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Mishra PS, Phaneuf D, Boutej H, Picher-Martel V, Dupre N, Kriz J, Julien JP. Inhibition of NF-κB with an Analog of Withaferin-A Restores TDP-43 Homeostasis and Proteome Profiles in a Model of Sporadic ALS. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1017. [PMID: 38790979 PMCID: PMC11118033 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12051017] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The current knowledge on pathogenic mechanisms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has widely been derived from studies with cell and animal models bearing ALS-linked genetic mutations. However, it remains unclear to what extent these disease models are of relevance to sporadic ALS. Few years ago, we reported that the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from sporadic ALS patients contains toxic factors for disease transmission in mice via chronic intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion. Thus a 14-day i.c.v. infusion of pooled CSF samples from ALS cases in mice provoked motor impairment as well as ALS-like pathological features. This offers a unique paradigm to test therapeutics in the context of sporadic ALS disease. Here, we tested a new Withaferin-A analog (IMS-088) inhibitor of NF-κB that was found recently to mitigate disease phenotypes in mouse models of familial disease expressing TDP-43 mutant. Our results show that oral intake of IMS-088 ameliorated motor performance of mice infused with ALS-CSF and it alleviated pathological changes including TDP-43 proteinopathy, neurofilament disorganization, and neuroinflammation. Moreover, CSF infusion experiments were carried out with transgenic mice having neuronal expression of tagged ribosomal protein (hNfL-RFP mice), which allowed immunoprecipitation of neuronal ribosomes for analysis by mass spectrometry of the translational peptide signatures. The results indicate that treatment with IMS-088 prevented many proteomic alterations associated with exposure to ALS-CSF involving pathways related to cytoskeletal changes, inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, mitochondria, UPS, and autophagy dysfunction. The effective disease-modifying effects of this drug in a mouse model based on i.c.v. infusion of ALS-CSF suggest that the NF-κB signaling pathway represents a compelling therapeutic target for sporadic ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Shree Mishra
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, Quebec, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (P.S.M.); (D.P.); (H.B.); (J.K.)
| | - Daniel Phaneuf
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, Quebec, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (P.S.M.); (D.P.); (H.B.); (J.K.)
| | - Hejer Boutej
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, Quebec, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (P.S.M.); (D.P.); (H.B.); (J.K.)
| | - Vincent Picher-Martel
- Division of Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Laval University, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (V.P.-M.); (N.D.)
| | - Nicolas Dupre
- Division of Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Laval University, Quebec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (V.P.-M.); (N.D.)
| | - Jasna Kriz
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, Quebec, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (P.S.M.); (D.P.); (H.B.); (J.K.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, Quebec, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (P.S.M.); (D.P.); (H.B.); (J.K.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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Pan MT, Zhang H, Li XJ, Guo XY. Genetically modified non-human primate models for research on neurodegenerative diseases. Zool Res 2024; 45:263-274. [PMID: 38287907 PMCID: PMC11017080 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a group of debilitating neurological disorders that primarily affect elderly populations and include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Currently, there are no therapies available that can delay, stop, or reverse the pathological progression of NDs in clinical settings. As the population ages, NDs are imposing a huge burden on public health systems and affected families. Animal models are important tools for preclinical investigations to understand disease pathogenesis and test potential treatments. While numerous rodent models of NDs have been developed to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms, the limited success of translating findings from animal models to clinical practice suggests that there is still a need to bridge this translation gap. Old World non-human primates (NHPs), such as rhesus, cynomolgus, and vervet monkeys, are phylogenetically, physiologically, biochemically, and behaviorally most relevant to humans. This is particularly evident in the similarity of the structure and function of their central nervous systems, rendering such species uniquely valuable for neuroscience research. Recently, the development of several genetically modified NHP models of NDs has successfully recapitulated key pathologies and revealed novel mechanisms. This review focuses on the efficacy of NHPs in modeling NDs and the novel pathological insights gained, as well as the challenges associated with the generation of such models and the complexities involved in their subsequent analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Tian Pan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Guo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China. E-mail:
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Lépine S, Nauleau-Javaudin A, Deneault E, Chen CXQ, Abdian N, Franco-Flores AK, Haghi G, Castellanos-Montiel MJ, Maussion G, Chaineau M, Durcan TM. Homozygous ALS-linked mutations in TARDBP/TDP-43 lead to hypoactivity and synaptic abnormalities in human iPSC-derived motor neurons. iScience 2024; 27:109166. [PMID: 38433895 PMCID: PMC10905001 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43 is a pathological hallmark of the motor neuron (MN) disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Furthermore, while mutations in TARDBP (encoding TDP-43) have been associated with ALS, the pathogenic consequences of these mutations remain poorly understood. Using CRISPR-Cas9, we engineered two homozygous knock-in induced pluripotent stem cell lines carrying mutations in TARDBP encoding TDP-43A382T and TDP-43G348C, two common yet understudied ALS TDP-43 variants. Motor neurons (MNs) differentiated from knock-in iPSCs had normal viability and displayed no significant changes in TDP-43 subcellular localization, phosphorylation, solubility, or aggregation compared with isogenic control MNs. However, our results highlight synaptic impairments in both TDP-43A382T and TDP-43G348C MN cultures, as reflected in synapse abnormalities and alterations in spontaneous neuronal activity. Collectively, our findings suggest that MN dysfunction may precede the occurrence of TDP-43 pathology and neurodegeneration in ALS and further implicate synaptic and excitability defects in the pathobiology of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Lépine
- Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), The Neuro-Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 2M1, Canada
| | - Angela Nauleau-Javaudin
- Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), The Neuro-Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Eric Deneault
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research; Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Carol X.-Q. Chen
- Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), The Neuro-Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Narges Abdian
- Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), The Neuro-Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Anna Krystina Franco-Flores
- Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), The Neuro-Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Ghazal Haghi
- Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), The Neuro-Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - María José Castellanos-Montiel
- Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), The Neuro-Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Gilles Maussion
- Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), The Neuro-Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Mathilde Chaineau
- Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), The Neuro-Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Thomas Martin Durcan
- Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), The Neuro-Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
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San Gil R, Pascovici D, Venturato J, Brown-Wright H, Mehta P, Madrid San Martin L, Wu J, Luan W, Chui YK, Bademosi AT, Swaminathan S, Naidoo S, Berning BA, Wright AL, Keating SS, Curtis MA, Faull RLM, Lee JD, Ngo ST, Lee A, Morsch M, Chung RS, Scotter E, Lisowski L, Mirzaei M, Walker AK. A transient protein folding response targets aggregation in the early phase of TDP-43-mediated neurodegeneration. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1508. [PMID: 38374041 PMCID: PMC10876645 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45646-9] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms that drive TDP-43 pathology is integral to combating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Here we generated a longitudinal quantitative proteomic map of the cortex from the cytoplasmic TDP-43 rNLS8 mouse model of ALS and FTLD, and developed a complementary open-access webtool, TDP-map ( https://shiny.rcc.uq.edu.au/TDP-map/ ). We identified distinct protein subsets enriched for diverse biological pathways with temporal alterations in protein abundance, including increases in protein folding factors prior to disease onset. This included increased levels of DnaJ homolog subfamily B member 5, DNAJB5, which also co-localized with TDP-43 pathology in diseased human motor cortex. DNAJB5 over-expression decreased TDP-43 aggregation in cell and cortical neuron cultures, and knockout of Dnajb5 exacerbated motor impairments caused by AAV-mediated cytoplasmic TDP-43 expression in mice. Together, these findings reveal molecular mechanisms at distinct stages of ALS and FTLD progression and suggest that protein folding factors could be protective in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca San Gil
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Dana Pascovici
- Insight Stats, Croydon Park, NSW, Australia
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Juliana Venturato
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Heledd Brown-Wright
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Prachi Mehta
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lidia Madrid San Martin
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jemma Wu
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Wei Luan
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Yi Kit Chui
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Adekunle T Bademosi
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Shilpa Swaminathan
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Serey Naidoo
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Britt A Berning
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Amanda L Wright
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sean S Keating
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Maurice A Curtis
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard L M Faull
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - John D Lee
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Shyuan T Ngo
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Albert Lee
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Marco Morsch
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Roger S Chung
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Emma Scotter
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Vector and Genome Engineering Facility, Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, NSW, Australia
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine - National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Adam K Walker
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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5
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Zhu L, Deng F, Bai D, Hou J, Jia Q, Zhang C, Ou K, Li S, Li XJ, Yin P. Loss of TDP-43 mediates severe neurotoxicity by suppressing PJA1 gene transcription in the monkey brain. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:16. [PMID: 38194085 PMCID: PMC11072099 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05066-2] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The nuclear loss and cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP-43 (TAR DNA/RNA binding protein 43) are pathological hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Previously, we reported that the primate-specific cleavage of TDP-43 accounts for its cytoplasmic mislocalization in patients' brains. This prompted us to investigate further whether and how the loss of nuclear TDP-43 mediates neuropathology in primate brain. In this study, we report that TDP-43 knockdown at the similar effectiveness, induces more damage to neuronal cells in the monkey brain than rodent mouse. Importantly, the loss of TDP-43 suppresses the E3 ubiquitin ligase PJA1 expression in the monkey brain at transcriptional level, but yields an opposite upregulation of PJA1 in the mouse brain. This distinct effect is due to the species-dependent binding of nuclear TDP-43 to the unique promoter sequences of the PJA1 genes. Further analyses reveal that the reduction of PJA1 accelerates neurotoxicity, whereas overexpressing PJA1 diminishes neuronal cell death by the TDP-43 knockdown in vivo. Our findings not only uncover a novel primate-specific neurotoxic contribution to the loss of function theory of TDP-43 proteinopathy, but also underscore a potential therapeutic approach of PJA1 to the loss of nuclear TDP-43.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longhong Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Fuyu Deng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Dazhang Bai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China
- Institute of Neurological Diseases, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China
| | - Junqi Hou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Qingqing Jia
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Kaili Ou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Peng Yin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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Zhu L, Li S, Li XJ, Yin P. Pathological insights from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis animal models: comparisons, limitations, and challenges. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:46. [PMID: 37730668 PMCID: PMC10510301 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00377-7] [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: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to dissect amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a multigenic, multifactorial, and progressive neurodegenerative disease with heterogeneous clinical presentations, researchers have generated numerous animal models to mimic the genetic defects. Concurrent and comparative analysis of these various models allows identification of the causes and mechanisms of ALS in order to finally obtain effective therapeutics. However, most genetically modified rodent models lack overt pathological features, imposing challenges and limitations in utilizing them to rigorously test the potential mechanisms. Recent studies using large animals, including pigs and non-human primates, have uncovered important events that resemble neurodegeneration in patients' brains but could not be produced in small animals. Here we describe common features as well as discrepancies among these models, highlighting new insights from these models. Furthermore, we will discuss how to make rodent models more capable of recapitulating important pathological features based on the important pathogenic insights from large animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longhong Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Peng Yin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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Lépine S, Castellanos-Montiel MJ, Durcan TM. TDP-43 dysregulation and neuromuscular junction disruption in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Transl Neurodegener 2022; 11:56. [PMID: 36575535 PMCID: PMC9793560 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00331-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease characterized by upper and lower motor neuron (MN) loss with a signature feature of cytoplasmic aggregates containing TDP-43, which are detected in nearly all patients. Mutations in the gene that encodes TDP-43 (TARBDP) are known to result in both familial and sporadic ALS. In ALS, disruption of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) constitutes a critical event in disease pathogenesis, leading to denervation atrophy, motor impairments and disability. Morphological defects and impaired synaptic transmission at NMJs have been reported in several TDP-43 animal models and in vitro, linking TDP-43 dysregulation to the loss of NMJ integrity in ALS. Through the lens of the dying-back and dying-forward hypotheses of ALS, this review discusses the roles of TDP-43 related to synaptic function, with a focus on the potential molecular mechanisms occurring within MNs, skeletal muscles and glial cells that may contribute to NMJ disruption in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Lépine
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4 Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, 3605 De La Montagne, Montreal, QC H3G 2M1 Canada
| | - Maria José Castellanos-Montiel
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4 Canada
| | - Thomas Martin Durcan
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4 Canada
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8
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Yin P, Bai D, Deng F, Zhang C, Jia Q, Zhu L, Chen L, Li B, Guo X, Ye J, Tan Z, Wang L, Li S, Li XJ. SQSTM1-mediated clearance of cytoplasmic mutant TARDBP/TDP-43 in the monkey brain. Autophagy 2022; 18:1955-1968. [PMID: 34936539 PMCID: PMC9466617 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2021.2013653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The cytoplasmic accumulation and aggregates of TARDBP/TDP-43 (TAR DNA binding protein) are a pathological hallmark in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. We previously reported that the primate specific cleavage of TARDBP accounts for its cytoplasmic mislocalization in the primate brains, prompting us to further investigate how the cytoplasmic TARDBP mediates neuropathology. Here we reported that cytoplasmic mutant TARDBP reduced SQSTM1 expression selectively in the monkey brain, when compared with the mouse brain, by inducing SQSTM1 mRNA instability via its binding to the unique 3'UTR sequence (GU/UG)n of the primate SQSTM1 transcript. Overexpression of SQSTM1 could diminish the cytoplasmic C-terminal TARDBP accumulation in the monkey brain by augmenting macroautophagy/autophagy activity. Our findings provide additional clues for the pathogenesis of cytoplasmic TARDBP and a potential therapy for mutant TARDBP-mediated neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of Cns Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dazhang Bai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of Cns Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fuyu Deng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of Cns Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of Cns Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingqing Jia
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of Cns Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Longhong Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of Cns Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Laiqiang Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of Cns Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of Cns Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangyu Guo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of Cns Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianmeng Ye
- Guangdong Landao Biotechnology Co. Ltd, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiqiang Tan
- Department of Medical Imaging, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of Cns Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of Cns Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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9
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New pathogenic insights from large animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Protein Cell 2022; 13:707-720. [PMID: 35334073 PMCID: PMC9233730 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-022-00912-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models are essential for investigating the pathogenesis and developing the treatment of human diseases. Identification of genetic mutations responsible for neurodegenerative diseases has enabled the creation of a large number of small animal models that mimic genetic defects found in the affected individuals. Of the current animal models, rodents with genetic modifications are the most commonly used animal models and provided important insights into pathogenesis. However, most of genetically modified rodent models lack overt neurodegeneration, imposing challenges and obstacles in utilizing them to rigorously test the therapeutic effects on neurodegeneration. Recent studies that used CRISPR/Cas9-targeted large animal (pigs and monkeys) have uncovered important pathological events that resemble neurodegeneration in the patient’s brain but could not be produced in small animal models. Here we highlight the unique nature of large animals to model neurodegenerative diseases as well as the limitations and challenges in establishing large animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, with focus on Huntington disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson diseases. We also discuss how to use the important pathogenic insights from large animal models to make rodent models more capable of recapitulating important pathological features of neurodegenerative diseases.
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10
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Loss of mouse Stmn2 function causes motor neuropathy. Neuron 2022; 110:1671-1688.e6. [PMID: 35294901 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by motor neuron degeneration accompanied by aberrant accumulation and loss of function of the RNA-binding protein TDP43. Thus far, it remains unresolved to what extent TDP43 loss of function directly contributes to motor system dysfunction. Here, we employed gene editing to find whether the mouse ortholog of the TDP43-regulated gene STMN2 has an important function in maintaining the motor system. Both mosaic founders and homozygous loss-of-function Stmn2 mice exhibited neuromuscular junction denervation and fragmentation, resulting in muscle atrophy and impaired motor behavior, accompanied by an imbalance in neuronal microtubule dynamics in the spinal cord. The introduction of human STMN2 through BAC transgenesis was sufficient to rescue the motor phenotypes observed in Stmn2 mutant mice. Collectively, our results demonstrate that disrupting the ortholog of a single TDP43-regulated RNA is sufficient to cause substantial motor dysfunction, indicating that disruption of TDP43 function is likely a contributor to ALS.
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11
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Yang C, Qiao T, Yu J, Wang H, Guo Y, Salameh J, Metterville J, Parsi S, Yusuf I, Brown RH, Cai H, Xu Z. Low-level overexpression of wild type TDP-43 causes late-onset, progressive neurodegeneration and paralysis in mice. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0255710. [PMID: 35113871 PMCID: PMC8812852 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Modestly increased expression of transactive response DNA binding protein (TDP-43) gene have been reported in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and other neuromuscular diseases. However, whether this modest elevation triggers neurodegeneration is not known. Although high levels of TDP-43 overexpression have been modeled in mice and shown to cause early death, models with low-level overexpression that mimic the human condition have not been established. In this study, transgenic mice overexpressing wild type TDP-43 at less than 60% above the endogenous CNS levels were constructed, and their phenotypes analyzed by a variety of techniques, including biochemical, molecular, histological, behavioral techniques and electromyography. The TDP-43 transgene was expressed in neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in the cortex and predominantly in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the spinal cord. The mice developed a reproducible progressive weakness ending in paralysis in mid-life. Detailed analysis showed ~30% loss of large pyramidal neurons in the layer V motor cortex; in the spinal cord, severe demyelination was accompanied by oligodendrocyte injury, protein aggregation, astrogliosis and microgliosis, and elevation of neuroinflammation. Surprisingly, there was no loss of lower motor neurons in the lumbar spinal cord despite the complete paralysis of the hindlimbs. However, denervation was detected at the neuromuscular junction. These results demonstrate that low-level TDP-43 overexpression can cause diverse aspects of ALS, including late-onset and progressive motor dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. Our findings suggest that persistent modest elevations in TDP-43 expression can lead to ALS and other neurological disorders involving TDP-43 proteinopathy. Because of the predictable and progressive clinical paralytic phenotype, this transgenic mouse model will be useful in preclinical trial of therapeutics targeting neurological disorders associated with elevated levels of TDP-43.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxing Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Tao Qiao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jia Yu
- Transgenics Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Hongyan Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Yansu Guo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Johnny Salameh
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jake Metterville
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sepideh Parsi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Issa Yusuf
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- RNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Neuroscience Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Huaibin Cai
- Transgenics Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Zuoshang Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- RNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Neuroscience Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
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12
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Jutzi D, Ruepp MD. Alternative Splicing in Human Biology and Disease. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2537:1-19. [PMID: 35895255 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2521-7_1] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Alternative pre-mRNA splicing allows for the production of multiple mRNAs from an individual gene, which not only expands the protein-coding potential of the genome but also enables complex mechanisms for the post-transcriptional control of gene expression. Regulation of alternative splicing entails a combinatorial interplay between an abundance of trans-acting splicing factors, cis-acting regulatory sequence elements and their concerted effects on the core splicing machinery. Given the extent and biological significance of alternative splicing in humans, it is not surprising that aberrant splicing patterns can cause or contribute to a wide range of diseases. In this introductory chapter, we outline the mechanisms that govern alternative pre-mRNA splicing and its regulation and discuss how dysregulated splicing contributes to human diseases affecting the motor system and the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Jutzi
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK.
| | - Marc-David Ruepp
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK.
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13
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Jiang L, Zhang T, Lu K, Qi S. The progress in C9orf72 research: ALS/FTD pathogenesis, functions and structure. Small GTPases 2022; 13:56-76. [PMID: 33663328 PMCID: PMC9707547 DOI: 10.1080/21541248.2021.1892443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The hexanucleotide repeat (GGGGCC) expansion in C9orf72 is accounted for a large proportion of the genetic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The hypotheses of how the massive G4C2 repeats in C9orf72 destroy the neurons and lead to ALS/FTD are raised and improving. As a multirole player, C9orf72 exerts critical roles in many cellular processes, including autophagy, membrane trafficking, immune response, and so on. Notably, the partners of C9orf72, through which C9orf72 participates in the cell activities, have been identified. Notably, the structures of the C9orf72-SMCR8-WDR41 complex shed light on its activity as GTPase activating proteins (GAP). In this manuscript, we reviewed the latest research progress in the C9orf72-mediated ALS/FTD, the physiological functions of C9orf72, and the putative function models of C9orf72/C9orf72-containing complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Jiang
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tizhong Zhang
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kefeng Lu
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shiqian Qi
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,CONTACT Shiqian Qi Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
These authors contributed equally to this work.
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14
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Yang W, Chen X, Li S, Li XJ. Genetically modified large animal models for investigating neurodegenerative diseases. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:218. [PMID: 34933675 PMCID: PMC8690884 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00729-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases represent a large group of neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease. Although this group of diseases show heterogeneous clinical and pathological phenotypes, they share important pathological features characterized by the age-dependent and progressive degeneration of nerve cells that is caused by the accumulation of misfolded proteins. The association of genetic mutations with neurodegeneration diseases has enabled the establishment of various types of animal models that mimic genetic defects and have provided important insights into the pathogenesis. However, most of genetically modified rodent models lack the overt and selective neurodegeneration seen in the patient brains, making it difficult to use the small animal models to validate the effective treatment on neurodegeneration. Recent studies of pig and monkey models suggest that large animals can more faithfully recapitulate pathological features of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss the important differences in animal models for modeling pathological features of neurodegenerative diseases, aiming to assist the use of animal models to better understand the pathogenesis and to develop effective therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weili Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Xiusheng Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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15
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Bonifacino T, Zerbo RA, Balbi M, Torazza C, Frumento G, Fedele E, Bonanno G, Milanese M. Nearly 30 Years of Animal Models to Study Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Historical Overview and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212236. [PMID: 34830115 PMCID: PMC8619465 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, multigenic, multifactorial, and non-cell autonomous neurodegenerative disease characterized by upper and lower motor neuron loss. Several genetic mutations lead to ALS development and many emerging gene mutations have been discovered in recent years. Over the decades since 1990, several animal models have been generated to study ALS pathology including both vertebrates and invertebrates such as yeast, worms, flies, zebrafish, mice, rats, guinea pigs, dogs, and non-human primates. Although these models show different peculiarities, they are all useful and complementary to dissect the pathological mechanisms at the basis of motor neuron degeneration and ALS progression, thus contributing to the development of new promising therapeutics. In this review, we describe the up to date and available ALS genetic animal models, classified by the different genetic mutations and divided per species, pointing out their features in modeling, the onset and progression of the pathology, as well as their specific pathological hallmarks. Moreover, we highlight similarities, differences, advantages, and limitations, aimed at helping the researcher to select the most appropriate experimental animal model, when designing a preclinical ALS study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Bonifacino
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberta Arianna Zerbo
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Matilde Balbi
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Carola Torazza
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Giulia Frumento
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Ernesto Fedele
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Milanese
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Genoa, Italy
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16
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Jiménez-Villegas J, Ferraiuolo L, Mead RJ, Shaw PJ, Cuadrado A, Rojo AI. NRF2 as a therapeutic opportunity to impact in the molecular roadmap of ALS. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 173:125-141. [PMID: 34314817 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating heterogeneous disease with still no convincing therapy. To identify the most strategically significant hallmarks for therapeutic intervention, we have performed a comprehensive transcriptomics analysis of dysregulated pathways, comparing datasets from ALS patients and healthy donors. We have identified crucial alterations in RNA metabolism, intracellular transport, vascular system, redox homeostasis, proteostasis and inflammatory responses. Interestingly, the transcription factor NRF2 (nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) has significant effects in modulating these pathways. NRF2 has been classically considered as the master regulator of the antioxidant cellular response, although it is currently considered as a key component of the transduction machinery to maintain coordinated control of protein quality, inflammation, and redox homeostasis. Herein, we will summarize the data from NRF2 activators in ALS pre-clinical models as well as those that are being studied in clinical trials. As we will discuss, NRF2 is a promising target to build a coordinated transcriptional response to motor neuron injury, highlighting its therapeutic potential to combat ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Jiménez-Villegas
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols" (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - L Ferraiuolo
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - R J Mead
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - P J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - A Cuadrado
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols" (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - A I Rojo
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols" (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.
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17
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Blood-spinal cord barrier leakage is independent of motor neuron pathology in ALS. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:144. [PMID: 34446086 PMCID: PMC8393479 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01244-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease involving progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. The pattern of lower motor neuron loss along the spinal cord follows the pattern of deposition of phosphorylated TDP-43 aggregates. The blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) restricts entry into the spinal cord parenchyma of blood components that can promote motor neuron degeneration, but in ALS there is evidence for barrier breakdown. Here we sought to quantify BSCB breakdown along the spinal cord axis, to determine whether BSCB breakdown displays the same patterning as motor neuron loss and TDP-43 proteinopathy. Cerebrospinal fluid hemoglobin was measured in living ALS patients (n = 87 control, n = 236 ALS) as a potential biomarker of BSCB and blood–brain barrier leakage. Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar post-mortem spinal cord tissue (n = 5 control, n = 13 ALS) were then immunolabelled and semi-automated imaging and analysis performed to quantify hemoglobin leakage, lower motor neuron loss, and phosphorylated TDP-43 inclusion load. Hemoglobin leakage was observed along the whole ALS spinal cord axis and was most severe in the dorsal gray and white matter in the thoracic spinal cord. In contrast, motor neuron loss and TDP-43 proteinopathy were seen at all three levels of the ALS spinal cord, with most abundant TDP-43 deposition in the anterior gray matter of the cervical and lumbar cord. Our data show that leakage of the BSCB occurs during life, but at end-stage disease the regions with most severe BSCB damage are not those where TDP-43 accumulation is most abundant. This suggests BSCB leakage and TDP-43 pathology are independent pathologies in ALS.
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18
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Extensive phenotypic characterisation of a human TDP-43 Q331K transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Sci Rep 2021; 11:16659. [PMID: 34404845 PMCID: PMC8370970 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96122-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of preclinical studies in ALS have relied on transgenic models with overexpression of mutant human superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), widely regarded to have failed in terms of translation of therapeutic effects. However, there are still no widely accepted models of other genetic subtypes of ALS. The majority of patients show ubiquitinated cytoplasmic inclusions of TAR DNA binding protein of 43 kilodaltons (TDP-43) in spinal motor neurons at the end stage of disease and a small proportion have mutations in TARDBP, the gene encoding TDP-43. TDP-43 transgenic mouse models have been produced, but have not been widely adopted. Here, we characterised one of these models available from the Jackson Laboratory in detail. Compared to TDP-43WT mice, TDP-43Q331K mice had 43% less hindlimb muscle mass at 6 months and a 73% reduction in hindlimb compound muscle action potential at 8 months of age. Rotarod and gait analysis indicated motor system decline with elevated weight gain. At the molecular level, the lack of TDP-43 cellular pathology was confirmed with a surprising increase in nuclear TDP-43 in motor neurons. Power analysis indicated group sizes of 12–14 mice are needed to detect 10–20% changes in measured parameters with a power of 80%, providing valid readouts for preclinical testing. Overall, this model may represent a useful component of multi-model pre-clinical therapeutic studies for ALS.
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19
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Pereira JD, DuBreuil DM, Devlin AC, Held A, Sapir Y, Berezovski E, Hawrot J, Dorfman K, Chander V, Wainger BJ. Human sensorimotor organoids derived from healthy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis stem cells form neuromuscular junctions. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4744. [PMID: 34362895 PMCID: PMC8346474 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24776-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) hold promise for modeling diseases in individual human genetic backgrounds and thus for developing precision medicine. Here, we generate sensorimotor organoids containing physiologically functional neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and apply the model to different subgroups of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Using a range of molecular, genomic, and physiological techniques, we identify and characterize motor neurons and skeletal muscle, along with sensory neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and vasculature. Organoid cultures derived from multiple human iPSC lines generated from individuals with ALS and isogenic lines edited to harbor familial ALS mutations show impairment at the level of the NMJ, as detected by both contraction and immunocytochemical measurements. The physiological resolution of the human NMJ synapse, combined with the generation of major cellular cohorts exerting autonomous and non-cell autonomous effects in motor and sensory diseases, may prove valuable to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- João D Pereira
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel M DuBreuil
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna-Claire Devlin
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aaron Held
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yechiam Sapir
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eugene Berezovski
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James Hawrot
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine Dorfman
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vignesh Chander
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian J Wainger
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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20
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Alhindi A, Boehm I, Chaytow H. Small junction, big problems: Neuromuscular junction pathology in mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). J Anat 2021; 241:1089-1107. [PMID: 34101196 PMCID: PMC9558162 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease with an extremely heterogeneous clinical and genetic phenotype. In our efforts to find therapies for ALS, the scientific community has developed a plethora of mouse models, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. The peripheral nervous system, specifically the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), is known to be affected in ALS patients and shows marked dysfunction across mouse models. Evidence of pathology at the NMJ includes denervated NMJs, changes in endplate size and loss of terminal Schwann cells. This review compares the temporal disease progression with severity of disease at the NMJ in mouse models with the most commonly mutated genes in ALS patients (SOD1, C9ORF72, TARDBP and FUS). Despite variability, early NMJ dysfunction seems to be a common factor in models with SOD1, TARDBP and FUS mutations, while C9ORF72 models do not appear to follow the same pattern of pathology. Further work into determining the timing of NMJ pathology, particularly in newer ALS mouse models, will confirm its pivotal role in ALS pathogenesis and therefore highlight the NMJ as a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abrar Alhindi
- Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ines Boehm
- Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Helena Chaytow
- Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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21
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Mechanisms of TDP-43 Proteinopathy Onset and Propagation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22116004. [PMID: 34199367 PMCID: PMC8199531 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 is an RNA-binding protein that has been robustly linked to the pathogenesis of a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. While mutations in the TARDBP gene that codes for the protein have been identified as causing disease in a small subset of patients, TDP-43 proteinopathy is present in the majority of cases regardless of mutation status. This raises key questions regarding the mechanisms by which TDP-43 proteinopathy arises and spreads throughout the central nervous system. Numerous studies have explored the role of a variety of cellular functions on the disease process, and nucleocytoplasmic transport, protein homeostasis, RNA interactions and cellular stress have all risen to the forefront as possible contributors to the initiation of TDP-43 pathogenesis. There is also a small but growing body of evidence suggesting that aggregation-prone TDP-43 can recruit physiological TDP-43, and be transmitted intercellularly, providing a mechanism whereby small-scale proteinopathy spreads from cell to cell, reflecting the spread of clinical symptoms observed in patients. This review will discuss the potential role of the aforementioned cellular functions in TDP-43 pathogenesis, and explore how aberrant pathology may spread, and result in a feed-forward cascade effect, leading to robust TDP-43 proteinopathy and disease.
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22
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Molecular Mechanisms Underlying TDP-43 Pathology in Cellular and Animal Models of ALS and FTLD. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094705. [PMID: 33946763 PMCID: PMC8125728 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are neurodegenerative disorders that exist on a disease spectrum due to pathological, clinical and genetic overlap. In up to 97% of ALS cases and ~50% of FTLD cases, the primary pathological protein observed in affected tissues is TDP-43, which is hyperphosphorylated, ubiquitinated and cleaved. The TDP-43 is observed in aggregates that are abnormally located in the cytoplasm. The pathogenicity of TDP-43 cytoplasmic aggregates may be linked with both a loss of nuclear function and a gain of toxic functions. The cellular processes involved in ALS and FTLD disease pathogenesis include changes to RNA splicing, abnormal stress granules, mitochondrial dysfunction, impairments to axonal transport and autophagy, abnormal neuromuscular junctions, endoplasmic reticulum stress and the subsequent induction of the unfolded protein response. Here, we review and discuss the evidence for alterations to these processes that have been reported in cellular and animal models of TDP-43 proteinopathy.
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23
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Stimulation of mTOR-independent autophagy and mitophagy by rilmenidine exacerbates the phenotype of transgenic TDP-43 mice. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 154:105359. [PMID: 33798740 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy, which mediates the delivery of cytoplasmic substrates to the lysosome for degradation, is essential for maintaining proper cell homeostasis in physiology, ageing, and disease. There is increasing evidence that autophagy is defective in neurodegenerative disorders, including motor neurons affected in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Restoring impaired autophagy in motor neurons may therefore represent a rational approach for ALS. Here, we demonstrate autophagy impairment in spinal cords of mice expressing mutant TDP-43Q331K or co-expressing TDP-43WTxQ331K transgenes. The clinically approved anti-hypertensive drug rilmenidine was used to stimulate mTOR-independent autophagy in double transgenic TDP-43WTxQ331K mice to alleviate impaired autophagy. Although rilmenidine treatment induced robust autophagy in spinal cords, this exacerbated the phenotype of TDP-43WTxQ331K mice, shown by truncated lifespan, accelerated motor neuron loss, and pronounced nuclear TDP-43 clearance. Importantly, rilmenidine significantly promoted mitophagy in spinal cords TDP-43WTxQ331K mice, evidenced by reduced mitochondrial markers and load in spinal motor neurons. These results suggest that autophagy induction accelerates the phenotype of this TDP-43 mouse model of ALS, most likely through excessive mitochondrial clearance in motor neurons. These findings also emphasise the importance of balancing autophagy stimulation with the potential negative consequences of hyperactive mitophagy in ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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24
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Identification of Genetic Modifiers of TDP-43: Inflammatory Activation of Astrocytes for Neuroinflammation. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030676. [PMID: 33803845 PMCID: PMC8003223 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a ubiquitously expressed DNA/RNA-binding protein linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). TDP-43 has been implicated in numerous aspects of the mRNA life cycle, as well as in cell toxicity and neuroinflammation. In this study, we used the toxicity of the TDP-43 expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an assay to identify TDP-43 genetic interactions. Specifically, we transformed human TDP-43 cDNAs of wild-type or disease-associated mutants (M337V and Q331K) en masse into 4653 homozygous diploid yeast deletion mutants and then used next-generation sequencing readouts of growth to identify yeast toxicity modifiers. Genetic interaction analysis provided a global view of TDP-43 pathways, some of which are known to be involved in cellular metabolic processes. Selected putative loci with the potential of genetic interactions with TDP-43 were assessed for associations with neurotoxicity and inflammatory activation of astrocytes. The pharmacological inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase flavoprotein subunit A (SDHA) and voltage-dependent anion-selective channel 3 (VDAC3) suppressed TDP-43-induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines in astrocytes, indicating the critical roles played by SDHA and VDAC3 in TDP-43 pathways during inflammatory activation of astrocytes and neuroinflammation. Thus, the findings of our TDP-43 genetic interaction screen provide a global landscape of TDP-43 pathways and may help improve our understanding of the roles of glia and neuroinflammation in ALS and FTD pathogenesis.
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25
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Kumar S, Phaneuf D, Cordeau P, Boutej H, Kriz J, Julien JP. Induction of autophagy mitigates TDP-43 pathology and translational repression of neurofilament mRNAs in mouse models of ALS/FTD. Mol Neurodegener 2021; 16:1. [PMID: 33413517 PMCID: PMC7792109 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-020-00420-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background TDP-43 proteinopathy is a pathological hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). So far, there is no therapy available for these neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, the impact of TDP-43 proteinopathy on neuronal translational profile also remains unknown. Methods Biochemical, immunohistology and assay-based studies were done with cell cultures and transgenic mice models. We also used Ribotag with microarray and proteomic analysis to determine the neuronal translational profile in the mice model of ALS/FTD. Results Here, we report that oral administration of a novel analog (IMS-088) of withaferin-A, an antagonist of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-ĸB) essential modulator (NEMO), induced autophagy and reduced TDP-43 proteinopathy in the brain and spinal cord of transgenic mice expressing human TDP-43 mutants, models of ALS/FTD. Treatment with IMS-088 ameliorated cognitive impairment, reduced gliosis in the brain of ALS/FTD mouse models. With the Ribotrap method, we investigated the impact of TDP-43 proteinopathy and IMS-088 treatment on the translation profile of neurons of one-year old hTDP-43A315T mice. TDP-43 proteinopathy caused translational dysregulation of specific mRNAs including translational suppression of neurofilament mRNAs resulting in 3 to 4-fold decrease in levels type IV neurofilament proteins. Oral administration of IMS-088 rescued the translational defects associated with TDP-43 proteinopathy and restored the synthesis of neurofilament proteins, which are essential for axon integrity and synaptic function. Conclusions Our study revealed that induction of autophagy reduces TDP-43 pathology and ameliorates the translational defect seen in mice models of ALS/FTD. Based on these results, we suggest IMS-088 and perhaps other inducers of autophagy should be considered as potential therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders with TDP-43 proteinopathies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13024-020-00420-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunny Kumar
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, University Laval, 2601, Chemin de la Canardière, Quebec City, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Daniel Phaneuf
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, University Laval, 2601, Chemin de la Canardière, Quebec City, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Pierre Cordeau
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, University Laval, 2601, Chemin de la Canardière, Quebec City, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Hejer Boutej
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, University Laval, 2601, Chemin de la Canardière, Quebec City, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Jasna Kriz
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, University Laval, 2601, Chemin de la Canardière, Quebec City, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, University Laval, 2601, Chemin de la Canardière, Quebec City, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada.
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26
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Floare ML, Allen SP. Why TDP-43? Why Not? Mechanisms of Metabolic Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Neurosci Insights 2020; 15:2633105520957302. [PMID: 32995749 PMCID: PMC7503004 DOI: 10.1177/2633105520957302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder for which there is no effective curative treatment available and minimal palliative care. Mutations in the gene encoding the TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) are a well-recognized genetic cause of ALS, and an imbalance in energy homeostasis correlates closely to disease susceptibility and progression. Considering previous research supporting a plethora of downstream cellular impairments originating in the histopathological signature of TDP-43, and the solid evidence around metabolic dysfunction in ALS, a causal association between TDP-43 pathology and metabolic dysfunction cannot be ruled out. Here we discuss how TDP-43 contributes on a molecular level to these impairments in energy homeostasis, and whether the protein's pathological effects on cellular metabolism differ from those of other genetic risk factors associated with ALS such as superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) and fused in sarcoma (FUS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara-Luciana Floare
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Scott P. Allen
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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27
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Konopka A, Whelan DR, Jamali MS, Perri E, Shahheydari H, Toth RP, Parakh S, Robinson T, Cheong A, Mehta P, Vidal M, Ragagnin AMG, Khizhnyak I, Jagaraj CJ, Galper J, Grima N, Deva A, Shadfar S, Nicholson GA, Yang S, Cutts SM, Horejsi Z, Bell TDM, Walker AK, Blair IP, Atkin JD. Impaired NHEJ repair in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is associated with TDP-43 mutations. Mol Neurodegener 2020; 15:51. [PMID: 32907630 PMCID: PMC7488163 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-020-00386-4] [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: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pathological forms of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) are present in motor neurons of almost all amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, and mutations in TDP-43 are also present in ALS. Loss and gain of TDP-43 functions are implicated in pathogenesis, but the mechanisms are unclear. While the RNA functions of TDP-43 have been widely investigated, its DNA binding roles remain unclear. However, recent studies have implicated a role for TDP-43 in the DNA damage response. Methods We used NSC-34 motor neuron-like cells and primary cortical neurons expressing wildtype TDP-43 or TDP-43 ALS associated mutants (A315T, Q331K), in which DNA damage was induced by etoposide or H2O2 treatment. We investigated the consequences of depletion of TDP-43 on DNA repair using small interfering RNAs. Specific non homologous end joining (NHEJ) reporters (EJ5GFP and EJ2GFP) and cells lacking DNA-dependent serine/threonine protein kinase (DNA-PK) were used to investigate the role of TDP-43 in DNA repair. To investigate the recruitment of TDP-43 to sites of DNA damage we used single molecule super-resolution microscopy and a co-immunoprecipitation assay. We also investigated DNA damage in an ALS transgenic mouse model, in which TDP-43 accumulates pathologically in the cytoplasm. We also examined fibroblasts derived from ALS patients bearing the TDP-43 M337V mutation for evidence of DNA damage. Results We demonstrate that wildtype TDP-43 is recruited to sites of DNA damage where it participates in classical NHEJ DNA repair. However, ALS-associated TDP-43 mutants lose this activity, which induces DNA damage. Furthermore, DNA damage is present in mice displaying TDP-43 pathology, implying an active role in neurodegeneration. Additionally, DNA damage triggers features typical of TDP-43 pathology; cytoplasmic mis-localisation and stress granule formation. Similarly, inhibition of NHEJ induces TDP-43 mis-localisation to the cytoplasm. Conclusions This study reveals that TDP-43 functions in DNA repair, but loss of this function triggers DNA damage and is associated with key pathological features of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Konopka
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Donna R Whelan
- Department of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, Australia
| | - Md Shafi Jamali
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Emma Perri
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Hamideh Shahheydari
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Reka P Toth
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Sonam Parakh
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Tina Robinson
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Alison Cheong
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Prachi Mehta
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Marta Vidal
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Audrey M G Ragagnin
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Ivan Khizhnyak
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Cyril J Jagaraj
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Jasmin Galper
- Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Natalie Grima
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Anand Deva
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Macquarie University, and The Integrated Specialist Healthcare Education and Research Foundation, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sina Shadfar
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Garth A Nicholson
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.,ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Shu Yang
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Suzanne M Cutts
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Zuzana Horejsi
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Toby D M Bell
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Adam K Walker
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.,Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ian P Blair
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- Centre for MND Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road NSW, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia. .,Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
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28
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Solomon DA, Mitchell JC, Salcher-Konrad MT, Vance CA, Mizielinska S. Review: Modelling the pathology and behaviour of frontotemporal dementia. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2020; 45:58-80. [PMID: 30582188 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) encompasses a collection of clinically and pathologically diverse neurological disorders. Clinical features of behavioural and language dysfunction are associated with neurodegeneration, predominantly of frontal and temporal cortices. Over the past decade, there have been significant advances in the understanding of the genetic aetiology and neuropathology of FTD which have led to the creation of various disease models to investigate the molecular pathways that contribute to disease pathogenesis. The generation of in vivo models of FTD involves either targeting genes with known disease-causative mutations such as GRN and C9orf72 or genes encoding proteins that form the inclusions that characterize the disease pathologically, such as TDP-43 and FUS. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the different in vivo model systems used to understand pathomechanisms in FTD, with a focus on disease models which reproduce aspects of the wide-ranging behavioural phenotypes seen in people with FTD. We discuss the emerging disease pathways that have emerged from these in vivo models and how this has shaped our understanding of disease mechanisms underpinning FTD. We also discuss the challenges of modelling the complex clinical symptoms shown by people with FTD, the confounding overlap with features of motor neuron disease, and the drive to make models more disease-relevant. In summary, in vivo models can replicate many pathological and behavioural aspects of clinical FTD, but robust and thorough investigations utilizing shared features and variability between disease models will improve the disease-relevance of findings and thus better inform therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Solomon
- UK Dementia Research Institute, King's College London, London, Camberwell, UK.,Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, Camberwell, UK
| | - J C Mitchell
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, Camberwell, UK
| | - M-T Salcher-Konrad
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, Camberwell, UK
| | - C A Vance
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, Camberwell, UK
| | - S Mizielinska
- UK Dementia Research Institute, King's College London, London, Camberwell, UK.,Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, Camberwell, UK
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29
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Suk TR, Rousseaux MWC. The role of TDP-43 mislocalization in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Mol Neurodegener 2020; 15:45. [PMID: 32799899 PMCID: PMC7429473 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-020-00397-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Since its discovery as a primary component in cytoplasmic aggregates in post-mortem tissue of patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), TAR DNA Binding Protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) has remained a central focus to understand the disease. TDP-43 links both familial and sporadic forms of ALS as mutations are causative for disease and cytoplasmic aggregates are a hallmark of nearly all cases, regardless of TDP-43 mutational status. Research has focused on the formation and consequences of cytosolic protein aggregates as drivers of ALS pathology through both gain- and loss-of-function mechanisms. Not only does aggregation sequester the normal function of TDP-43, but these aggregates also actively block normal cellular processes inevitably leading to cellular demise in a short time span. Although there may be some benefit to therapeutically targeting TDP-43 aggregation, this step may be too late in disease development to have substantial therapeutic benefit. However, TDP-43 pathology appears to be tightly linked with its mislocalization from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, making it difficult to decouple the consequences of nuclear-to-cytoplasmic mislocalization from protein aggregation. Studies focusing on the effects of TDP-43 mislocalization have demonstrated both gain- and loss-of-function consequences including altered splicing regulation, over responsiveness to cellular stressors, increases in DNA damage, and transcriptome-wide changes. Additionally, mutations in TARDBP confer a baseline increase in cytoplasmic TDP-43 thus suggesting that small changes in the subcellular localization of TDP-43 could in fact drive early pathology. In this review, we bring forth the theme of protein mislocalization as a key mechanism underlying ALS, by highlighting the importance of maintaining subcellular proteostasis along with the gain- and loss-of-functional consequences when TDP-43 localization is dysregulated. Additional research, focusing on early events in TDP-43 pathogenesis (i.e. to the protein mislocalization stage) will provide insight into disease mechanisms, therapeutic targets, and novel biomarkers for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry R. Suk
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Maxime W. C. Rousseaux
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Eric Poulin Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, Ottawa, Canada
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ottawa, Canada
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30
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Aksoy YA, Deng W, Stoddart J, Chung R, Guillemin G, Cole NJ, Neely GG, Hesselson D. "STRESSED OUT": The role of FUS and TDP-43 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2020; 126:105821. [PMID: 32758633 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2020.105821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in fused-in-sarcoma (FUS) and TAR DNA binding protein-43 (TDP-43; TARDBP) are known to cause the severe adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Proteinopathy caused by cellular stresses such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress, mitochondrial stress and proteasomal stress and the formation of stress granules (SGs), cytoplasmic aggregates and inclusions is a hallmark of ALS. FUS and TDP-43, which are DNA/RNA binding proteins that regulate transcription, RNA homeostasis and protein translation are implicated in ALS proteinopathy. Disease-causing mutations in FUS and TDP-43 cause sequestration of these proteins and their interacting partners in the cytoplasm, which leads to aggregation. This mislocalization and formation of aggregates and SGs is cytotoxic and a contributor to neuronal death. We explore how loss-of-nuclear-function and gain-of-cytoplasmic function mechanisms that affect FUS and TPD-43 localization can generate a 'stressed out' neuronal pathology and proteinopathy that drives ALS progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yagiz Alp Aksoy
- Diabetes and Metabolism Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Wei Deng
- The Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Jack Stoddart
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Roger Chung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gilles Guillemin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicholas James Cole
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Graham Gregory Neely
- The Dr. John and Anne Chong Laboratory for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, Centenary Institute, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia; Genome Editing Initiative, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
| | - Daniel Hesselson
- Diabetes and Metabolism Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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Lee JD, McDonald TS, Fung JNT, Woodruff TM. Absence of Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Product (RAGE) Reduces Inflammation and Extends Survival in the hSOD1 G93A Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:4143-4155. [PMID: 32676989 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02019-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal and rapidly progressing motor neuron degenerative disease that is without effective treatment. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a major component of the innate immune system that has been implicated in ALS pathogenesis. However, the contribution of RAGE signalling to the neuroinflammation that underlies ALS neurodegeneration remains unknown. The present study therefore generated SOD1G93A mice lacking RAGE and compared them with SOD1G93A transgenic ALS mice in respect to disease progression (i.e. body weight, survival and muscle strength), neuroinflammation and denervation markers in the spinal cord and tibialis anterior muscle. We found that complete absence of RAGE signalling exerted a protective effect on SOD1G93A pathology, slowing disease progression and significantly extending survival by ~ 3 weeks and improving motor function (rotarod and grip strength). This was associated with reduced microgliosis, cytokines, innate immune factors (complement, TLRs, inflammasomes), and oxidative stress in the spinal cord, and a reduction of denervation markers in the tibialis anterior muscle. We also documented that RAGE mRNA expression was significantly increased in the spinal cord and muscles of preclinical SOD1 and TDP43 models of ALS, supporting a widespread involvement for RAGE in ALS pathology. In summary, our results indicate that RAGE signalling drives neuroinflammation and contributes to neurodegeneration in ALS and highlights RAGE as a potential immune therapeutic target for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Lee
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Tanya S McDonald
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Jenny N T Fung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Trent M Woodruff
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia. .,Queensland Brain Institute, the University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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32
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Glutathione S-Transferase Rescues Motor Neuronal Toxicity in Fly Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:antiox9070615. [PMID: 32674363 PMCID: PMC7402175 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9070615] [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: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transactive response DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is involved in the pathology of familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). TDP-43-mediated ALS models in mice, Drosophila melanogaster, and zebrafish exhibit dysfunction of locomotor function, defective neuromuscular junctions, and motor neuron defects. There is currently no effective cure for ALS, and the underlying mechanisms of TDP-43 in ALS remain poorly understood. In this study, a genetic screen was performed to identify modifiers of human TDP-43 (hTDP-43) in a Drosophila model, and glutathione S-transferase omega 2 (GstO2) was found to be involved in hTDP-43 neurotoxicity. GstO2 overexpressed on recovered defective phenotypes resulting from hTDP-43, including defective neuromuscular junction (NMJ) boutons, degenerated motor neuronal axons, and reduced larvae and adult fly locomotive activity, without modulating the levels of hTDP-43 protein expression. GstO2 modulated neurotoxicity by regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by hTDP-43 in the Drosophila model of ALS. Our results demonstrated that GstO2 was a key regulator in hTDP-43-related ALS pathogenesis and indicated its potential as a therapeutic target for ALS.
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McColgan P, Joubert J, Tabrizi SJ, Rees G. The human motor cortex microcircuit: insights for neurodegenerative disease. Nat Rev Neurosci 2020; 21:401-415. [PMID: 32555340 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-020-0315-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The human motor cortex comprises a microcircuit of five interconnected layers with different cell types. In this Review, we use a layer-specific and cell-specific approach to integrate physiological accounts of this motor cortex microcircuit with the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases affecting motor functions. In doing so we can begin to link motor microcircuit pathology to specific disease stages and clinical phenotypes. Based on microcircuit physiology, we can make future predictions of axonal loss and microcircuit dysfunction. With recent advances in high-resolution neuroimaging we can then test these predictions in humans in vivo, providing mechanistic insights into neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter McColgan
- Huntington's Disease Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Julie Joubert
- Huntington's Disease Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- Huntington's Disease Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.,Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
| | - Geraint Rees
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.,UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
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34
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Mishra PS, Boutej H, Soucy G, Bareil C, Kumar S, Picher-Martel V, Dupré N, Kriz J, Julien JP. Transmission of ALS pathogenesis by the cerebrospinal fluid. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:65. [PMID: 32381112 PMCID: PMC7206749 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-00943-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
To test the hypothesis that the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) could provide a spreading route for pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we have examined the effects of intraventricular infusion during 2 weeks of pooled CSF samples from sporadic ALS patients or control CSF samples into transgenic mice expressing human TDP43WT which do not develop pathological phenotypes. Infusion of ALS-CSF, but not of control CSF, triggered motor and cognitive dysfunction, as well as ALS-like pathological changes including TDP43 proteinopathy, neurofilament disorganization and neuroinflammation. In addition, the neuron-specific translational profiles from peptide analyses of immunoprecipitated ribosomes revealed dysregulation of multiple protein networks in response to ALS-CSF altering cytoskeletal organization, vesicle trafficking, mitochondrial function, and cell metabolism. With normal mice, similar ALS-CSF infusion induced mild motor dysfunction but without significant TDP43 pathology in spinal neurons. We conclude that the CSF from sporadic ALS contains factors that can transmit and disseminate disease including TDP43 proteinopathy into appropriate recipient animal model expressing human TDP43. These findings open new research avenues for the discovery of etiogenic factors for sporadic ALS and for the testing of drugs aiming to neutralize the ALS-CSF toxicity.
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35
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Corti O, Blomgren K, Poletti A, Beart PM. Autophagy in neurodegeneration: New insights underpinning therapy for neurological diseases. J Neurochem 2020; 154:354-371. [PMID: 32149395 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In autophagy long-lived proteins, protein aggregates or damaged organelles are engulfed by vesicles called autophagosomes prior to lysosomal degradation. Autophagy dysfunction is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases in which misfolded proteins or dysfunctional mitochondria accumulate. Excessive autophagy can also exacerbate brain injury under certain conditions. In this review, we provide specific examples to illustrate the critical role played by autophagy in pathological conditions affecting the brain and discuss potential therapeutic implications. We show how a singular type of autophagy-dependent cell death termed autosis has attracted attention as a promising target for improving outcomes in perinatal asphyxia and hypoxic-ischaemic injury to the immature brain. We provide evidence that autophagy inhibition may be protective against radiotherapy-induced damage to the young brain. We describe a specialized form of macroautophagy of therapeutic relevance for motoneuron and neuromuscular diseases, known as chaperone-assisted selective autophagy, in which heat shock protein B8 is used to deliver aberrant proteins to autophagosomes. We summarize studies pinpointing mitophagy mediated by the serine/threonine kinase PINK1 and the ubiquitin-protein ligase Parkin as a mechanism potentially relevant to Parkinson's disease, despite debate over the physiological conditions in which it is activated in organisms. Finally, with the example of the autophagy-inducing agent rilmenidine and its discrepant effects in cell culture and mouse models of motor neuron disorders, we illustrate the importance of considering aspects such a disease stage and aggressiveness, type of insult and load of damaged or toxic cellular components, when choosing the appropriate drug, timepoint and duration of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Corti
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France.,Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Paris, France
| | - Klas Blomgren
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Paediatric Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Angelo Poletti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Philip M Beart
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
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Wong P, Ho WY, Yen YC, Sanford E, Ling SC. The vulnerability of motor and frontal cortex-dependent behaviors in mice expressing ALS-linked mutation in TDP-43. Neurobiol Aging 2020; 92:43-60. [PMID: 32422502 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
TDP-43 aggregates are the defining pathological hallmark for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Strikingly, these TDP-43 proteinopathies are also found in other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and are prevalent in the brains of old-aged humans. Furthermore, disease-causal mutations in TDP-43 have been identified for ALS and FTD. Collectively, the evidence indicates that TDP-43 dysfunctions lead to motor and cognitive deficits. To determine whether the mouse line expressing an ALS-linked mutation in TDP-43 (Q331K) can be used to study ALS-FTD spectrum disorders, we performed a systematic and longitudinal behavioral assessment that covered motor and cognitive functions. Deficits in motor and cognitive abilities were observed as early as 3 months of age and persisted through to 12 months of age. Within the cognitive modalities, the hippocampus-mediated spatial learning and memory, and contextual fear conditioning, were normal; whereas the frontal cortex-mediated working memory and cognitive flexibility were impaired. Biochemically, the human TDP-43 transgene downregulates endogenous mouse TDP-43 mRNA and protein, resulting in human TDP-43 protein that is comparable with the physiological level in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Furthermore, Q331K TDP-43 is largely retained at the nucleus without apparent aggregates. Taken together, our data suggest that motor and frontal cortex may be more vulnerable to disease-linked mutation in TDP-43 and, this mouse model may be used to assess ALS-FTD-related spectrum diseases and the molecular underpinnings associated with the phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyan Wong
- Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wan Yun Ho
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yi-Chun Yen
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Emma Sanford
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shuo-Chien Ling
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Neurobiology/Ageing Programme, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Program in Neuroscience and Behavior Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
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37
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Picchiarelli G, Dupuis L. Role of RNA Binding Proteins with prion-like domains in muscle and neuromuscular diseases. Cell Stress 2020; 4:76-91. [PMID: 32292882 PMCID: PMC7146060 DOI: 10.15698/cst2020.04.217] [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] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of neuromuscular and muscular diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and several myopathies, are associated to mutations in related RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), including TDP-43, FUS, MATR3 or hnRNPA1/B2. These proteins harbor similar modular primary sequence with RNA binding motifs and low complexity domains, that enables them to phase separate and create liquid microdomains. These RBPs have been shown to critically regulate multiple events of RNA lifecycle, including transcriptional events, splicing and RNA trafficking and sequestration. Here, we review the roles of these disease-related RBPs in muscle and motor neurons, and how their dysfunction in these cell types might contribute to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Picchiarelli
- Université de Strasbourg, INSERM, Mécanismes Centraux et Périphériques de la Neurodégénérescence, UMR_S 1118, Strasbourg, France
| | - Luc Dupuis
- Université de Strasbourg, INSERM, Mécanismes Centraux et Périphériques de la Neurodégénérescence, UMR_S 1118, Strasbourg, France
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38
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Trageser KJ, Smith C, Herman FJ, Ono K, Pasinetti GM. Mechanisms of Immune Activation by c9orf72-Expansions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1298. [PMID: 31920478 PMCID: PMC6914852 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are neurodegenerative disorders with overlapping pathomechanisms, neurobehavioral features, and genetic etiologies. Individuals diagnosed with either disorder exhibit symptoms within a clinical spectrum. Symptoms of ALS involve neuromusculature deficits, reflecting upper and lower motor neurodegeneration, while the primary clinical features of FTD are behavioral and cognitive impairments, reflecting frontotemporal lobar degeneration. An intronic G4C2 hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) within the promoter region of chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) is the predominant monogenic cause of both ALS and FTD. While the heightened risk to develop ALS/FTD in response to C9orf72 expansions is well-established, studies continue to define the precise mechanisms by which this mutation elicits neurodegeneration. Studies show that G4C2 expansions undergo repeat-associated non-ATG dependent (RAN) translation, producing dipeptide repeat proteins (DRPs) with varying toxicities. Accumulation of DRPs in neurons, in particular arginine containing DRPs, have neurotoxic effects by potently impairing nucleocytoplasmic transport, nucleotide metabolism, lysosomal processes, and cellular metabolic pathways. How these pathophysiological effects of C9orf72 expansions engage and elicit immune activity with additional neurobiological consequences is an important line of future investigations. Immunoreactive microglia and elevated levels of peripheral inflammatory cytokines noted in individuals with C9orf72 ALS/FTD provide evidence that persistent immune activation has a causative role in the progression of each disorder. This review highlights the current understanding of the cellular, proteomic and genetic substrates through which G4C2 HREs may elicit detrimental immune activity, facilitating region-specific neurodegeneration in C9orf72 mediated ALS/FTD. We in particular emphasize interactions between intracellular pathways induced by C9orf72 expansions and innate immune inflammasome complexes, intracellular receptors responsible for eliciting inflammation in response to cellular stress. A further understanding of the intricate, reciprocal relationship between the cellular and molecular pathologies resulting from C9orf72 HREs and immune activation may yield novel therapeutics for ALS/FTD, which currently have limited treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J Trageser
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Chad Smith
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Francis J Herman
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kenjiro Ono
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Giulio Maria Pasinetti
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, JJ Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
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39
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Chen HJ, Topp SD, Hui HS, Zacco E, Katarya M, McLoughlin C, King A, Smith BN, Troakes C, Pastore A, Shaw CE. RRM adjacent TARDBP mutations disrupt RNA binding and enhance TDP-43 proteinopathy. Brain 2019; 142:3753-3770. [PMID: 31605140 PMCID: PMC6885686 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) presents with focal muscle weakness due to motor neuron degeneration that becomes generalized, leading to death from respiratory failure within 3-5 years from symptom onset. Despite the heterogeneity of aetiology, TDP-43 proteinopathy is a common pathological feature that is observed in >95% of ALS and tau-negative frontotemporal dementia (FTD) cases. TDP-43 is a DNA/RNA-binding protein that in ALS and FTD translocates from being predominantly nuclear to form detergent-resistant, hyperphosphorylated aggregates in the cytoplasm of affected neurons and glia. Mutations in TARDBP account for 1-4% of all ALS cases and almost all arise in the low complexity C-terminal domain that does not affect RNA binding and processing. Here we report an ALS/FTD kindred with a novel K181E TDP-43 mutation that is located in close proximity to the RRM1 domain. To offer predictive gene testing to at-risk family members, we undertook a series of functional studies to characterize the properties of the mutation. Spectroscopy studies of the K181E protein revealed no evidence of significant misfolding. Although it is unable to bind to or splice RNA, it forms abundant aggregates in transfected cells. We extended our study to include other ALS-linked mutations adjacent to the RRM domains that also disrupt RNA binding and greatly enhance TDP-43 aggregation, forming detergent-resistant and hyperphosphorylated inclusions. Lastly, we demonstrate that K181E binds to, and sequesters, wild-type TDP-43 within nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions. Thus, we demonstrate that TDP-43 mutations that disrupt RNA binding greatly enhance aggregation and are likely to be pathogenic as they promote wild-type TDP-43 to mislocalize and aggregate acting in a dominant-negative manner. This study highlights the importance of RNA binding to maintain TDP-43 solubility and the role of TDP-43 aggregation in disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Jou Chen
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute Centre, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, SE5 9NU, London, UK
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, YO10 5DD, York, UK
| | - Simon D Topp
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute Centre, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, SE5 9NU, London, UK
| | - Ho Sang Hui
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute Centre, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, SE5 9NU, London, UK
| | - Elsa Zacco
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute Centre, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, SE5 9NU, London, UK
| | - Malvika Katarya
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute Centre, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, SE5 9NU, London, UK
| | - Conor McLoughlin
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute Centre, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, SE5 9NU, London, UK
| | - Andrew King
- MRC London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, De Crespigny Park, SE5 8AF, London, UK
| | - Bradley N Smith
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute Centre, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, SE5 9NU, London, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- MRC London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, De Crespigny Park, SE5 8AF, London, UK
| | - Annalisa Pastore
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute Centre, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, SE5 9NU, London, UK
| | - Christopher E Shaw
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute Centre, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, SE5 9NU, London, UK
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Chudinova AV, Rossel M, Vergunst A, Le-Masson G, Camu W, Raoul C, Lumbroso S, Mouzat K. Theme 4 In vivo experimental models. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2019; 20:160-187. [PMID: 31702459 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2019.1646992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: In 90% of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) cases, the disease is sporadic, the remaining 10% being familial. Many genes have been associated with the disease. The use of next generation sequencing has allowed increasing the number of genes analysed in routine diagnostics. However, this increase raises the issue of genetic variants interpretation within a growing number of ALS-associated-genes. Variant classification is based on a combinatory analysis of multiple factors. Among them, functional analyses provide strong arguments on pathogenicity interpretation.Objectives: We developed a simple animal model, the Zebrafish, for the functional analysis of candidate variants pathogenicity identified by routine genetic testing.Methods: Transient overexpression of different ALS associated genetic variants has been performed by mRNA injection in 1-cell stage zebrafish eggs. Validation of protein overexpression has been done by western blot. Embryos mortality, developmental delay and morphological abnormalities have been assessed within the first two days of development. Cellular phenotype has been investigated by the analysis of axonal length of 2-days old larvae with confocal microscopy. Motor phenotype of 5-days old larvae has been explored by touched-evoked response assay.Results: The model has been validated by the analysis of well-described ALS mutations, SOD1-Gly93Ala and OPTN Glu478Gly. Overexpression of this mutated protein was shown to provoke a shortening of axons and a premature axonal branching, as well as an impairment of motor performances as expected. We did not observe these aberrations in SOD1-WT injected fishes. Two candidate variants observed in ALS-patients have been explored with our model: SOD1 NM_000454.4:c.400_402del, p.Glu134del and OPTN NM_021980.4:c.1475T > G, p. Leu492Arg. Overexpression of both variants induced morphological abnormalities and motor impairment, suggesting a pathogenic involvement of these variants in ALS-patients.Discussion and conclusions: We developed for the first time a simple animal model, the Zebrafish, useful for the functional analysis of variant pathogenicity in order to assist ALS molecular diagnosis. Our model has been used to assess the pathogenicity of SOD1 and OPTN candidate variants, allowing to improve genetic testing interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra V Chudinova
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, CHU Nîmes et Université de Montpellier, Nimes, France.,INSERM UMR1051, Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier, Hôpital Saint Eloi, Montpellier, France
| | - Mireille Rossel
- 3MMDN, Univ. Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, U1198, PSL Research University, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Gwendal Le-Masson
- Department of Neurology, Nerve-Muscle Unit and Centre de Référence Des Pathologies Neuromusculaires CHU Bordeaux (Groupe Hospitalier Pellegrin), University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - William Camu
- INSERM UMR1051, Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier, Hôpital Saint Eloi, Montpellier, France.,ALS Center, Département de Neurologie, CHU Gui de Chauliac, Montpellier, France
| | - Cédric Raoul
- INSERM UMR1051, Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier, Hôpital Saint Eloi, Montpellier, France
| | - Serge Lumbroso
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, CHU Nîmes et Université de Montpellier, Nimes, France.,INSERM UMR1051, Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier, Hôpital Saint Eloi, Montpellier, France
| | - Kevin Mouzat
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, CHU Nîmes et Université de Montpellier, Nimes, France.,INSERM UMR1051, Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier, Hôpital Saint Eloi, Montpellier, France
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41
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TDP-43 regulates transcription at protein-coding genes and Alu retrotransposons. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2019; 1862:194434. [PMID: 31655156 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2019.194434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The 43-kDa transactive response DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) is an example of an RNA-binding protein that regulates RNA metabolism at multiple levels from transcription and splicing to translation. Its role in post-transcriptional RNA processing has been a primary focus of recent research, but its role in regulating transcription has been studied for only a few human genes. We characterized the effects of TDP-43 on transcription genome-wide and found that TDP-43 broadly affects transcription of protein-coding and noncoding RNA genes. Among protein-coding genes, the effects of TDP-43 were greatest for genes <30 thousand base pairs in length. Surprisingly, we found that the loss of TDP-43 resulted in increased evidence for transcription activity near repetitive Alu elements found within expressed genes. The highest densities of affected Alu elements were found in the shorter genes, whose transcription was most affected by TDP-43. Thus, in addition to its role in post-transcriptional RNA processing, TDP-43 plays a critical role in maintaining the transcriptional stability of protein-coding genes and transposable DNA elements.
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42
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Yin P, Guo X, Yang W, Yan S, Yang S, Zhao T, Sun Q, Liu Y, Li S, Li XJ. Caspase-4 mediates cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP-43 in the primate brains. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 137:919-937. [PMID: 30810811 PMCID: PMC6531422 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-01979-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The cytoplasmic accumulation of the nuclear TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a pathologic hallmark in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and other neurological disorders. However, most transgenic TDP-43 rodent models show predominant nuclear distribution of TDP-43 in the brain. By expressing mutant TDP-43 (M337V) in the brains of rhesus monkeys and mice, we verified that mutant TDP-43 is distributed in the cytoplasm of the monkey brain and that the majority of mutant TDP-43 remains in the nuclei of the mouse brain. The primate-specific caspase-4, but not mouse homologue caspase-11, could remove the NLS-containing N-terminal domain and generate fragmented TDP-43 that accumulates in the cytoplasm. Moreover, increased expression of caspase-4 in the monkey brain promotes the cytoplasmic accumulation of endogenous TDP-43, and suppressing caspase-4 reduces the cytoplasmic distribution of endogenous TDP-43 in cultured human neural cells. Our findings suggest that primate-specific caspase-4-mediated cleavage of TDP-43 accounts for its cytoplasmic mislocalization in the primate brains and may serve as a potential therapeutic target.
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43
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Guerrero EN, Mitra J, Wang H, Rangaswamy S, Hegde PM, Basu P, Rao KS, Hegde ML. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated TDP-43 mutation Q331K prevents nuclear translocation of XRCC4-DNA ligase 4 complex and is linked to genome damage-mediated neuronal apoptosis. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 28:2459-2476. [PMID: 31067307 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dominant mutations in the RNA/DNA-binding protein TDP-43 have been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we screened genomic DNA extracted from spinal cord specimens of sporadic ALS patients for mutations in the TARDBP gene and identified a patient specimen with previously reported Q331K mutation. The patient spinal cord tissue with Q331K mutation showed accumulation of higher levels of DNA strand breaks and the DNA double-strand break (DSB) marker γH2AX, compared to age-matched controls, suggesting a role of the Q331K mutation in genome-damage accumulation. Using conditional SH-SY5Y lines ectopically expressing wild-type (WT) or Q331K-mutant TDP-43, we confirmed the increased cytosolic sequestration of the poly-ubiquitinated and aggregated form of mutant TDP-43, which correlated with increased genomic DNA strand breaks, activation of the DNA damage response factors phospho-ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM), phospho-53BP1, γH2AX and neuronal apoptosis. We recently reported the involvement of WT TDP-43 in non-homologous end joining (NHEJ)-mediated DSB repair, where it acts as a scaffold for the recruitment of XRCC4-DNA ligase 4 complex. Here, the mutant TDP-43, due to its reduced interaction and enhanced cytosolic mislocalization, prevented the nuclear translocation of XRCC4-DNA ligase 4. Consistently, the mutant cells showed significantly reduced DNA strand break sealing activity and were sensitized to DNA-damaging drugs. In addition, the mutant cells showed elevated levels of reactive oxygen species, suggesting both dominant negative and loss-of-function effects of the mutation. Together, our study uncovered an association of sporadic Q331K mutation with persistent genome damage accumulation due to both damage induction and repair defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika N Guerrero
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Neuroscience, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), City of Knowledge, Republic of Panama.,Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, India
| | - Joy Mitra
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Haibo Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Suganya Rangaswamy
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Pavana M Hegde
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Priyadarshini Basu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - K S Rao
- Center for Neuroscience, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), City of Knowledge, Republic of Panama
| | - Muralidhar L Hegde
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.,Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, USA.,Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Institute of Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist, Houston, USA
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De Giorgio F, Maduro C, Fisher EMC, Acevedo-Arozena A. Transgenic and physiological mouse models give insights into different aspects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Dis Model Mech 2019; 12:12/1/dmm037424. [PMID: 30626575 PMCID: PMC6361152 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.037424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A wide range of genetic mouse models is available to help researchers dissect human disease mechanisms. Each type of model has its own distinctive characteristics arising from the nature of the introduced mutation, as well as from the specific changes to the gene of interest. Here, we review the current range of mouse models with mutations in genes causative for the human neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We focus on the two main types of available mutants: transgenic mice and those that express mutant genes at physiological levels from gene targeting or from chemical mutagenesis. We compare the phenotypes for genes in which the two classes of model exist, to illustrate what they can teach us about different aspects of the disease, noting that informative models may not necessarily mimic the full trajectory of the human condition. Transgenic models can greatly overexpress mutant or wild-type proteins, giving us insight into protein deposition mechanisms, whereas models expressing mutant genes at physiological levels may develop slowly progressing phenotypes but illustrate early-stage disease processes. Although no mouse models fully recapitulate the human condition, almost all help researchers to understand normal and abnormal biological processes, providing that the individual characteristics of each model type, and how these may affect the interpretation of the data generated from each model, are considered and appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Giorgio
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Cheryl Maduro
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Elizabeth M C Fisher
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Abraham Acevedo-Arozena
- Unidad de Investigación Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Fundación Canaria de Investigación Sanitaria and Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas (ITB), La Laguna, 38320 Tenerife, Spain
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Hu W, Liu X, Wang S, Sun G, Zhao R, Lu H. SecinH3 Attenuates TDP-43 p.Q331K-Induced Neuronal Toxicity by Suppressing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Enhancing Autophagic Flux. IUBMB Life 2018; 71:192-199. [PMID: 30376609 DOI: 10.1002/iub.1951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, adult-onset, neurodegenerative disease. The transactivating response region DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) p.Q331K mutation (TDP-43 Q331K) has previously been identified in ALS as a disease-causing mutation with neurotoxicity. SecinH3, a cytohesin inhibitor, has neuroprotective effects against mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) toxicity. However, whether SecinH3 protects against mutant TDP-43 p.Q331K protein toxicity and its potential molecular mechanisms have not yet been investigated. To determine whether TDP-43 Q331K induces neuronal toxicity, SH-SY5Y, a human derived neuronal cell line were selected as an in vitro model of neuronal function. SH-SY5Y cells were transiently transfected with TDP-43 wild-type or TDP-43 Q331K. Remarkably, TDP-43 Q331K induced neuronal damage via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated apoptosis and the impairment of the autophagic flux. SecinH3 was demonstrated to successfully attenuate the TDP-43 Q331K-induced neuronal toxicity by suppressing ER stress-mediated apoptosis and enhancing the autophagic flux. Taken together, our in vitro study provided evidence that SecinH3 exerts neuroprotective effects against TDP-43 Q331K-mediated neuronal toxicity and was able to elucidate its mode of action. SecinH3 could, therefore, be considered a promising candidate as a therapeutic agent of ALS. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 71(1):192-199, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Hu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Xi Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.,Department of Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shang Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Guifang Sun
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Ran Zhao
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Hong Lu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
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Miguel L, Avequin T, Pons M, Frebourg T, Campion D, Lecourtois M. FTLD/ALS-linked TDP-43 mutations do not alter TDP-43's ability to self-regulate its expression in Drosophila. Brain Res 2018; 1695:1-9. [PMID: 29778779 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.05.021] [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: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
TDP-43 is a major disease-causing protein in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD). Today, >50 missense mutations in the TARDBP/TDP-43 gene have been described in patients with FTLD/ALS. However, the functional consequences of FTLD/ALS-linked TDP-43 mutations are not fully elucidated. In the physiological state, TDP-43 expression is tightly regulated through an autoregulatory negative feedback loop. Maintaining normal TDP-43 protein levels is critical for proper physiological functions of the cells. In the present study, we investigated whether the FTLD/ALS-associated mutations could interfere with TDP-43 protein's capacity to modulate its own protein levels using Drosophila as an experimental model. Our data show that FTLD/ALS-associated mutant proteins regulate TDP-43 production with the same efficiency as the wild-type form of the protein. Thus, FTLD/ALS-linked TDP-43 mutations do not alter TDP-43's ability to self-regulate its expression and consequently of the homeostasis of TDP-43 protein levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Miguel
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, Inserm, U1245, IRIB, Rouen, France
| | - Tracey Avequin
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, Inserm, U1245, IRIB, Rouen, France
| | - Marine Pons
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, Inserm, U1245, IRIB, Rouen, France
| | - Thierry Frebourg
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, Inserm, U1245, IRIB, Rouen, France; Department of Genetics, Rouen University Hospital, 76301 Rouen, France
| | - Dominique Campion
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, Inserm, U1245, IRIB, Rouen, France; Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-Lès-Rouen, France
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Differential Neurotoxicity Related to Tetracycline Transactivator and TDP-43 Expression in Conditional TDP-43 Mouse Model of Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. J Neurosci 2018; 38:6045-6062. [PMID: 29807909 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1836-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is among the most prevalent dementias of early-onset. Pathologically, FTLD presents with tauopathy or TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) proteinopathy. A biallelic mouse model of FTLD was produced on a mix FVB/129SVE background overexpressing wild-type human TDP-43 (hTDP-43) using tetracycline transactivator (tTA), a system widely used in mouse models of neurological disorders. tTA activates hTDP-43, which is placed downstream of the tetracycline response element. The original study on this transgenic mouse found hippocampal degeneration following hTDP-43 expression, but did not account for independent effects of tTA protein. Here, we initially analyzed the neurotoxic effects of tTA in postweaning age mice of either sex using immunostaining and area measurements of select brain regions. We observed tTA-dependent toxicity selectively in the hippocampus affecting the dentate gyrus significantly more than CA fields, whereas hTDP-43-dependent toxicity in bigenic mice occurred in most other cortical regions. Atrophy was associated with inflammation, activation of caspase-3, and loss of neurons. The atrophy associated with tTA expression was rescuable by the tetracycline analog, doxycycline, in the diet. MRI studies corroborated the patterns of atrophy. tTA-induced degeneration was strain-dependent and was rescued by moving the transgene onto a congenic C57BL/6 background. Despite significant hippocampal atrophy, behavioral tests in bigenic mice revealed no hippocampally mediated memory impairment. Significant atrophy in most cortical areas due solely to TDP-43 expression indicates that this mouse model remains useful for providing critical insight into co-occurrence of TDP-43 pathology, neurodegeneration, and behavioral deficits in FTLD.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The tTA expression system has been widely used in mice to model neurological disorders. The technique allows investigators to reversibly turn on or off disease causing genes. Here, we report on a mouse model that overexpresses human TDP-43 using tTA and attempt to recapitulate features of TDP-43 pathology present in human FTLD. The tTA expression system is problematic, resulting in dramatic degeneration of the hippocampus. Thus, our study adds a note of caution for the use of the tTA system. However, because FTLD is primarily characterized by cortical degeneration and our mouse model shows significant atrophy in most cortical areas due to human TDP-43 overexpression, our animal model remains useful for providing critical insight on this human disease.
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Synaptic Paths to Neurodegeneration: The Emerging Role of TDP-43 and FUS in Synaptic Functions. Neural Plast 2018; 2018:8413496. [PMID: 29755516 PMCID: PMC5925147 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8413496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
TAR DNA-binding protein-43 KDa (TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma (FUS) as the defining pathological hallmarks for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), coupled with ALS-FTD-causing mutations in both genes, indicate that their dysfunctions damage the motor system and cognition. On the molecular level, TDP-43 and FUS participate in the biogenesis and metabolism of coding and noncoding RNAs as well as in the transport and translation of mRNAs as part of cytoplasmic mRNA-ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) granules. Intriguingly, many of the RNA targets of TDP-43 and FUS are involved in synaptic transmission and plasticity, indicating that synaptic dysfunction could be an early event contributing to motor and cognitive deficits in ALS and FTD. Furthermore, the ability of the low-complexity prion-like domains of TDP-43 and FUS to form liquid droplets suggests a potential mechanism for mRNP assembly and conversion. This review will discuss the role of TDP-43 and FUS in RNA metabolism, with an emphasis on the involvement of this process in synaptic function and neuroprotection. This will be followed by a discussion of the potential phase separation mechanism for forming RNP granules and pathological inclusions.
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Lutz C. Mouse models of ALS: Past, present and future. Brain Res 2018; 1693:1-10. [PMID: 29577886 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Genome sequencing of both sporadic and familial patients of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) has led to the identification of new genes that are both contributing and causative in the disease. This gene discovery has come at an unprecedented rate, and much of it in recent years. Knowledge of these genetic mutations provides us with opportunities to uncover new and related mechanisms, increasing our understanding of the disease and bringing us closer to defined therapies for patients. Mouse models have played an important role in our current understanding of the pathophysiology of ALS and have served as important preclinical models in testing new therapeutics. With these new gene discoveries, new mouse models will follow. The information derived from these new models will depend on the careful construction and importantly, an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of each of the models. The genetic discovery in ALS comes at a time when genetic engineering technologies in mice are highly efficient through CRISPR/Cas9 and can be applied to a wide array of genetic backgrounds. New mouse resources in the forms of the Collaborative Cross and Diversity Outbred panels provide us with unique opportunities to study these mutations on diverse genetic backgrounds, and importantly in the context of a population. This review focuses on the mouse models of the past and present, and discusses exciting new opportunities for mouse models of the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathleen Lutz
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA.
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50
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Paré B, Gros-Louis F. Potential skin involvement in ALS: revisiting Charcot's observation - a review of skin abnormalities in ALS. Rev Neurosci 2018; 28:551-572. [PMID: 28343168 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2017-0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord, leading to progressive paralysis and death. Interestingly, many skin changes have been reported in ALS patients, but never as yet fully explained. These observations could be due to the common embryonic origin of the skin and neural tissue known as the ectodermal germ layer. Following the first observation in ALS patients' skin by Dr Charcot in the 19th century, in the absence of bedsores unlike other bedridden patients, other morphological and molecular changes have been observed. Thus, the skin could be of interest in the study of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes skin changes reported in the literature over the years and discusses about a novel in vitro ALS tissue-engineered skin model, derived from patients, for the study of ALS.
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