1
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Zhu L, Li S, Li XJ, Yin P. Pathological insights from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis animal models: comparisons, limitations, and challenges. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:46. [PMID: 37730668 PMCID: PMC10510301 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00377-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to dissect amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a multigenic, multifactorial, and progressive neurodegenerative disease with heterogeneous clinical presentations, researchers have generated numerous animal models to mimic the genetic defects. Concurrent and comparative analysis of these various models allows identification of the causes and mechanisms of ALS in order to finally obtain effective therapeutics. However, most genetically modified rodent models lack overt pathological features, imposing challenges and limitations in utilizing them to rigorously test the potential mechanisms. Recent studies using large animals, including pigs and non-human primates, have uncovered important events that resemble neurodegeneration in patients' brains but could not be produced in small animals. Here we describe common features as well as discrepancies among these models, highlighting new insights from these models. Furthermore, we will discuss how to make rodent models more capable of recapitulating important pathological features based on the important pathogenic insights from large animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longhong Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Peng Yin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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2
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Lo Piccolo L, Umegawachi T, Yeewa R, Potikanond S, Nimlamool W, Prachayasittikul V, Gotoh Y, Yoshida H, Yamaguchi M, Jantrapirom S. A Novel Drosophila-based Drug Repurposing Platform Identified Fingolimod As a Potential Therapeutic for TDP-43 Proteinopathy. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:1330-1346. [PMID: 37493896 PMCID: PMC10480388 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01406-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic changes to TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) leading to alteration of its homeostasis are a common feature shared by several progressive neurodegenerative diseases for which there is no effective therapy. Here, we developed Drosophila lines expressing either wild type TDP-43 (WT) or that carrying an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis /Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration-associating G384C mutation that recapitulate several aspects of the TDP-43 pathology. To identify potential therapeutics for TDP-43-related diseases, we implemented a drug repurposing strategy that involved three consecutive steps. Firstly, we evaluated the improvement of eclosion rate, followed by the assessment of locomotive functions at early and late developmental stages. Through this approach, we successfully identified fingolimod, as a promising candidate for modulating TDP-43 toxicity. Fingolimod exhibited several beneficial effects in both WT and mutant models of TDP-43 pathology, including post-transcriptional reduction of TDP-43 levels, rescue of pupal lethality, and improvement of locomotor dysfunctions. These findings provide compelling evidence for the therapeutic potential of fingolimod in addressing TDP-43 pathology, thereby strengthening the rationale for further investigation and consideration of clinical trials. Furthermore, our study demonstrates the utility of our Drosophila-based screening pipeline in identifying novel therapeutics for TDP-43-related diseases. These findings encourage further scale-up screening endeavors using this platform to discover additional compounds with therapeutic potential for TDP-43 pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Lo Piccolo
- Center of Multidisciplinary Technology for Advanced Medicine (CMUTEAM), Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Faculty of Medicine, Musculoskeletal Science and Translational Research Centre (MSTR), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | | | - Ranchana Yeewa
- Center of Multidisciplinary Technology for Advanced Medicine (CMUTEAM), Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Saranyapin Potikanond
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Wutigri Nimlamool
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Virapong Prachayasittikul
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Yusuke Gotoh
- Platform Technology Research Unit, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hideki Yoshida
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Salinee Jantrapirom
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
- Drosophila Centre for Human Diseases and Drug Discovery (DHD), Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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3
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Yue W, Deng X, Wang Z, Jiang M, Hu R, Duan Y, Wang Q, Cui J, Fang Y. Inhibition of the MEK/ERK pathway suppresses immune overactivation and mitigates TDP-43 toxicity in a Drosophila model of ALS. Immun Ageing 2023; 20:27. [PMID: 37340309 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-023-00354-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
TDP-43 is an important DNA/RNA-binding protein that is associated with age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD); however, its pathomechanism is not fully understood. In a transgenic RNAi screen using Drosophila as a model, we uncovered that knockdown (KD) of Dsor1 (the Drosophila MAPK kinase dMEK) suppressed TDP-43 toxicity without altering TDP-43 phosphorylation or protein levels. Further investigation revealed that the Dsor1 downstream gene rl (dERK) was abnormally upregulated in TDP-43 flies, and neuronal overexpression of dERK induced profound upregulation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We also detected a robust immune overactivation in TDP-43 flies, which could be suppressed by downregulation of the MEK/ERK pathway in TDP-43 fly neurons. Furthermore, neuronal KD of abnormally increased AMPs improved the motor function of TDP-43 flies. On the other hand, neuronal KD of Dnr1, a negative regulator of the Drosophila immune deficiency (IMD) pathway, activated the innate immunity and boosted AMP expression independent of the regulation by the MEK/ERK pathway, which diminished the mitigating effect of RNAi-dMEK on TDP-43 toxicity. Finally, we showed that an FDA-approved MEK inhibitor trametinib markedly suppressed immune overactivation, alleviated motor deficits and prolonged the lifespan of TDP-43 flies, but did not exhibit a lifespan-extending effect in Alzheimer disease (AD) or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) fly models. Together, our findings suggest an important role of abnormal elevation of the MEK/ERK signaling and innate immunity in TDP-43 pathogenesis and propose trametinib as a potential therapeutic agent for ALS and other TDP-43-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenkai Yue
- Interdisciplinary Research Center On Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xue Deng
- Interdisciplinary Research Center On Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhao Wang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center On Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Mingsheng Jiang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center On Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Rirong Hu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center On Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yongjia Duan
- Interdisciplinary Research Center On Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qiangqiang Wang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center On Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Jihong Cui
- Interdisciplinary Research Center On Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Yanshan Fang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center On Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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4
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Yusuff T, Chang YC, Sang TK, Jackson GR, Chatterjee S. Codon-optimized TDP-43 mediates neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model of ALS/FTLD. Front Genet 2023; 14:881638. [PMID: 36968586 PMCID: PMC10034021 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.881638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Transactive response DNA binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is known to mediate neurodegeneration associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The exact mechanism by which TDP-43 exerts toxicity in the brains, spinal cord, and lower motor neurons of affected patients remains unclear. In a novel Drosophila melanogaster model, we report gain-of-function phenotypes due to misexpression of insect codon-optimized version of human wild-type TDP-43 (CO-TDP-43) using both the binary GAL4/UAS system and direct promoter fusion constructs. The CO-TDP-43 model showed robust tissue specific phenotypes in the adult eye, wing, and bristles in the notum. Compared to non-codon optimized transgenic flies, the CO-TDP-43 flies produced increased amount of high molecular weight protein, exhibited pathogenic phenotypes, and showed cytoplasmic aggregation with both nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of TDP-43. Further characterization of the adult retina showed a disruption in the morphology and function of the photoreceptor neurons with the presence of acidic vacuoles that are characteristic of autophagy. Based on our observations, we propose that TDP-43 has the propensity to form toxic protein aggregates via a gain-of-function mechanism, and such toxic overload leads to activation of protein degradation pathways such as autophagy. The novel codon optimized TDP-43 model is an excellent resource that could be used in genetic screens to identify and better understand the exact disease mechanism of TDP-43 proteinopathies and find potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanzeen Yusuff
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Tanzeen Yusuff, ; Shreyasi Chatterjee,
| | - Ya-Chu Chang
- Department of Life Science, Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Kang Sang
- Department of Life Science, Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - George R. Jackson
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- National Parkinson’s Disease Research Education and Clinical Center, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Shreyasi Chatterjee
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Tanzeen Yusuff, ; Shreyasi Chatterjee,
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5
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Nandakumar S, Rozich E, Buttitta L. Cell Cycle Re-entry in the Nervous System: From Polyploidy to Neurodegeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:698661. [PMID: 34249947 PMCID: PMC8264763 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.698661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Terminally differentiated cells of the nervous system have long been considered to be in a stable non-cycling state and are often considered to be permanently in G0. Exit from the cell cycle during development is often coincident with the differentiation of neurons, and is critical for neuronal function. But what happens in long lived postmitotic tissues that accumulate cell damage or suffer cell loss during aging? In other contexts, cells that are normally non-dividing or postmitotic can or re-enter the cell cycle and begin replicating their DNA to facilitate cellular growth in response to cell loss. This leads to a state called polyploidy, where cells contain multiple copies of the genome. A growing body of literature from several vertebrate and invertebrate model organisms has shown that polyploidy in the nervous system may be more common than previously appreciated and occurs under normal physiological conditions. Moreover, it has been found that neuronal polyploidization can play a protective role when cells are challenged with DNA damage or oxidative stress. By contrast, work over the last two and a half decades has discovered a link between cell-cycle reentry in neurons and several neurodegenerative conditions. In this context, neuronal cell cycle re-entry is widely considered to be aberrant and deleterious to neuronal health. In this review, we highlight historical and emerging reports of polyploidy in the nervous systems of various vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. We discuss the potential functions of polyploidization in the nervous system, particularly in the context of long-lived cells and age-associated polyploidization. Finally, we attempt to reconcile the seemingly disparate associations of neuronal polyploidy with both neurodegeneration and neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Buttitta
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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6
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Liguori F, Amadio S, Volonté C. Where and Why Modeling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22083977. [PMID: 33921446 PMCID: PMC8070525 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22083977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the years, researchers have leveraged a host of different in vivo models in order to dissect amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative/neuroinflammatory disease that is heterogeneous in its clinical presentation and is multigenic, multifactorial and non-cell autonomous. These models include both vertebrates and invertebrates such as yeast, worms, flies, zebrafish, mice, rats, guinea pigs, dogs and, more recently, non-human primates. Despite their obvious differences and peculiarities, only the concurrent and comparative analysis of these various systems will allow the untangling of the causes and mechanisms of ALS for finally obtaining new efficacious therapeutics. However, harnessing these powerful organisms poses numerous challenges. In this context, we present here an updated and comprehensive review of how eukaryotic unicellular and multicellular organisms that reproduce a few of the main clinical features of the disease have helped in ALS research to dissect the pathological pathways of the disease insurgence and progression. We describe common features as well as discrepancies among these models, highlighting new insights and emerging roles for experimental organisms in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Liguori
- Preclinical Neuroscience, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy; (F.L.); (S.A.)
| | - Susanna Amadio
- Preclinical Neuroscience, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy; (F.L.); (S.A.)
| | - Cinzia Volonté
- Preclinical Neuroscience, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy; (F.L.); (S.A.)
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science “A. Ruberti”, National Research Council (IASI—CNR), 00185 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-50170-3084
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7
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Otte CG, Fortuna TR, Mann JR, Gleixner AM, Ramesh N, Pyles NJ, Pandey UB, Donnelly CJ. Optogenetic TDP-43 nucleation induces persistent insoluble species and progressive motor dysfunction in vivo. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 146:105078. [PMID: 32927062 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 is a predominantly nuclear DNA/RNA binding protein that is often mislocalized into insoluble cytoplasmic inclusions in post-mortem patient tissue in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The underlying causes of TDP-43 proteinopathies remain unclear, but recent studies indicate the formation of these protein assemblies is driven by aberrant phase transitions of RNA deficient TDP-43. Technical limitations have prevented our ability to understand how TDP-43 proteinopathy relates to disease pathogenesis. Current animal models of TDP-43 proteinopathy often rely on overexpression of wild-type TDP-43 to non-physiological levels that may initiate neurotoxicity through nuclear gain of function mechanisms, or by the expression of disease-causing mutations found in only a fraction of ALS patients. New technologies allowing for light-responsive control of subcellular protein crowding provide a promising approach to drive intracellular protein aggregation, as we have previously demonstrated in vitro. Here we present a model for the optogenetic induction of TDP-43 proteinopathy in Drosophila that recapitulates key features of patient pathology, including detergent insoluble cytoplamsic inclusions and progressive motor dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlton G Otte
- Physician Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States of America; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States of America; LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, United States of America
| | - Tyler R Fortuna
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, United States of America
| | - Jacob R Mann
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States of America; Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America; Center for Protein Conformational Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America; LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, United States of America
| | - Amanda M Gleixner
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States of America; Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America; Center for Protein Conformational Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America; LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, United States of America
| | - Nandini Ramesh
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, United States of America
| | - Noah J Pyles
- Physician Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States of America; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States of America; LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, United States of America
| | - Udai B Pandey
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America; Center for Protein Conformational Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, United States of America
| | - Christopher J Donnelly
- Physician Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States of America; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States of America; Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America; Center for Protein Conformational Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, United States of America; LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, United States of America.
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8
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Cappelli S, Romano M, Buratti E. Systematic Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles Controlled by hnRNP Q and hnRNP R, Two Closely Related Human RNA Binding Proteins Implicated in mRNA Processing Mechanisms. Front Mol Biosci 2018; 5:79. [PMID: 30214903 PMCID: PMC6125337 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2018.00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Heteregeneous ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) are a family of RNA-binding proteins that take part in all processes that involve mRNA maturation. As a consequence, alterations of their homeostasis may lead to many complex pathological disorders, such as neurodegeneration and cancer. For many of these proteins, however, their exact function and cellular targets are still not very well known. Here, we focused the attention on two hnRNP family members, hnRNP Q and hnRNP R, that we previously found affecting TDP-43 activity both in Drosophila melanogaster and human neuronal cell line. Classification of these two human proteins as paralogs is suported by the high level of sequence homology and by the observation that in fly they correspond to the same protein, namely Syp. We profiled differentially expressed genes from RNA-Seq and generated functional enrichment results after silencing of hnRNP Q and hnRNP R in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line. Interestingly, despite their high sequence similarity, these two proteins were found to affect different cellular pathways, especially with regards to neurodegeneration, such as PENK, NGR3, RAB26, JAG1, as well as inflammatory response, such as TNF, ICAM1, ICAM5, and TNFRSF9. In conclusion, human hnRNP Q and hnRNP R may be considered potentially important regulators of neuronal homeostasis and their disruption could impair distinct pathways in the central nervous system axis, thus confirming the importance of their conservation during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Cappelli
- Molecular Pathology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
| | - Maurizio Romano
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Emanuele Buratti
- Molecular Pathology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
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9
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Yamamoto I, Azuma Y, Kushimura Y, Yoshida H, Mizuta I, Mizuno T, Ueyama M, Nagai Y, Tokuda T, Yamaguchi M. NPM-hMLF1 fusion protein suppresses defects of a Drosophila FTLD model expressing the human FUS gene. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11291. [PMID: 30050143 PMCID: PMC6062494 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29716-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Fused in sarcoma (FUS) was identified as a component of typical inclusions in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In FTLD, both nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions with wild-type FUS exist, while cytoplasmic inclusions with a mutant-form of FUS occur in many ALS cases. These observations imply that FUS plays a role across these two diseases. In this study, we examined the effect of several proteins including molecular chaperons on the aberrant eye morphology phenotype induced by overexpression of wild-type human FUS (hFUS) in Drosophila eye imaginal discs. By screening, we found that the co-expression of nucleophosmin–human myeloid leukemia factor 1 (NPM-hMLF1) fusion protein could suppress the aberrant eye morphology phenotype induced by hFUS. The driving of hFUS expression at 28 °C down-regulated levels of hFUS and endogenous cabeza, a Drosophila homolog of hFUS. The down-regulation was mediated by proteasome dependent degradation. Co-expression of NPM-hMLF1 suppressed this down-regulation. In addition, co-expression of NPM-hMLF1 partially rescued pharate adult lethal phenotype induced by hFUS in motor neurons. These findings with a Drosophila model that mimics FTLD provide clues for the development of novel FTLD therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itaru Yamamoto
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8585, Japan.,The Center for Advanced Insect Research, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8585, Japan
| | - Yumiko Azuma
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Yukie Kushimura
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Hideki Yoshida
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8585, Japan.,The Center for Advanced Insect Research, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8585, Japan
| | - Ikuko Mizuta
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Toshiki Mizuno
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Morio Ueyama
- Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Nagai
- Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takahiko Tokuda
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan.,Department of Molecular Pathobiology of Brain Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Masamitsu Yamaguchi
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8585, Japan. .,The Center for Advanced Insect Research, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8585, Japan.
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10
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Zhang K, Coyne AN, Lloyd TE. Drosophila models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with defects in RNA metabolism. Brain Res 2018; 1693:109-120. [PMID: 29752901 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.04.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila Melanogaster has been widely used to study neurodegenerative diseases. The conservation of nervous system biology coupled with the rapid life cycle and powerful genetic tools in the fly have enabled the identification of novel therapeutic targets that have been validated in vertebrate model systems and human patients. A recent example is in the study of the devastating motor neuron degenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mutations in genes that regulate RNA metabolism are a major cause of inherited ALS, and functional analysis of these genes in the fly nervous system has shed light on how mutations cause disease. Importantly, unbiased genetic screens have identified key pathways that contribute to ALS pathogenesis such as nucleocytoplasmic transport and stress granule assembly. In this review, we will discuss the utilization of Drosophila models of ALS with defects in RNA metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Alyssa N Coyne
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Thomas E Lloyd
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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11
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De Conti L, Borroni B, Baralle M. New routes in frontotemporal dementia drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2017; 12:659-671. [DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2017.1329294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura De Conti
- Biotechnology Development Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders - Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Baralle
- Biotechnology Development Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
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12
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Budini M, Buratti E, Morselli E, Criollo A. Autophagy and Its Impact on Neurodegenerative Diseases: New Roles for TDP-43 and C9orf72. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:170. [PMID: 28611593 PMCID: PMC5447761 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a catabolic mechanism where intracellular material is degraded by vesicular structures called autophagolysosomes. Autophagy is necessary to maintain the normal function of the central nervous system (CNS), avoiding the accumulation of misfolded and aggregated proteins. Consistently, impaired autophagy has been associated with the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases. The proteins TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43), which regulates RNA processing at different levels, and chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72), probably involved in membrane trafficking, are crucial in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD). Additionally, recent studies have identified a role for these proteins in the control of autophagy. In this manuscript, we review what is known regarding the autophagic mechanism and discuss the involvement of TDP-43 and C9orf72 in autophagy and their impact on neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Budini
- Dentistry Faculty, Institute in Dentistry Sciences, University of ChileSantiago, Chile
| | - Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyTrieste, Italy
| | - Eugenia Morselli
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileSantiago, Chile
| | - Alfredo Criollo
- Dentistry Faculty, Institute in Dentistry Sciences, University of ChileSantiago, Chile.,Advanced Center for Chronic DiseasesSantiago, Chile
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13
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Abstract
TDP-43 is a dimeric nuclear protein that plays a central role in RNA metabolism. In recent years, this protein has become a focal point of research in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD) disease spectrum, as pathognomonic inclusions within affected neurons contain post-translationally modified TDP-43. A key question in TDP-43 research involves determining the mechanisms and triggers that cause TDP-43 to form pathological aggregates. This review gives a brief overview of the physiological and pathological roles of TDP-43 and focuses on the structural features of its protein domains and how they may contribute to normal protein function and to disease. A special emphasis is placed on the C-terminal prion-like region thought to be implicated in pathology, as it is where nearly all ALS/FTD-associated mutations reside. Recent structural studies of this domain revealed its crucial role in the formation of phase-separated liquid droplets through a partially populated α-helix. This new discovery provides further support for the theory that liquid droplets such as stress granules may be precursors to pathological aggregates, linking environmental effects such as stress to the potential etiology of the disease. The transition of TDP-43 among soluble, droplet, and aggregate phases and the implications of these transitions for pathological aggregation are summarized and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Sun
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5G1L7, Canada
| | - Avijit Chakrabartty
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5G1L7, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5G1L7, Canada
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14
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Mathis S, Couratier P, Julian A, Vallat JM, Corcia P, Le Masson G. Management and therapeutic perspectives in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Expert Rev Neurother 2016; 17:263-276. [DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2016.1227705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Mathis
- Department of Neurology, Neuro-Muscular Unit and ALS Center, CHU de Bordeaux, groupe hospitalier Pellegrin, Bordeaux, France
| | - Philippe Couratier
- Department of Neurology, ALS center, Centre de compétence SLA-fédération Tours-Limoges, CHU de Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Adrien Julian
- Department of Neurology, CHU Poitiers, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Jean-Michel Vallat
- Department and Laboratory of Neurology, Centre de Référence ‘neuropathies périphériques rares’, University Hospital of Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Philippe Corcia
- Department of Neurology, ALS center, Centre de compétence SLA-fédération Tours-Limoges, CHU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Gwendal Le Masson
- Department of Neurology, Neuro-Muscular Unit and ALS Center, CHU de Bordeaux, groupe hospitalier Pellegrin, Bordeaux, France
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