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Takahashi H, Bhagwagar S, Nies SH, Ye H, Han X, Chiasseu MT, Wang G, Mackenzie IR, Strittmatter SM. Reduced progranulin increases tau and α-synuclein inclusions and alters mouse tauopathy phenotypes via glucocerebrosidase. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1434. [PMID: 38365772 PMCID: PMC10873339 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45692-3] [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: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Comorbid proteinopathies are observed in many neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD), increase with age, and influence clinical outcomes, yet the mechanisms remain ill-defined. Here, we show that reduction of progranulin (PGRN), a lysosomal protein associated with TDP-43 proteinopathy, also increases tau inclusions, causes concomitant accumulation of α-synuclein and worsens mortality and disinhibited behaviors in tauopathy mice. The increased inclusions paradoxically protect against spatial memory deficit and hippocampal neurodegeneration. PGRN reduction in male tauopathy attenuates activity of β-glucocerebrosidase (GCase), a protein previously associated with synucleinopathy, while increasing glucosylceramide (GlcCer)-positive tau inclusions. In neuronal culture, GCase inhibition enhances tau aggregation induced by AD-tau. Furthermore, purified GlcCer directly promotes tau aggregation in vitro. Neurofibrillary tangles in human tauopathies are also GlcCer-immunoreactive. Thus, in addition to TDP-43, PGRN regulates tau- and synucleinopathies via GCase and GlcCer. A lysosomal PGRN-GCase pathway may be a common therapeutic target for age-related comorbid proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideyuki Takahashi
- Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Repair, Departments of Neurology and of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06536, USA
| | - Sanaea Bhagwagar
- Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Repair, Departments of Neurology and of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06536, USA
- College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sarah H Nies
- Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Repair, Departments of Neurology and of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06536, USA
- Graduate School of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, D-72074, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hongping Ye
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Xianlin Han
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Marius T Chiasseu
- Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Repair, Departments of Neurology and of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06536, USA
| | - Guilin Wang
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Ian R Mackenzie
- Department of Pathology, University of British Columbia and Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stephen M Strittmatter
- Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Repair, Departments of Neurology and of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06536, USA.
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Menéndez-González M, García-Martínez A, Fernández-Vega I, Pitiot A, Álvarez V. A variant in GRN of Spanish origin presenting with heterogeneous phenotypes. Neurologia 2022:S2173-5808(22)00112-2. [PMID: 36216226 DOI: 10.1016/j.nrleng.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The variant c.1414-1G>T in the GRN gene has previously been reported as probably pathogenic in subjects of Hispanic origin in the American continent. METHODS We report 5 families of Spanish origin carrying this variant, including the clinical, neuroimaging, and laboratory findings. RESULTS Phenotypes were strikingly different, including cases presenting with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, semantic variant primary progressive aphasia, rapidly progressive motor neuron disease (pathologically documented), and tremor-dominant parkinsonism. Retinal degeneration has been found in homozygous carriers only. Ex vivo splicing assays confirmed that the mutation c.1414-1G>T affects the splicing of the exon, causing a loss of 20 amino acids in exon 11. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that variant c.1414-1G>T of the GRN gene is pathogenic, can lead to a variety of clinical presentations and to gene dosage effect, and probably has a Spanish founder effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Menéndez-González
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Spain; Department of Medicine, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain.
| | - A García-Martínez
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Spain
| | - I Fernández-Vega
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Spain; Department of Pathology Anatomy, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Spain; Department of Surgery, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain
| | - A Pitiot
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Spain
| | - V Álvarez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Spain; Laboratory of Genetics, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Spain
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Agrawal S, Jain M, Yang WZ, Yuan HS. Frontotemporal dementia-linked P112H mutation of TDP-43 induces protein structural change and impairs its RNA binding function. Protein Sci 2020; 30:350-365. [PMID: 33151007 PMCID: PMC7784771 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
TDP‐43 forms the primary constituents of the cytoplasmic inclusions contributing to various neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Over 60 TDP‐43 mutations have been identified in patients suffering from these two diseases, but most variations are located in the protein's disordered C‐terminal glycine‐rich region. P112H mutation of TDP‐43 has been uniquely linked to FTD, and is located in the first RNA recognition motif (RRM1). This mutation is thought to be pathogenic, but its impact on TDP‐43 at the protein level remains unclear. Here, we compare the biochemical and biophysical properties of TDP‐43 truncated proteins with or without P112H mutation. We show that P112H‐mutated TDP‐43 proteins exhibit higher thermal stability, impaired RNA‐binding activity, and a reduced tendency to aggregate relative to wild‐type proteins. Near‐UV CD, 2D‐nuclear‐magnetic resonance, and intrinsic fluorescence spectrometry further reveal that the P112H mutation in RRM1 generates local conformational changes surrounding the mutational site that disrupt the stacking interactions of the W113 side chain with nucleic acids. Together, these results support the notion that P112H mutation of TDP‐43 contributes to FTD through functional impairment of RNA metabolism and/or structural changes that curtail protein clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sashank Agrawal
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Molecular and Cell Biology, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Monika Jain
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Molecular and Cell Biology, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Zen Yang
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hanna S Yuan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Molecular and Cell Biology, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
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Are comorbidities compatible with a molecular pathological classification of neurodegenerative diseases? Curr Opin Neurol 2020; 32:279-291. [PMID: 30672825 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000000664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to provide an update on comorbidities in neurodegenerative conditions. The term comorbidity is used here to distinguish cases with overlapping pathogenic mechanisms, which includes combinations of neurodegenerative proteinopathies from cases with multimorbidity, which is defined as concomitant brain and systemic disorders with different pathogenic mechanisms. RECENT FINDINGS Comorbid proteinopathies are more frequent in both sporadic and hereditary neurodegenerative diseases than previously assumed. The most frequent additional proteinopathies are related to Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disorder, and limbic predominant transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 proteinopathy, however, different forms of tau pathologies are also increasingly recognized. In addition to ageing, synergistic interaction of proteins, common disease pathways, and the influence of genetic variations are discussed as possible pathogenic players. SUMMARY Comorbid proteinopathies might influence the clinical course and have implications for biomarker and therapeutic development. As pure forms of proteinopathies are still observed, the notion of current molecular classification is justified. This corroborates elucidation of various pathogenic pathways leading to neurodegeneration. Assuming that single proteins and associated pathways are targeted in therapy trials, efforts are needed to better stratify patients and to select pure proteinopathy forms lacking unfavorable genetic constellations. Otherwise combined therapeutic strategies might be necessary for comorbid proteinopathies.
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Vandal SE, Zheng X, Ahmad ST. Molecular Genetics of Frontotemporal Dementia Elucidated by Drosophila Models-Defects in Endosomal⁻Lysosomal Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19061714. [PMID: 29890743 PMCID: PMC6032313 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19061714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common senile neurodegenerative disease. FTD is a heterogeneous disease that can be classified into several subtypes. A mutation in CHMP2B locus (CHMP2Bintron5), which encodes a component of endosomal sorting complex required for transport-III (ESCRT-III), is associated with a rare hereditary subtype of FTD linked to chromosome 3 (FTD-3). ESCRT is involved in critical cellular processes such as multivesicular body (MVB) formation during endosomal–lysosomal pathway and autophagy. ESCRT mutants causes diverse physiological defects primarily due to accumulation of endosomes and defective MVBs resulting in misregulation of signaling pathways. Charged multivesicular body protein 2B (CHMP2B) is important for neuronal physiology which especially rely on precise regulation of protein homeostasis due to their post-mitotic status. Drosophila has proven to be an excellent model for charaterization of mechanistic underpinning of neurodegenerative disorders including FTD. In this review, current understanding of various FTD-related mutations is discussed with a focus on Drosophila models of CHMP2Bintron5-associated FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Vandal
- Department of Biology, Colby College, 5720 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA.
| | - Xiaoyue Zheng
- Department of Biology, Colby College, 5720 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA.
| | - S Tariq Ahmad
- Department of Biology, Colby College, 5720 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA.
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Clinical variability and onset age modifiers in an extended Belgian GRN founder family. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 67:84-94. [PMID: 29653316 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported a granulin (GRN) null mutation, originating from a common founder, in multiple Belgian families with frontotemporal dementia. Here, we used data of a 10-year follow-up study to describe in detail the clinical heterogeneity observed in this extended founder pedigree. We identified 85 patients and 40 unaffected mutation carriers, belonging to 29 branches of the founder pedigree. Most patients (74.4%) were diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, while others had a clinical diagnosis of unspecified dementia, Alzheimer's dementia or Parkinson's disease. The observed clinical heterogeneity can guide clinical diagnosis, genetic testing, and counseling of mutation carriers. Onset of initial symptomatology is highly variable, ranging from age 45 to 80 years. Analysis of known modifiers, suggested effects of GRN rs5848, microtubule-associated protein tau H1/H2, and chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 G4C2 repeat length on onset age but explained only a minor fraction of the variability. Contrary, the extended GRN founder family is a valuable source for identifying other onset age modifiers based on exome or genome sequences. These modifiers might be interesting targets for developing disease-modifying therapies.
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