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Picher-Martel V, Babu S, Amato AA. TARDBP Mutations in Facial-Onset Sensory and Motor Neuronopathy. Neurol Genet 2024; 10:e200160. [PMID: 38841627 PMCID: PMC11152643 DOI: 10.1212/nxg.0000000000200160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Objectives Facial-onset sensory and motor neuronopathy (FOSMN) is a rare neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive facial sensory impairment followed by motor dysfunction in a rostro-caudal distribution. FOSMN is clinically and pathologically associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD). In contrast to ALS/FTD, the genetic profile of patients with FOSMN and the role of genetic testing are poorly defined. Methods A 66-year-old woman was evaluated in our neuromuscular clinic for progressive facial pain, dysphagia, and dysarthria. Her diagnostic evaluation included brain and cervical MRI, nerve conduction studies and EMG, and an ALS/FTD next-generation sequencing panel. Results The patient was diagnosed with FOSMN, and we identified a N390D variant in transactive response DNA-binding protein (TDP-43/TARDBP). This variant has never been reported in FOSMN but was previously reported in 2 cases of ALS, and a N390S variant was also previously reported in FOSMN. A review of the literature revealed that TARDBP mutations are overrepresented in patients with FOSMN compared with patients with ALS/FTD. By contrast, other common familial forms of ALS, including C9ORF72 or SOD1, are respectively absent or rare in FOSMN. Discussion FOSMN is pathologically and genetically associated with TDP-43. Therefore, ALS genetic testing that includes specifically TARDBP should be considered in patients with FOSMN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Picher-Martel
- From the Department of Neurology (V.P.-M.), Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School; Department of Neurology (V.P.-M.), MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND); Department of Neurology (S.B.), Massachusetts General Hospital; Department of Neurology (A.A.A.), Brigham Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Suma Babu
- From the Department of Neurology (V.P.-M.), Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School; Department of Neurology (V.P.-M.), MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND); Department of Neurology (S.B.), Massachusetts General Hospital; Department of Neurology (A.A.A.), Brigham Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Anthony A Amato
- From the Department of Neurology (V.P.-M.), Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School; Department of Neurology (V.P.-M.), MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND); Department of Neurology (S.B.), Massachusetts General Hospital; Department of Neurology (A.A.A.), Brigham Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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Huang SL, Wu LS, Lee M, Chang CW, Cheng WC, Fang YS, Chen YR, Cheng PL, Shen CKJ. A robust TDP-43 knock-in mouse model of ALS. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:3. [PMID: 31964415 PMCID: PMC6975031 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-0881-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, adult-onset degenerative disorder of motor neurons. The diseased spinal cord motor neurons of more than 95% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients are characterized by the mis-metabolism of the RNA/DNA-binding protein TDP-43 (ALS-TDP), in particular, the presence of cytosolic aggregates of the protein. Most available mouse models for the basic or translational studies of ALS-TDP are based on transgenic overexpression of the TDP-43 protein. Here, we report the generation and characterization of mouse lines bearing homologous knock-in of fALS-associated mutation A315T and sALS-associated mutation N390D, respectively. Remarkably, the heterozygous TDP-43 (N390D/+) mice but not those heterozygous for the TDP-43 (A315T/+) mice develop a full spectrum of ALS-TDP-like pathologies at the molecular, cellular and behavioral levels. Comparative analysis of the mutant mice and spinal cord motor neurons (MN) derived from their embryonic stem (ES) cells demonstrates that different ALS-associated TDP-43 mutations possess critical ALS-causing capabilities and pathogenic pathways, likely modified by their genetic background and the environmental factors. Mechanistically, we identify aberrant RNA splicing of spinal cord Bcl-2 pre-mRNA and consequent increase of a negative regulator of autophagy, Bcl-2, which correlate with and are caused by a progressive increase of TDP-43, one of the early events associated with ALS-TDP pathogenesis, in the spinal cord of TDP-43 (N390D/+) mice and spinal cord MN derived from their ES cells. The TDP-43 (N390D/+) knock-in mice appear to be an ideal rodent model for basic as well as translational studies of ALS- TDP.
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Nagahara Y, Shimazawa M, Ohuchi K, Ito J, Takahashi H, Tsuruma K, Kakita A, Hara H. GPNMB ameliorates mutant TDP-43-induced motor neuron cell death. J Neurosci Res 2016; 95:1647-1665. [PMID: 27935101 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 10/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) aggregates are observed in the spinal cord of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, but the detailed localization is still unclear. Mutations of transactive response DNA binding protein 43kDa (TDP-43) are associated with neurodegenerative diseases including ALS. In this study, we evaluated the localization of GPNMB aggregates in the spinal cord of ALS patients and the effect of GPNMB against mutant TDP-43 induced motor neuron cell death. GPNMB aggregates were not localized in the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive astrocyte and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1 (Iba1)-positive microglia. GPNMB aggregates were localized in the microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2)-positive neuron and neurofilament H non-phosphorylated (SMI-32)-positive neuron, and these were co-localized with TDP-43 aggregates in the spinal cord of ALS patients. Mock or TDP-43 (WT, M337V, and A315T) plasmids were transfected into mouse motor neuron cells (NSC34). The expression level of GPNMB was increased by transfection of mutant TDP-43 plasmids. Recombinant GPNMB ameliorated motor neuron cell death induced by transfection of mutant TDP-43 plasmids and serum-free stress. Furthermore, the expression of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and phosphorylated Akt were decreased by this stress, and these expressions were increased by recombinant GPNMB. These results indicate that GPNMB has protective effects against mutant TDP-43 stress via activating the ERK1/2 and Akt pathways, and GPNMB may be a therapeutic target for TDP-43 proteinopathy in familial and sporadic ALS. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Nagahara
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Masamitsu Shimazawa
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Kazuki Ohuchi
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Junko Ito
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Takahashi
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Tsuruma
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hideaki Hara
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
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Cascella R, Capitini C, Fani G, Dobson CM, Cecchi C, Chiti F. Quantification of the Relative Contributions of Loss-of-function and Gain-of-function Mechanisms in TAR DNA-binding Protein 43 (TDP-43) Proteinopathies. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:19437-48. [PMID: 27445339 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.737726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin positive inclusions (FTLD-U) are two clinically distinct neurodegenerative conditions sharing a similar histopathology characterized by the nuclear clearance of TDP-43 and its associated deposition into cytoplasmic inclusions in different areas of the central nervous system. Given the concomitant occurrence of TDP-43 nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic accumulation, it has been proposed that TDP-43 proteinopathies originate from either a loss-of-function (LOF) mechanism, a gain-of-function (GOF) process, or both. We have addressed this issue by transfecting murine NSC34 and N2a cells with siRNA for endogenous murine TDP-43 and with human recombinant TDP-43 inclusion bodies (IBs). These two strategies allowed the depletion of nuclear TDP-43 and the accumulation of cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregates to occur separately and independently. Endogenous and exogenous TDP-43 were monitored and quantified using both immunofluorescence and Western blotting analysis, and nuclear functional TDP-43 was measured by monitoring the sortilin 1 mRNA splicing activity. Various degrees of TDP-43 cytoplasmic accumulation and nuclear TDP-43 depletion were achieved and the resulting cellular viability was evaluated, leading to a quantitative global analysis on the relative effects of LOF and GOF on the overall cytotoxicity. These were found to be ∼55% and 45%, respectively, in both cell lines and using both readouts of cell toxicity, showing that these two mechanisms are likely to contribute apparently equally to the pathologies of ALS and FTLD-U.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Cascella
- From the Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, V.le GB Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy and
| | - Claudia Capitini
- From the Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, V.le GB Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy and
| | - Giulia Fani
- From the Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, V.le GB Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy and
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW United Kingdom
| | - Cristina Cecchi
- From the Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, V.le GB Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy and
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- From the Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, V.le GB Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy and
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Chiang CH, Grauffel C, Wu LS, Kuo PH, Doudeva LG, Lim C, Shen CKJ, Yuan HS. Structural analysis of disease-related TDP-43 D169G mutation: linking enhanced stability and caspase cleavage efficiency to protein accumulation. Sci Rep 2016; 6:21581. [PMID: 26883171 PMCID: PMC4756693 DOI: 10.1038/srep21581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The RNA-binding protein TDP-43 forms intracellular inclusions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). While TDP-43 mutations have been identified in ALS patients, how these mutations are linked to ALS remains unclear. Here we examined the biophysical properties of six ALS-linked TDP-43 mutants and found that one of the mutants, D169G, had higher thermal stability than wild-type TDP-43 and that it was cleaved by caspase 3 more efficiently, producing increased levels of the C-terminal 35 kD fragments (TDP-35) in vitro and in neuroblastoma cells. The crystal structure of the TDP-43 RRM1 domain containing the D169G mutation in complex with DNA along with molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the D169G mutation induces a local conformational change in a β turn and increases the hydrophobic interactions in the RRM1 core, thus enhancing the thermal stability of the RRM1 domain. Our results provide the first crystal structure of TDP-43 containing a disease-linked D169G mutation and a disease-related mechanism showing that D169G mutant is more susceptible to proteolytic cleavage by caspase 3 into the pathogenic C-terminal 35-kD fragments due to its increased stability in the RRM1 domain. Modulation of TDP-43 stability and caspase cleavage efficiency could present an avenue for prevention and treatment of TDP-43-linked neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Hao Chiang
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.,Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsin Chu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Cédric Grauffel
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Lien-Szu Wu
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Pan-Hsien Kuo
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | | | - Carmay Lim
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | | | - Hanna S Yuan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
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Scotter EL, Chen HJ, Shaw CE. TDP-43 Proteinopathy and ALS: Insights into Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets. Neurotherapeutics 2015; 12:352-63. [PMID: 25652699 PMCID: PMC4404432 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-015-0338-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 216] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic options for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are currently limited. However, recent studies show that almost all cases of ALS, as well as tau-negative frontotemporal dementia (FTD), share a common neuropathology characterized by the deposition of TAR-DNA binding protein (TDP)-43-positive protein inclusions, offering an attractive target for the design and testing of novel therapeutics. Here we demonstrate how diverse environmental stressors linked to stress granule formation, as well as mutations in genes encoding RNA processing proteins and protein degradation adaptors, initiate ALS pathogenesis via TDP-43. We review the progressive development of TDP-43 proteinopathy from cytoplasmic mislocalization and misfolding through to macroaggregation and the addition of phosphate and ubiquitin moieties. Drawing from cellular and animal studies, we explore the feasibility of therapeutics that act at each point in pathogenesis, from mitigating genetic risk using antisense oligonucleotides to modulating TDP-43 proteinopathy itself using small molecule activators of autophagy, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, or the chaperone network. We present the case that preventing the misfolding of TDP-43 and/or enhancing its clearance represents the most important target for effectively treating ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L. Scotter
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, de Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Han-Jou Chen
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, de Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Christopher E. Shaw
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, de Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
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Finelli MJ, Liu KX, Wu Y, Oliver PL, Davies KE. Oxr1 improves pathogenic cellular features of ALS-associated FUS and TDP-43 mutations. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:3529-44. [PMID: 25792726 PMCID: PMC4498158 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of motor neuron-like cells. Mutations in the RNA- and DNA-binding proteins, fused in sarcoma (FUS) and transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43), are responsible for 5–10% of familial and 1% of sporadic ALS cases. Importantly, aggregation of misfolded FUS or TDP-43 is also characteristic of several neurodegenerative disorders in addition to ALS, including frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Moreover, splicing deregulation of FUS and TDP-43 target genes as well as mitochondrial abnormalities are associated with disease-causing FUS and TDP-43 mutants. While progress has been made to understand the functions of these proteins, the exact mechanisms by which FUS and TDP-43 cause ALS remain unknown. Recently, we discovered that, in addition to being up-regulated in spinal cords of ALS patients, the novel protein oxidative resistance 1 (Oxr1) protects neurons from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. To further understand the function of Oxr1, we present here the first interaction study of the protein. We show that Oxr1 binds to Fus and Tdp-43 and that certain ALS-associated mutations in Fus and Tdp-43 affect their Oxr1-binding properties. We further demonstrate that increasing Oxr1 levels in cells expressing specific Fus and Tdp-43 mutants improves the three main cellular features associated with ALS: cytoplasmic mis-localization and aggregation, splicing changes of a mitochondrial gene and mitochondrial defects. Taken together, these findings suggest that OXR1 may have therapeutic benefits for the treatment of ALS and related neurodegenerative disorders with TDP-43 pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattéa J Finelli
- MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Kevin X Liu
- MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Yixing Wu
- MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Peter L Oliver
- MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Kay E Davies
- MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
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Buratti E. Functional Significance of TDP-43 Mutations in Disease. ADVANCES IN GENETICS 2015; 91:1-53. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2015.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Liu YJ, Ju TC, Chen HM, Jang YS, Lee LM, Lai HL, Tai HC, Fang JM, Lin YL, Tu PH, Chern Y. Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase α1 mediates mislocalization of TDP-43 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:787-801. [DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
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