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Marino N, Bedeschi M, Vaccari ME, Cambiaghi M, Tesei A. Glitches in the brain: the dangerous relationship between radiotherapy and brain fog. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1328361. [PMID: 38515789 PMCID: PMC10956129 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1328361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Up to approximately 70% of cancer survivors report persistent deficits in memory, attention, speed of information processing, multi-tasking, and mental health functioning, a series of symptoms known as "brain fog." The severity and duration of such effects can vary depending on age, cancer type, and treatment regimens. In particular, every year, hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide undergo radiotherapy (RT) for primary brain tumors and brain metastases originating from extracranial tumors. Besides its potential benefits in the control of tumor progression, recent studies indicate that RT reprograms the brain tumor microenvironment inducing increased activation of microglia and astrocytes and a consequent general condition of neuroinflammation that in case it becomes chronic could lead to a cognitive decline. Furthermore, radiation can induce endothelium reticulum (ER) stress directly or indirectly by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) activating compensatory survival signaling pathways in the RT-surviving fraction of healthy neuronal and glial cells. In particular, the anomalous accumulation of misfolding proteins in neuronal cells exposed to radiation as a consequence of excessive activation of unfolded protein response (UPR) could pave the way to neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover, exposure of cells to ionizing radiation was also shown to affect the normal proteasome activity, slowing the degradation rate of misfolded proteins, and further exacerbating ER-stress conditions. This compromises several neuronal functions, with neuronal accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins with a consequent switch from proteasome to immunoproteasome that increases neuroinflammation, a crucial risk factor for neurodegeneration. The etiology of brain fog remains elusive and can arise not only during treatment but can also persist for an extended period after the end of RT. In this review, we will focus on the molecular pathways triggered by radiation therapy affecting cognitive functions and potentially at the origin of so-called "brain fog" symptomatology, with the aim to define novel therapeutic strategies to preserve healthy brain tissue from cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemi Marino
- Bioscience Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Martina Bedeschi
- Bioscience Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Melania Elettra Vaccari
- Bioscience Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Marco Cambiaghi
- Bioscience Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Anna Tesei
- Bioscience Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
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2
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Garcia-Vaquero ML, Heim M, Flix B, Pereira M, Palin L, Marques TM, Pinto FR, de Las Rivas J, Voigt A, Besse F, Gama-Carvalho M. Analysis of asymptomatic Drosophila models for ALS and SMA reveals convergent impact on functional protein complexes linked to neuro-muscular degeneration. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:576. [PMID: 37759179 PMCID: PMC10523761 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09562-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) share phenotypic and molecular commonalities, including the fact that they can be caused by mutations in ubiquitous proteins involved in RNA metabolism, namely SMN, TDP-43 and FUS. Although this suggests the existence of common disease mechanisms, there is currently no model to explain the resulting motor neuron dysfunction. In this work we generated a parallel set of Drosophila models for adult-onset RNAi and tagged neuronal expression of the fly orthologues of the three human proteins, named Smn, TBPH and Caz, respectively. We profiled nuclear and cytoplasmic bound mRNAs using a RIP-seq approach and characterized the transcriptome of the RNAi models by RNA-seq. To unravel the mechanisms underlying the common functional impact of these proteins on neuronal cells, we devised a computational approach based on the construction of a tissue-specific library of protein functional modules, selected by an overall impact score measuring the estimated extent of perturbation caused by each gene knockdown. RESULTS Transcriptome analysis revealed that the three proteins do not bind to the same RNA molecules and that only a limited set of functionally unrelated transcripts is commonly affected by their knock-down. However, through our integrative approach we were able to identify a concerted effect on protein functional modules, albeit acting through distinct targets. Most strikingly, functional annotation revealed that these modules are involved in critical cellular pathways for motor neurons, including neuromuscular junction function. Furthermore, selected modules were found to be significantly enriched in orthologues of human neuronal disease genes. CONCLUSIONS The results presented here show that SMA and ALS disease-associated genes linked to RNA metabolism functionally converge on neuronal protein complexes, providing a new hypothesis to explain the common motor neuron phenotype. The functional modules identified represent promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets, namely given their alteration in asymptomatic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina L Garcia-Vaquero
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Medicine and Cytometry General Service-15 Nucleus, Cancer Research Centre (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), CIBERONC, 16 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Marjorie Heim
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, 06108, Nice, Inserm, France
| | - Barbara Flix
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Marcelo Pereira
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Lucile Palin
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, 06108, Nice, Inserm, France
| | - Tânia M Marques
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Francisco R Pinto
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Javier de Las Rivas
- Cancer Research Center (CiC-IBMCC, CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and University of Salamanca (USAL), 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Aaron Voigt
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Florence Besse
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, 06108, Nice, Inserm, France
| | - Margarida Gama-Carvalho
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
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3
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Lizama BN, Kahle J, Catalano SM, Caggiano AO, Grundman M, Hamby ME. Sigma-2 Receptors—From Basic Biology to Therapeutic Target: A Focus on Age-Related Degenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076251. [PMID: 37047224 PMCID: PMC10093856 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a large unmet medical need to develop disease-modifying treatment options for individuals with age-related degenerative diseases of the central nervous system. The sigma-2 receptor (S2R), encoded by TMEM97, is expressed in brain and retinal cells, and regulates cell functions via its co-receptor progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1), and through other protein–protein interactions. Studies describing functions of S2R involve the manipulation of expression or pharmacological modulation using exogenous small-molecule ligands. These studies demonstrate that S2R modulates key pathways involved in age-related diseases including autophagy, trafficking, oxidative stress, and amyloid-β and α-synuclein toxicity. Furthermore, S2R modulation can ameliorate functional deficits in cell-based and animal models of disease. This review summarizes the current evidence-based understanding of S2R biology and function, and its potential as a therapeutic target for age-related degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease, α-synucleinopathies, and dry age-related macular degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Michael Grundman
- Global R&D Partners, LLC., San Diego, CA 92130, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Mary E. Hamby
- Cognition Therapeutics, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA 15203, USA
- Correspondence:
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Berki B, Sacher F, Fages A, Tschopp P, Luxey M. A method to investigate muscle target-specific transcriptional signatures of single motor neurons. Dev Dyn 2023; 252:208-219. [PMID: 35705847 PMCID: PMC10084336 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Motor neurons in the vertebrate spinal cord have long served as a paradigm to study the transcriptional logic of cell type specification and differentiation. At limb levels, pool-specific transcriptional signatures first restrict innervation to only one particular muscle in the periphery, and get refined, once muscle connection has been established. Accordingly, to study the transcriptional dynamics and specificity of the system, a method for establishing muscle target-specific motor neuron transcriptomes would be required. RESULTS To investigate target-specific transcriptional signatures of single motor neurons, here we combine ex-ovo retrograde axonal labeling in mid-gestation chicken embryos with manual isolation of individual fluorescent cells and Smart-seq2 single-cell RNA-sequencing. We validate our method by injecting the dorsal extensor metacarpi radialis and ventral flexor digiti quarti wing muscles and harvesting a total of 50 fluorescently labeled cells, in which we detect up to 12,000 transcribed genes. Additionally, we present visual cues and cDNA metrics predictive of sequencing success. CONCLUSIONS Our method provides a unique approach to study muscle target-specific motor neuron transcriptomes at a single-cell resolution. We anticipate that our method will provide key insights into the transcriptional logic underlying motor neuron pool specialization and proper neuromuscular circuit assembly and refinement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianka Berki
- DUW Zoology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Fabio Sacher
- DUW Zoology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Fages
- DUW Zoology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Maëva Luxey
- DUW Zoology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Sleigh JN. Editorial: Peripheral nerve anatomy in health and disease. J Anat 2022; 241:1083-1088. [PMID: 36226698 PMCID: PMC9558158 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- James N Sleigh
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases and UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
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Butchbach MER, Scott RC. Biological networks and complexity in early-onset motor neuron diseases. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1035406. [PMID: 36341099 PMCID: PMC9634177 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1035406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are neuromuscular disorders where the spinal motor neurons-either the cell bodies themselves or their axons-are the primary cells affected. To date, there are 120 different genes that are lost or mutated in pediatric-onset MNDs. Most of these childhood-onset disorders, aside from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), lack viable therapeutic options. Previous research on MNDs has focused on understanding the pathobiology of a single, specific gene mutation and targeting therapies to that pathobiology. This reductionist approach has yielded therapeutic options for a specific disorder, in this case SMA. Unfortunately, therapies specific for SMA have not been effective against other pediatric-onset MNDs. Pursuing the same approach for the other defined MNDs would require development of at least 120 independent treatments raising feasibility issues. We propose an alternative to this this type of reductionist approach by conceptualizing MNDs in a complex adaptive systems framework that will allow identification of common molecular and cellular pathways which form biological networks that are adversely affected in early-onset MNDs and thus MNDs with similar phenotypes despite diverse genotypes. This systems biology approach highlights the complexity and self-organization of the motor system as well as the ways in which it can be affected by these genetic disorders. Using this integrated approach to understand early-onset MNDs, we would be better poised to expand the therapeutic repertoire for multiple MNDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E. R. Butchbach
- Division of Neurology, Nemours Children's Hospital Delaware, Wilmington, DE, United States,Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States,*Correspondence: Matthew E. R. Butchbach
| | - Rod C. Scott
- Division of Neurology, Nemours Children's Hospital Delaware, Wilmington, DE, United States,Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States,Neurosciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom,Rod C. Scott
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7
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Woschitz V, Mei I, Hedlund E, Murray LM. Mouse models of SMA show divergent patterns of neuronal vulnerability and resilience. Skelet Muscle 2022; 12:22. [PMID: 36089582 PMCID: PMC9465884 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-022-00305-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a form of motor neuron disease affecting primarily children characterised by the loss of lower motor neurons (MNs). Breakdown of the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) is an early pathological event in SMA. However, not all motor neurons are equally vulnerable, with some populations being lost early in the disease while others remain intact at the disease end-stage. A thorough understanding of the basis of this selective vulnerability will give critical insight into the factors which prohibit pathology in certain motor neuron populations and consequently help identify novel neuroprotective strategies. Methods To retrieve a comprehensive understanding of motor neuron susceptibility in SMA, we mapped NMJ pathology in 20 muscles from the Smn2B/- SMA mouse model and cross-compared these data with published data from three other commonly used mouse models. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms regulating selective resilience and vulnerability, we analysed published RNA sequencing data acquired from differentially vulnerable motor neurons from two different SMA mouse models. Results In the Smn2B/- mouse model of SMA, we identified substantial NMJ loss in the muscles from the core, neck, proximal hind limbs and proximal forelimbs, with a marked reduction in denervation in the distal limbs and head. Motor neuron cell body loss was greater at T5 and T11 compared with L5. We subsequently show that although widespread denervation is observed in each SMA mouse model (with the notable exception of the Taiwanese model), all models have a distinct pattern of selective vulnerability. A comparison of previously published data sets reveals novel transcripts upregulated with a disease in selectively resistant motor neurons, including genes involved in axonal transport, RNA processing and mitochondrial bioenergetics. Conclusions Our work demonstrates that the Smn2B/- mouse model shows a pattern of selective vulnerability which bears resemblance to the regional pathology observed in SMA patients. We found drastic differences in patterns of selective vulnerability across the four SMA mouse models, which is critical to consider during experimental design. We also identified transcript groups that potentially contribute to the protection of certain motor neurons in SMA mouse models. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13395-022-00305-9.
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An Optimized Comparative Proteomic Approach as a Tool in Neurodegenerative Disease Research. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172653. [PMID: 36078061 PMCID: PMC9454658 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in proteomic technologies now allow unparalleled assessment of the molecular composition of a wide range of sample types. However, the application of such technologies and techniques should not be undertaken lightly. Here, we describe why the design of a proteomics experiment itself is only the first step in yielding high-quality, translatable results. Indeed, the effectiveness and/or impact of the majority of contemporary proteomics screens are hindered not by commonly considered technical limitations such as low proteome coverage but rather by insufficient analyses. Proteomic experimentation requires a careful methodological selection to account for variables from sample collection, through to database searches for peptide identification to standardised post-mass spectrometry options directed analysis workflow, which should be adjusted for each study, from determining when and how to filter proteomic data to choosing holistic versus trend-wise analyses for biologically relevant patterns. Finally, we highlight and discuss the difficulties inherent in the modelling and study of the majority of progressive neurodegenerative conditions. We provide evidence (in the context of neurodegenerative research) for the benefit of undertaking a comparative approach through the application of the above considerations in the alignment of publicly available pre-existing data sets to identify potential novel regulators of neuronal stability.
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9
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Synucleinopathy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Potential Avenue for Antisense Therapeutics? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169364. [PMID: 36012622 PMCID: PMC9409035 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common adult-onset motor neuron disease classified as both a neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorder. With a complex aetiology and no current cure for ALS, broadening the understanding of disease pathology and therapeutic avenues is required to progress with patient care. Alpha-synuclein (αSyn) is a hallmark for disease in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, and multiple system atrophy. A growing body of evidence now suggests that αSyn may also play a pathological role in ALS, with αSyn-positive Lewy bodies co-aggregating alongside known ALS pathogenic proteins, such as SOD1 and TDP-43. This review endeavours to capture the scope of literature regarding the aetiology and development of ALS and its commonalities with "synucleinopathy disorders". We will discuss the involvement of αSyn in ALS and motor neuron disease pathology, and the current theories and strategies for therapeutics in ALS treatment, as well as those targeting αSyn for synucleinopathies, with a core focus on small molecule RNA technologies.
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10
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Stathmins and Motor Neuron Diseases: Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Targets. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030711. [PMID: 35327513 PMCID: PMC8945549 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are a group of fatal, neurodegenerative disorders with different etiology, clinical course and presentation, caused by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons (MNs). MNs are highly specialized cells equipped with long, axonal processes; axonal defects are some of the main players underlying the pathogenesis of these disorders. Microtubules are key components of the neuronal cytoskeleton characterized by dynamic instability, switching between rapid polymerization and shrinkage. Proteins of the stathmin family affect microtubule dynamics regulating the assembly and the dismantling of tubulin. Stathmin-2 (STMN2) is one of the most abundantly expressed genes in MNs. Following axonal injury, STMN2 expression is upregulated, and the protein is transported toward the growth cones of regenerating axons. STMN2 has a critical role in axonal maintenance, and its dysregulation plays an important role in neurodegenerative processes. Stathmin-1 (STMN1) is a ubiquitous protein that is highly expressed during the development of the nervous system, and its phosphorylation controls microtubule dynamics. In the present review, we summarize what is currently known about the involvement of stathmin alterations in MNDs and the potential therapeutic effect of their modulation, with a specific focus on the most common forms of MND, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
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11
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He ZC, Liu Q, Yang KD, Chen C, Zhang XN, Wang WY, Zeng H, Wang B, Liu YQ, Luo M, Li L, Niu Q, Lu HM, Luo T, Yao XH, Guo HT, Ji JL, Cao MF, Shi Y, Ping YF, Bian XW. HOXA5 is amplified in glioblastoma stem cells and promotes tumor progression by transcriptionally activating PTPRZ1. Cancer Lett 2022; 533:215605. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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12
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Lotti F, Przedborski S. Motoneuron Diseases. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 28:323-352. [PMID: 36066831 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-07167-6_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Motoneuron diseases (MNDs) represent a heterogeneous group of progressive paralytic disorders, mainly characterized by the loss of upper (corticospinal) motoneurons, lower (spinal) motoneurons or, often both. MNDs can occur from birth to adulthood and have a highly variable clinical presentation, even within gene-positive forms, suggesting the existence of environmental and genetic modifiers. A combination of cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous mechanisms contributes to motoneuron degeneration in MNDs, suggesting multifactorial pathogenic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Lotti
- Departments of Neurology, Pathology & Cell Biology, and Neuroscience, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Serge Przedborski
- Departments of Neurology, Pathology & Cell Biology, and Neuroscience, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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13
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Dumas SA, Villalón E, Bergman EM, Wilson KJ, Marugan JJ, Lorson CL, Burnett BG. OUP accepted manuscript. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:2989-3000. [PMID: 35419606 PMCID: PMC9433732 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by reduced expression of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Current disease-modifying therapies increase SMN levels and dramatically improve survival and motor function of SMA patients. Nevertheless, current treatments are not cures and autopsy data suggest that SMN induction is variable. Our group and others have shown that combinatorial approaches that target different modalities can improve outcomes in rodent models of SMA. Here we explore if slowing SMN protein degradation and correcting SMN splicing defects could synergistically increase SMN production and improve the SMA phenotype in model mice. We show that co-administering ML372, which inhibits SMN ubiquitination, with an SMN-modifying antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) increases SMN production in SMA cells and model mice. In addition, we observed improved spinal cord, neuromuscular junction and muscle pathology when ML372 and the ASO were administered in combination. Importantly, the combinatorial approach resulted in increased motor function and extended survival of SMA mice. Our results demonstrate that a combination of treatment modalities synergistically increases SMN levels and improves pathophysiology of SMA model mice over individual treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elizabeth M Bergman
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Kenneth J Wilson
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, Discovery Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892-2152, USA
| | - Juan J Marugan
- NIH Chemical Genomics Center, Discovery Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892-2152, USA
| | - Christian L Lorson
- To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Barrington G. Burnett. Tel: +1 301-295-3506; ; Christian L. Lorson. Tel: +1 573-884-2219;
| | - Barrington G Burnett
- To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Barrington G. Burnett. Tel: +1 301-295-3506; ; Christian L. Lorson. Tel: +1 573-884-2219;
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Nasiri-Aghdam M, Garcia-Garduño TC, Jave-Suárez LF. CELF Family Proteins in Cancer: Highlights on the RNA-Binding Protein/Noncoding RNA Regulatory Axis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11056. [PMID: 34681716 PMCID: PMC8537729 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-transcriptional modifications to coding and non-coding RNAs are unquestionably a pivotal way in which human mRNA and protein diversity can influence the different phases of a transcript's life cycle. CELF (CUGBP Elav-like family) proteins are RBPs (RNA-binding proteins) with pleiotropic capabilities in RNA processing. Their responsibilities extend from alternative splicing and transcript editing in the nucleus to mRNA stability, and translation into the cytoplasm. In this way, CELF family members have been connected to global alterations in cancer proliferation and invasion, leading to their identification as potential tumor suppressors or even oncogenes. Notably, genetic variants, alternative splicing, phosphorylation, acetylation, subcellular distribution, competition with other RBPs, and ultimately lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs all impact CELF regulation. Discoveries have emerged about the control of CELF functions, particularly via noncoding RNAs, and CELF proteins have been identified as competing, antagonizing, and regulating agents of noncoding RNA biogenesis. On the other hand, CELFs are an intriguing example through which to broaden our understanding of the RBP/noncoding RNA regulatory axis. Balancing these complex pathways in cancer is undeniably pivotal and deserves further research. This review outlines some mechanisms of CELF protein regulation and their functional consequences in cancer physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Nasiri-Aghdam
- División de Inmunología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico;
- Doctorado en Genética Humana, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico;
| | - Texali C. Garcia-Garduño
- Doctorado en Genética Humana, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico;
- Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico
| | - Luis Felipe Jave-Suárez
- División de Inmunología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico;
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15
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Villarroel-Campos D, Schiavo G, Sleigh JN. Dissection, in vivo imaging and analysis of the mouse epitrochleoanconeus muscle. J Anat 2021; 241:1108-1119. [PMID: 34121181 PMCID: PMC9558155 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Analysis of rodent muscles affords an opportunity to glean key insights into neuromuscular development and the detrimental impact of disease‐causing genetic mutations. Muscles of the distal leg, for instance the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior, are commonly used in such studies with mice and rats. However, thin and flat muscles, which can be dissected, processed and imaged without major disruption to muscle fibres and nerve‐muscle contacts, are more suitable for accurate and detailed analyses of the peripheral motor nervous system. One such wholemount muscle is the predominantly fast twitch epitrochleoanconeus (ETA), which is located in the upper forelimb, innervated by the radial nerve, and contains relatively large and uniformly flat neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). To facilitate incorporation of the ETA into the experimental toolkit of the neuromuscular disease field, here, we describe a simple method for its rapid isolation (<5 min), supported by high‐resolution videos and step‐by‐step images. Furthermore, we outline how the ETA can be imaged in live, anaesthetised mice, to enable examination of dynamic cellular processes occurring at the NMJ and within intramuscular axons, including transport of organelles, such as mitochondria and signalling endosomes. Finally, we present reference data on wild‐type ETA fibre‐type composition in young adult, male C57BL6/J mice. Comparative neuroanatomical studies of different muscles in rodent models of disease can generate critical insights into pathogenesis and pathology; dissection of the wholemount ETA provides the possibility to diversify the repertoire of muscles analysed for this endeavour.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Villarroel-Campos
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Giampietro Schiavo
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - James N Sleigh
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
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16
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Warman-Chardon J, Jasmin BJ, Kothary R, Parks RJ. Report on the 5th Ottawa International Conference on Neuromuscular Disease & Biology -October 17-19, 2019, Ottawa, Canada. J Neuromuscul Dis 2021; 8:323-334. [PMID: 33492242 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-219001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jodi Warman-Chardon
- Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Canada.,Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada.,Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Bernard J Jasmin
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Rashmi Kothary
- Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Canada.,Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Robin J Parks
- Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Canada.,Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Canada
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17
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Mentis AFA, Bougea AM, Chrousos GP. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the endocrine system: Are there any further ties to be explored? AGING BRAIN 2021; 1:100024. [PMID: 36911507 PMCID: PMC9997134 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbas.2021.100024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) belongs to the family of neurodegenerative disorders and is classified as fronto-temporal dementia (FTD), progressive muscular atrophy, primary lateral sclerosis, and pseudobulbar palsy. Even though endocrine dysfunction independently impacts the ALS-related survival rate, the complex connection between ALS and the endocrine system has not been studied in depth. Here we review earlier and recent findings on how ALS interacts with hormones a) of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, b) the thyroid gland, c) the pancreas, d) the adipose tissue, e) the parathyroid glands, f) the bones, g) the adrenal glands, and h) the gonads (ovaries and testes). Of note, endocrine issues should always be explored in patients with ALS, especially those with low skeletal muscle and bone mass, vitamin D deficiency, and decreased insulin sensitivity (diabetes mellitus). Because ALS is a progressively deteriorating disease, addressing any potential endocrine co-morbidities in patients with this malady is quite important for decreasing the overall ALS-associated disease burden. Importantly, as this burden is estimated to increase globally in the decades to follow, in part because of an increasingly aging population, it is high time for future multi-center, multi-ethnic studies to assess the link between ALS and the endocrine system in significantly larger patient populations. Last, the psychosocial stress experienced by patients with ALS and its psycho-neuro-endocrinological sequelae, including hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal dysregulation, should become an area of intensive study in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexios-Fotios A Mentis
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.,UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia M Bougea
- Memory & Movement Disorders Clinic, 1st Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.,UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
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18
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Dong B, Miao J, Wang Y, Luo W, Ji Z, Lai H, Zhang M, Cheng X, Wang J, Fang Y, Zhu HH, Chua CW, Fan L, Zhu Y, Pan J, Wang J, Xue W, Gao WQ. Single-cell analysis supports a luminal-neuroendocrine transdifferentiation in human prostate cancer. Commun Biol 2020; 3:778. [PMID: 33328604 PMCID: PMC7745034 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01476-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine prostate cancer is one of the most aggressive subtypes of prostate tumor. Although much progress has been made in understanding the development of neuroendocrine prostate cancer, the cellular architecture associated with neuroendocrine differentiation in human prostate cancer remain incompletely understood. Here, we use single-cell RNA sequencing to profile the transcriptomes of 21,292 cells from needle biopsies of 6 castration-resistant prostate cancers. Our analyses reveal that all neuroendocrine tumor cells display a luminal-like epithelial phenotype. In particular, lineage trajectory analysis suggests that focal neuroendocrine differentiation exclusively originate from luminal-like malignant cells rather than basal compartment. Further tissue microarray analysis validates the generality of the luminal phenotype of neuroendocrine cells. Moreover, we uncover neuroendocrine differentiation-associated gene signatures that may help us to further explore other intrinsic molecular mechanisms deriving neuroendocrine prostate cancer. In summary, our single-cell study provides direct evidence into the cellular states underlying neuroendocrine transdifferentiation in human prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baijun Dong
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Juju Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.,School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Yanqing Wang
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Wenqin Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Zhongzhong Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Huadong Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.,School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Man Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.,School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Xiaomu Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.,School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Jinming Wang
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Yuxiang Fang
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Helen He Zhu
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Chee Wai Chua
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Liancheng Fan
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Yinjie Zhu
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Jiahua Pan
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Jia Wang
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Wei Xue
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Wei-Qiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China. .,School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
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19
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Li R, Wang J, Xie W, Liu J, Wang C. UCHL1 from serum and CSF is a candidate biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:1420-1428. [PMID: 32729234 PMCID: PMC7448153 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify potential ALS biomarkers in patients and to evaluate their diagnostic performance using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum. METHOD We recruited a discovery cohort, comprising 20 ALS patients and 20 controls to screen for potential CSF biomarker, UCHL1, using a Luminex neurodegenerative disease panel. To validate UCHL1's diagnostic performance, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to determine the potential for early diagnosis in another cohort comprising 23 CSF and 69 serum ALS samples. Finally, we analyzed its correlation with clinical features. RESULTS We found significantly elevated levels of CSF-derived UCHL1 in both discovery and validation cohorts (P < 0.05). ROC curves revealed an AUC of 0.8288, with a sensitivity and specificity of 73.91% and 81.25%, respectively, when the cut-off value for UCHL1 was >291.9 pg/mL. A similar result was observed in the serum cohort, with the ALS group exhibiting significantly higher serum UCHL1 levels than the controls (P < 0.05). AUC of the ROC in the serum UCHL1 cohort was 0.7709, with sensitivity and specificity of 61.43% and 79.59%, respectively, when the cut-off value of serum UCHL1 was >15.22 pg/mL. At the early stage CSF and serum UCHL1 were significantly different between ALS patients and controls (P < 0.05). Furthermore, serum UCHL1 levels showed a positive relationship with the burden of UMN and LMN dysfunction, albeit with no statistical significance. INTERPRETATION Taken together, our findings suggest that ALS patients exhibit significantly elevated CSF- and serum-derived UCHL1. Moreover, our data warrant that UCHL1 displays good diagnostic performance and provide novel options for ALS early diagnosis. However, its prognostic value needs to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruibing Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, P.R. China
| | - Jianan Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, P.R. China
| | - Wei Xie
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, P.R. China
| | - Jiayu Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, P.R. China
| | - Chengbin Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, P.R. China
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20
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Osman EY, Van Alstyne M, Yen PF, Lotti F, Feng Z, Ling KK, Ko CP, Pellizzoni L, Lorson CL. Minor snRNA gene delivery improves the loss of proprioceptive synapses on SMA motor neurons. JCI Insight 2020; 5:130574. [PMID: 32516136 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.130574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder caused by reduced expression of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. SMN has key functions in multiple RNA pathways, including the biogenesis of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins that are essential components of both major (U2-dependent) and minor (U12-dependent) spliceosomes. Here we investigated the specific contribution of U12 splicing dysfunction to SMA pathology through selective restoration of this RNA pathway in mouse models of varying phenotypic severity. We show that virus-mediated delivery of minor snRNA genes specifically improves select U12 splicing defects induced by SMN deficiency in cultured mammalian cells, as well as in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia of SMA mice without increasing SMN expression. This approach resulted in a moderate amelioration of several parameters of the disease phenotype in SMA mice, including survival, weight gain, and motor function. Importantly, minor snRNA gene delivery improved aberrant splicing of the U12 intron-containing gene Stasimon and rescued the severe loss of proprioceptive sensory synapses on SMA motor neurons, which are early signatures of motor circuit dysfunction in mouse models. Taken together, these findings establish the direct contribution of U12 splicing dysfunction to synaptic deafferentation and motor circuit pathology in SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erkan Y Osman
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Meaghan Van Alstyne
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Pei-Fen Yen
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Francesco Lotti
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Zhihua Feng
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Karen Ky Ling
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Chien-Ping Ko
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Livio Pellizzoni
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christian L Lorson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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21
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Villalón E, Kline RA, Smith CE, Lorson ZC, Osman EY, O'Day S, Murray LM, Lorson CL. AAV9-Stathmin1 gene delivery improves disease phenotype in an intermediate mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:3742-3754. [PMID: 31363739 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating infantile genetic disorder caused by the loss of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein that leads to premature death due to loss of motor neurons and muscle atrophy. The approval of an antisense oligonucleotide therapy for SMA was an important milestone in SMA research; however, effective next-generation therapeutics will likely require combinatorial SMN-dependent therapeutics and SMN-independent disease modifiers. A recent cross-disease transcriptomic analysis identified Stathmin-1 (STMN1), a tubulin-depolymerizing protein, as a potential disease modifier across different motor neuron diseases, including SMA. Here, we investigated whether viral-based delivery of STMN1 decreased disease severity in a well-characterized SMA mouse model. Intracerebroventricular delivery of scAAV9-STMN1 in SMA mice at P2 significantly increased survival and weight gain compared to untreated SMA mice without elevating Smn levels. scAAV9-STMN1 improved important hallmarks of disease, including motor function, NMJ pathology and motor neuron cell preservation. Furthermore, scAAV9-STMN1 treatment restored microtubule networks and tubulin expression without affecting tubulin stability. Our results show that scAAV9-STMN1 treatment improves SMA pathology possibly by increasing microtubule turnover leading to restored levels of stable microtubules. Overall, these data demonstrate that STMN1 can significantly reduce the SMA phenotype independent of restoring SMN protein and highlight the importance of developing SMN-independent therapeutics for the treatment of SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Villalón
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - R A Kline
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - C E Smith
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Z C Lorson
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - E Y Osman
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - S O'Day
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - L M Murray
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - C L Lorson
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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22
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Kakebeen AD, Chitsazan AD, Williams MC, Saunders LM, Wills AE. Chromatin accessibility dynamics and single cell RNA-Seq reveal new regulators of regeneration in neural progenitors. eLife 2020; 9:e52648. [PMID: 32338593 PMCID: PMC7250574 DOI: 10.7554/elife.52648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate appendage regeneration requires precisely coordinated remodeling of the transcriptional landscape to enable the growth and differentiation of new tissue, a process executed over multiple days and across dozens of cell types. The heterogeneity of tissues and temporally-sensitive fate decisions involved has made it difficult to articulate the gene regulatory programs enabling regeneration of individual cell types. To better understand how a regenerative program is fulfilled by neural progenitor cells (NPCs) of the spinal cord, we analyzed pax6-expressing NPCs isolated from regenerating Xenopus tropicalis tails. By intersecting chromatin accessibility data with single-cell transcriptomics, we find that NPCs place an early priority on neuronal differentiation. Late in regeneration, the priority returns to proliferation. Our analyses identify Pbx3 and Meis1 as critical regulators of tail regeneration and axon organization. Overall, we use transcriptional regulatory dynamics to present a new model for cell fate decisions and their regulators in NPCs during regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lauren M Saunders
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
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23
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Mole AJ, Bell S, Thomson AK, Dissanayake KN, Ribchester RR, Murray LM. Synaptic withdrawal following nerve injury is influenced by postnatal maturity, muscle-specific properties, and the presence of underlying pathology in mice. J Anat 2020; 237:263-274. [PMID: 32311115 PMCID: PMC7369188 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Axonal and synaptic degeneration occur following nerve injury and during disease. Traumatic nerve injury results in rapid fragmentation of the distal axon and loss of synaptic terminals, in a process known as Wallerian degeneration (WD). Identifying and understanding factors that influence the rate of WD is of significant biological and clinical importance, as it will facilitate understanding of the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and identification of novel therapeutic targets. Here, we investigate levels of synaptic loss following nerve injury under a range of conditions, including during postnatal development, in a range of anatomically distinct muscles and in a mouse model of motor neuron disease. By utilising an ex vivo model of nerve injury, we show that synaptic withdrawal is slower during early postnatal development. Significantly more neuromuscular junctions remained fully innervated in the cranial nerve/muscle preparations analysed at P15 than at P25. Furthermore, we demonstrate variability in the level of synaptic withdrawal in response to injury in different muscles, with retraction being slower in abdominal preparations than in cranial muscles across all time points analysed. Importantly, differences between the cranial and thoracoabdominal musculature seen here are not consistent with differences in muscle vulnerability that have been previously reported in mouse models of the childhood motor neuron disease, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), caused by depletion of survival motor neuron protein (Smn). To further investigate the relationship between synaptic degeneration in SMA and WD, we induced WD in preparations from the Smn2B/− mouse model of SMA. In a disease‐resistant muscle (rostral band of levator auris longus), where there is minimal denervation, there was no change in the level of synaptic loss, which suggests that the process of synaptic withdrawal following injury is Smn‐independent. However, in a muscle with ongoing degeneration (transvs. abdominis), the level of synaptic loss significantly increased, with the percentage of denervated endplates increasing by 33% following injury, compared to disease alone. We therefore conclude that the presence of a die‐back can accelerate synaptic loss after injury in Smn2B/− mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alannah J Mole
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sarah Bell
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alison K Thomson
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kosala N Dissanayake
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Richard R Ribchester
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lyndsay M Murray
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
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24
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Kaifer KA, Villalón E, O'Brien BS, Sison SL, Smith CE, Simon ME, Marquez J, O'Day S, Hopkins AE, Neff R, Rindt H, Ebert AD, Lorson CL. AAV9-mediated delivery of miR-23a reduces disease severity in Smn2B/-SMA model mice. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 28:3199-3210. [PMID: 31211843 PMCID: PMC6859438 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by deletions or mutations in survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1). The molecular mechanisms underlying motor neuron degeneration in SMA remain elusive, as global cellular dysfunction obscures the identification and characterization of disease-relevant pathways and potential therapeutic targets. Recent reports have implicated microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation as a potential contributor to the pathological mechanism in SMA. To characterize miRNAs that are differentially regulated in SMA, we profiled miRNA levels in SMA induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neurons. From this array, miR-23a downregulation was identified selectively in SMA motor neurons, consistent with previous reports where miR-23a functioned in neuroprotective and muscle atrophy-antagonizing roles. Reintroduction of miR-23a expression in SMA patient iPSC-derived motor neurons protected against degeneration, suggesting a potential miR-23a-specific disease-modifying effect. To assess this activity in vivo, miR-23a was expressed using a self-complementary adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (scAAV9) viral vector in the Smn2B/- SMA mouse model. scAAV9-miR-23a significantly reduced the pathology in SMA mice, including increased motor neuron size, reduced neuromuscular junction pathology, increased muscle fiber area, and extended survival. These experiments demonstrate that miR-23a is a novel protective modifier of SMA, warranting further characterization of miRNA dysfunction in SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin A Kaifer
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Eric Villalón
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Benjamin S O'Brien
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Samantha L Sison
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Caley E Smith
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Madeline E Simon
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jose Marquez
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Siri O'Day
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Abigail E Hopkins
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Rachel Neff
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Hansjörg Rindt
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Allison D Ebert
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Christian L Lorson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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25
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Ottesen EW, Singh NN, Luo D, Singh RN. High-affinity RNA targets of the Survival Motor Neuron protein reveal diverse preferences for sequence and structural motifs. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:10983-11001. [PMID: 30165668 PMCID: PMC6237763 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein is essential for survival of all animal cells. SMN harbors a nucleic acid-binding domain and plays an important role in RNA metabolism. However, the RNA-binding property of SMN is poorly understood. Here we employ iterative in vitro selection and chemical structure probing to identify sequence and structural motif(s) critical for RNA–SMN interactions. Our results reveal that motifs that drive RNA–SMN interactions are diverse and suggest that tight RNA–SMN interaction requires presence of multiple contact sites on the RNA molecule. We performed UV crosslinking and immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (HITS-CLIP) to identify cellular RNA targets of SMN in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. Results of HITS-CLIP identified a wide variety of targets, including mRNAs coding for ribosome biogenesis and cytoskeleton dynamics. We show critical determinants of ANXA2 mRNA for a direct SMN interaction in vitro. Our data confirms the ability of SMN to discriminate among close RNA sequences, and represent the first validation of a direct interaction of SMN with a cellular RNA target. Our findings suggest direct RNA–SMN interaction as a novel mechanism to initiate the cascade of events leading to the execution of SMN-specific functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric W Ottesen
- Iowa State University, Biomedical Sciences, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Diou Luo
- Iowa State University, Biomedical Sciences, Ames, IA, USA
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26
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Osman EY, Bolding MR, Villalón E, Kaifer KA, Lorson ZC, Tisdale S, Hao Y, Conant GC, Pires JC, Pellizzoni L, Lorson CL. Functional characterization of SMN evolution in mouse models of SMA. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9472. [PMID: 31263170 PMCID: PMC6603021 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45822-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a monogenic neurodegenerative disorder and the leading genetic cause of infantile mortality. While several functions have been ascribed to the SMN (survival motor neuron) protein, their specific contribution to the disease has yet to be fully elucidated. We hypothesized that some, but not all, SMN homologues would rescue the SMA phenotype in mouse models, thereby identifying disease-relevant domains. Using AAV9 to deliver Smn homologs to SMA mice, we identified a conservation threshold that marks the boundary at which homologs can rescue the SMA phenotype. Smn from Danio rerio and Xenopus laevis significantly prevent disease, whereas Smn from Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe was significantly less efficacious. This phenotypic rescue correlated with correction of RNA processing defects induced by SMN deficiency and neuromuscular junction pathology. Based upon the sequence conservation in the rescuing homologs, a minimal SMN construct was designed consisting of exons 2, 3, and 6, which showed a partial rescue of the SMA phenotype. While a significant extension in survival was observed, the absence of a complete rescue suggests that while the core conserved region is essential, additional sequences contribute to the overall ability of the SMN protein to rescue disease pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erkan Y Osman
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.,Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Madeline R Bolding
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.,Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Eric Villalón
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.,Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Kevin A Kaifer
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.,Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Zachary C Lorson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.,Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Sarah Tisdale
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Yue Hao
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Gavin C Conant
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.,Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.,Division of Biological Sciences, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - J Chris Pires
- Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Livio Pellizzoni
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Christian L Lorson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA. .,Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
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27
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Kline RA, Wishart TM, Mills K, Heywood WE. Applying modern Omic technologies to the Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165498. [PMID: 31207290 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses are a group of severe and progressive neurodegenerative disorders, which generally present during childhood. With new treatments emerging on the horizon, there is a growing need to understand the specific disease mechanisms as well as identify prospective biomarkers for use to stratify patients and monitor treatment. The use of Omics technologies to NCLs has the potential to address this need. We discuss the recent use and outcomes of Omics to various forms of NCL including identification of interactomes, affected biological pathways and potential biomarker candidates. We also identify common pathways affected in NCL across the reviewed studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Kline
- Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick), School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Thomas M Wishart
- Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick), School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kevin Mills
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism Section, Genetics & Genomic Medicine Unit, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; NIHR Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre, Great Ormond Street Hospital, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK
| | - Wendy E Heywood
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism Section, Genetics & Genomic Medicine Unit, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; NIHR Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre, Great Ormond Street Hospital, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, UK.
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28
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Villalón E, Shababi M, Kline R, Lorson ZC, Florea KM, Lorson CL. Selective vulnerability in neuronal populations in nmd/SMARD1 mice. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 27:679-690. [PMID: 29272405 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1) is an autosomal recessive motor neuron disease causing distal limb muscle atrophy that progresses proximally and is accompanied by diaphragmatic paralysis. Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) alterations have been reported in muscles of SMARD1 model mice, known as nmd mice, with varying degrees of severity, suggesting that different muscles are specifically and selectively resistant or susceptible to denervation. To evaluate the extent of NMJ pathology in a broad range of muscles, a panel of axial and appendicular muscles were isolated and immunostained from nmd mice. These analyses revealed that selective distal appendage muscles were highly vulnerable to denervation. Susceptibility to pathology was not limited to NMJ alterations, but included defects in myelination within those neurons innervating susceptible muscles. Interestingly, end plate fragmentation was present within all muscles independent of the extent of NMJ alterations, suggesting that end plate fragmentation is an early hallmark of SMARD1 pathogenesis. Expressing the full-length IGHMBP2 cDNA using an adeno-associated virus (AAV9) significantly decreased all aspects of muscle and nerve disease pathology. These results shed new light onto the pathogenesis of SMARD1 by identifying specific motor units that are resistant and susceptible to neurodegeneration in an important model of SMARD1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Villalón
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.,Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Monir Shababi
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.,Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Rachel Kline
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.,Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Zachary C Lorson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.,Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Kyra M Florea
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.,Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Christian L Lorson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.,Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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29
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Jha NN, Kim JK, Monani UR. Motor neuron biology and disease: A current perspective on infantile-onset spinal muscular atrophy. FUTURE NEUROLOGY 2018; 13:161-172. [PMID: 31396020 DOI: 10.2217/fnl-2018-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Infantile-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a prototypical disease in which to investigate selective neurodegenerative phenotypes. Caused by low levels of the ubiquitously expressed Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein, the disease mainly targets the spinal motor neurons. This selective phenotype remains largely unexplained, but has not hindered the development of SMN repletion as a means to a treatment. Here we chronicle recent advances in the area of SMA biology. We provide a brief background to the disease, highlight major advances that have shaped our current understanding of SMA, trace efforts to treat the condition, discuss the outcome of two promising new therapies and conclude by considering contemporary as well as new challenges stemming from recent successes within the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narendra N Jha
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, 630 W. 168 St., Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032.,Center for Motor Neuron Biology & Disease, 630 W. 168 St., Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Jeong-Ki Kim
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, 630 W. 168 St., Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032.,Center for Motor Neuron Biology & Disease, 630 W. 168 St., Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Umrao R Monani
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, 630 W. 168 St., Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032.,Department of Neurology, 630 W. 168 St., Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032.,Center for Motor Neuron Biology & Disease, 630 W. 168 St., Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
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30
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Zou F, Lu ZT, Wang S, Wu S, Wu YY, Sun ZR. Human cytomegalovirus UL141 protein interacts with CELF5 and affects viral DNA replication. Mol Med Rep 2018; 17:4657-4664. [PMID: 29328469 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2018.8419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is the primary viral cause of congenital abnormalities and mental retardation in newborns. The HCMV UL141‑encoded glycoprotein has been previously revealed to inhibit the cell‑surface expression of cluster of differentiation (CD)155, CD122, tumor necrosis factor‑related apoptosis‑inducing ligand death (TRAIL)‑receptor 1 (R1) and TRAIL‑receptor 2 (R2), thus protecting virally‑infected cells by allowing them to escape natural killer cell‑mediated cytotoxicity. The present study investigated the interaction between HCMV UL141 and human fetal brain cDNA to elucidate the possible effects of UL141 on the nervous system. The findings of the current study demonstrate that the HCMV UL141 protein directly interacts with the human protein CUGBP Elav‑like family member 5 (CELF5) via yeast two‑hybrid screening, this interaction was confirmed by glutathione S‑transferase pull‑down and co‑immunoprecipitation assays. Additionally, the present study demonstrated that the UL141 protein co‑localizes with CELF5 in the cytoplasm of 293 cells using fluorescence confocal microscopy. CELF5 overexpression in a stably‑expressing cell line significantly increased viral DNA copy number and titer in HCMV‑infected U373MG cells. However, reducing CELF5 expression via specific small interfering RNAs did not affect viral DNA copy number or titer in HCMV‑infected cells. The current findings suggest that the interaction between UL141 and CELF5 may be involved in modulating viral DNA synthesis and progeny production. Therefore, CELF5 may represent a possible mechanism for regulation of HCMV genomic DNA synthesis, which is a key step during HCMV infection leading to neurological disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Zou
- Department of BioBank, Affiliated Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Tao Lu
- Department of Pediatrics, Zhangjiagang First People's Hospital, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu 215600, P.R. China
| | - Shuang Wang
- Department of BioBank, Affiliated Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Si Wu
- Department of BioBank, Affiliated Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Ying-Ying Wu
- Department of BioBank, Affiliated Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
| | - Zheng-Rong Sun
- Department of BioBank, Affiliated Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, P.R. China
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31
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Ryskalin L, Busceti CL, Limanaqi F, Biagioni F, Gambardella S, Fornai F. A Focus on the Beneficial Effects of Alpha Synuclein and a Re-Appraisal of Synucleinopathies. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2018; 19:598-611. [PMID: 29150919 PMCID: PMC5925871 DOI: 10.2174/1389203718666171117110028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Alpha synuclein (α-syn) belongs to a class of proteins which are commonly considered to play a detrimental role in neuronal survival. This assumption is based on the occurrence of a severe neuronal degeneration in patients carrying a multiplication of the α-syn gene (SNCA) and in a variety of experimental models, where overexpression of α-syn leads to cell death and neurological impairment. In these conditions, a higher amount of normally structured α-syn produces a damage, which is even worse compared with that produced by α-syn owning an abnormal structure (as occurring following point gene mutations). In line with this, knocking out the expression of α-syn is reported to protect from specific neurotoxins such as 1-methyl, 4-phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). In the present review we briefly discuss these well-known detrimental effects but we focus on findings showing that, in specific conditions α-syn is beneficial for cell survival. This occurs during methamphetamine intoxication which is counteracted by endogenous α-syn. Similarly, the dysfunction of the chaperone cysteine-string protein- alpha leads to cell pathology which is counteracted by over-expressing α-syn. In line with this, an increased expression of α-syn protects against oxidative damage produced by dopamine. Remarkably, when the lack of α-syn is combined with a depletion of β- and γ- synucleins, alterations in brain structure and function occur. This review tries to balance the evidence showing a beneficial effect with the bulk of data reporting a detrimental effect of endogenous α-syn. The specific role of α-syn as a chaperone protein is discussed to explain such a dual effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa Ryskalin
- Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126Pisa, Italy
| | - Carla L. Busceti
- I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy
| | - Fiona Limanaqi
- Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesco Fornai
- Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126Pisa, Italy
- I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy
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32
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Bowerman M, Murray LM, Scamps F, Schneider BL, Kothary R, Raoul C. Pathogenic commonalities between spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Converging roads to therapeutic development. Eur J Med Genet 2017; 61:685-698. [PMID: 29313812 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are the two most common motoneuron disorders, which share typical pathological hallmarks while remaining genetically distinct. Indeed, SMA is caused by deletions or mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene whilst ALS, albeit being mostly sporadic, can also be caused by mutations within genes, including superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), Fused in Sarcoma (FUS), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9ORF72). However, it has come to light that these two diseases may be more interlinked than previously thought. Indeed, it has recently been found that FUS directly interacts with an Smn-containing complex, mutant SOD1 perturbs Smn localization, Smn depletion aggravates disease progression of ALS mice, overexpression of SMN in ALS mice significantly improves their phenotype and lifespan, and duplications of SMN1 have been linked to sporadic ALS. Beyond genetic interactions, accumulating evidence further suggests that both diseases share common pathological identities such as intrinsic muscle defects, neuroinflammation, immune organ dysfunction, metabolic perturbations, defects in neuron excitability and selective motoneuron vulnerability. Identifying common molecular effectors that mediate shared pathologies in SMA and ALS would allow for the development of therapeutic strategies and targeted gene therapies that could potentially alleviate symptoms and be equally beneficial in both disorders. In the present review, we will examine our current knowledge of pathogenic commonalities between SMA and ALS, and discuss how furthering this understanding can lead to the establishment of novel therapeutic approaches with wide-reaching impact on multiple motoneuron diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Bowerman
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, United Kingdom; Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom; Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, United Kingdom
| | - Lyndsay M Murray
- Euan McDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research and Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Frédérique Scamps
- The Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, Inserm UMR1051, Univ Montpellier, Saint Eloi Hospital, Montpellier, France
| | - Bernard L Schneider
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rashmi Kothary
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Departments of Medicine and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Cédric Raoul
- The Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, Inserm UMR1051, Univ Montpellier, Saint Eloi Hospital, Montpellier, France.
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33
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Abstract
This commentary will focus on how we can use our knowledge about the complexity of human disease and its pathogenesis to identify novel approaches to therapy. We know that even for single gene Mendelian disorders, patients with identical mutations often have different presentations and outcomes. This lack of genotype-phenotype correlation led us and others to examine the roles of modifier genes in the context of biological networks. These investigations have utilized vertebrate and invertebrate model organisms. Since one of the goals of research on modifier genes and networks is to identify novel therapeutic targets, the challenges to patient access and compliance because of the high costs of medications for rare genetic diseases must be recognized. A recent article explored protective modifiers, including plastin 3 (PLS3) and coronin 1C (CORO1C), in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SMA is an autosomal recessive deficit of survival motor neuron protein (SMN) caused by mutations in SMN1. However, the severity of SMA is determined primarily by the number of SMN2 copies, and this results in significant phenotypic variability. PLS3 was upregulated in siblings who were asymptomatic compared with those who had SMA2 or SMA3, but identical homozygous SMN1 deletions and equal numbers of SMN2 copies. CORO1C was identified by interrogation of the PLS3 interactome. Overexpression of these proteins rescued endocytosis in SMA models. In addition, antisense RNA for upregulation of SMN2 protein expression is being developed as another way of modifying the SMA phenotype. These investigations suggest the practical application of protective modifiers to rescue SMA phenotypes. Other examples of the potential therapeutic value of novel protective modifiers will be discussed, including in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and glycerol kinase deficiency. This work shows that while we live in an exciting era of genomic sequencing, a functional understanding of biology, the impact of its disruption, and possibilities for its repair have never been more important as we search for new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward R B McCabe
- March of Dimes Foundation, United States; Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, United States.
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