1
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Rodriguez P, Blakely RD. Sink or swim: Does a worm paralysis phenotype hold clues to neurodegenerative disease? J Cell Physiol 2024; 239:e31125. [PMID: 37795580 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31125] [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: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Receiving a neurodegenerative disease (NDD) diagnosis, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is devastating, particularly given the limited options for treatment. Advances in genetic technologies have allowed for efficient modeling of NDDs in animals and brought hope for new disease-modifying medications. The complexity of the mammalian brain and the costs and time needed to identify and develop therapeutic leads limits progress. Modeling NDDs in invertebrates, such as the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, offers orders of magnitude increases in speed of genetic analysis and manipulation, and can be pursued at substantially reduced cost, providing an important, platform complement and inform research with mammalian NDD models. In this review, we describe how our efforts to exploit C. elegans for the study of neural signaling and health led to the discovery of a paralytic phenotype (swimming-induced paralysis) associated with altered dopamine signaling and, surprisingly, to the discovery of a novel gene and pathway whose dysfunction in glial cells triggers neurodegeneration. Research to date on swip-10 and its putative mammalian ortholog MBLAC1, suggests that a tandem analysis will offer insights into NDD mechanisms and insights into novel, disease-modifying therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Rodriguez
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Boca Raton, Florida, USA
| | - Randy D Blakely
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Boca Raton, Florida, USA
- Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
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2
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Johnston TH, Lacoste AMB, Ravenscroft P, Su J, Tamadon S, Seifi M, Lang AE, Fox SH, Brotchie JM, Visanji NP. Using artificial intelligence to identify drugs for repurposing to treat l-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. Neuropharmacology 2024; 248:109880. [PMID: 38412888 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109880] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Repurposing regulatory agency-approved molecules, with proven safety in humans, is an attractive option for developing new treatments for disease. We identified and assessed the efficacy of 3 drugs predicted by an in silico screen as having the potential to treat l-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID) in Parkinson's disease. We analysed ∼1.3 million Medline abstracts using natural language processing and ranked 3539 existing drugs based on predicted ability to reduce LID. 3 drugs from the top 5% of the 3539 candidates; lorcaserin, acamprosate and ganaxolone, were prioritized for preclinical testing based on i) having a novel mechanism of action, ii) having not been previously validated for the treatment of LID, iii) being blood-brain-barrier penetrant and orally bioavailable and iv) being clinical trial ready. We assessed the efficacy of acamprosate, ganaxolone and lorcaserin in a rodent model of l-DOPA-induced hyperactivity, with lorcaserin affording a 58% reduction in rotational asymmetry (P < 0.05) compared to vehicle. Acamprosate and ganaxolone failed to demonstrate efficacy. Lorcaserin, a 5HT2C agonist, was then further tested in MPTP lesioned dyskinetic macaques where it afforded an 82% reduction in LID (P < 0.05), unfortunately accompanied by a significant increase in parkinsonian disability. In conclusion, although our data do not support the repurposing of lorcaserin, acamprosate or ganaxolone per se for LID, we demonstrate value of an in silico approach to identify candidate molecules which, in combination with an in vivo screen, can facilitate clinical development decisions. The present study adds to a growing literature in support of this paradigm shifting approach in the repurposing pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom H Johnston
- Atuka Inc, Suite 5600, 100 King St. W. Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1C9, Canada
| | | | - Paula Ravenscroft
- Atuka Inc, Suite 5600, 100 King St. W. Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1C9, Canada
| | - Jin Su
- Atuka Inc, Suite 5600, 100 King St. W. Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1C9, Canada
| | - Sahar Tamadon
- Atuka Inc, Suite 5600, 100 King St. W. Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1C9, Canada
| | - Mahtab Seifi
- Atuka Inc, Suite 5600, 100 King St. W. Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1C9, Canada
| | - Anthony E Lang
- Krembil Brain Institute, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada; Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson Disease, Parkinson Foundation Centre of Excellence, Toronto Western Hospital, 399, Bathurst St, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Susan H Fox
- Krembil Brain Institute, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada; Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson Disease, Parkinson Foundation Centre of Excellence, Toronto Western Hospital, 399, Bathurst St, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Jonathan M Brotchie
- Krembil Brain Institute, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada; Atuka Inc, Suite 5600, 100 King St. W. Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1C9, Canada
| | - Naomi P Visanji
- Krembil Brain Institute, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada; Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson Disease, Parkinson Foundation Centre of Excellence, Toronto Western Hospital, 399, Bathurst St, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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3
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Hui S, George J, Kapadia M, Chau H, Bariring Z, Earnshaw R, Shafiq K, Kalia LV, Kalia SK. Mitophagy Upregulation Occurs Early in the Neurodegenerative Process Mediated by α-Synuclein. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04131-6. [PMID: 38581539 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04131-6] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurogenerative movement disorder characterized by dopaminergic cell death within the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) due to the aggregation-prone protein α-synuclein. Accumulation of α-synuclein is implicated in mitochondrial dysfunction and disruption of the autophagic turnover of mitochondria, or mitophagy, which is an essential quality control mechanism proposed to preserve mitochondrial fidelity in response to aging and stress. Yet, the precise relationship between α-synuclein accumulation, mitochondrial autophagy, and dopaminergic cell loss remains unresolved. Here, we determine the kinetics of α-synuclein overexpression and mitophagy using the pH-sensitive fluorescent mito-QC reporter. We find that overexpression of mutant A53T α-synuclein in either human SH-SY5Y cells or rat primary cortical neurons induces mitophagy. Moreover, the accumulation of mutant A53T α-synuclein in the SNpc of rats results in mitophagy dysregulation that precedes the onset of dopaminergic neurodegeneration. This study reveals a role for mutant A53T α-synuclein in inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, which may be an early event contributing to neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Hui
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jimmy George
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Minesh Kapadia
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hien Chau
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Zahn Bariring
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rebecca Earnshaw
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kashfia Shafiq
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lorraine V Kalia
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- CRANIA, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Suneil K Kalia
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- KITE, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- CRANIA, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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4
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Lee EJ, Aguirre-Padilla DH, Fomenko A, Pawar G, Kapadia M, George J, Lozano AM, Hamani C, Kalia LV, Kalia SK. Reduction of alpha-synuclein oligomers in preclinical models of Parkinson's disease by electrical stimulation in vitro and deep brain stimulation in vivo. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:166-175. [PMID: 38342364 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.02.005] [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: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been widely used to manage debilitating neurological symptoms in movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite its well-established symptomatic benefits, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying DBS and its possible effect on the accumulation of pathological proteins in neurodegeneration remains limited. Accumulation and oligomerization of the protein alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) are implicated in the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra in PD, making α-Syn a potential therapeutic target for disease modification. OBJECTIVE We examined the effects of high frequency electrical stimulation on α-Syn levels and oligomerization in cell and rodent models. METHODS High frequency stimulation, mimicking DBS parameters used for PD, was combined with viral-mediated overexpression of α-Syn in cultured rat primary cortical neurons or in substantia nigra of rats. Bimolecular protein complementation with split fluorescent protein reporters was used to detect and quantify α-Syn oligomers. RESULTS High frequency electrical stimulation reduced the expression of PD-associated mutant α-Syn and mitigated α-Syn oligomerization in cultured neurons. Furthermore, DBS in the substantia nigra, but not the subthalamic nucleus, decreased overall levels of α-Syn, including oligomer levels, in the substantia nigra. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results demonstrate that direct high frequency stimulation can reduce accumulation and pathological forms of α-Syn in cultured neurons in vitro and in substantia nigra in vivo. Thus, DBS therapy could have a role beyond symptomatic treatment, with potential disease-modifying properties that can be exploited to target pathological proteins in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Jung Lee
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - David Hernán Aguirre-Padilla
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Neuromodulation and Functional Neurosurgery Program, San Borja Arriarán Hospital, Santiago, Chile; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Medical School, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen University, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Anton Fomenko
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Grishma Pawar
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Minesh Kapadia
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jimmy George
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andres M Lozano
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; CenteR for Advancing Neurotechnological Innovation to Application (CRANIA), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Clement Hamani
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lorraine V Kalia
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Suneil K Kalia
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; CenteR for Advancing Neurotechnological Innovation to Application (CRANIA), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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5
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Lage L, Rodriguez-Perez AI, Villar-Cheda B, Labandeira-Garcia JL, Dominguez-Meijide A. Angiotensin type 1 receptor activation promotes neuronal and glial alpha-synuclein aggregation and transmission. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2024; 10:37. [PMID: 38368444 PMCID: PMC10874459 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00650-0] [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: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been related to dopaminergic degeneration, and high expression of the angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 receptor (AT1) gene is a marker of the most vulnerable neurons in humans. However, it is unknown whether AngII/AT1 overactivation affects α-synuclein aggregation and transmission. In vitro, AngII/AT1 activation increased α-synuclein aggregation in dopaminergic neurons and microglial cells, which was related to AngII-induced NADPH-oxidase activation and intracellular calcium raising. In mice, AngII/AT1 activation was involved in MPTP-induced increase in α-synuclein expression and aggregation, as they significantly decreased in mice treated with the AT1 blocker telmisartan and AT1 knockout mice. Cell co-cultures (transwells) revealed strong transmission of α-synuclein from dopaminergic neurons to astrocytes and microglia. AngII induced a higher α-synuclein uptake by microglial cells and an increase in the transfer of α-synuclein among astroglial cells. However, AngII did not increase the release of α-synuclein by neurons. The results further support brain RAS dysregulation as a major mechanism for the progression of Parkinson's disease, and AT1 inhibition and RAS modulation as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Lage
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Parkinson's disease, Research Center for Molecular Medicine and Chronic diseases (CIMUS), IDIS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ana I Rodriguez-Perez
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Parkinson's disease, Research Center for Molecular Medicine and Chronic diseases (CIMUS), IDIS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Begoña Villar-Cheda
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Parkinson's disease, Research Center for Molecular Medicine and Chronic diseases (CIMUS), IDIS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose L Labandeira-Garcia
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Parkinson's disease, Research Center for Molecular Medicine and Chronic diseases (CIMUS), IDIS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Antonio Dominguez-Meijide
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Parkinson's disease, Research Center for Molecular Medicine and Chronic diseases (CIMUS), IDIS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.
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6
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da Silva LPD, da Cruz Guedes E, Fernandes ICO, Pedroza LAL, da Silva Pereira GJ, Gubert P. Exploring Caenorhabditis elegans as Parkinson's Disease Model: Neurotoxins and Genetic Implications. Neurotox Res 2024; 42:11. [PMID: 38319410 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-024-00686-3] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world, the first being Alzheimer's disease. Patients with PD have a loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia, which controls voluntary movements, causing a motor impairment as a result of dopaminergic signaling impairment. Studies have shown that mutations in several genes, such as SNCA, PARK2, PINK1, DJ-1, ATP13A2, and LRRK2, and the exposure to neurotoxic agents can potentially increase the chances of PD development. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) plays an important role in studying the risk factors, such as genetic factors, aging, exposure to chemicals, disease progression, and drug treatments for PD. C. elegans has a conserved neurotransmission system during evolution; it produces dopamine, through the eight dopaminergic neurons; it can be used to study the effect of neurotoxins and also has strains that express human α-synuclein. Furthermore, the human PD-related genes, LRK-1, PINK-1, PDR-1, DJR-1.1, and CATP-6, are present and functional in this model. Therefore, this review focuses on highlighting and discussing the use of C. elegans an in vivo model in PD-related studies. Here, we identified that nematodes exposed to the neurotoxins, such as 6-OHDA, MPTP, paraquat, and rotenone, had a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons, dopamine deficits, and decreased survival rate. Several studies have reported that expression of human LRRK2 (G2019S) caused neurodegeneration and pink-1, pdr-1, and djr-1.1 deletion caused several effects PD-related in C. elegans, including mitochondrial dysfunctions. Of note, the deletion of catp-6 in nematodes caused behavioral dysfunction, mitochondrial damage, and reduced survival. In addition, nematodes expressing α-synuclein had neurodegeneration and dopamine-dependent deficits. Therefore, C. elegans can be considered an accurate animal model of PD that can be used to elucidate to assess the underlying mechanisms implicated in PD to find novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Pereira Dantas da Silva
- Keizo Asami Institute, iLIKA, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Moraes Rego Avenue, 1235, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Erika da Cruz Guedes
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Isabel Cristina Oliveira Fernandes
- Keizo Asami Institute, iLIKA, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Moraes Rego Avenue, 1235, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Science, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Lucas Aleixo Leal Pedroza
- Keizo Asami Institute, iLIKA, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Moraes Rego Avenue, 1235, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil
| | | | - Priscila Gubert
- Keizo Asami Institute, iLIKA, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Moraes Rego Avenue, 1235, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil.
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Science, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
- Postgraduate Program in Pure and Applied Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Bahia, Brazil.
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7
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Moore K, Sengupta U, Puangmalai N, Bhatt N, Kayed R. Polymorphic Alpha-Synuclein Oligomers: Characterization and Differential Detection with Novel Corresponding Antibodies. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:2691-2705. [PMID: 36707462 PMCID: PMC9883140 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03211-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The pathological hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases is the accumulation of characteristic proteinaceous aggregates. Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies can be characterized as synucleinopathies due to the abnormal accumulation of the protein alpha-synuclein (α-Syn). Studies have shown amyloidogenic proteins such as α-Syn and tau can exist as polymorphic aggregates, a theory widely studied mostly in their fibrillar morphology. It is now well understood that an intermediate state of aggregates, oligomers, are the most toxic species. We have shown α-Syn, when modified by different physiological inducers, result in distinct oligomeric conformations of α-Syn. Polymorphic α-Syn oligomers exhibit distinct properties such as aggregate size, conformation, and differentially interact with tau. In this study, we confirm α-Syn oligomeric polymorphs furthermore using in-house novel α-Syn toxic conformation monoclonal antibodies (SynTCs). It is unclear the biological relevance of α-Syn oligomeric polymorphisms. Utilizing a combination of biochemical, biophysical, and cell-based assays, we characterize α-Syn oligomeric polymorphs. We found α-Syn oligomeric polymorphs exhibit distinct immunoreactivity and SynTCs exhibit differential selectivity and binding affinity for α-Syn species. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments suggest distinct α-Syn:SynTC binding enthalpies in a species-specific manner. Additionally, we found SynTCs differentially reduce α-Syn oligomeric polymorph-mediated neurotoxicity and propagation in primary cortical neurons in a polymorph-specific manner. These studies demonstrate the biological significance of polymorphic α-Syn oligomers along with the importance of polymorph-specific antibodies that target toxic α-Syn aggregates. Monoclonal antibodies that can target the conformational heterogeneity of α-Syn oligomeric species and reduce their mediated toxicity have promising immunotherapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenya Moore
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Medical Research Building Room 10.138C, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA
| | - Urmi Sengupta
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Medical Research Building Room 10.138C, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA
| | - Nicha Puangmalai
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Medical Research Building Room 10.138C, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Medical Research Building Room 10.138C, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Medical Research Building Room 10.138C, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA.
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8
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Nim S, O'Hara DM, Corbi-Verge C, Perez-Riba A, Fujisawa K, Kapadia M, Chau H, Albanese F, Pawar G, De Snoo ML, Ngana SG, Kim J, El-Agnaf OMA, Rennella E, Kay LE, Kalia SK, Kalia LV, Kim PM. Disrupting the α-synuclein-ESCRT interaction with a peptide inhibitor mitigates neurodegeneration in preclinical models of Parkinson's disease. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2150. [PMID: 37076542 PMCID: PMC10115881 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37464-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of α-synuclein into toxic oligomers or fibrils is implicated in dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. Here we performed a high-throughput, proteome-wide peptide screen to identify protein-protein interaction inhibitors that reduce α-synuclein oligomer levels and their associated cytotoxicity. We find that the most potent peptide inhibitor disrupts the direct interaction between the C-terminal region of α-synuclein and CHarged Multivesicular body Protein 2B (CHMP2B), a component of the Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport-III (ESCRT-III). We show that α-synuclein impedes endolysosomal activity via this interaction, thereby inhibiting its own degradation. Conversely, the peptide inhibitor restores endolysosomal function and thereby decreases α-synuclein levels in multiple models, including female and male human cells harboring disease-causing α-synuclein mutations. Furthermore, the peptide inhibitor protects dopaminergic neurons from α-synuclein-mediated degeneration in hermaphroditic C. elegans and preclinical Parkinson's disease models using female rats. Thus, the α-synuclein-CHMP2B interaction is a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satra Nim
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Darren M O'Hara
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carles Corbi-Verge
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Albert Perez-Riba
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kazuko Fujisawa
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Minesh Kapadia
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hien Chau
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Federica Albanese
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Grishma Pawar
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mitchell L De Snoo
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sophie G Ngana
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jisun Kim
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Omar M A El-Agnaf
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Enrico Rennella
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lewis E Kay
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Suneil K Kalia
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Lorraine V Kalia
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Philip M Kim
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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9
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Gao V, Briano JA, Komer LE, Burré J. Functional and Pathological Effects of α-Synuclein on Synaptic SNARE Complexes. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167714. [PMID: 35787839 PMCID: PMC10472340 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein is an abundant protein at the neuronal synapse that has been implicated in Parkinson's disease for over 25 years and characterizes the hallmark pathology of a group of neurodegenerative diseases now known as the synucleinopathies. Physiologically, α-synuclein exists in an equilibrium between a synaptic vesicle membrane-bound α-helical multimer and a cytosolic largely unstructured monomer. Through its membrane-bound state, α-synuclein functions in neurotransmitter release by modulating several steps in the synaptic vesicle cycle, including synaptic vesicle clustering and docking, SNARE complex assembly, and homeostasis of synaptic vesicle pools. These functions have been ascribed to α-synuclein's interactions with the synaptic vesicle SNARE protein VAMP2/synaptobrevin-2, the synaptic vesicle-attached synapsins, and the synaptic vesicle membrane itself. How α-synuclein affects these processes, and whether disease is due to loss-of-function or gain-of-toxic-function of α-synuclein remains unclear. In this review, we provide an in-depth summary of the existing literature, discuss possible reasons for the discrepancies in the field, and propose a working model that reconciles the findings in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Gao
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute & Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neurology, New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Juan A Briano
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute & Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauren E Komer
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute & Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA. https://www.twitter.com/lauren_komer
| | - Jacqueline Burré
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute & Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Menon S, Armstrong S, Hamzeh A, Visanji NP, Sardi SP, Tandon A. Alpha-Synuclein Targeting Therapeutics for Parkinson's Disease and Related Synucleinopathies. Front Neurol 2022; 13:852003. [PMID: 35614915 PMCID: PMC9124903 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.852003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (asyn) is a key pathogenetic factor in a group of neurodegenerative diseases generically known as synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Although the initial triggers of pathology and progression are unclear, multiple lines of evidence support therapeutic targeting of asyn in order to limit its prion-like misfolding. Here, we review recent pre-clinical and clinical work that offers promising treatment strategies to sequester, degrade, or silence asyn expression as a means to reduce the levels of seed or substrate. These diverse approaches include removal of aggregated asyn with passive or active immunization or by expression of vectorized antibodies, modulating kinetics of misfolding with small molecule anti-aggregants, lowering asyn gene expression by antisense oligonucleotides or inhibitory RNA, and pharmacological activation of asyn degradation pathways. We also discuss recent technological advances in combining low intensity focused ultrasound with intravenous microbubbles to transiently increase blood-brain barrier permeability for improved brain delivery and target engagement of these large molecule anti-asyn biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sindhu Menon
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sabrina Armstrong
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amir Hamzeh
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Naomi P. Visanji
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Anurag Tandon
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Anurag Tandon
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Wang C, Zheng C. Using Caenorhabditis elegans to Model Therapeutic Interventions of Neurodegenerative Diseases Targeting Microbe-Host Interactions. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:875349. [PMID: 35571084 PMCID: PMC9096141 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.875349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence from both clinical studies and animal models indicates the importance of the interaction between the gut microbiome and the brain in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Although how microbes modulate neurodegeneration is still mostly unclear, recent studies have started to probe into the mechanisms for the communication between microbes and hosts in NDs. In this review, we highlight the advantages of using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to disentangle the microbe-host interaction that regulates neurodegeneration. We summarize the microbial pro- and anti-neurodegenerative factors identified using the C. elegans ND models and the effects of many are confirmed in mouse models. Specifically, we focused on the role of bacterial amyloid proteins, such as curli, in promoting proteotoxicity and neurodegeneration by cross-seeding the aggregation of endogenous ND-related proteins, such as α-synuclein. Targeting bacterial amyloid production may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for treating NDs, and several compounds, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), were shown to suppress neurodegeneration at least partly by inhibiting curli production. Because bacterial amyloid fibrils contribute to biofilm formation, inhibition of amyloid production often leads to the disruption of biofilms. Interestingly, from a list of 59 compounds that showed neuroprotective effects in C. elegans and mouse ND models, we found that about half of them are known to inhibit bacterial growth or biofilm formation, suggesting a strong correlation between the neuroprotective and antibiofilm activities. Whether these potential therapeutics indeed protect neurons from proteotoxicity by inhibiting the cross-seeding between bacterial and human amyloid proteins awaits further investigations. Finally, we propose to screen the long list of antibiofilm agents, both FDA-approved drugs and novel compounds, for their neuroprotective effects and develop new pharmaceuticals that target the gut microbiome for the treatment of NDs. To this end, the C. elegans ND models can serve as a platform for fast, high-throughput, and low-cost drug screens that target the microbe-host interaction in NDs.
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Hughes S, van Dop M, Kolsters N, van de Klashorst D, Pogosova A, Rijs AM. Using a Caenorhabditis elegans Parkinson's Disease Model to Assess Disease Progression and Therapy Efficiency. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:512. [PMID: 35631338 PMCID: PMC9143865 DOI: 10.3390/ph15050512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite Parkinson's Disease (PD) being the second most common neurodegenerative disease, treatment options are limited. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify and screen new therapeutic compounds that slow or reverse the pathology of PD. Unfortunately, few new therapeutics are being produced, partly due to the low throughput and/or poor predictability of the currently used model organisms and in vivo screening methods. Our objective was to develop a simple and affordable platform for drug screening utilizing the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The effect of Levodopa, the "Gold standard" of PD treatment, was explored in nematodes expressing the disease-causing α-synuclein protein. We focused on two key hallmarks of PD: plaque formation and mobility. Exposure to Levodopa ameliorated the mobility defect in C. elegans, similar to people living with PD who take the drug. Further, long-term Levodopa exposure was not detrimental to lifespan. This C. elegans-based method was used to screen a selection of small-molecule drugs for an impact on α-synuclein aggregation and mobility, identifying several promising compounds worthy of further investigation, most notably Ambroxol. The simple methodology means it can be adopted in many labs to pre-screen candidate compounds for a positive impact on disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Hughes
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
- A-LIFE Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Section Environmental Health and Toxicology, Vrije Univeristeit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maritza van Dop
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - Nikki Kolsters
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - David van de Klashorst
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - Anastasia Pogosova
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - Anouk M. Rijs
- Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, AIMMS Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Univeristeit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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