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Buijsen RAM, Hu M, Sáez-González M, Notopoulou S, Mina E, Koning W, Gardiner SL, van der Graaf LM, Daoutsali E, Pepers BA, Mei H, van Dis V, Frimat JP, van den Maagdenberg AMJM, Petrakis S, van Roon-Mom WMC. Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 Characteristics in Patient-Derived Fibroblast and iPSC-Derived Neuronal Cultures. Mov Disord 2023; 38:1428-1442. [PMID: 37278528 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29446] [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: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the ataxin-1 protein resulting in neuropathology including mutant ataxin-1 protein aggregation, aberrant neurodevelopment, and mitochondrial dysfunction. OBJECTIVES Identify SCA1-relevant phenotypes in patient-specific fibroblasts and SCA1 induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) neuronal cultures. METHODS SCA1 iPSCs were generated and differentiated into neuronal cultures. Protein aggregation and neuronal morphology were evaluated using fluorescent microscopy. Mitochondrial respiration was measured using the Seahorse Analyzer. The multi-electrode array (MEA) was used to identify network activity. Finally, gene expression changes were studied using RNA-seq to identify disease-specific mechanisms. RESULTS Bioenergetics deficits in patient-derived fibroblasts and SCA1 neuronal cultures showed altered oxygen consumption rate, suggesting involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in SCA1. In SCA1 hiPSC-derived neuronal cells, nuclear and cytoplasmic aggregates were identified similar in localization as aggregates in SCA1 postmortem brain tissue. SCA1 hiPSC-derived neuronal cells showed reduced dendrite length and number of branching points while MEA recordings identified delayed development in network activity in SCA1 hiPSC-derived neuronal cells. Transcriptome analysis identified 1050 differentially expressed genes in SCA1 hiPSC-derived neuronal cells associated with synapse organization and neuron projection guidance, where a subgroup of 151 genes was highly associated with SCA1 phenotypes and linked to SCA1 relevant signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS Patient-derived cells recapitulate key pathological features of SCA1 pathogenesis providing a valuable tool for the identification of novel disease-specific processes. This model can be used for high throughput screenings to identify compounds, which may prevent or rescue neurodegeneration in this devastating disease. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Michel Hu
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Sáez-González
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Sofia Notopoulou
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleni Mina
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Winette Koning
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah L Gardiner
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Linda M van der Graaf
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Elena Daoutsali
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Barry A Pepers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Vera van Dis
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Philippe Frimat
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Arn M J M van den Maagdenberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Spyros Petrakis
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
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2
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Burtscher J, Pepe G, Maharjan N, Riguet N, Di Pardo A, Maglione V, Millet GP. Sphingolipids and impaired hypoxic stress responses in Huntington disease. Prog Lipid Res 2023; 90:101224. [PMID: 36898481 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2023.101224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a debilitating, currently incurable disease. Protein aggregation and metabolic deficits are pathological hallmarks but their link to neurodegeneration and symptoms remains debated. Here, we summarize alterations in the levels of different sphingolipids in an attempt to characterize sphingolipid patterns specific to HD, an additional molecular hallmark of the disease. Based on the crucial role of sphingolipids in maintaining cellular homeostasis, the dynamic regulation of sphingolipids upon insults and their involvement in cellular stress responses, we hypothesize that maladaptations or blunted adaptations, especially following cellular stress due to reduced oxygen supply (hypoxia) contribute to the development of pathology in HD. We review how sphingolipids shape cellular energy metabolism and control proteostasis and suggest how these functions may fail in HD and in combination with additional insults. Finally, we evaluate the potential of improving cellular resilience in HD by conditioning approaches (improving the efficiency of cellular stress responses) and the role of sphingolipids therein. Sphingolipid metabolism is crucial for cellular homeostasis and for adaptations following cellular stress, including hypoxia. Inadequate cellular management of hypoxic stress likely contributes to HD progression, and sphingolipids are potential mediators. Targeting sphingolipids and the hypoxic stress response are novel treatment strategies for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Burtscher
- Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Giuseppe Pepe
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Dell'Elettronica, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Niran Maharjan
- Department of Neurology, Center for Experimental Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Department for Biomedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Alba Di Pardo
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Dell'Elettronica, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
| | | | - Grégoire P Millet
- Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
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3
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Gharaba S, Paz O, Feld L, Abashidze A, Weinrab M, Muchtar N, Baransi A, Shalem A, Sprecher U, Wolf L, Wolfenson H, Weil M. Perturbed actin cap as a new personalized biomarker in primary fibroblasts of Huntington's disease patients. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1013721. [PMID: 36743412 PMCID: PMC9889876 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1013721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary fibroblasts from patient's skin biopsies are directly isolated without any alteration in the genome, retaining in culture conditions their endogenous cellular characteristics and biochemical properties. The aim of this study was to identify a distinctive cell phenotype for potential drug evaluation in fibroblasts from Huntington's Disease (HD) patients, using image-based high content analysis. We show that HD fibroblasts have a distinctive nuclear morphology associated with a nuclear actin cap deficiency. This in turn affects cell motility in a similar manner to fibroblasts from Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) patients used as known actin cap deficient cells. Moreover, treatment of the HD cells with either Latrunculin B, used to disrupt actin cap formation, or the antioxidant agent Mitoquinone, used to improve mitochondrial activity, show expected opposite effects on actin cap associated morphological features and cell motility. Deep data analysis allows strong cluster classification within HD cells according to patients' disease severity score which is distinct from HGPS and matching controls supporting that actin cap is a biomarker in HD patients' cells correlated with HD severity status that could be modulated by pharmacological agents as tool for personalized drug evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saja Gharaba
- Laboratory for Personalized Medicine and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty for Life Sciences, Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Omri Paz
- Laboratory for Personalized Medicine and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty for Life Sciences, Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Lea Feld
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Anastasia Abashidze
- The Blavatnik Center for Drug Discovery, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Maydan Weinrab
- Laboratory for Personalized Medicine and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty for Life Sciences, Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Noam Muchtar
- Laboratory for Personalized Medicine and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty for Life Sciences, Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Adam Baransi
- Laboratory for Personalized Medicine and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty for Life Sciences, Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Aviv Shalem
- Laboratory for Personalized Medicine and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty for Life Sciences, Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel,The Blavatnik School of Computer Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel,School of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Uri Sprecher
- Laboratory for Personalized Medicine and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty for Life Sciences, Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Lior Wolf
- The Blavatnik School of Computer Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Haguy Wolfenson
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel,*Correspondence: Miguel Weil, ; Haguy Wolfenson,
| | - Miguel Weil
- Laboratory for Personalized Medicine and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty for Life Sciences, Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel,*Correspondence: Miguel Weil, ; Haguy Wolfenson,
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4
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Mitochondrial DNA Repair in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Ageing. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911391. [PMID: 36232693 PMCID: PMC9569545 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are the only organelles, along with the nucleus, that have their own DNA. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a double-stranded circular molecule of ~16.5 kbp that can exist in multiple copies within the organelle. Both strands are translated and encode for 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, and 13 proteins. mtDNA molecules are anchored to the inner mitochondrial membrane and, in association with proteins, form a structure called nucleoid, which exerts a structural and protective function. Indeed, mitochondria have evolved mechanisms necessary to protect their DNA from chemical and physical lesions such as DNA repair pathways similar to those present in the nucleus. However, there are mitochondria-specific mechanisms such as rapid mtDNA turnover, fission, fusion, and mitophagy. Nevertheless, mtDNA mutations may be abundant in somatic tissue due mainly to the proximity of the mtDNA to the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system and, consequently, to the reactive oxygen species (ROS) formed during ATP production. In this review, we summarise the most common types of mtDNA lesions and mitochondria repair mechanisms. The second part of the review focuses on the physiological role of mtDNA damage in ageing and the effect of mtDNA mutations in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Considering the central role of mitochondria in maintaining cellular homeostasis, the analysis of mitochondrial function is a central point for developing personalised medicine.
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Lopes C, Ferreira IL, Maranga C, Beatriz M, Mota SI, Sereno J, Castelhano J, Abrunhosa A, Oliveira F, De Rosa M, Hayden M, Laço MN, Januário C, Castelo Branco M, Rego AC. Mitochondrial and redox modifications in early stages of Huntington's disease. Redox Biol 2022; 56:102424. [PMID: 35988447 PMCID: PMC9420526 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Deficits in mitochondrial function and redox deregulation have been attributed to Huntington's disease (HD), a genetic neurodegenerative disorder largely affecting the striatum. However, whether these changes occur in early stages of the disease and can be detected in vivo is still unclear. In the present study, we analysed changes in mitochondrial function and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at early stages and with disease progression. Studies were performed in vivo in human brain by PET using [64Cu]-ATSM and ex vivo in human skin fibroblasts of premanifest and prodromal (Pre-M) and manifest HD carriers. In vivo brain [64Cu]-ATSM PET in YAC128 transgenic mouse and striatal and cortical isolated mitochondria were assessed at presymptomatic (3 month-old, mo) and symptomatic (6–12 mo) stages. Pre-M HD carriers exhibited enhanced whole-brain (with exception of caudate) [64Cu]-ATSM labelling, correlating with CAG repeat number. Fibroblasts from Pre-M showed enhanced basal and maximal respiration, proton leak and increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels, later progressing in manifest HD. Mitochondria from fibroblasts of Pre-M HD carriers also showed reduced circularity, while higher number of mitochondrial DNA copies correlated with maximal respiratory capacity. In vivo animal PET analysis showed increased accumulation of [64Cu]-ATSM in YAC128 mouse striatum. YAC128 mouse (at 3 months) striatal isolated mitochondria exhibited a rise in basal and maximal mitochondrial respiration and in ATP production, and increased complex II and III activities. YAC128 mouse striatal mitochondria also showed enhanced mitochondrial H2O2 levels and circularity, revealed by brain ultrastructure analysis, and defects in Ca2+ handling, supporting increased striatal susceptibility. Data demonstrate both human and mouse mitochondrial overactivity and altered morphology at early HD stages, facilitating redox unbalance, the latter progressing with manifest disease. Pre-manifest HD carriers and presymptomatic YAC128 mice show increased brain [64Cu]-ATSM labelling. Increased [64Cu]-ATSM brain retention correlates with raised ROS levels in human and mouse samples. Increased [64Cu]-ATSM correlates with enhanced mitochondrial activity and mtDNA copy number. Presymptomatic YAC128 mouse striatal mitochondria show altered morphology and Ca2+ handling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Lopes
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; IIIUC-Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - I Luísa Ferreira
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; IIIUC-Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Carina Maranga
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Margarida Beatriz
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Sandra I Mota
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; IIIUC-Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - José Sereno
- ICNAS-Institute of Nuclear Science Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - João Castelhano
- ICNAS-Institute of Nuclear Science Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Antero Abrunhosa
- ICNAS-Institute of Nuclear Science Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Francisco Oliveira
- ICNAS-Institute of Nuclear Science Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Maura De Rosa
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Michael Hayden
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Mário N Laço
- FMUC-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Medical Genetics Unit, Pediatric Hospital of Coimbra, Coimbra University Hospital (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.
| | | | - Miguel Castelo Branco
- ICNAS-Institute of Nuclear Science Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Coimbra, Portugal; FMUC-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - A Cristina Rego
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; FMUC-Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Vanisova M, Stufkova H, Kohoutova M, Rakosnikova T, Krizova J, Klempir J, Rysankova I, Roth J, Zeman J, Hansikova H. Mitochondrial organization and structure are compromised in fibroblasts from patients with Huntington's disease. Ultrastruct Pathol 2022; 46:462-475. [PMID: 35946926 DOI: 10.1080/01913123.2022.2100951] [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: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Huntington´s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with onset in adulthood that leads to a complete disability and death in approximately 20 years after onset of symptoms. HD is caused by an expansion of a CAG triplet in the gene for huntingtin. Although the disease causes most damage to striatal neurons, other parts of the nervous system and many peripheral tissues are also markedly affected. Besides huntingtin malfunction, mitochondrial impairment has been previously described as an important player in HD. This study focuses on mitochondrial structure and function in cultivated skin fibroblasts from 10 HD patients to demonstrate mitochondrial impairment in extra-neuronal tissue. Mitochondrial structure, mitochondrial fission, and cristae organization were significantly disrupted and signs of elevated apoptosis were found. In accordance with structural changes, we also found indicators of functional alteration of mitochondria. Mitochondrial disturbances presented in fibroblasts from HD patients confirm that the energy metabolism damage in HD is not localized only to the central nervous system, but also may play role in the pathogenesis of HD in peripheral tissues. Skin fibroblasts can thus serve as a suitable cellular model to make insight into HD pathobiochemical processes and for the identification of possible targets for new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Vanisova
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Stufkova
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Kohoutova
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Rakosnikova
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Krizova
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Klempir
- Department of Neurology and Centre of Clinical Neuroscience, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Irena Rysankova
- Department of Neurology and Centre of Clinical Neuroscience, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Roth
- Department of Neurology and Centre of Clinical Neuroscience, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Zeman
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Hansikova
- Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
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Accelerated expansion of pathogenic mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmies in Huntington's disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2014610118. [PMID: 34301881 PMCID: PMC8325154 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2014610118] [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] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Decline of mitochondrial function may underlie the pathogenesis of many age-related diseases, such as Huntington’s disease (HD). Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system is encoded partially by the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA). By investigating mtDNA in lymphoblast and blood samples of HD patients, we found that the expansion of OXPHOS-impairing mtDNA heteroplasmies (coexistence of mutated and wild-type mtDNA) is a molecular feature associated with the functional, motor, and cognitive aspects of HD progression, suggesting that improving mtDNA quality or restoring mitochondrial function could be a potential target for HD treatments. Mitochondrial dysfunction is found in the brain and peripheral tissues of patients diagnosed with Huntington’s disease (HD), an irreversible neurodegenerative disease of which aging is a major risk factor. Mitochondrial function is encoded by not only nuclear DNA but also DNA within mitochondria (mtDNA). Expansion of mtDNA heteroplasmies (coexistence of mutated and wild-type mtDNA) can contribute to age-related decline of mitochondrial function but has not been systematically investigated in HD. Here, by using a sensitive mtDNA-targeted sequencing method, we studied mtDNA heteroplasmies in lymphoblasts and longitudinal blood samples of HD patients. We found a significant increase in the fraction of mtDNA heteroplasmies with predicted pathogenicity in lymphoblasts from 1,549 HD patients relative to lymphoblasts from 182 healthy individuals. The increased fraction of pathogenic mtDNA heteroplasmies in HD lymphoblasts also correlated with advancing HD stages and worsened disease severity measured by HD motor function, cognitive function, and functional capacity. Of note, elongated CAG repeats in HTT promoted age-dependent expansion of pathogenic mtDNA heteroplasmies in HD lymphoblasts. We then confirmed in longitudinal blood samples of 169 HD patients that expansion of pathogenic mtDNA heteroplasmies was correlated with decline in functional capacity and exacerbation of HD motor and cognitive functions during a median follow-up of 6 y. The results of our study indicate accelerated decline of mtDNA quality in HD, and highlight monitoring mtDNA heteroplasmies longitudinally as a way to investigate the progressive decline of mitochondrial function in aging and age-related diseases.
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Battista T, Pascarella G, Staid DS, Colotti G, Rosati J, Fiorillo A, Casamassa A, Vescovi AL, Giabbai B, Semrau MS, Fanelli S, Storici P, Squitieri F, Morea V, Ilari A. Known Drugs Identified by Structure-Based Virtual Screening Are Able to Bind Sigma-1 Receptor and Increase Growth of Huntington Disease Patient-Derived Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1293. [PMID: 33525510 PMCID: PMC7865886 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a devastating and presently untreatable neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressively disabling motor and mental manifestations. The sigma-1 receptor (σ1R) is a protein expressed in the central nervous system, whose 3D structure has been recently determined by X-ray crystallography and whose agonists have been shown to have neuroprotective activity in neurodegenerative diseases. To identify therapeutic agents against HD, we have implemented a drug repositioning strategy consisting of: (i) Prediction of the ability of the FDA-approved drugs publicly available through the ZINC database to interact with σ1R by virtual screening, followed by computational docking and visual examination of the 20 highest scoring drugs; and (ii) Assessment of the ability of the six drugs selected by computational analyses to directly bind purified σ1R in vitro by Surface Plasmon Resonance and improve the growth of fibroblasts obtained from HD patients, which is significantly impaired with respect to control cells. All six of the selected drugs proved able to directly bind purified σ1R in vitro and improve the growth of HD cells from both or one HD patient. These results support the validity of the drug repositioning procedure implemented herein for the identification of new therapeutic tools against HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo Battista
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council of Italy, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.B.); (G.P.); (D.S.S.); (G.C.)
- Department of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Gianmarco Pascarella
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council of Italy, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.B.); (G.P.); (D.S.S.); (G.C.)
- Department of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - David Sasah Staid
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council of Italy, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.B.); (G.P.); (D.S.S.); (G.C.)
- Department of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Gianni Colotti
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council of Italy, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.B.); (G.P.); (D.S.S.); (G.C.)
| | - Jessica Rosati
- Cellular Reprogramming Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (J.R.); (A.C.); (A.L.V.)
| | - Annarita Fiorillo
- Department of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alessia Casamassa
- Cellular Reprogramming Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (J.R.); (A.C.); (A.L.V.)
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Angelo Luigi Vescovi
- Cellular Reprogramming Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (J.R.); (A.C.); (A.L.V.)
| | - Barbara Giabbai
- Protein Facility, Structural Biology Lab, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, 34149 Basovizza, Italy; (B.G.); (M.S.S.); (P.S.)
| | - Marta Stefania Semrau
- Protein Facility, Structural Biology Lab, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, 34149 Basovizza, Italy; (B.G.); (M.S.S.); (P.S.)
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology—CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Sergio Fanelli
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (S.F.); (F.S.)
| | - Paola Storici
- Protein Facility, Structural Biology Lab, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, 34149 Basovizza, Italy; (B.G.); (M.S.S.); (P.S.)
| | - Ferdinando Squitieri
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (S.F.); (F.S.)
| | - Veronica Morea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council of Italy, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.B.); (G.P.); (D.S.S.); (G.C.)
| | - Andrea Ilari
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council of Italy, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.B.); (G.P.); (D.S.S.); (G.C.)
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Enhancement of Autophagy and Solubilization of Ataxin-2 Alleviate Apoptosis in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2 Patient Cells. THE CEREBELLUM 2020; 19:165-181. [DOI: 10.1007/s12311-019-01092-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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10
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Juvenile Huntington's Disease Skin Fibroblasts Respond with Elevated Parkin Level and Increased Proteasome Activity as a Potential Mechanism to Counterbalance the Pathological Consequences of Mutant Huntingtin Protein. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20215338. [PMID: 31717806 PMCID: PMC6861992 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20215338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder, caused by an abnormal polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the huntingtin protein (Htt). Mitochondrial dysfunction and impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) are hallmarks of HD neurons. The extraneural manifestations of HD are still unclear. We investigated the crosstalk between mitochondria and proteolytic function in skin fibroblasts from juvenile HD patients. We found reduced mitosis, increased cell size, elevated ROS and increased mitochondrial membrane potential in juvenile HD fibroblasts, while cellular viability was maintained. Mitochondrial OXPHOS analysis did not reveal significant differences compared to control. However, the level of mitochondrial fusion and fission proteins was significantly lower and branching in the mitochondria network was reduced. We hypothesized that juvenile HD fibroblasts counterbalance cellular damage and mitochondrial network deficit with altered proteasome activity to promote cell survival. Our data reveal that juvenile HD fibroblasts exhibit higher proteasome activity, which was associated with elevated gene and protein expression of parkin. Moreover, we demonstrate elevated proteasomal degradation of the mitochondrial fusion protein Mfn1 in diseased cells compared to control cells. Our data suggest that juvenile HD fibroblasts respond to mutant polyQ expansion of Htt with enhanced proteasome activity and faster turnover of specific UPS substrates to protect cells.
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Lakra P, Aditi K, Agrawal N. Peripheral Expression of Mutant Huntingtin is a Critical Determinant of Weight Loss and Metabolic Disturbances in Huntington's Disease. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10127. [PMID: 31300691 PMCID: PMC6626032 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46470-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Deteriorating weight loss in patients with Huntington's disease (HD) is a complicated peripheral manifestation and the cause remains poorly understood. Studies suggest that body weight strongly influences the clinical progression rate of HD and thereby offers a valuable target for therapeutic interventions. Mutant huntingtin (mHTT) is ubiquitously expressed and could induce toxicity by directly acting in the peripheral tissues. We investigated the effects of selective expression of mHTT exon1 in fat body (FB; functionally equivalent to human adipose tissue and liver) using transgenic Drosophila. We find that FB-autonomous expression of mHTT exon1 is intrinsically toxic and causes chronic weight loss in the flies despite progressive hyperphagia, and early adult death. Moreover, flies exhibit loss of intracellular lipid stores, and decline in the systemic levels of lipids and carbohydrates which aggravates over time, representing metabolic defects. At the cellular level, besides impairment, cell death also occurs with the formation of mHTT aggregates in the FB. These findings indicate that FB-autonomous expression of mHTT alone is sufficient to cause metabolic abnormalities and emaciation in vivo without any neurodegenerative cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Lakra
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Kumari Aditi
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Namita Agrawal
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India.
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Aziz NA. Statin use and delayed onset of Huntington's disease. Mov Disord 2019; 34:762-763. [PMID: 31091360 DOI: 10.1002/mds.27680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- N Ahmad Aziz
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
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2018: Year in Review and Message from the Editors to Our Reviewers. Neurol Genet 2019. [PMCID: PMC6384019 DOI: 10.1212/nxg.0000000000000309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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