics have improved prognosis for severely affected spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 and 2 patients, while the best method of treatment for SMA type 3 patients with later onset of disease is unknown. To better characterize the SMA type 3 population and provide potential therapeutic targets, we aimed to understand gene expression differences in whole blood of SMA type 3 patients (n = 31) and age- and gender-matched controls (n = 34). METHODS We performed the first large-scale whole blood transcriptomic screen with L1000, a rapid, high-throughput gene expression profiling technology that uses 978 landmark genes to capture a representation of the transcriptome and predict expression of 9196 additional genes. RESULTS The primary downregulated KEGG pathway in adult SMA type 3 patients was "Regulation of Actin Cytoskeleton," and downregulated expression of key genes in this pathway, including ROCK1, RHOA, and ACTB, was confirmed in the same whole blood samples using RT-qPCR. SMA type 3 patient-derived fibroblasts had lower expression of these genes compared to control fibroblasts from unaffected first-degree relatives. Overexpression of SMN levels using an AAV vector in fibroblasts did not normalize ROCK1, RHOA, and ACTB mRNA expression, indicating the involvement of additional genes in cytoskeleton dynamic regulation. INTERPRETATION Our findings from whole blood and patient-derived fibroblasts suggest SMA type 3 patients have decreased expression of actin cytoskeleton regulators. These observations provide new insights and potential therapeutic targets for SMA patients with longstanding denervation and secondary musculoskeletal pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer J. Siranosian
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Genomic MedicineMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
| | - Flavia C. Nery
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Genomic MedicineMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
| | - Christiano R. R. Alves
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Genomic MedicineMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
- Broad Institute of MIT and HarvardCambridgeMAUSA
| | | | | | - Eric J. Eichelberger
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Genomic MedicineMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
| | - Reid Garner
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Genomic MedicineMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
| | | | - Alec J. Johnstone
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Genomic MedicineMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
| | | | - Kathryn J. Swoboda
- Department of NeurologyCenter for Genomic MedicineMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
- Broad Institute of MIT and HarvardCambridgeMAUSA
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41
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Radwan M, Ang CS, Ormsby AR, Cox D, Daly JC, Reid GE, Hatters DM. Arginine in C9ORF72 Dipolypeptides Mediates Promiscuous Proteome Binding and Multiple Modes of Toxicity. Mol Cell Proteomics 2020; 19:640-654. [PMID: 32086375 PMCID: PMC7124463 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra119.001888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
C9ORF72-associated Motor Neuron Disease patients feature abnormal expression of 5 dipeptide repeat (DPR) polymers. Here we used quantitative proteomics in a mouse neuronal-like cell line (Neuro2a) to demonstrate that the Arg residues in the most toxic DPRS, PR and GR, leads to a promiscuous binding to the proteome compared with a relative sparse binding of the more inert AP and GA. Notable targets included ribosomal proteins, translation initiation factors and translation elongation factors. PR and GR comprising more than 10 repeats appeared to robustly stall on ribosomes during translation suggesting Arg-rich peptide domains can electrostatically jam the ribosome exit tunnel during synthesis. Poly-GR also recruited arginine methylases, induced hypomethylation of endogenous proteins, and induced a profound destabilization of the actin cytoskeleton. Our findings point to arginine in GR and PR polymers as multivalent toxins to translation as well as arginine methylation that may explain the dysfunction of biological processes including ribosome biogenesis, mRNA splicing and cytoskeleton assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Radwan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Bio21 Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Bio21 Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Angelique R Ormsby
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Dezerae Cox
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - James C Daly
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Gavin E Reid
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Danny M Hatters
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
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42
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Fallini C, Khalil B, Smith CL, Rossoll W. Traffic jam at the nuclear pore: All roads lead to nucleocytoplasmic transport defects in ALS/FTD. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 140:104835. [PMID: 32179176 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal late-onset neurodegenerative disease that specifically affects the function and survival of spinal and cortical motor neurons. ALS shares many genetic, clinical, and pathological characteristics with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and these diseases are now recognized as presentations of a disease spectrum known as ALS/FTD. The molecular determinants of neuronal loss in ALS/FTD are still debated, but the recent discovery of nucleocytoplasmic transport defects as a common denominator of most if not all forms of ALS/FTD has dramatically changed our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of this disease. Loss of nuclear pores and nucleoporin aggregation, altered nuclear morphology, and impaired nuclear transport are some of the most prominent features that have been identified using a variety of animal, cellular, and human models of disease. Here, we review the experimental evidence linking nucleocytoplasmic transport defects to the pathogenesis of ALS/FTD and propose a unifying view on how these defects may lead to a vicious cycle that eventually causes neuronal death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Fallini
- George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
| | - Bilal Khalil
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Courtney L Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Wilfried Rossoll
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.
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43
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Hensel N, Kubinski S, Claus P. The Need for SMN-Independent Treatments of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to Complement SMN-Enhancing Drugs. Front Neurol 2020; 11:45. [PMID: 32117013 PMCID: PMC7009174 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is monogenic motoneuron disease caused by low levels of the Survival of Motoneuron protein (SMN). Recently, two different drugs were approved for the treatment of the disease. The antisense oligonucleotide Nusinersen/Spinraza® and the gene replacement therapy Onasemnogene Abeparvovec/Zolgensma® both enhance SMN levels. These treatments result in impressive benefits for the patients. However, there is a significant number of non-responders and an intervention delay has a strong negative impact on the efficacy. Obviously, later stages of motoneuron degeneration cannot be reversed by SMN-restoration. Therefore, complementary, SMN-independent strategies are needed which are able to address such SMN-irreversible degenerative processes. Those are defined as pathological alterations which are not reversed by SMN-restoration for a given dose and intervention delay. It is crucial to tailor SMN-independent approaches to the novel clinical situation with SMN-restoring treatments. On the molecular level, such SMN-irreversible changes become manifest in altered signaling modules as described by molecular systems biology. Based on our current knowledge about altered signaling, we introduce a network approach for an informed decision for the most potent SMN-independent treatment targets. Finally, we present recommendations for the identification of novel treatments which can be combined with SMN-restoring drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niko Hensel
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Sabrina Kubinski
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter Claus
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
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44
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Hensel N, Detering NT, Walter LM, Claus P. Resolution of pathogenic R-loops rescues motor neuron degeneration in spinal muscular atrophy. Brain 2020; 143:2-5. [PMID: 31886489 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This scientific commentary refers to ‘ZPR1 prevents R-loop accumulation, upregulates SMN2 expression and rescues spinal muscular atrophy’, by Kannan et al. (doi: 10.1093/brain/awz373).
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Affiliation(s)
- Niko Hensel
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Nora Tula Detering
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Lisa Marie Walter
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter Claus
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
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45
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Pinto-Costa R, Sousa MM. Profilin as a dual regulator of actin and microtubule dynamics. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2019; 77:76-83. [PMID: 31811707 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Although originally identified as G-actin sequestering proteins, profilins are emerging as critical regulators of actin dynamics, capable of interacting with multiple acting binding proteins, and being able to link membrane lipids to cytoskeleton components. Recently, in addition to its actin, poly-proline, and phosphatidylinositol binding domains, profilin has been shown to contain residues specialized in microtubule binding. Here we will discuss in a critical perspective the emerging body of data supporting that profilins are central mediators of actin microfilament and microtubule interaction. We will also address the unanswered questions in the field, including the nature of the interaction of profilin with microtubules, and its effect on microtubule dynamics. These recent discoveries deepen our understanding on how different cytoskeleton components are integrated within cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Pinto-Costa
- Nerve Regeneration Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular-IBMC and Instituto de Inovação e Investigação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Graduate Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar-ICBAS, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mónica M Sousa
- Nerve Regeneration Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular-IBMC and Instituto de Inovação e Investigação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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46
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Walter LM, Franz P, Lindner R, Tsiavaliaris G, Hensel N, Claus P. Profilin2a-phosphorylation as a regulatory mechanism for actin dynamics. FASEB J 2019; 34:2147-2160. [PMID: 31908005 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901883r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Profilin is a major regulator of actin dynamics in multiple specific processes localized in different cellular compartments. This specificity is not only meditated by its binding to actin but also its interaction with phospholipids such as phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP2 ) at the membrane and a plethora of proteins containing poly-L-proline (PLP) stretches. These interactions are fine-tuned by posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation. Several phospho-sites have already been identified for profilin1, the ubiquitously expressed isoform. However, little is known about the phosphorylation of profilin2a. Profilin2a is a neuronal isoform important for synapse function. Here, we identified several putative profilin2a phospho-sites in silico and tested recombinant phospho-mimetics with regard to their actin-, PLP-, and PIP2 -binding properties. Moreover, we assessed their impact on actin dynamics employing a pyrene-actin polymerization assay. Results indicate that distinct phospho-sites modulate specific profilin2a functions. We could identify a molecular switch site at serine residue 71 which completely abrogated actin binding-as well as other sites important for fine-tuning of different functions, for example, tyrosine 29 for PLP binding. Our findings suggest that differential profilin2a phosphorylation is a sensitive mechanism for regulating its neuronal functions. Moreover, the dysregulation of profilin2a phosphorylation may contribute to neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Marie Walter
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter Franz
- Institute of Cellular Biophysics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Robert Lindner
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Niko Hensel
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter Claus
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
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47
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McAlary L, Plotkin SS, Yerbury JJ, Cashman NR. Prion-Like Propagation of Protein Misfolding and Aggregation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:262. [PMID: 31736708 PMCID: PMC6838634 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery that prion protein can misfold into a pathological conformation that encodes structural information capable of both propagation and inducing severe neuropathology has revolutionized our understanding of neurodegenerative disease. Many neurodegenerative diseases with a protein misfolding component are now classified as “prion-like” owing to the propagation of both symptoms and protein aggregation pathology in affected individuals. The neuromuscular disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by protein inclusions formed by either TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43), Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), or fused in sarcoma (FUS), in both upper and lower motor neurons. Evidence from in vitro, cell culture, and in vivo studies has provided strong evidence to support the involvement of a prion-like mechanism in ALS. In this article, we review the evidence suggesting that prion-like propagation of protein aggregation is a primary pathomechanism in ALS, focusing on the key proteins and genes involved in disease (TDP-43, SOD1, FUS, and C9orf72). In each case, we discuss the evidence ranging from biophysical studies to in vivo examinations of prion-like spreading. We suggest that the idiopathic nature of ALS may stem from its prion-like nature and that elucidation of the specific propagating protein assemblies is paramount to developing effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke McAlary
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Steven S Plotkin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Genome Sciences and Technology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Justin J Yerbury
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Neil R Cashman
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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48
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Janzen E, Wolff L, Mendoza-Ferreira N, Hupperich K, Delle Vedove A, Hosseinibarkooie S, Kye MJ, Wirth B. PLS3 Overexpression Delays Ataxia in Chp1 Mutant Mice. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:993. [PMID: 31607845 PMCID: PMC6761326 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative disorders share common pathogenic pathways such as endocytic defects, Ca2+ misregulation and defects in actin dynamics. Factors acting on these shared pathways are highly interesting as a therapeutic target. Plastin 3 (PLS3), a proven protective modifier of spinal muscular atrophy across species, is a remarkable example of the former, and thereby offers high potential as a cross-disease modifier. Importantly, PLS3 has been linked to numerous proteins associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. Among them, PLS3 directly interacts with calcineurin like EF-hand protein 1 (CHP1), whose loss-of-function results in ataxia. In this study, we aimed to determine whether PLS3 is a cross-disease modifier for ataxia caused by Chp1 mutation in mice. For this purpose, we generated Chp1 mutant mice, named vacillator mice, overexpressing a PLS3 transgene. Here, we show that PLS3 overexpression (OE) delays the ataxic phenotype of the vacillator mice at an early but not later disease stage. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PLS3 OE ameliorates axon hypertrophy and axonal swellings in Purkinje neurons thereby slowing down neurodegeneration. Mechanistically, we found that PLS3 OE in the cerebellum shows a trend of increased membrane targeting and/or expression of Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE1), an important CHP1 binding partner and a causative gene for ataxia, when mutated in humans and mice. This data supports the hypothesis that PLS3 is a cross-disease genetic modifier for CHP1-causing ataxia and spinal muscular atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Janzen
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Lisa Wolff
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Natalia Mendoza-Ferreira
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kristina Hupperich
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Andrea Delle Vedove
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Seyyedmohsen Hosseinibarkooie
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Min Jeong Kye
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Rare Diseases Cologne, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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49
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The Anti-Apoptotic Effect of ASC-Exosomes in an In Vitro ALS Model and Their Proteomic Analysis. Cells 2019; 8:cells8091087. [PMID: 31540100 PMCID: PMC6770878 DOI: 10.3390/cells8091087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapy represents a promising approach in the treatment of several neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The beneficial effect of stem cells is exerted by paracrine mediators, as exosomes, suggesting a possible potential use of these extracellular vesicles as non-cell based therapy. We demonstrated that exosomes isolated from adipose stem cells (ASC) display a neuroprotective role in an in vitro model of ALS. Moreover, the internalization of ASC-exosomes by the cells was shown and the molecules and the mechanisms by which exosomes could exert their beneficial effect were addressed. We performed for the first time a comprehensive proteomic analysis of exosomes derived from murine ASC. We identified a total of 189 proteins and the shotgun proteomics analysis revealed that the exosomal proteins are mainly involved in cell adhesion and negative regulation of the apoptotic process. We correlated the protein content to the anti-apoptotic effect of exosomes observing a downregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and cleaved caspase-3 and upregulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 α, in an in vitro model of ALS after cell treatment with exosomes. Overall, this study shows the neuroprotective effect of ASC-exosomes after their internalization and their global protein profile, that could be useful to understand how exosomes act, demonstrating that they can be employed as therapy in neurodegenerative diseases.
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50
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Hoolachan JM, Sutton ER, Bowerman M. Teaching an old drug new tricks: repositioning strategies for spinal muscular atrophy. FUTURE NEUROLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.2217/fnl-2019-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a childhood disorder caused by loss of the SMN gene. Pathological hallmarks are spinal cord motor neuron death, neuromuscular junction dysfunction and muscle atrophy. The first SMN genetic therapy was recently approved and other SMN-dependent treatments are not far behind. However, not all SMA patients will reap their maximal benefit due to limited accessibility, high costs and differential effects depending on timing of administration and disease severity. The repurposing of commercially available drugs is an interesting strategy to ensure more rapid and less expensive access to new treatments. In this mini-review, we will discuss the potential and relevance of repositioning drugs currently used for neurodegenerative, neuromuscular and muscle disorders for SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Hoolachan
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
| | - Emma R Sutton
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
| | - Melissa Bowerman
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
- Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, SY10 7AG, UK
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