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Tsitkanou S, Lindsay A, Abbott G, Foletta V, Walker AK, Russell AP, Della Gatta PA. Exercise training induces mild skeletal muscle adaptations without altering disease progression in a TDP-43 mouse model. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2024; 137:728-745. [PMID: 39008617 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00192.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Exercise training is considered a nonpharmacological therapeutic approach for many diseases. Mild-to-moderate endurance exercise training is suggested to improve the mental and physical state of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of the present study was to determine the capacity of symptomatic rNLS8 mice, which develop ALS-reminiscent TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) pathology and motor dysfunction, to perform mild-to-moderate intensity treadmill exercise training and to evaluate the effects of this training on skeletal muscle health and disease progression. Symptomatic rNLS8 mice were able to complete 4 wk of mild-to-moderate treadmill running (30 min at 6-13 m/min, 3 days a week). Exercise training induced an increase in the percentage of type IIA fibers in the tibialis anterior muscle as well as minor adaptations in molecular markers of myogenic, mitochondrial, and neuromuscular junction health in some forelimb and hindlimb muscles. However, this exercise training protocol did not attenuate the loss in motor function or delay disease progression. Alternative exercise regimens need to be investigated to better understand the role exercise training may play in alleviating symptoms of ALS.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to investigate the capacity of symptomatic rNLS8 mice, which develop ALS-reminiscent TDP-43 pathology and motor dysfunction, to perform exercise training. We demonstrate that despite the ALS-reminiscent aggressive disease progression characterizing the rNLS8 mouse model, rNLS8 mice are capable of performing mild-to-moderate endurance treadmill training for at least 3-4 wk. We demonstrate that exercise training induces several minor skeletal muscle adaptations without delaying disease progression in rNLS8 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavroula Tsitkanou
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Cachexia Research Laboratory, Exercise Science Research Center, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
| | - Angus Lindsay
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Gavin Abbott
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Victoria Foletta
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adam K Walker
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Aaron P Russell
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul A Della Gatta
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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2
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Koopman M, Güngördü L, Janssen L, Seinstra RI, Richmond JE, Okerlund N, Wardenaar R, Islam P, Hogewerf W, Brown AEX, Jorgensen EM, Nollen EAA. Rebalancing the motor circuit restores movement in a Caenorhabditis elegans model for TDP-43 toxicity. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114204. [PMID: 38748878 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114204] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis can be caused by abnormal accumulation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) in the cytoplasm of neurons. Here, we use a C. elegans model for TDP-43-induced toxicity to identify the biological mechanisms that lead to disease-related phenotypes. By applying deep behavioral phenotyping and subsequent dissection of the neuromuscular circuit, we show that TDP-43 worms have profound defects in GABA neurons. Moreover, acetylcholine neurons appear functionally silenced. Enhancing functional output of repressed acetylcholine neurons at the level of, among others, G-protein-coupled receptors restores neurotransmission, but inefficiently rescues locomotion. Rebalancing the excitatory-to-inhibitory ratio in the neuromuscular system by simultaneous stimulation of the affected GABA- and acetylcholine neurons, however, not only synergizes the effects of boosting individual neurotransmitter systems, but instantaneously improves movement. Our results suggest that interventions accounting for the altered connectome may be more efficient in restoring motor function than those solely focusing on diseased neuron populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy Koopman
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Lale Güngördü
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Leen Janssen
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Renée I Seinstra
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Janet E Richmond
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Nathan Okerlund
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and School of Biological Science, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - René Wardenaar
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Priota Islam
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Wytse Hogewerf
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Andre E X Brown
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Erik M Jorgensen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and School of Biological Science, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Ellen A A Nollen
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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3
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Marriott H, Kabiljo R, Hunt GP, Khleifat AA, Jones A, Troakes C, Pfaff AL, Quinn JP, Koks S, Dobson RJ, Schwab P, Al-Chalabi A, Iacoangeli A. Unsupervised machine learning identifies distinct ALS molecular subtypes in post-mortem motor cortex and blood expression data. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:208. [PMID: 38129934 PMCID: PMC10734072 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01686-8] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) displays considerable clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Machine learning approaches have previously been utilised for patient stratification in ALS as they can disentangle complex disease landscapes. However, lack of independent validation in different populations and tissue samples have greatly limited their use in clinical and research settings. We overcame these issues by performing hierarchical clustering on the 5000 most variably expressed autosomal genes from motor cortex expression data of people with sporadic ALS from the KCL BrainBank (N = 112). Three molecular phenotypes linked to ALS pathogenesis were identified: synaptic and neuropeptide signalling, oxidative stress and apoptosis, and neuroinflammation. Cluster validation was achieved by applying linear discriminant analysis models to cases from TargetALS US motor cortex (N = 93), as well as Italian (N = 15) and Dutch (N = 397) blood expression datasets, for which there was a high assignment probability (80-90%) for each molecular subtype. The ALS and motor cortex specificity of the expression signatures were tested by mapping KCL BrainBank controls (N = 59), and occipital cortex (N = 45) and cerebellum (N = 123) samples from TargetALS to each cluster, before constructing case-control and motor cortex-region logistic regression classifiers. We found that the signatures were not only able to distinguish people with ALS from controls (AUC 0.88 ± 0.10), but also reflect the motor cortex-based disease process, as there was perfect discrimination between motor cortex and the other brain regions. Cell types known to be involved in the biological processes of each molecular phenotype were found in higher proportions, reinforcing their biological interpretation. Phenotype analysis revealed distinct cluster-related outcomes in both motor cortex datasets, relating to disease onset and progression-related measures. Our results support the hypothesis that different mechanisms underpin ALS pathogenesis in subgroups of patients and demonstrate potential for the development of personalised treatment approaches. Our method is available for the scientific and clinical community at https://alsgeclustering.er.kcl.ac.uk .
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Marriott
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Renata Kabiljo
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Guy P Hunt
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Ahmad Al Khleifat
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Ashley Jones
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
- MRC London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Abigail L Pfaff
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - John P Quinn
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
| | - Sulev Koks
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Richard J Dobson
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Patrick Schwab
- GlaxoSmithKline, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
- King's College Hospital, London, SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Alfredo Iacoangeli
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK.
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK.
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Riemenschneider H, Simonetti F, Sheth U, Katona E, Roth S, Hutten S, Farny D, Michaelsen M, Nuscher B, Schmidt MK, Flatley A, Schepers A, Gruijs da Silva LA, Zhou Q, Klopstock T, Liesz A, Arzberger T, Herms J, Feederle R, Gendron TF, Dormann D, Edbauer D. Targeting the glycine-rich domain of TDP-43 with antibodies prevents its aggregation in vitro and reduces neurofilament levels in vivo. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:112. [PMID: 37434215 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01592-z] [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: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytoplasmic aggregation and concomitant nuclear clearance of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43 are found in ~ 90% of cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and ~ 45% of patients living with frontotemporal lobar degeneration, but no disease-modifying therapy is available. Antibody therapy targeting other aggregating proteins associated with neurodegenerative disorders has shown beneficial effects in animal models and clinical trials. The most effective epitopes for safe antibody therapy targeting TDP-43 are unknown. Here, we identified safe and effective epitopes in TDP-43 for active and potential future passive immunotherapy. We prescreened 15 peptide antigens covering all regions of TDP-43 to identify the most immunogenic epitopes and to raise novel monoclonal antibodies in wild-type mice. Most peptides induced a considerable antibody response and no antigen triggered obvious side effects. Thus, we immunized mice with rapidly progressing TDP-43 proteinopathy ("rNLS8" model) with the nine most immunogenic peptides in five pools prior to TDP-43ΔNLS transgene induction. Strikingly, combined administration of two N-terminal peptides induced genetic background-specific sudden lethality in several mice and was therefore discontinued. Despite a strong antibody response, no TDP-43 peptide prevented the rapid body weight loss or reduced phospho-TDP-43 levels as well as the profound astrogliosis and microgliosis in rNLS8 mice. However, immunization with a C-terminal peptide containing the disease-associated phospho-serines 409/410 significantly lowered serum neurofilament light chain levels, indicative of reduced neuroaxonal damage. Transcriptomic profiling showed a pronounced neuroinflammatory signature (IL-1β, TNF-α, NfκB) in rNLS8 mice and suggested modest benefits of immunization targeting the glycine-rich region. Several novel monoclonal antibodies targeting the glycine-rich domain potently reduced phase separation and aggregation of TDP-43 in vitro and prevented cellular uptake of preformed aggregates. Our unbiased screen suggests that targeting the RRM2 domain and the C-terminal region of TDP-43 by active or passive immunization may be beneficial in TDP-43 proteinopathies by inhibiting cardinal processes of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrick Riemenschneider
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Francesca Simonetti
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), 81377, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU), Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Udit Sheth
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Eszter Katona
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Roth
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Saskia Hutten
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU), Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Daniel Farny
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Meike Michaelsen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Brigitte Nuscher
- Chair of Metabolic Biochemistry, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael K Schmidt
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 23, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrew Flatley
- Monoclonal Antibody Core Facility, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Aloys Schepers
- Monoclonal Antibody Core Facility, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Lara A Gruijs da Silva
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), 81377, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU), Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Qihui Zhou
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Klopstock
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Friedrich Baur Institute at the Department of Neurology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1a, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Arthur Liesz
- Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Arzberger
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 23, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstr. 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Jochen Herms
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 23, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Regina Feederle
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Monoclonal Antibody Core Facility, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tania F Gendron
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Dorothee Dormann
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU), Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Ackermannweg 4, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Dieter Edbauer
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany.
- Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany.
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), 81377, Munich, Germany.
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Hur SK, Hunter M, Dominique MA, Farag M, Cotton-Samuel D, Khan T, Trojanowski JQ, Spiller KJ, Lee VMY. Slow motor neurons resist pathological TDP-43 and mediate motor recovery in the rNLS8 model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:75. [PMID: 35568882 PMCID: PMC9107273 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01373-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In the intermediate stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), surviving motor neurons (MNs) that show intrinsic resistance to TDP-43 proteinopathy can partially compensate for the loss of their more disease-susceptible counterparts. Elucidating the mechanisms of this compensation may reveal approaches for attenuating motor impairment in ALS patients. In the rNLS8 mouse model of ALS-like pathology driven by doxycycline-regulated neuronal expression of human TDP-43 lacking a nuclear localization signal (hTDP-43ΔNLS), slow MNs are more resistant to disease than fast-fatigable (FF) MNs and can mediate recovery following transgene suppression. In the present study, we used a viral tracing strategy to show that these disease-resistant slow MNs sprout to reinnervate motor endplates of adjacent muscle fibers vacated by degenerated FF MNs. Moreover, we found that neuromuscular junctions within fast-twitch skeletal muscle (tibialis anterior, TA) reinnervated by SK3-positive slow MNs acquire resistance to axonal dieback when challenged with a second course of hTDP-43ΔNLS pathology. The selective resistance of reinnervated neuromuscular junctions was specifically induced by the unique pattern of reinnervation following TDP-43-induced neurodegeneration, as recovery from unilateral sciatic nerve crush did not produce motor units resistant to subsequent hTDP-43ΔNLS. Using cross-reinnervation and self-reinnervation surgery in which motor axons are disconnected from their target muscle and reconnected to a new muscle, we show that FF MNs remain hTDP-43ΔNLS-susceptible and slow MNs remain resistant, regardless of which muscle fibers they control. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that MN identity dictates the susceptibility of neuromuscular junctions to TDP-43 pathology and slow MNs can drive recovery of motor systems due to their remarkable resilience to TDP-43-driven degeneration. This study highlights a potential pathway for regaining motor function with ALS pathology in the advent of therapies that halt the underlying neurodegenerative process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Kwon Hur
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Mandana Hunter
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Myrna A. Dominique
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Madona Farag
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Dejania Cotton-Samuel
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Tahiyana Khan
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - John Q. Trojanowski
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Krista J. Spiller
- grid.497530.c0000 0004 0389 4927Janssen Research and Development, Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, PA 19002 USA
| | - Virginia M.-Y. Lee
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
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6
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Tsitkanou S, Della Gatta PA, Abbott G, Wallace MA, Lindsay A, Gerlinger-Romero F, Walker AK, Foletta VC, Russell AP. miR-23a suppression accelerates functional decline in the rNLS8 mouse model of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 162:105559. [PMID: 34774794 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle dysfunction may contribute to the progression and severity of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the present study, we characterized the skeletal muscle pathophysiology in an inducible transgenic mouse model (rNLS8) that develops a TAR-DNA binding protein (TDP-43) proteinopathy and ALS-like neuropathology and disease progression; representative of >90% of all familial and sporadic ALS cases. As we previously observed elevated levels of miR-23a in skeletal muscle of patients with familial and sporadic ALS, we also investigated the effect of miR-23a suppression on skeletal muscle pathophysiology and disease severity in rNLS8 mice. Five weeks after disease onset TDP-43 protein accumulation was observed in tibialis anterior (TA), quadriceps (QUAD) and diaphragm muscle lysates and associated with skeletal muscle atrophy. In the TA muscle TDP-43 was detected in muscle fibres that appeared atrophied and angular in appearance and that also contained β-amyloid aggregates. These fibres were also positive for neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), but not embryonic myosin heavy chain (eMHC), indicating TDP-43/ β-amyloid localization in denervated muscle fibres. There was an upregulation of genes associated with myogenesis and NMJ degeneration and a decrease in the MURF1 atrophy-related protein in skeletal muscle. Suppression of miR-23a impaired rotarod performance and grip strength and accelerated body weight loss during early stages of disease progression. This was associated with increased AchRα mRNA expression and decreased protein levels of PGC-1α. The TDP-43 proteinopathy-induced impairment of whole body and skeletal muscle functional performance is associated with muscle wasting and elevated myogenic and NMJ stress markers. Suppressing miR-23a in the rNLS8 mouse model of ALS contributes to an early acceleration of disease progression as measured by decline in motor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavroula Tsitkanou
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Paul A Della Gatta
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Gavin Abbott
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Marita A Wallace
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Angus Lindsay
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Frederico Gerlinger-Romero
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Adam K Walker
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia; Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Victoria C Foletta
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Aaron P Russell
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
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7
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Hunter M, Spiller KJ, Dominique MA, Xu H, Hunter FW, Fang TC, Canter RG, Roberts CJ, Ransohoff RM, Trojanowski JQ, Lee VMY. Microglial transcriptome analysis in the rNLS8 mouse model of TDP-43 proteinopathy reveals discrete expression profiles associated with neurodegenerative progression and recovery. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:140. [PMID: 34412701 PMCID: PMC8377972 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01239-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The microglial reaction is a hallmark of neurodegenerative conditions, and elements thereof may exert differential effects on disease progression, either worsening or ameliorating severity. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a syndrome characterized by cytoplasmic aggregation of TDP-43 protein and atrophy of motor neurons in the cortex and spinal cord, the transcriptomic signatures of microglia during disease progression are incompletely understood. Here, we performed longitudinal RNAseq analysis of cortical and spinal cord microglia from rNLS8 mice, in which doxycycline-regulatable expression of human TDP-43 (hTDP-43) in the cytoplasm of neurons recapitulates many features of ALS. Transgene suppression in rNLS8 mice leads to functional, anatomical and electrophysiological resolution that is dependent on a microglial reaction that is concurrent with recovery rather than disease onset. We identified basal differences between the gene expression profiles of microglia dependent on localization in spinal cord or cortex. Microglia subjected to chronic hTDP-43 overexpression demonstrated transcriptomic changes in both locations. We noted strong upregulation of Apoe, Axl, Cd63, Clec7a, Csf1, Cst7, Igf1, Itgax, Lgals3, Lilrb4, Lpl and Spp1 during late disease and recovery. Importantly, we identified a distinct suite of differentially expressed genes associated with each phase of disease progression and recovery. Differentially expressed genes were associated with chemotaxis, phagocytosis, inflammation, and production of neuroprotective factors. These data provide new insights into the microglial reaction in TDP-43 proteinopathy. Genes differentially expressed during progression and recovery may provide insight into a unique instance in which the microglial reaction promotes functional recovery after neuronal insult.
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8
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Paez-Colasante X, Figueroa-Romero C, Rumora AE, Hur J, Mendelson FE, Hayes JM, Backus C, Taubman GF, Heinicke L, Walter NG, Barmada SJ, Sakowski SA, Feldman EL. Cytoplasmic TDP43 Binds microRNAs: New Disease Targets in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:117. [PMID: 32477070 PMCID: PMC7235295 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal, and incurable neurodegenerative disease. Recent studies suggest that dysregulation of gene expression by microRNAs (miRNAs) may play an important role in ALS pathogenesis. The reversible nature of this dysregulation makes miRNAs attractive pharmacological targets and a potential therapeutic avenue. Under physiological conditions, miRNA biogenesis, which begins in the nucleus and includes further maturation in the cytoplasm, involves trans-activation response element DNA/RNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP43). However, TDP43 mutations or stress trigger TDP43 mislocalization and inclusion formation, a hallmark of most ALS cases, that may lead to aberrant protein/miRNA interactions in the cytoplasm. Herein, we demonstrated that TDP43 exhibits differential binding affinity for select miRNAs, which prompted us to profile miRNAs that preferentially bind cytoplasmic TDP43. Using cellular models expressing TDP43 variants and miRNA profiling analyses, we identified differential levels of 65 cytoplasmic TDP43-associated miRNAs. Of these, approximately 30% exhibited levels that differed by more than 3-fold in the cytoplasmic TDP43 models relative to our control model. The hits included both novel miRNAs and miRNAs previously associated with ALS that potentially regulate several predicted genes and pathways that may be important for pathogenesis. Accordingly, these findings highlight specific miRNAs that may shed light on relevant disease pathways and could represent potential biomarkers and reversible treatment targets for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amy E. Rumora
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Junguk Hur
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, United States
| | - Faye E. Mendelson
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - John M. Hayes
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Carey Backus
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Laurie Heinicke
- Single Molecule Analysis Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Nils G. Walter
- Single Molecule Analysis Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sami J. Barmada
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Stacey A. Sakowski
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Eva L. Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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9
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Tsitkanou S, Della Gatta P, Foletta V, Russell A. The Role of Exercise as a Non-pharmacological Therapeutic Approach for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Beneficial or Detrimental? Front Neurol 2019; 10:783. [PMID: 31379732 PMCID: PMC6652799 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease, involves the rapid deterioration of motor neurons resulting in severe muscle atrophy and respiratory insufficiency. It is considered a "multisystemic" disease with many potential mechanisms responsible for its pathology. Currently, there is no cure for ALS. Exercise training is suggested as a potential approach to reduce ALS pathology, but its beneficial role remains controversial. This review provides an overview of the effects of exercise training in ALS-affected mice and patients. It will compare the intensity, duration, and type of exercise on the health of SOD1G93A mice, a mouse model of familial ALS, and review clinical studies involving ALS patients undergoing both endurance and resistance training. In summary, mild-to-moderate swimming-based endurance training appears the most advantageous mode of exercise in SOD1G93A mice, improving animal survival, and delaying the onset and progression of disease. Furthermore, clinical studies show that both endurance and resistance training have an advantageous impact on the quality of life of ALS patients without extending life expectancy. However, small sample sizes, non-representative control populations, heterogeneous disease stage of patients, and the presence of confounders often exist in the exercise studies conducted with ALS patients. This raises concerns about the interpretation of these findings and, therefore, these results should be considered with caution. While promising, more pre-clinical and clinical studies with improved experimental design and fewer limitations are still necessary to confirm the impact of exercise training on the health of ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavroula Tsitkanou
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul Della Gatta
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Victoria Foletta
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Aaron Russell
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
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10
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Ragagnin AMG, Shadfar S, Vidal M, Jamali MS, Atkin JD. Motor Neuron Susceptibility in ALS/FTD. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:532. [PMID: 31316328 PMCID: PMC6610326 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the death of both upper and lower motor neurons (MNs) in the brain, brainstem and spinal cord. The neurodegenerative mechanisms leading to MN loss in ALS are not fully understood. Importantly, the reasons why MNs are specifically targeted in this disorder are unclear, when the proteins associated genetically or pathologically with ALS are expressed ubiquitously. Furthermore, MNs themselves are not affected equally; specific MNs subpopulations are more susceptible than others in both animal models and human patients. Corticospinal MNs and lower somatic MNs, which innervate voluntary muscles, degenerate more readily than specific subgroups of lower MNs, which remain resistant to degeneration, reflecting the clinical manifestations of ALS. In this review, we discuss the possible factors intrinsic to MNs that render them uniquely susceptible to neurodegeneration in ALS. We also speculate why some MN subpopulations are more vulnerable than others, focusing on both their molecular and physiological properties. Finally, we review the anatomical network and neuronal microenvironment as determinants of MN subtype vulnerability and hence the progression of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey M G Ragagnin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sina Shadfar
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Marta Vidal
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Md Shafi Jamali
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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11
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Spiller KJ, Khan T, Dominique MA, Restrepo CR, Cotton-Samuel D, Levitan M, Jafar-Nejad P, Zhang B, Soriano A, Rigo F, Trojanowski JQ, Lee VMY. Reduction of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) protects motor neurons from TDP-43-triggered death in rNLS8 mice. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 124:133-140. [PMID: 30458231 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic strategies are needed for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). One potential target is matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which is expressed only by fast motor neurons (MNs) that are selectively vulnerable to various ALS-relevant triggers. Previous studies have shown that reduction of MMP-9 function delayed motor dysfunction in a mouse model of familial ALS. However, given that the majority of ALS cases are sporadic, we propose preclinical testing in a mouse model which may be more clinically translatable: rNLS8 mice. In rNLS8 mice, neurodegeneration is triggered by the major pathological hallmark of ALS, TDP-43 mislocalization and aggregation. MMP-9 was targeted in 3 different ways in rNLS8 mice: by AAV9-mediated knockdown, using antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) technology, and by genetic modification. All 3 strategies preserved the motor unit during disease, as measured by MN counts, tibialis anterior (TA) muscle innervation, and physiological recordings from muscle. However, the strategies that reduced MMP-9 beyond the motor unit lead to premature deaths in a subset of rNLS8 mice. Therefore, selective targeting of MMP-9 in MNs could be beneficial in ALS, but side effects outside of the motor circuit may limit the most commonly used clinical targeting strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista J Spiller
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Tahiyana Khan
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Myrna A Dominique
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Clark R Restrepo
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dejania Cotton-Samuel
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Maya Levitan
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Bin Zhang
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Virginia M-Y Lee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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12
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Spiller KJ, Restrepo CR, Khan T, Dominique MA, Fang TC, Canter RG, Roberts CJ, Miller KR, Ransohoff RM, Trojanowski JQ, Lee VMY. Microglia-mediated recovery from ALS-relevant motor neuron degeneration in a mouse model of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Nat Neurosci 2018; 21:329-340. [PMID: 29463850 PMCID: PMC5857237 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-018-0083-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Though motor neurons (MNs) selectively degenerate in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), other cell types are likely involved in this disease. We recently generated rNLS8 mice in which human TDP-43 (hTDP-43) pathology could be reversibly induced in neurons and expected microglia would contribute to neurodegeneration. However, only subtle microglial changes were detected during disease in the spinal cord, despite progressive MN loss, but microglia still reacted to inflammatory triggers in these mice. Notably, after the hTDP-43 expression was suppressed, microglia dramatically proliferated and changed their morphology and gene expression profiles. These abundant, reactive microglia selectively cleared neuronal hTDP-43. Finally, when microgliosis was blocked during the early recovery phase using PLX3397, a CSF1R/c-kit inhibitor, rNLS8 mice failed to regain full motor function, revealing an important neuroprotective role for microglia. Therefore, reactive microglia exert neuroprotective functions in this ALS model and definition of the underlying mechanism could point towards novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista J Spiller
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR), Institute on Aging, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Clark R Restrepo
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR), Institute on Aging, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tahiyana Khan
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR), Institute on Aging, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Myrna A Dominique
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR), Institute on Aging, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kelly R Miller
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR), Institute on Aging, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - John Q Trojanowski
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR), Institute on Aging, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Virginia M-Y Lee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR), Institute on Aging, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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13
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Oakes JA, Davies MC, Collins MO. TBK1: a new player in ALS linking autophagy and neuroinflammation. Mol Brain 2017; 10:5. [PMID: 28148298 PMCID: PMC5288885 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-017-0287-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor neurons, resulting in progressive muscle weakness and death by respiratory failure. Protein and RNA aggregates are a hallmark of ALS pathology and are thought to contribute to ALS by impairing axonal transport. Mutations in several genes known to contribute to ALS result in deposition of their protein products as aggregates; these include TARDBP, C9ORF72, and SOD1. In motor neurons, this can disrupt transport of mitochondria to areas of metabolic need, resulting in damage to cells and can elicit a neuroinflammatory response leading to further neuronal damage. Recently, eight independent human genetics studies have uncovered a link between TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) mutations and ALS. TBK1 belongs to the IKK-kinase family of kinases that are involved in innate immunity signaling pathways; specifically, TBK1 is an inducer of type-1 interferons. TBK1 also has a major role in autophagy and mitophagy, chiefly the phosphorylation of autophagy adaptors. Several other ALS genes are also involved in autophagy, including p62 and OPTN. TBK1 is required for efficient cargo recruitment in autophagy; mutations in TBK1 may result in impaired autophagy and contribute to the accumulation of protein aggregates and ALS pathology. In this review, we focus on the role of TBK1 in autophagy and the contributions of this process to the pathophysiology of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Oakes
- School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Maria C Davies
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Mark O Collins
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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14
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Alfieri JA, Silva PR, Igaz LM. Early Cognitive/Social Deficits and Late Motor Phenotype in Conditional Wild-Type TDP-43 Transgenic Mice. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:310. [PMID: 28066234 PMCID: PMC5167738 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are two neurodegenerative diseases associated to mislocalization and aggregation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43). To investigate in depth the behavioral phenotype associated with this proteinopathy, we used as a model transgenic (Tg) mice conditionally overexpressing human wild-type TDP 43 protein (hTDP-43-WT) in forebrain neurons. We previously characterized these mice at the neuropathological level and found progressive neurodegeneration and other features that evoke human TDP-43 proteinopathies of the FTD/ALS spectrum. In the present study we analyzed the behavior of mice at multiple domains, including motor, social and cognitive performance. Our results indicate that young hTDP-43-WT Tg mice (1 month after post-weaning transgene induction) present a normal motor phenotype compared to control littermates, as assessed by accelerated rotarod performance, spontaneous locomotor activity in the open field test and a mild degree of spasticity shown by a clasping phenotype. Analysis of social and cognitive behavior showed a rapid installment of deficits in social interaction, working memory (Y-maze test) and recognition memory (novel object recognition test) in the absence of overt motor abnormalities. To investigate if the motor phenotype worsen with age, we analyzed the behavior of mice after long-term (up to 12 months) transgene induction. Our results reveal a decreased performance on the rotarod test and in the hanging wire test, indicating a motor phenotype that was absent in younger mice. In addition, long-term hTDP-43-WT expression led to hyperlocomotion in the open field test. In sum, these results demonstrate a time-dependent emergence of a motor phenotype in older hTDP-43-WT Tg mice, recapitulating aspects of clinical FTD presentations with motor involvement in human patients, and providing a complementary animal model for studying TDP-43 proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio A Alfieri
- IFIBIO Houssay, Grupo de Neurociencia de Sistemas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo R Silva
- IFIBIO Houssay, Grupo de Neurociencia de Sistemas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lionel M Igaz
- IFIBIO Houssay, Grupo de Neurociencia de Sistemas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET Buenos Aires, Argentina
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