1
|
Garg V, Geurten BRH. Diving deep: zebrafish models in motor neuron degeneration research. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1424025. [PMID: 38966756 PMCID: PMC11222423 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1424025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In the dynamic landscape of biomedical science, the pursuit of effective treatments for motor neuron disorders like hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) remains a key priority. Central to this endeavor is the development of robust animal models, with the zebrafish emerging as a prime candidate. Exhibiting embryonic transparency, a swift life cycle, and significant genetic and neuroanatomical congruencies with humans, zebrafish offer substantial potential for research. Despite the difference in locomotion-zebrafish undulate while humans use limbs, the zebrafish presents relevant phenotypic parallels to human motor control disorders, providing valuable insights into neurodegenerative diseases. This review explores the zebrafish's inherent traits and how they facilitate profound insights into the complex behavioral and cellular phenotypes associated with these disorders. Furthermore, we examine recent advancements in high-throughput drug screening using the zebrafish model, a promising avenue for identifying therapeutically potent compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vranda Garg
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Belosludtseva NV, Matveeva LA, Belosludtsev KN. Mitochondrial Dyshomeostasis as an Early Hallmark and a Therapeutic Target in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16833. [PMID: 38069154 PMCID: PMC10706047 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal multisystem disease characterized by progressive death of motor neurons, loss of muscle mass, and impaired energy metabolism. More than 40 genes are now known to be associated with ALS, which together account for the majority of familial forms of ALS and only 10% of sporadic ALS cases. To date, there is no consensus on the pathogenesis of ALS, which makes it difficult to develop effective therapy. Accumulating evidence indicates that mitochondria, which play an important role in cellular homeostasis, are the earliest targets in ALS, and abnormalities in their structure and functions contribute to the development of bioenergetic stress and disease progression. Mitochondria are known to be highly dynamic organelles, and their stability is maintained through a number of key regulatory pathways. Mitochondrial homeostasis is dynamically regulated via mitochondrial biogenesis, clearance, fission/fusion, and trafficking; however, the processes providing "quality control" and distribution of the organelles are prone to dysregulation in ALS. Here, we systematically summarized changes in mitochondrial turnover, dynamics, calcium homeostasis, and alterations in mitochondrial transport and functions to provide in-depth insights into disease progression pathways, which may have a significant impact on current symptomatic therapies and personalized treatment programs for patients with ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia V. Belosludtseva
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya 3, Pushchino 142290, Russia;
| | - Lyudmila A. Matveeva
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Microbiology, Mari State University, pl. Lenina 1, Yoshkar-Ola 424001, Russia;
| | - Konstantin N. Belosludtsev
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya 3, Pushchino 142290, Russia;
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Microbiology, Mari State University, pl. Lenina 1, Yoshkar-Ola 424001, Russia;
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Singh J, Patten SA. Modeling neuromuscular diseases in zebrafish. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1054573. [PMID: 36583079 PMCID: PMC9794147 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1054573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular diseases are a diverse group of conditions that affect the motor system and present some overlapping as well as distinct clinical manifestations. Although individually rare, the combined prevalence of NMDs is similar to Parkinson's. Over the past decade, new genetic mutations have been discovered through whole exome/genome sequencing, but the pathogenesis of most NMDs remains largely unexplored. Little information on the molecular mechanism governing the progression and development of NMDs accounts for the continual failure of therapies in clinical trials. Different aspects of the diseases are typically investigated using different models from cells to animals. Zebrafish emerges as an excellent model for studying genetics and pathogenesis and for developing therapeutic interventions for most NMDs. In this review, we describe the generation of different zebrafish genetic models mimicking NMDs and how they are used for drug discovery and therapy development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaskaran Singh
- INRS – Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Shunmoogum A. Patten
- INRS – Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada,Departement de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada,Centre d'Excellence en Recherche sur les Maladies Orphelines – Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, QC, Canada,*Correspondence: Shunmoogum A. Patten,
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chia K, Klingseisen A, Sieger D, Priller J. Zebrafish as a model organism for neurodegenerative disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:940484. [PMID: 36311026 PMCID: PMC9606821 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.940484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish is increasingly recognized as a model organism for translational research into human neuropathology. The zebrafish brain exhibits fundamental resemblance with human neuroanatomical and neurochemical pathways, and hallmarks of human brain pathology such as protein aggregation, neuronal degeneration and activation of glial cells, for example, can be modeled and recapitulated in the fish central nervous system. Genetic manipulation, imaging, and drug screening are areas where zebrafish excel with the ease of introducing mutations and transgenes, the expression of fluorescent markers that can be detected in vivo in the transparent larval stages overtime, and simple treatment of large numbers of fish larvae at once followed by automated screening and imaging. In this review, we summarize how zebrafish have successfully been employed to model human neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease. We discuss advantages and disadvantages of choosing zebrafish as a model for these neurodegenerative conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelda Chia
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Klingseisen
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Dirk Sieger
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Dirk Sieger,
| | - Josef Priller
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Neuropsychiatry and Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, DZNE, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Josef Priller,
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lescouzères L, Bordignon B, Bomont P. Development of a high-throughput tailored imaging method in zebrafish to understand and treat neuromuscular diseases. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:956582. [PMID: 36204134 PMCID: PMC9530744 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.956582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a vertebrate species offering multitude of advantages for the study of conserved biological systems in human and has considerably enriched our knowledge in developmental biology and physiology. Being equally important in medical research, the zebrafish has become a critical tool in the fields of diagnosis, gene discovery, disease modeling, and pharmacology-based therapy. Studies on the zebrafish neuromuscular system allowed for deciphering key molecular pathways in this tissue, and established it as a model of choice to study numerous motor neurons, neuromuscular junctions, and muscle diseases. Starting with the similarities of the zebrafish neuromuscular system with the human system, we review disease models associated with the neuromuscular system to focus on current methodologies employed to study them and outline their caveats. In particular, we put in perspective the necessity to develop standardized and high-resolution methodologies that are necessary to deepen our understanding of not only fundamental signaling pathways in a healthy tissue but also the changes leading to disease phenotype outbreaks, and offer templates for high-content screening strategies. While the development of high-throughput methodologies is underway for motility assays, there is no automated approach to quantify the key molecular cues of the neuromuscular junction. Here, we provide a novel high-throughput imaging methodology in the zebrafish that is standardized, highly resolutive, quantitative, and fit for drug screening. By providing a proof of concept for its robustness in identifying novel molecular players and therapeutic drugs in giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) disease, we foresee that this new tool could be useful for both fundamental and biomedical research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Léa Lescouzères
- ERC Team, Institut NeuroMyoGéne-PGNM, Inserm U1315, CNRS UMR 5261, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Benoît Bordignon
- Montpellier Ressources Imagerie, BioCampus, CNRS, INSERM, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Pascale Bomont
- ERC Team, Institut NeuroMyoGéne-PGNM, Inserm U1315, CNRS UMR 5261, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Rutherford HA, Clarke A, Chambers EV, Petts JJ, Carson EG, Isles HM, Duque-Jaramillo A, Renshaw SA, Levraud JP, Hamilton N. A zebrafish reporter line reveals immune and neuronal expression of endogenous retrovirus. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm048921. [PMID: 35142349 PMCID: PMC9016899 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.048921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are fossils left in our genome from retrovirus infections of the past. Their sequences are part of every vertebrate genome and their random integrations are thought to have contributed to evolution. Although ERVs are mainly silenced by the host genome, they have been found to be activated in multiple disease states, such as auto-inflammatory disorders and neurological diseases. However, the numerous copies in mammalian genomes and the lack of tools to study them make defining their role in health and diseases challenging. In this study, we identified eight copies of the zebrafish endogenous retrovirus zferv. We created and characterised the first in vivo ERV reporter line in any species. Using a combination of live imaging, flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing, we mapped zferv expression to early T cells and neurons. Thus, this new tool identified tissues expressing ERV in zebrafish, highlighting a potential role of ERV during brain development and strengthening the hypothesis that ERV play a role in immunity and neurological diseases. This transgenic line is therefore a suitable tool to study the function of ERV in health and diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Holly A. Rutherford
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Amy Clarke
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Emily V. Chambers
- The Bioinformatics Core, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jessica J. Petts
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Euan G. Carson
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Hannah M. Isles
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Alejandra Duque-Jaramillo
- Institute of Microbiology (IMUL), Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 48, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stephen A. Renshaw
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jean-Pierre Levraud
- Macrophages et Développement de l'Immunité, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3738, 25 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris,France
| | - Noémie Hamilton
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
- The Institute of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bonifacino T, Zerbo RA, Balbi M, Torazza C, Frumento G, Fedele E, Bonanno G, Milanese M. Nearly 30 Years of Animal Models to Study Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Historical Overview and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212236. [PMID: 34830115 PMCID: PMC8619465 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, multigenic, multifactorial, and non-cell autonomous neurodegenerative disease characterized by upper and lower motor neuron loss. Several genetic mutations lead to ALS development and many emerging gene mutations have been discovered in recent years. Over the decades since 1990, several animal models have been generated to study ALS pathology including both vertebrates and invertebrates such as yeast, worms, flies, zebrafish, mice, rats, guinea pigs, dogs, and non-human primates. Although these models show different peculiarities, they are all useful and complementary to dissect the pathological mechanisms at the basis of motor neuron degeneration and ALS progression, thus contributing to the development of new promising therapeutics. In this review, we describe the up to date and available ALS genetic animal models, classified by the different genetic mutations and divided per species, pointing out their features in modeling, the onset and progression of the pathology, as well as their specific pathological hallmarks. Moreover, we highlight similarities, differences, advantages, and limitations, aimed at helping the researcher to select the most appropriate experimental animal model, when designing a preclinical ALS study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Bonifacino
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberta Arianna Zerbo
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Matilde Balbi
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Carola Torazza
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Giulia Frumento
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Ernesto Fedele
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Milanese
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Amor S, Nutma E, Marzin M, Puentes F. Imaging immunological processes from blood to brain in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Exp Immunol 2021; 206:301-313. [PMID: 34510431 PMCID: PMC8561688 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathology studies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and animal models of ALS reveal a strong association between aberrant protein accumulation and motor neurone damage, as well as activated microglia and astrocytes. While the role of neuroinflammation in the pathology of ALS is unclear, imaging studies of the central nervous system (CNS) support the idea that innate immune activation occurs early in disease in both humans and rodent models of ALS. In addition, emerging studies also reveal changes in monocytes, macrophages and lymphocytes in peripheral blood as well as at the neuromuscular junction. To more clearly understand the association of neuroinflammation (innate and adaptive) with disease progression, the use of biomarkers and imaging modalities allow monitoring of immune parameters in the disease process. Such approaches are important for patient stratification, selection and inclusion in clinical trials, as well as to provide readouts of response to therapy. Here, we discuss the different imaging modalities, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy and positron emission tomography as well as other approaches, including biomarkers of inflammation in ALS, that aid the understanding of the underlying immune mechanisms associated with motor neurone degeneration in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Amor
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Erik Nutma
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Manuel Marzin
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Fabiola Puentes
- Department of Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Butti Z, Pan YE, Giacomotto J, Patten SA. Reduced C9orf72 function leads to defective synaptic vesicle release and neuromuscular dysfunction in zebrafish. Commun Biol 2021; 4:792. [PMID: 34172817 PMCID: PMC8233344 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02302-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) is a hexanucleotide repeat expansion within the C9orf72 gene. Reduced levels of C9orf72 mRNA and protein have been found in ALS/FTD patients, but the role of this protein in disease pathogenesis is still poorly understood. Here, we report the generation and characterization of a stable C9orf72 loss-of-function (LOF) model in the zebrafish. We show that reduced C9orf72 function leads to motor defects, muscle atrophy, motor neuron loss and mortality in early larval and adult stages. Analysis of the structure and function of the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) of the larvae, reveal a marked reduction in the number of presynaptic and postsynaptic structures and an impaired release of quantal synaptic vesicles at the NMJ. Strikingly, we demonstrate a downregulation of SV2a upon C9orf72-LOF and a reduced rate of synaptic vesicle cycling. Furthermore, we show a reduced number and size of Rab3a-postive synaptic puncta at NMJs. Altogether, these results reveal a key function for C9orf72 in the control of presynaptic vesicle trafficking and release at the zebrafish larval NMJ. Our study demonstrates an important role for C9orf72 in ALS/FTD pathogenesis, where it regulates synaptic vesicle release and neuromuscular functions. Butti et al. generate a C9orf72 loss-of-function model in zebrafish. They find that that C9orf72 is required for presynaptic vesicle trafficking and release at the zebrafish larval neuromuscular junctions. This study provides functional insights into the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and fronto-temporal dementia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoé Butti
- INRS- Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada
| | | | - Jean Giacomotto
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Shunmoogum A Patten
- INRS- Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada. .,Centre d'Excellence en Recherche sur les Maladies Orphelines - Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Miao KZ, Kim GY, Meara GK, Qin X, Feng H. Tipping the Scales With Zebrafish to Understand Adaptive Tumor Immunity. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:660969. [PMID: 34095125 PMCID: PMC8173129 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.660969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The future of improved immunotherapy against cancer depends on an in-depth understanding of the dynamic interactions between the immune system and tumors. Over the past two decades, the zebrafish has served as a valuable model system to provide fresh insights into both the development of the immune system and the etiologies of many different cancers. This well-established foundation of knowledge combined with the imaging and genetic capacities of the zebrafish provides a new frontier in cancer immunology research. In this review, we provide an overview of the development of the zebrafish immune system along with a side-by-side comparison of its human counterpart. We then introduce components of the adaptive immune system with a focus on their roles in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of teleosts. In addition, we summarize zebrafish models developed for the study of cancer and adaptive immunity along with other available tools and technology afforded by this experimental system. Finally, we discuss some recent research conducted using the zebrafish to investigate adaptive immune cell-tumor interactions. Without a doubt, the zebrafish will arise as one of the driving forces to help expand the knowledge of tumor immunity and facilitate the development of improved anti-cancer immunotherapy in the foreseeable future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Z Miao
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Grace Y Kim
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Grace K Meara
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Xiaodan Qin
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Hui Feng
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Asakawa K, Handa H, Kawakami K. Illuminating ALS Motor Neurons With Optogenetics in Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:640414. [PMID: 33816488 PMCID: PMC8012537 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.640414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Spinal motor neurons align along the spinal cord length within the vertebral column, and extend long axons to connect with skeletal muscles covering the body surface. Due to this anatomy, spinal motor neurons are among the most difficult cells to observe in vivo. Larval zebrafish have transparent bodies that allow non-invasive visualization of whole cells of single spinal motor neurons, from somas to the neuromuscular synapses. This unique feature, combined with its amenability to genome editing, pharmacology, and optogenetics, enables functional analyses of ALS-associated proteins in the spinal motor neurons in vivo with subcellular resolution. Here, we review the zebrafish skeletal neuromuscular system and the optical methods used to study it. We then introduce a recently developed optogenetic zebrafish ALS model that uses light illumination to control oligomerization, phase transition and aggregation of the ALS-associated DNA/RNA-binding protein called TDP-43. Finally, we will discuss how this disease-in-a-fish ALS model can help solve key questions about ALS pathogenesis and lead to new ALS therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhide Asakawa
- Department of Chemical Biology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Handa
- Department of Chemical Biology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Kawakami
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan.,Department of Genetics, Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Aldewachi H, Al-Zidan RN, Conner MT, Salman MM. High-Throughput Screening Platforms in the Discovery of Novel Drugs for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021; 8:30. [PMID: 33672148 PMCID: PMC7926814 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8020030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are incurable and debilitating conditions that result in progressive degeneration and/or death of nerve cells in the central nervous system (CNS). Identification of viable therapeutic targets and new treatments for CNS disorders and in particular, for NDDs is a major challenge in the field of drug discovery. These difficulties can be attributed to the diversity of cells involved, extreme complexity of the neural circuits, the limited capacity for tissue regeneration, and our incomplete understanding of the underlying pathological processes. Drug discovery is a complex and multidisciplinary process. The screening attrition rate in current drug discovery protocols mean that only one viable drug may arise from millions of screened compounds resulting in the need to improve discovery technologies and protocols to address the multiple causes of attrition. This has identified the need to screen larger libraries where the use of efficient high-throughput screening (HTS) becomes key in the discovery process. HTS can investigate hundreds of thousands of compounds per day. However, if fewer compounds could be screened without compromising the probability of success, the cost and time would be largely reduced. To that end, recent advances in computer-aided design, in silico libraries, and molecular docking software combined with the upscaling of cell-based platforms have evolved to improve screening efficiency with higher predictability and clinical applicability. We review, here, the increasing role of HTS in contemporary drug discovery processes, in particular for NDDs, and evaluate the criteria underlying its successful application. We also discuss the requirement of HTS for novel NDD therapies and examine the major current challenges in validating new drug targets and developing new treatments for NDDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Aldewachi
- Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK;
- College of Pharmacy, Nineveh University, Mosul 41002, Iraq
| | - Radhwan N. Al-Zidan
- College of Pharmacy, University of Mosul, Mosul 41002, Iraq;
- School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, UK
| | - Matthew T. Conner
- School of Sciences, Research Institute in Healthcare Science, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK;
| | - Mootaz M. Salman
- College of Pharmacy, University of Mosul, Mosul 41002, Iraq;
- Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Campbell T, Lou X, Slone J, Brown J, Bromwell M, Liu J, Bai R, Haude K, Balog A, Cui H, Zou W, Yang L, Al-Beshri A, Huang T. Mitochondrial genome variant m.3250T>C as a possible risk factor for mitochondrial cardiomyopathy. Hum Mutat 2020; 42:177-188. [PMID: 33259687 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The MT-TL1 gene codes for the mitochondrial leucine transfer RNA (tRNALeu(UUR) ) necessary for mitochondrial translation. Pathogenic variants in the MT-TL1 gene result in mitochondriopathy in humans. The m.3250T>C variant in the MT-TL1 gene has been previously associated with exercise intolerance and mitochondrial myopathy, yet disease classification for this variant has not been consistently reported. Molecular studies suggest the m.3250T>C variant does not alter tRNALeu(UUR) structure but may have a modest impact on aminoacylation capacity. However, functional studies are limited. Our study aimed to further define the clinical presentation, inheritance pattern, and molecular pathology of the m.3250T>C variant. Families with the m.3250T>C variant were recruited from the Mitochondrial Disease Clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and GeneDx laboratory database. Affected individuals most frequently presented with cardiac findings, exercise intolerance, and muscle weakness. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was the most frequent cardiac finding. Many asymptomatic individuals had homoplasmic or near homoplasmic levels of the m.3250T>C variant, suggesting the penetrance is incomplete. Patient-derived fibroblasts demonstrated lowered ATP production and increased levels of reactive oxygen species. Our results demonstrate that the m.3250T>C variant exhibits incomplete penetrance and may be a possible cause of cardiomyopathy by impacting cellular respiration in mitochondria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Campbell
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Xiaoting Lou
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jesse Slone
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jenice Brown
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Meghan Bromwell
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jie Liu
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | | | - Hong Cui
- GeneDx, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Weiwei Zou
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Li Yang
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ali Al-Beshri
- Internal Medicine and Medical Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Taosheng Huang
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Goldshtein H, Muhire A, Petel Légaré V, Pushett A, Rotkopf R, Shefner JM, Peterson RT, Armstrong GAB, Russek‐ Blum N. Efficacy of Ciprofloxacin/Celecoxib combination in zebrafish models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:1883-1897. [PMID: 32915525 PMCID: PMC7545590 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of a fixed-dose combination of two approved drugs, Ciprofloxacin and Celecoxib, as a potential therapeutic treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS Toxicity and efficacy of Ciprofloxacin and Celecoxib were tested, each alone and in distinct ratio combinations in SOD1 G93R transgenic zebrafish model for ALS. Quantification of swimming measures following stimuli, measurements of axonal projections from the spinal cord, neuromuscular junction structure and morphometric analysis of microglia cells were performed in the combination- treated vs nontreated mutant larvae. Additionally, quantifications of touch-evoked locomotor escape response were conducted in treated vs nontreated zebrafish expressing the TARDBP G348C ALS variant. RESULTS When administered individually, Ciprofloxacin had a mild effect and Celecoxib had no therapeutic effect. However, combined Ciprofloxacin and Celecoxib (Cipro/Celecox) treatment caused a significant increase of ~ 84% in the distance the SOD1 G93R transgenic larvae swam. Additionally, Cipro/Celecox elicited recovery of impaired motor neurons morphology and abnormal neuromuscular junction structure and preserved the ramified morphology of microglia cells in the SOD1 mutants. Furthermore, larvae expressing the TDP-43 mutation displayed evoked touch responses that were significantly longer in swim distance (110% increase) and significantly higher in maximal swim velocity (~44% increase) when treated with Cipro/Celecox combination. INTERPRETATION Cipro/Celecox combination improved locomotor and cellular deficits of ALS zebrafish models. These results identify this novel combination as effective, and may prove promising for the treatment of ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hagit Goldshtein
- The Dead Sea Arava Science CenterAuspices of Ben Gurion UniversityCentral Arava86815Israel
| | - Alexandre Muhire
- The Dead Sea Arava Science CenterAuspices of Ben Gurion UniversityCentral Arava86815Israel
| | - Virginie Petel Légaré
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryMontreal Neurological InstituteFaculty of MedicineMcGill UniversityMontrealQCH3A 0G4Canada
| | - Avital Pushett
- NeuroSense Therapeutics LtdMedinat Hayehudim 85Herzeliya4676670Israel
| | - Ron Rotkopf
- Bioinformatics and Biological Computing UnitLife Sciences Core FacilitiesWeizmann Institute of ScienceRehovot7610001Israel
| | - Jeremy M. Shefner
- Barrow Neurological Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, Creighton University College of Medicine PhoenixPhoenixAZ85013USA
| | | | - Gary A. B. Armstrong
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryMontreal Neurological InstituteFaculty of MedicineMcGill UniversityMontrealQCH3A 0G4Canada
| | - Niva Russek‐ Blum
- The Dead Sea Arava Science CenterAuspices of Ben Gurion UniversityCentral Arava86815Israel
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ashford BA, Boche D, Cooper-Knock J, Heath PR, Simpson JE, Highley JR. Review: Microglia in motor neuron disease. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2020; 47:179-197. [PMID: 32594542 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is a fatal neurodegenerative condition, which is characterized by the selective loss of the upper and lower motor neurons. At the sites of motor neuron injury, accumulation of activated microglia, the primary immune cells of the central nervous system, is commonly observed in both human post mortem studies and animal models of MND. Microglial activation has been found to correlate with many clinical features and importantly, the speed of disease progression in humans. Both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory microglial responses have been shown to influence disease progression in humans and models of MND. As such, microglia could both contribute to and protect against inflammatory mechanisms of pathogenesis in MND. While murine models have characterized the microglial response to MND, these studies have painted a complex and often contradictory picture, indicating a need for further characterization in humans. This review examines the potential role microglia play in MND in human and animal studies. Both the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses will be addressed, throughout the course of disease, followed by the potential of microglia as a target in the development of disease-modifying treatments for MND.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - D Boche
- University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - P R Heath
- University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Morrice JR, Gregory-Evans CY, Shaw CA. Investigating microglia during motor neuron degeneration using a zebrafish model. Micron 2020; 133:102852. [PMID: 32203887 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2020.102852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Many different types of pathologies can arise in the central nervous system (CNS), such as neurodegeneration. The incidence of neurodegenerative diseases continues to increase, yet the pathogenesis underlying most neurodegenerative diseases, notably in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), remains elusive. Neuronal support cells, or glia, are known to play a crucial role in ALS. Microglia are the resident immune cells of the CNS and also have neurotrophic support functions. These cells have a disease-modifying function in ALS, yet this role is not well understood. A likely reason for this is that the intact CNS is particularly challenging to access for investigation in patients and in most animal models, which has impeded research in this field. The zebrafish is emerging as a robust model system to investigate cells in vivo, and offer distinct advantages over other vertebrate models for investigating neurodegenerative diseases. Live imaging in vivo is a powerful technique to characterize the role of dynamic cells such as microglia during neurodegeneration, and zebrafish provide a convenient means for live imaging. Here, we discuss the zebrafish as a model for live imaging, provide a brief overview of available high resolution imaging platforms that accommodate zebrafish, and describe our own in vivo studies on the role of microglia during motor neuron degeneration. Live in vivo imaging is anticipated to provide invaluable advancements to defining the pathogenesis underlying neurodegenerative diseases, which may in turn allow for more specifically targeted therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R Morrice
- Experimental Medicine Program, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Cheryl Y Gregory-Evans
- Experimental Medicine Program, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Christopher A Shaw
- Experimental Medicine Program, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Zambusi A, Ninkovic J. Regeneration of the central nervous system-principles from brain regeneration in adult zebrafish. World J Stem Cells 2020; 12:8-24. [PMID: 32110272 PMCID: PMC7031763 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v12.i1.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Poor recovery of neuronal functions is one of the most common healthcare challenges for patients with different types of brain injuries and/or neurodegenerative diseases. Therapeutic interventions face two major challenges: (1) How to generate neurons de novo to replenish the neuronal loss caused by injuries or neurodegeneration (restorative neurogenesis) and (2) How to prevent or limit the secondary tissue damage caused by long-term accumulation of glial cells, including microglia, at injury site (glial scar). In contrast to mammals, zebrafish have extensive regenerative capacity in numerous vital organs, including the brain, thus making them a valuable model to improve the existing therapeutic approaches for human brain repair. In response to injuries to the central nervous system (CNS), zebrafish have developed specific mechanisms to promote the recovery of the lost tissue architecture and functionality of the damaged CNS. These mechanisms include the activation of a restorative neurogenic program in a specific set of glial cells (ependymoglia) and the resolution of both the glial scar and inflammation, thus enabling proper neuronal specification and survival. In this review, we discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the regenerative ability in the adult zebrafish brain and conclude with the potential applicability of these mechanisms in repair of the mammalian CNS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Zambusi
- Helmholtz Center Munich, Biomedical Center, Inst Stem Cell Res, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Munich, Planegg 82152, Germany
| | - Jovica Ninkovic
- Helmholtz Center Munich, Biomedical Center, Inst Stem Cell Res, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Munich, Planegg 82152, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Cheresiz SV, Volgin AD, Kokorina Evsyukova A, Bashirzade AAO, Demin KA, de Abreu MS, Amstislavskaya TG, Kalueff AV. Understanding neurobehavioral genetics of zebrafish. J Neurogenet 2020; 34:203-215. [PMID: 31902276 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2019.1698565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Due to its fully sequenced genome, high genetic homology to humans, external fertilization, fast development, transparency of embryos, low cost and active reproduction, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a novel promising model organism in biomedicine. Zebrafish are a useful tool in genetic and neuroscience research, including linking various genetic mutations to brain mechanisms using forward and reverse genetics. These approaches have produced novel models of rare genetic CNS disorders and common brain illnesses, such as addiction, aggression, anxiety and depression. Genetically modified zebrafish also foster neuroanatomical studies, manipulating neural circuits and linking them to different behaviors. Here, we discuss recent advances in neurogenetics of zebrafish, and evaluate their unique strengths, inherent limitations and the rapidly growing potential for elucidating the conserved roles of genes in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergey V Cheresiz
- Scientific Research Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Andrey D Volgin
- Scientific Research Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexandra Kokorina Evsyukova
- Scientific Research Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alim A O Bashirzade
- Scientific Research Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Konstantin A Demin
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia.,Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Murilo S de Abreu
- Bioscience Institute, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil.,The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, LA, USA
| | - Tamara G Amstislavskaya
- Scientific Research Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia.,The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), Slidell, LA, USA
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia.,Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia.,Russian Scientific Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Germeys C, Vandoorne T, Bercier V, Van Den Bosch L. Existing and Emerging Metabolomic Tools for ALS Research. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E1011. [PMID: 31817338 PMCID: PMC6947647 DOI: 10.3390/genes10121011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 11/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that aberrant energy metabolism could play an important role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Despite this, studies applying advanced technologies to investigate energy metabolism in ALS remain scarce. The rapidly growing field of metabolomics offers exciting new possibilities for ALS research. Here, we review existing and emerging metabolomic tools that could be used to further investigate the role of metabolism in ALS. A better understanding of the metabolic state of motor neurons and their surrounding cells could hopefully result in novel therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine Germeys
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven—University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (C.G.); (T.V.); (V.B.)
- VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tijs Vandoorne
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven—University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (C.G.); (T.V.); (V.B.)
- VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Valérie Bercier
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven—University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (C.G.); (T.V.); (V.B.)
- VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven—University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (C.G.); (T.V.); (V.B.)
- VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
DNA repair and neurological disease: From molecular understanding to the development of diagnostics and model organisms. DNA Repair (Amst) 2019; 81:102669. [PMID: 31331820 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2019.102669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In both replicating and non-replicating cells, the maintenance of genomic stability is of utmost importance. Dividing cells can repair DNA damage during cell division, tolerate the damage by employing potentially mutagenic DNA polymerases or die via apoptosis. However, the options for accurate DNA repair are more limited in non-replicating neuronal cells. If DNA damage is left unresolved, neuronal cells die causing neurodegenerative disorders. A number of pathogenic variants of DNA repair proteins have been linked to multiple neurological diseases. The current challenge is to harness our knowledge of fundamental properties of DNA repair to improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of such debilitating disorders. In this perspective, we will focus on recent efforts in identifying novel DNA repair biomarkers for the diagnosis of neurological disorders and their use in monitoring the patient response to therapy. These efforts are greatly facilitated by the development of model organisms such as zebrafish, which will also be summarised.
Collapse
|
21
|
Lin CY, Zhang PH, Chen YJ, Wu CL, Tsai HJ. Conditional Overexpression of rtn4al in Muscle of Adult Zebrafish Displays Defects Similar to Human Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2019; 21:52-64. [PMID: 30443836 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-018-9857-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The protein level of muscle-specific human NogoA is abnormally upregulated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mice and patients. On the other hand, while the presence of miR-206 in muscle cells delays onset and death in ALS, the relationship between these two phenomena remains unclear. Mammalian NogoA protein, also known as Reticulon 4a (Rtn4a), plays an important role in inhibiting the outgrowth of motor neurons. Our group previously identified zebrafish rtn4al as the target gene of miR-206 and found that knockdown of miR-206 increases rtn4al mRNA and Rtn4al protein in zebrafish embryos. It can be concluded from these results that neurite outgrowth of motor neurons is inhibited by Rtn4a1, which is entirely consistent with overexpression of either human NogoA or zebrafish homolog Rtn4al. Since an animal model able to express NogoA/rtn4al at the mature stage is unavailable, we generated a zebrafish transgenic line, Tg(Zα:TetON-Rtn4al), which conditionally and specifically overexpresses Rtn4al in the muscle tissue. After doxycycline induction, adult zebrafish displayed denervation at neuromuscular junction during the first week, then muscle disintegration and split myofibers during the third week, and, finally, significant weight loss in the sixth week. These results suggest that this zebrafish transgenic line, representing the inducible overexpression of Rtn4a1 in muscle, may provide an alternative animal model with which to study ALS because it exhibits ALS-like phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Yung Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mackay Medical College, No. 46, Sec. 3, Zhongzhen Road, Sanzhi Dist., New Taipei City, 252, Taiwan
| | - Po-Hsiang Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mackay Medical College, No. 46, Sec. 3, Zhongzhen Road, Sanzhi Dist., New Taipei City, 252, Taiwan
| | - You-Jei Chen
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Lun Wu
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Huai-Jen Tsai
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mackay Medical College, No. 46, Sec. 3, Zhongzhen Road, Sanzhi Dist., New Taipei City, 252, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Auffret M, Drapier S, Vérin M. New tricks for an old dog: A repurposing approach of apomorphine. Eur J Pharmacol 2018; 843:66-79. [PMID: 30395851 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.10.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Apomorphine is a 150-year old nonspecific dopaminergic agonist, currently indicated for treating motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease. At the era of drug repurposing, its pleiotropic biological functions suggest other possible uses. To further explore new therapeutic and diagnostic applications, the available literature up to July 2018 was reviewed using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. As many of the retrieved articles consisted of case reports and preclinical studies, we adopted a descriptive approach, tackling each area of research in turn, to give a broad overview of the potential of apomorphine. Apomorphine may play a role in neurological diseases like restless legs syndrome, Huntington's chorea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and disorders of consciousness, but also in sexual disorders, neuroleptic malignant(-like) syndrome and cancer. Further work is needed in both basic and clinical research; current developments in novel delivery strategies and apomorphine derivatives are expected to open the way.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manon Auffret
- Behavior and Basal Ganglia Research Unit (EA 4712), University of Rennes 1, Rennes, France; Institut des Neurosciences Cliniques de Rennes (INCR), Rennes, France.
| | - Sophie Drapier
- Behavior and Basal Ganglia Research Unit (EA 4712), University of Rennes 1, Rennes, France; Institut des Neurosciences Cliniques de Rennes (INCR), Rennes, France; Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Pontchaillou University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Marc Vérin
- Behavior and Basal Ganglia Research Unit (EA 4712), University of Rennes 1, Rennes, France; Institut des Neurosciences Cliniques de Rennes (INCR), Rennes, France; Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Pontchaillou University Hospital, Rennes, France
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Robinson KJ, Yuan KC, Don EK, Hogan AL, Winnick CG, Tym MC, Lucas CW, Shahheydari H, Watchon M, Blair IP, Atkin JD, Nicholson GA, Cole NJ, Laird AS. Motor Neuron Abnormalities Correlate with Impaired Movement in Zebrafish that Express Mutant Superoxide Dismutase 1. Zebrafish 2018; 16:8-14. [PMID: 30300572 PMCID: PMC6357263 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2018.1588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of motor neurons. ALS can be modeled in zebrafish (Danio rerio) through the expression of human ALS-causing genes, such as superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). Overexpression of mutated human SOD1 protein causes aberrant branching and shortening of spinal motor axons. Despite this, the functional relevance of this axon morphology remains elusive. Our aim was to determine whether this motor axonopathy is correlated with impaired movement in mutant (MT) SOD1-expressing zebrafish. Transgenic zebrafish embryos that express blue fluorescent protein (mTagBFP) in motor neurons were injected with either wild-type (WT) or MT (A4V) human SOD1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). At 48 hours post-fertilization, larvae movement (distance traveled during behavioral testing) was examined, followed by quantification of motor axon length. Larvae injected with MT SOD1 mRNA had significantly shorter and more aberrantly branched motor axons (p < 0.002) and traveled a significantly shorter distance during behavioral testing (p < 0.001) when compared with WT SOD1 and noninjected larvae. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between distance traveled and motor axon length (R2 = 0.357, p < 0.001). These data represent the first correlative investigation of motor axonopathies and impaired movement in SOD1-expressing zebrafish, confirming functional relevance and validating movement as a disease phenotype for the testing of disease treatments for ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine J Robinson
- 1 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kristy C Yuan
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Emily K Don
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alison L Hogan
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Claire G Winnick
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Madelaine C Tym
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Caitlin W Lucas
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hamideh Shahheydari
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Maxinne Watchon
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.,3 Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ian P Blair
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Garth A Nicholson
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.,4 Concord Clinical School and ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Repatriation Hospital, Concord, Australia
| | - Nicholas J Cole
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Angela S Laird
- 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Single copy/knock-in models of ALS SOD1 in C. elegans suggest loss and gain of function have different contributions to cholinergic and glutamatergic neurodegeneration. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007682. [PMID: 30296255 PMCID: PMC6200258 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) lead to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease that disproportionately affects glutamatergic and cholinergic motor neurons. Previous work with SOD1 overexpression models supports a role for SOD1 toxic gain of function in ALS pathogenesis. However, the impact of SOD1 loss of function in ALS cannot be directly examined in overexpression models. In addition, overexpression may obscure the contribution of SOD1 loss of function in the degeneration of different neuronal populations. Here, we report the first single-copy, ALS knock-in models in C. elegans generated by transposon- or CRISPR/Cas9- mediated genome editing of the endogenous sod-1 gene. Introduction of ALS patient amino acid changes A4V, H71Y, L84V, G85R or G93A into the C. elegans sod-1 gene yielded single-copy/knock-in ALS SOD1 models. These differ from previously reported overexpression models in multiple assays. In single-copy/knock-in models, we observed differential impact of sod-1 ALS alleles on glutamatergic and cholinergic neurodegeneration. A4V, H71Y, G85R, and G93A animals showed increased SOD1 protein accumulation and oxidative stress induced degeneration, consistent with a toxic gain of function in cholinergic motor neurons. By contrast, H71Y, L84V, and G85R lead to glutamatergic neuron degeneration due to sod-1 loss of function after oxidative stress. However, dopaminergic and serotonergic neuronal populations were spared in single-copy ALS models, suggesting a neuronal-subtype specificity previously not reported in invertebrate ALS SOD1 models. Combined, these results suggest that knock-in models may reproduce the neurotransmitter-type specificity of ALS and that both SOD1 loss and gain of toxic function differentially contribute to ALS pathogenesis in different neuronal populations. In all SOD1 ALS patients, cholinergic spinal motor neurons degenerate, but degeneration of cortical glutamatergic neurons is less common. Despite decades of work, it remains unclear why some disease alleles (e.g. A4V) primarily affect cholinergic spinal neurons, while other alleles affect both cholinergic and glutamatergic neurons. New genome editing techniques allowed us to create the first C. elegans knock-in/single-copy models for SOD1 ALS by directly editing the C. elegans sod-1 gene to recreate SOD1 amino acid changes that cause ALS in patients. These new models are complementary to previously described overexpression models, which revealed mutant SOD1 toxic gain of function properties. By contrast, in the new C. elegans knock-in models, we find that both loss and gain of sod-1 function contribute to neurodegeneration. C. elegans cholinergic motor neuron loss is primarily driven by toxic gain of function, but glutamatergic neuron loss is primarily driven by loss of function. Only cholinergic and glutamatergic neurons degenerate in C. elegans knock-in models; dopaminergic, serotoninergic and GABAergic neurons do not. This pattern of neuronal loss is reminiscent of the pattern of neuronal loss seen in SOD1 ALS patients. Strikingly, in the C. elegans A4V model, only cholinergic neurons are lost. Our results suggest that an underlying premise of the ALS field–that identical pathological mechanisms lead to degeneration of cholinergic and glutamatergic neurons–should be reconsidered. Mechanisms that predominantly drive glutamatergic and cholinergic neuron degeneration in ALS may not be identical.
Collapse
|
25
|
Formella I, Svahn AJ, Radford RAW, Don EK, Cole NJ, Hogan A, Lee A, Chung RS, Morsch M. Real-time visualization of oxidative stress-mediated neurodegeneration of individual spinal motor neurons in vivo. Redox Biol 2018; 19:226-234. [PMID: 30193184 PMCID: PMC6126400 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2018.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been shown to be important for many physiological processes, ranging from cell differentiation to apoptosis. With the development of the genetically encoded photosensitiser KillerRed (KR) it is now possible to efficiently produce ROS dose-dependently in a specific cell type upon green light illumination. Zebrafish are the ideal vertebrate animal model for these optogenetic methods because of their transparency and efficient transgenesis. Here we describe a zebrafish model that expresses membrane-targeted KR selectively in motor neurons. We show that KR-activated neurons in the spinal cord undergo stress and cell death after induction of ROS. Using single-cell resolution and time-lapse confocal imaging, we selectively induced neurodegeneration in KR-expressing neurons leading to characteristic signs of apoptosis and cell death. We furthermore illustrate a targeted microglia response to the induction site as part of a physiological response within the zebrafish spinal cord. Our data demonstrate the successful implementation of KR mediated ROS toxicity in motor neurons in vivo and has important implications for studying the effects of ROS in a variety of conditions within the central nervous system, including aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Motor neurons can be targeted for oxidative stress using optogenetics in zebrafish. KillerRed expressing neurons undergo characteristic sequence of neurodegeneration. Targeted neurons show microglial activation as part of the physiological response. ROS toxicity has important implications for mechanisms driving neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Formella
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adam J Svahn
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rowan A W Radford
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emily K Don
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicholas J Cole
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alison Hogan
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Albert Lee
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Roger S Chung
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Marco Morsch
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Rwei AY, Paris JL, Wang B, Wang W, Axon CD, Vallet-Regí M, Langer R, Kohane DS. Ultrasound-triggered local anaesthesia. Nat Biomed Eng 2017; 1:644-653. [PMID: 29152410 PMCID: PMC5687284 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-017-0117-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
On-demand relief of local pain would allow patients to control the timing, intensity and duration of nerve block in a safe and non-invasive manner. Ultrasound would be a suitable trigger for such a system, as it is in common clinical use and can penetrate deeply into the body. Here, we demonstrate that ultrasound-triggered delivery of an anaesthetic from liposomes allows the timing, intensity and duration of nerve block to be controlled by ultrasound parameters. On insonation, the encapsulated sonosensitizer protoporphyrin IX produces reactive oxygen species that react with the liposomal membrane, leading to the release of the potent local anaesthetic tetrodotoxin. We also show repeatable ultrasound-triggered nerve blocks in vivo, with nerve-block duration depending on the extent and intensity of insonation. We did not detect any systemic toxicity, and tissue reaction was benign in all groups. On-demand, personalized local anaesthesia could be beneficial for the managing of relatively localized pain states, and potentially minimize opioid use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alina Y Rwei
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Juan L Paris
- Dpto. Química Inorgánica y Bioinorgánica, Facultad de Farmacia, UCM, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre i+12, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Avenida Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bruce Wang
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Weiping Wang
- Dr Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong-Karolinska Institutet Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Christopher D Axon
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - María Vallet-Regí
- Dpto. Química Inorgánica y Bioinorgánica, Facultad de Farmacia, UCM, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre i+12, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Avenida Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Robert Langer
- David H. Koch Institutes for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Daniel S Kohane
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Laboratory for Biomaterials and Drug Delivery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Better lab animal models for translational neuroscience research and CNS drug development. Lab Anim (NY) 2017; 46:91-92. [DOI: 10.1038/laban.1236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
28
|
Noyes PD, Garcia GR, Tanguay RL. ZEBRAFISH AS AN IN VIVO MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE CHEMICAL DESIGN. GREEN CHEMISTRY : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL AND GREEN CHEMISTRY RESOURCE : GC 2016; 18:6410-6430. [PMID: 28461781 PMCID: PMC5408959 DOI: 10.1039/c6gc02061e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Heightened public awareness about the many thousands of chemicals in use and present as persistent contaminants in the environment has increased the demand for safer chemicals and more rigorous toxicity testing. There is a growing recognition that the use of traditional test models and empirical approaches is impractical for screening for toxicity the many thousands of chemicals in the environment and the hundreds of new chemistries introduced each year. These realities coupled with the green chemistry movement have prompted efforts to implement more predictive-based approaches to evaluate chemical toxicity early in product development. While used for many years in environmental toxicology and biomedicine, zebrafish use has accelerated more recently in genetic toxicology, high throughput screening (HTS), and behavioral testing. This review describes major advances in these testing methods that have positioned the zebrafish as a highly applicable model in chemical safety evaluations and sustainable chemistry efforts. Many toxic responses have been shown to be shared among fish and mammals owing to their generally well-conserved development, cellular networks, and organ systems. These shared responses have been observed for chemicals that impair endocrine functioning, development, and reproduction, as well as those that elicit cardiotoxicity and carcinogenicity, among other diseases. HTS technologies with zebrafish enable screening large chemical libraries for bioactivity that provide opportunities for testing early in product development. A compelling attribute of the zebrafish centers on being able to characterize toxicity mechanisms across multiple levels of biological organization from the genome to receptor interactions and cellular processes leading to phenotypic changes such as developmental malformations. Finally, there is a growing recognition of the links between human and wildlife health and the need for approaches that allow for assessment of real world multi-chemical exposures. The zebrafish is poised to be an important model in bridging these two conventionally separate areas of toxicology and characterizing the biological effects of chemical mixtures that could augment its role in sustainable chemistry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela D. Noyes
- Department of Environmental & Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331
| | - Gloria R. Garcia
- Department of Environmental & Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331
| | - Robert L. Tanguay
- Department of Environmental & Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Seo JH, Park JH, Lee EJ, Vo TTL, Choi H, Kim JY, Jang JK, Wee HJ, Lee HS, Jang SH, Park ZY, Jeong J, Lee KJ, Seok SH, Park JY, Lee BJ, Lee MN, Oh GT, Kim KW. ARD1-mediated Hsp70 acetylation balances stress-induced protein refolding and degradation. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12882. [PMID: 27708256 PMCID: PMC5059642 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat shock protein (Hsp)70 is a molecular chaperone that maintains protein homoeostasis during cellular stress through two opposing mechanisms: protein refolding and degradation. However, the mechanisms by which Hsp70 balances these opposing functions under stress conditions remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Hsp70 preferentially facilitates protein refolding after stress, gradually switching to protein degradation via a mechanism dependent on ARD1-mediated Hsp70 acetylation. During the early stress response, Hsp70 is immediately acetylated by ARD1 at K77, and the acetylated Hsp70 binds to the co-chaperone Hop to allow protein refolding. Thereafter, Hsp70 is deacetylated and binds to the ubiquitin ligase protein CHIP to complete protein degradation during later stages. This switch is required for the maintenance of protein homoeostasis and ultimately rescues cells from stress-induced cell death in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, ARD1-mediated Hsp70 acetylation is a regulatory mechanism that temporally balances protein refolding/degradation in response to stress. The chaperone Hsp70 has a dual role, promoting both protein refolding and protein degradation. Seo and Park et al. show that Hsp70 acetylation enhances protein refolding after stress, and that subsequent deacetylation progressively promotes ubiquitin ligase binding and protein degradation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ji Hae Seo
- SNU-Harvard NeuroVascular Protection Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Ji-Hyeon Park
- SNU-Harvard NeuroVascular Protection Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Eun Ji Lee
- SNU-Harvard NeuroVascular Protection Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Tam Thuy Lu Vo
- SNU-Harvard NeuroVascular Protection Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hoon Choi
- SNU-Harvard NeuroVascular Protection Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jun Yong Kim
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jae Kyung Jang
- SNU-Harvard NeuroVascular Protection Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hee-Jun Wee
- SNU-Harvard NeuroVascular Protection Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hye Shin Lee
- SNU-Harvard NeuroVascular Protection Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Se Hwan Jang
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science &Technology, Gwangju 61005, Korea
| | - Zee Yong Park
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science &Technology, Gwangju 61005, Korea
| | - Jaeho Jeong
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea
| | - Kong-Joo Lee
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea
| | - Seung-Hyeon Seok
- The Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jin Young Park
- The Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Bong Jin Lee
- The Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Mi-Ni Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea
| | - Goo Taeg Oh
- Department of Life Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea
| | - Kyu-Won Kim
- SNU-Harvard NeuroVascular Protection Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.,Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.,Crop Biotechnology Institute, GreenBio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang 25354, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
McGown A, Shaw DPJ, Ramesh T. ZNStress: a high-throughput drug screening protocol for identification of compounds modulating neuronal stress in the transgenic mutant sod1G93R zebrafish model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Mol Neurodegener 2016; 11:56. [PMID: 27460825 PMCID: PMC4962399 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-016-0122-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal neurodegenerative disease with death on average within 2–3 years of symptom onset. Mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) have been identified to cause ALS. Riluzole, the only neuroprotective drug for ALS provides life extension of only 3 months on average. Thishighlights the need for compound screening in disease models to identify new neuroprotective therapies for this disease. Zebrafish is an emerging model system that is well suited for the study of diseasepathophysiology and also for high throughput (HT) drug screening. The mutant sod1 zebrafish model of ALS mimics the hallmark features of ALS. Using a fluorescence based readout of neuronal stress, we developed a high throughput (HT) screen to identify neuroprotective compounds. Results Here we show that the zebrafish screen is a robust system that can be used to rapidly screen thousands ofcompounds and also demonstrate that riluzole is capable of reducing neuronal stress in this model system. The screen shows optimal quality control, maintaining a high sensitivity and specificity withoutcompromising throughput. Most importantly, we demonstrate that many compounds previously failed in human clinical trials, showed no stress reducing activity in the zebrafish assay. Conclusion We conclude that HT drug screening using a mutant sod1 zebrafish is a reliable model system which supplemented with secondary assays would be useful in identifying drugs with potential for neuroprotective efficacy in ALS. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13024-016-0122-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander McGown
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield, UK
| | - Dame Pamela J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield, UK
| | - Tennore Ramesh
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Benedetti L, Ghilardi A, Rottoli E, De Maglie M, Prosperi L, Perego C, Baruscotti M, Bucchi A, Del Giacco L, Francolini M. INaP selective inhibition reverts precocious inter- and motorneurons hyperexcitability in the Sod1-G93R zebrafish ALS model. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24515. [PMID: 27079797 PMCID: PMC4832213 DOI: 10.1038/srep24515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenic role of SOD1 mutations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was investigated using a zebrafish disease model stably expressing the ALS-linked G93R mutation. In addition to the main pathological features of ALS shown by adult fish, we found remarkably precocious alterations in the development of motor nerve circuitry and embryo behavior, and suggest that these alterations are prompted by interneuron and motor neuron hyperexcitability triggered by anomalies in the persistent pacemaker sodium current INaP. The riluzole-induced modulation of INaP reduced spinal neuron excitability, reverted the behavioral phenotypes and improved the deficits in motor nerve circuitry development, thus shedding new light on the use of riluzole in the management of ALS. Our findings provide a valid phenotype-based tool for unbiased in vivo drug screening that can be used to develop new therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Benedetti
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Via Vanvitelli 32, 20139 Milano, Italy
| | - Anna Ghilardi
- Department of BioSciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Elsa Rottoli
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Via Vanvitelli 32, 20139 Milano, Italy
| | - Marcella De Maglie
- Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Laura Prosperi
- Department of BioSciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Carla Perego
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Trentacoste 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Mirko Baruscotti
- Department of BioSciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Annalisa Bucchi
- Department of BioSciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Luca Del Giacco
- Department of BioSciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Maura Francolini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Via Vanvitelli 32, 20139 Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Esmaeili MA, Yadav S, Gupta RK, Waggoner GR, Deloach A, Calingasan NY, Beal MF, Kiaei M. Preferential PPAR-α activation reduces neuroinflammation, and blocks neurodegeneration in vivo. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 25:317-27. [PMID: 26604138 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation, immune reactivity and mitochondrial abnormalities are considered as causes and/or contributors to neuronal degeneration. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) regulate both inflammatory and multiple other pathways that are implicated in neurodegeneration. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of fenofibrate (Tricor), a pan-PPAR agonist that activates PPAR-α as well as other PPARs. We administered fenofibrate to superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1(G93A)) mice daily prior to any detectable phenotypes and then animal behavior, pathology and longevity were assessed. Treated animals showed a significant slowing of the progression of disease with weight loss attenuation, enhanced motor performance, delayed onset and survival extension. Histopathological analysis of the spinal cords showed that neuronal loss was significantly attenuated in fenofibrate-treated mice. Mitochondria were preserved as indicated by Cytochrome c immunostaining in the spinal cord, which maybe partly due to increased expression of the PPAR-γ co-activator 1-α. The total mRNA analysis revealed that neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory genes were elevated, while neuroinflammatory genes were down-regulated. This study demonstrates that the activation of PPAR-α action via fenofibrate leads to neuroprotection by both reducing neuroinflammation and protecting mitochondria, which leads to a significant increase in survival in SOD1(G93A) mice. Therefore, the development of therapeutic strategies to activate PPAR-α as well as other PPARs may lead to new therapeutic agents to slow or halt the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad A Esmaeili
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, Center for Translational Neuroscience and
| | - Shilpi Yadav
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, Center for Translational Neuroscience and
| | - Ravi Kr Gupta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, 72205 AR, USA and
| | - Garrett R Waggoner
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, Center for Translational Neuroscience and
| | - Abigail Deloach
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, Center for Translational Neuroscience and
| | - Noel Y Calingasan
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - M Flint Beal
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mahmoud Kiaei
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, Center for Translational Neuroscience and,
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Zhao S, Huang J, Ye J. A fresh look at zebrafish from the perspective of cancer research. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2015; 34:80. [PMID: 26260237 PMCID: PMC4531851 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-015-0196-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish represent a vertebrate model organism that has been widely, and increasingly, employed over the last decade in the study of developmental processes, wound healing, microbe-host interactions, and drug screening. With the increase in the laboratory use of zebrafish, several advantages, such as a high genetic homology to humans and transparent embryos, which allow clear disease evaluation, have greatly widened its use as a model for studying tumor development in vivo. The use of zebrafish has been applied in several areas of cancer research, mainly in the following domains: (1) establishing cancer models by carcinogenic chemical, genetic technology, and xenotransplantation; (2) evaluating tumor angiogenesis; (3) studying tumor metastasis; and (4) anti-tumor drug screening and drug toxicity evaluation. In this study, we provide a comprehensive overview of the role of zebrafish in order to underline the advantages of using them as a model organism in cancer research. Several related successful events are also reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhao
- Department of Surgical oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jian Huang
- Department of Surgical oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
| | - Jun Ye
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Wyatt C, Bartoszek EM, Yaksi E. Methods for studying the zebrafish brain: past, present and future. Eur J Neurosci 2015; 42:1746-63. [PMID: 25900095 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is one of the most promising new model organisms. The increasing popularity of this amazing small vertebrate is evident from the exponentially growing numbers of research articles, funded projects and new discoveries associated with the use of zebrafish for studying development, brain function, human diseases and screening for new drugs. Thanks to the development of novel technologies, the range of zebrafish research is constantly expanding with new tools synergistically enhancing traditional techniques. In this review we will highlight the past and present techniques which have made, and continue to make, zebrafish an attractive model organism for various fields of biology, with a specific focus on neuroscience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Wyatt
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, Imec Campus, Kapeldreef, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ewelina M Bartoszek
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, Imec Campus, Kapeldreef, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Emre Yaksi
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, Imec Campus, Kapeldreef, Leuven, Belgium.,VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Defining the genetic connection linking amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Trends Genet 2015; 31:263-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2015.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Revised: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
36
|
Pan L, Shah AN, Phelps IG, Doherty D, Johnson EA, Moens CB. Rapid identification and recovery of ENU-induced mutations with next-generation sequencing and Paired-End Low-Error analysis. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:83. [PMID: 25886285 PMCID: PMC4457992 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1263-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes (TILLING) is a reverse genetics approach to directly identify point mutations in specific genes of interest in genomic DNA from a large chemically mutagenized population. Classical TILLING processes, based on enzymatic detection of mutations in heteroduplex PCR amplicons, are slow and labor intensive. RESULTS Here we describe a new TILLING strategy in zebrafish using direct next generation sequencing (NGS) of 250 bp amplicons followed by Paired-End Low-Error (PELE) sequence analysis. By pooling a genomic DNA library made from over 9,000 N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenized F1 fish into 32 equal pools of 288 fish, each with a unique Illumina barcode, we reduce the complexity of the template to a level at which we can detect mutations that occur in a single heterozygous fish in the entire library. MiSeq sequencing generates 250 base-pair overlapping paired-end reads, and PELE analysis aligns the overlapping sequences to each other and filters out any imperfect matches, thereby eliminating variants introduced during the sequencing process. We find that this filtering step reduces the number of false positive calls 50-fold without loss of true variant calls. After PELE we were able to validate 61.5% of the mutant calls that occurred at a frequency between 1 mutant call:100 wildtype calls and 1 mutant call:1000 wildtype calls in a pool of 288 fish. We then use high-resolution melt analysis to identify the single heterozygous mutation carrier in the 288-fish pool in which the mutation was identified. CONCLUSIONS Using this NGS-TILLING protocol we validated 28 nonsense or splice site mutations in 20 genes, at a two-fold higher efficiency than using traditional Cel1 screening. We conclude that this approach significantly increases screening efficiency and accuracy at reduced cost and can be applied in a wide range of organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luyuan Pan
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., Seattle, WA, USA. .,Current Address: China Zebrafish Resource Center, Institute of Hydrobiology CAS, 430072, Wuhan, China.
| | - Arish N Shah
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Ian G Phelps
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Dan Doherty
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Eric A Johnson
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA.
| | - Cecilia B Moens
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., Seattle, WA, USA. .,Biology Department, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Bugel SM, Tanguay RL, Planchart A. Zebrafish: A marvel of high-throughput biology for 21 st century toxicology. Curr Environ Health Rep 2014; 1:341-352. [PMID: 25678986 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-014-0029-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The evolutionary conservation of genomic, biochemical and developmental features between zebrafish and humans is gradually coming into focus with the end result that the zebrafish embryo model has emerged as a powerful tool for uncovering the effects of environmental exposures on a multitude of biological processes with direct relevance to human health. In this review, we highlight advances in automation, high-throughput (HT) screening, and analysis that leverage the power of the zebrafish embryo model for unparalleled advances in our understanding of how chemicals in our environment affect our health and wellbeing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Bugel
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333
| | - Robert L Tanguay
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333
| | - Antonio Planchart
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Sumbre G, de Polavieja GG. The world according to zebrafish: how neural circuits generate behavior. Front Neural Circuits 2014; 8:91. [PMID: 25126059 PMCID: PMC4115616 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2014.00091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Germán Sumbre
- Ecole Normale Supérieure, Institut de Biologie de l'ENS Paris, France ; Inserm, U1024 Paris, France ; CNRS, UMR 8197 Paris, France
| | - Gonzalo G de Polavieja
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Madrid, Spain ; Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Center for the Unknown Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Patten SA, Armstrong GAB, Lissouba A, Kabashi E, Parker JA, Drapeau P. Fishing for causes and cures of motor neuron disorders. Dis Model Mech 2014; 7:799-809. [PMID: 24973750 PMCID: PMC4073270 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.015719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron disorders (MNDs) are a clinically heterogeneous group of neurological diseases characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons, and share some common pathological pathways. Despite remarkable advances in our understanding of these diseases, no curative treatment for MNDs exists. To better understand the pathogenesis of MNDs and to help develop new treatments, the establishment of animal models that can be studied efficiently and thoroughly is paramount. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is increasingly becoming a valuable model for studying human diseases and in screening for potential therapeutics. In this Review, we highlight recent progress in using zebrafish to study the pathology of the most common MNDs: spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). These studies indicate the power of zebrafish as a model to study the consequences of disease-related genes, because zebrafish homologues of human genes have conserved functions with respect to the aetiology of MNDs. Zebrafish also complement other animal models for the study of pathological mechanisms of MNDs and are particularly advantageous for the screening of compounds with therapeutic potential. We present an overview of their potential usefulness in MND drug discovery, which is just beginning and holds much promise for future therapeutic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shunmoogum A Patten
- Department of Neuroscience, FRQS Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central and CRCHUM, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Gary A B Armstrong
- Department of Neuroscience, FRQS Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central and CRCHUM, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Alexandra Lissouba
- Department of Neuroscience, FRQS Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central and CRCHUM, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Edor Kabashi
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière, Centre de Recherche, CHU Pitié-Salpétrière, 75013 Paris, France
| | - J Alex Parker
- Department of Neuroscience, FRQS Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central and CRCHUM, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Pierre Drapeau
- Department of Neuroscience, FRQS Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central and CRCHUM, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Pollari E, Goldsteins G, Bart G, Koistinaho J, Giniatullin R. The role of oxidative stress in degeneration of the neuromuscular junction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:131. [PMID: 24860432 PMCID: PMC4026683 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 04/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the progressive loss of motoneurons and degradation of the neuromuscular junctions (NMJ). Consistent with the dying-back hypothesis of motoneuron degeneration the decline in synaptic function initiates from the presynaptic terminals in ALS. Oxidative stress is a major contributory factor to ALS pathology and affects the presynaptic transmitter releasing machinery. Indeed, in ALS mouse models nerve terminals are sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) suggesting that oxidative stress, along with compromised mitochondria and increased intracellular Ca(2+) amplifies the presynaptic decline in NMJ. This initial dysfunction is followed by a neurodegeneration induced by inflammatory agents and loss of trophic support. To develop effective therapeutic approaches against ALS, it is important to identify the mechanisms underlying the initial pathological events. Given the role of oxidative stress in ALS, targeted antioxidant treatments could be a promising therapeutic approach. However, the complex nature of ALS and failure of monotherapies suggest that an antioxidant therapy should be accompanied by anti-inflammatory interventions to enhance the restoration of the redox balance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eveliina Pollari
- Molecular Brain Research Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland Kuopio, Finland ; Experimental Neurology - Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurosciences, Vesalius Research Center, KULeuven - University of Leuven Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gundars Goldsteins
- Molecular Brain Research Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland Kuopio, Finland
| | - Geneviève Bart
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Koistinaho
- Molecular Brain Research Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland Kuopio, Finland
| | - Rashid Giniatullin
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Neurobiology, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland Kuopio, Finland ; Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Physiology, Kazan Federal University Kazan, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Pronto-Laborinho AC, Pinto S, de Carvalho M. Roles of vascular endothelial growth factor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:947513. [PMID: 24987705 PMCID: PMC4022172 DOI: 10.1155/2014/947513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal devastating neurodegenerative disorder, involving progressive degeneration of motor neurons in spinal cord, brainstem, and motor cortex. Riluzole is the only drug approved in ALS but it only confers a modest improvement in survival. In spite of a high number of clinical trials no other drug has proved effectiveness. Recent studies support that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), originally described as a key angiogenic factor, also plays a key role in the nervous system, including neurogenesis, neuronal survival, neuronal migration, and axon guidance. VEGF has been used in exploratory clinical studies with promising results in ALS and other neurological disorders. Although VEGF is a very promising compound, translating the basic science breakthroughs into clinical practice is the major challenge ahead. VEGF-B, presenting a single safety profile, protects motor neurons from degeneration in ALS animal models and, therefore, it will be particularly interesting to test its effects in ALS patients. In the present paper the authors make a brief description of the molecular properties of VEGF and its receptors and review its different features and therapeutic potential in the nervous system/neurodegenerative disease, particularly in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Catarina Pronto-Laborinho
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM), Translational Clinical Physiology Unit, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susana Pinto
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM), Translational Clinical Physiology Unit, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mamede de Carvalho
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM), Translational Clinical Physiology Unit, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Neurosciences, Hospital Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
|
43
|
Babin PJ, Goizet C, Raldúa D. Zebrafish models of human motor neuron diseases: advantages and limitations. Prog Neurobiol 2014; 118:36-58. [PMID: 24705136 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2014.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Revised: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are an etiologically heterogeneous group of disorders of neurodegenerative origin, which result in degeneration of lower (LMNs) and/or upper motor neurons (UMNs). Neurodegenerative MNDs include pure hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), which involves specific degeneration of UMNs, leading to progressive spasticity of the lower limbs. In contrast, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) involves the specific degeneration of LMNs, with symmetrical muscle weakness and atrophy. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common adult-onset MND, is characterized by the degeneration of both UMNs and LMNs, leading to progressive muscle weakness, atrophy, and spasticity. A review of the comparative neuroanatomy of the human and zebrafish motor systems showed that, while the zebrafish was a homologous model for LMN disorders, such as SMA, it was only partially relevant in the case of UMN disorders, due to the absence of corticospinal and rubrospinal tracts in its central nervous system. Even considering the limitation of this model to fully reproduce the human UMN disorders, zebrafish offer an excellent alternative vertebrate model for the molecular and genetic dissection of MND mechanisms. Its advantages include the conservation of genome and physiological processes and applicable in vivo tools, including easy imaging, loss or gain of function methods, behavioral tests to examine changes in motor activity, and the ease of simultaneous chemical/drug testing on large numbers of animals. This facilitates the assessment of the environmental origin of MNDs, alone or in combination with genetic traits and putative modifier genes. Positive hits obtained by phenotype-based small-molecule screening using zebrafish may potentially be effective drugs for treatment of human MNDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Babin
- Univ. Bordeaux, Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), EA 4576, Talence, France.
| | - Cyril Goizet
- Univ. Bordeaux, Maladies Rares: Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), EA 4576, Talence, France; CHU Bordeaux, Hôpital Pellegrin, Service de Génétique Médicale, Bordeaux, France
| | | |
Collapse
|