1
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He M, Lv X, Cao X, Yuan Z, Quan K, Getachew T, Mwacharo JM, Haile A, Li Y, Wang S, Sun W. CRABP2 Promotes the Proliferation of Dermal Papilla Cells via the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2033. [PMID: 37370543 DOI: 10.3390/ani13122033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In our previous study of Hu sheep hair follicles, we found that CRABP2 was highly expressed in DPCs, which suggested that CRABP2 may influence the number of DPCs. In the present study, we aimed to understand the effect of CRABP2 in Hu sheep dermal papilla cells (DPCs). First, we explored the influence of CRABP2 on the ability of Hu sheep DPCs' proliferation. Based on the results obtained from some experiments, such as CCK-8, EDU, qPCR, and Western blot experiment, we found that the overexpression of CRABP2 facilitated the proliferation of DPCs compared to the negative control group. Then, we also detected the effect of CRABP2 on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway based on the important function of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in hair follicles. The results showed that CRABP2 could activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in DPCs, and it rescues the proliferation of DPCs when the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was inhibited. In summary, our findings indicate that CRABP2 is a vital functional gene in the proliferation of Hu sheep DPCs. Our study will be of great use for revealing the roles of CRABP2 in the hair follicles of Hu sheep.
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Grants
- 32172689,BK20210810,20KJB230003,22KJA230001,PZCZ201739,32061143036,2022D01D47,G2022014148L the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32172689), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20210810), the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China (20KJB230003 and 22KJA230001), Major New Varieti
- KYCX23_359 the Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (KYCX23_3593) and Distinguished Talents Project Foundation of Yangzhou University
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingliang He
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Xiaoyang Lv
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory in Universities of Jiangsu Province of China for Domestic Animal Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Xiukai Cao
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory in Universities of Jiangsu Province of China for Domestic Animal Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Zehu Yuan
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory in Universities of Jiangsu Province of China for Domestic Animal Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Kai Quan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Tesfaye Getachew
- International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Addis Ababa 999047, Ethiopia
| | - Joram M Mwacharo
- International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Addis Ababa 999047, Ethiopia
| | - Aynalem Haile
- International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Addis Ababa 999047, Ethiopia
| | - Yutao Li
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Rd., St. Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Shanhe Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory in Universities of Jiangsu Province of China for Domestic Animal Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Wei Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory in Universities of Jiangsu Province of China for Domestic Animal Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
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Wei CW, Lerdall T, Najjar F, Wei LN. Depleting Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein 1 Impairs UPR mt. JOURNAL OF CELLULAR SIGNALING 2023; 4:151-162. [PMID: 38706516 PMCID: PMC11068023 DOI: 10.33696/signaling.4.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction underlines neurodegenerative diseases which are mostly characterized by progressive degeneration of neurons. We previously reported that Cellular retinoic acid Binding protein 1 (Crabp1) knockout (CKO) mice spontaneously developed age-dependent motor degeneration, with defects accumulated in spinal motor neurons (MNs), the only cell type in spinal cord that expresses CRABP1. Here we uncovered that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and the expression of genes involved in respiration were significantly reduced in CKO mouse spinal cord, accompanied by significantly elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and unfolded protein load, indicating that CRABP1 deficiency caused mitochondrial dysfunction. Further analyses of spinal cord tissues revealed significant reduction in the expression and activity of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), as well as defected mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) pathway, specifically an increase in ATF5 mRNA but not its protein level, which suggested failure in the translational response of ATF5 in CKO. Consistently, eukaryotic initiation factor-2α, (eIF2α) phosphorylation was reduced in CKO spinal cord. In a CRABP1 knockdown MN1 model, siCrabp1-MN1, we validated the cell-autonomous function of CRABP1 in modulating the execution of UPRmt. This study reveals a new functional role for CRABP1 in the execution of mitochondrial stress response, that CRABP1 modulates eIF2α phosphorylation thereby contributing to ATF5 translational response that is needed to mitigate mitochondria stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Wen Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Thomas Lerdall
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Fatimah Najjar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Li-Na Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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3
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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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4
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Sun J, Qiu J, Yang Q, Ju Q, Qu R, Wang X, Wu L, Xing L. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals dysregulation of spinal cord cell types in a severe spinal muscular atrophy mouse model. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010392. [PMID: 36074806 PMCID: PMC9488758 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease caused by the loss of survival of motor neuron (SMN) proteins, there is growing evidence that non-neuronal cells play important roles in SMA pathogenesis. However, transcriptome alterations occurring at the single-cell level in SMA spinal cord remain unknown, preventing us from fully comprehending the role of specific cells. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of the spinal cord of a severe SMA mouse model, and identified ten cell types as well as their differentially expressed genes. Using CellChat, we found that cellular communication between different cell types in the spinal cord of SMA mice was significantly reduced. A dimensionality reduction analysis revealed 29 cell subtypes and their differentially expressed gene. A subpopulation of vascular fibroblasts showed the most significant change in the SMA spinal cord at the single-cell level. This subpopulation was drastically reduced, possibly causing vascular defects and resulting in widespread protein synthesis and energy metabolism reductions in SMA mice. This study reveals for the first time a single-cell atlas of the spinal cord of mice with severe SMA, and sheds new light on the pathogenesis of SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Sun
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong University, Nantong, China
- * E-mail: (JS); (LW); (LX)
| | - Jiaying Qiu
- Department of Prenatal Screening and Diagnosis Center, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Qiongxia Yang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Qianqian Ju
- Laboratory Animal Center, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Ruobing Qu
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Laboratory Animal Center, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Liucheng Wu
- Laboratory Animal Center, Nantong University, Nantong, China
- * E-mail: (JS); (LW); (LX)
| | - Lingyan Xing
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong University, Nantong, China
- * E-mail: (JS); (LW); (LX)
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5
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Lin YL, Nhieu J, Liu PY, Le G, Lee DJ, Wei CW, Lin YW, Oh SH, Lowe D, Wei LN. CRABP1-CaMKII-Agrn regulates the maintenance of neuromuscular junction in spinal motor neuron. Cell Death Differ 2022; 29:1744-1756. [PMID: 35217789 PMCID: PMC9433400 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-022-00959-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 1 (CRABP1) binds retinoic acid (RA) specifically in the cytoplasm with unclear functions. CRABP1 is highly and specifically expressed in spinal motor neurons (MNs). Clinical and pre-clinical data reveal a potential link between CRABP1 and MN diseases, including the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We established a sequenced MN-muscle co-differentiation system to engineer an in vitro functional 3D NMJ model for molecular studies and demonstrated that CRABP1 in MNs contributes to NMJ formation and maintenance. Consistently, Crabp1 knockout (CKO) mice exhibited an adult-onset ALS-like phenotype with progressively deteriorated NMJs, characterized with behavioral, EchoMRI, electrophysiological, histological, and immunohistochemical studies at 2-20-months old. Mechanistically, CRABP1 suppresses CaMKII activation to regulate neural Agrn expression and downstream muscle LRP4-MuSK signaling, thereby maintaining NMJ. A proof-of-concept was provided by specific re-expression of CRABP1 to rescue Agrn expression and the phenotype. This study identifies CRABP1-CaMKII-Agrn signaling as a physiological pre-synaptic regulator in the NMJ. This study also highlights a potential protective role of CRABP1 in the progression of NMJ deficits in MN diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Lung Lin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Jennifer Nhieu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Pei-Yao Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Gengyun Le
- Divisions of Rehabilitation Science and Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Dong Jun Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Chin-Wen Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Yi-Wei Lin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Sang-Hyun Oh
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Dawn Lowe
- Divisions of Rehabilitation Science and Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Li-Na Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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6
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Kanda S, Moulton E, Butchbach MER. Effects of inhibitors of SLC9A-type sodium-protein exchangers on Survival Motor Neuron 2 ( SMN2) mRNA splicing and expression. Mol Pharmacol 2022; 102:92-105. [PMID: 35667685 PMCID: PMC9341265 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.122.000529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive, pediatric-onset disorder caused by the loss of spinal motor neurons thereby leading to muscle atrophy. SMA is caused by the loss of or mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. SMN1 is duplicated in humans to give rise to the paralogous SMN2 gene. This paralog is nearly identical except for a cytosine to thymine (C-to-T) transition within an exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) element within exon 7. As a result, the majority of SMN2 transcripts lack exon 7 (SMNΔ7) which produces a truncated and unstable SMN protein. Since SMN2 copy number is inversely related to disease severity, it is a well-established target for SMA therapeutics development. 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA), an inhibitor of sodium/proton exchangers (NHEs), has previously been shown to increase exon 7 inclusion and SMN protein levels in SMA cells. In this study, NHE inhibitors were evaluated for their ability to modulate SMN2 expression. EIPA as well as 5-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride (HMA) increase exon 7 inclusion in SMN2 splicing reporter lines as well as in SMA fibroblasts. The EIPA-induced exon 7 inclusion occurs via a unique mechanism that does not involve previously identified splicing factors. Transcriptome analysis identified novel targets, including TIA1 and FABP3, for further characterization. EIPA and HMA are more selective at inhibiting the NHE5 isoform, which is expressed in fibroblasts as well as in neuronal cells. These results show that NHE5 inhibition increases SMN2 expression and may be a novel target for therapeutics development. Significance Statement This study demonstrates a molecular mechanism by which inhibitors of the sodium-protein exchanger increase the alternative splicing of SMN2 in spinal muscular atrophy cells. NHE5 selective inhibitors increase the inclusion of full-length SMN2 mRNAs by targeting TIA1 and FABP3 expression, which is distinct from other small molecule regulators of SMN2 alternative splicing. This study provides a novel means to increase full-length SMN2 expression and a novel target for therapeutics development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sambee Kanda
- Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, United States
| | - Emily Moulton
- Biomedical Research, Nemours Children's Hospital Delaware, United States
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7
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Ando S, Suzuki S, Okubo S, Ohuchi K, Takahashi K, Nakamura S, Shimazawa M, Fuji K, Hara H. Discovery of a CNS penetrant small molecule SMN2 splicing modulator with improved tolerability for spinal muscular atrophy. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17472. [PMID: 33060681 PMCID: PMC7562719 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74346-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease, typically resulting from loss-of-function mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Nusinersen/SPINRAZA, a splice-switching oligonucleotide that modulates SMN2 (a paralog of SMN1) splicing and consequently increases SMN protein levels, has a therapeutic effect for SMA. Previously reported small-molecule SMN2 splicing modulators such as risdiplam/EVRYSDI and its analog SMN-C3 modulate not only the splicing of SMN2 but also that of secondary splice targets, including forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1). Through screening SMA patient-derived fibroblasts, a novel small molecule, designated TEC-1, was identified that selectively modulates SMN2 splicing over three secondary splice targets. TEC-1 did not strongly affect the splicing of FOXM1, and unlike risdiplam, did not induce micronucleus formation. In addition, TEC-1 showed higher selectively on galactosylceramidase and huntingtin gene expression compared to previously reported compounds (e.g., SMN-C3) due to off-target effects on cryptic exon inclusion and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Moreover, TEC-1 significantly ameliorated the disease phenotype in an SMA murine model in vivo. Thus, TEC-1 may have promising therapeutic potential for SMA, and our study demonstrates the feasibility of RNA-targeting small-molecule drug development with an improved tolerability profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiori Ando
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | | | | | - Kazuki Ohuchi
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | - Kei Takahashi
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Nakamura
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | - Masamitsu Shimazawa
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan
| | - Koji Fuji
- Reborna Biosciences Inc., Kanagawa, 251-0012, Japan
| | - Hideaki Hara
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan.
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8
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Lin YL, Lin YW, Nhieu J, Zhang X, Wei LN. Sonic Hedgehog-Gli1 Signaling and Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein 1 Gene Regulation in Motor Neuron Differentiation and Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21114125. [PMID: 32527063 PMCID: PMC7312406 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 1 (CRABP1) is highly expressed in motor neurons. Degenerated motor neuron-like MN1 cells are engineered by introducing SODG93A or AR-65Q to model degenerated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or spinal bulbar muscular atrophy neurons. Retinoic acid (RA)/sonic hedgehog (Shh)-induced embryonic stem cells differentiation into motor neurons are employed to study up-regulation of Crabp1 by Shh. In SODG93A or AR-65Q MN1 neurons, CRABP1 level is reduced, revealing a correlation of motor neuron degeneration with Crabp1 down-regulation. Up-regulation of Crabp1 by Shh is mediated by glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (Gli1) that binds the Gli target sequence in Crabp1′s neuron-specific regulatory region upstream of minimal promoter. Gli1 binding triggers chromatin juxtaposition with minimal promoter, activating transcription. Motor neuron differentiation and Crabp1 up-regulation are both inhibited by blunting Shh with Gli inhibitor GANT61. Expression data mining of ALS and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) motor neurons shows reduced CRABP1, coincided with reduction in Shh-Gli1 signaling components. This study reports motor neuron degeneration correlated with down-regulation in Crabp1 and Shh-Gli signaling. Shh-Gli up-regulation of Crabp1 involves specific chromatin remodeling. The physiological and pathological implication of this regulatory pathway in motor neuron degeneration is supported by gene expression data of ALS and SMA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Li-Na Wei
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-612-6259402
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9
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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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10
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Rizzo F, Nizzardo M, Vashisht S, Molteni E, Melzi V, Taiana M, Salani S, Santonicola P, Di Schiavi E, Bucchia M, Bordoni A, Faravelli I, Bresolin N, Comi GP, Pozzoli U, Corti S. Key role of SMN/SYNCRIP and RNA-Motif 7 in spinal muscular atrophy: RNA-Seq and motif analysis of human motor neurons. Brain 2019; 142:276-294. [PMID: 30649277 PMCID: PMC6351774 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awy330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy is a motor neuron disorder caused by mutations in SMN1. The reasons for the selective vulnerability of motor neurons linked to SMN (encoded by SMN1) reduction remain unclear. Therefore, we performed deep RNA sequencing on human spinal muscular atrophy motor neurons to detect specific altered gene splicing/expression and to identify the presence of a common sequence motif in these genes. Many deregulated genes, such as the neurexin and synaptotagmin families, are implicated in critical motor neuron functions. Motif-enrichment analyses of differentially expressed/spliced genes, including neurexin2 (NRXN2), revealed a common motif, motif 7, which is a target of SYNCRIP. Interestingly, SYNCRIP interacts only with full-length SMN, binding and modulating several motor neuron transcripts, including SMN itself. SYNCRIP overexpression rescued spinal muscular atrophy motor neurons, due to the subsequent increase in SMN and their downstream target NRXN2 through a positive loop mechanism and ameliorated SMN-loss-related pathological phenotypes in Caenorhabditis elegans and mouse models. SMN/SYNCRIP complex through motif 7 may account for selective motor neuron degeneration and represent a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Rizzo
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Nizzardo
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Shikha Vashisht
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Computational Biology, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Erika Molteni
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Computational Biology, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Valentina Melzi
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Taiana
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sabrina Salani
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Elia Di Schiavi
- Institute of Bioscience and BioResources, IBBR, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Monica Bucchia
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Andreina Bordoni
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Irene Faravelli
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Nereo Bresolin
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Computational Biology, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Giacomo Pietro Comi
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Computational Biology, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Uberto Pozzoli
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Corti
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Computational Biology, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
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11
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Quinlan KA, Reedich EJ, Arnold WD, Puritz AC, Cavarsan CF, Heckman CJ, DiDonato CJ. Hyperexcitability precedes motoneuron loss in the Smn2B/- mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy. J Neurophysiol 2019; 122:1297-1311. [PMID: 31365319 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00652.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal motoneuron dysfunction and loss are pathological hallmarks of the neuromuscular disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Changes in motoneuron physiological function precede cell death, but how these alterations vary with disease severity and motoneuron maturational state is unknown. To address this question, we assessed the electrophysiology and morphology of spinal motoneurons of presymptomatic Smn2B/- mice older than 1 wk of age and tracked the timing of motor unit loss in this model using motor unit number estimation (MUNE). In contrast to other commonly used SMA mouse models, Smn2B/- mice exhibit more typical postnatal development until postnatal day (P)11 or 12 and have longer survival (~3 wk of age). We demonstrate that Smn2B/- motoneuron hyperexcitability, marked by hyperpolarization of the threshold voltage for action potential firing, was present at P9-10 and preceded the loss of motor units. Using MUNE studies, we determined that motor unit loss in this mouse model occurred 2 wk after birth. Smn2B/- motoneurons were also larger in size, which may reflect compensatory changes taking place during postnatal development. This work suggests that motoneuron hyperexcitability, marked by a reduced threshold for action potential firing, is a pathological change preceding motoneuron loss that is common to multiple models of severe SMA with different motoneuron maturational states. Our results indicate voltage-gated sodium channel activity may be altered in the disease process.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Changes in spinal motoneuron physiologic function precede cell death in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), but how they vary with maturational state and disease severity remains unknown. This study characterized motoneuron and neuromuscular electrophysiology from the Smn2B/- model of SMA. Motoneurons were hyperexcitable at postnatal day (P)9-10, and specific electrophysiological changes in Smn2B/- motoneurons preceded functional motor unit loss at P14, as determined by motor unit number estimation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Quinlan
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island.,George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island.,Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - E J Reedich
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.,Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.,Human Molecular Genetics Program, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
| | - W D Arnold
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - A C Puritz
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - C F Cavarsan
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island.,George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island
| | - C J Heckman
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.,Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - C J DiDonato
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.,Human Molecular Genetics Program, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
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12
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Gao X, Xu J, Chen H, Xue D, Pan W, Zhou C, Ma YC, Ma L. Defective Expression of Mitochondrial, Vacuolar H +-ATPase and Histone Genes in a C. elegans Model of SMA. Front Genet 2019; 10:410. [PMID: 31130987 PMCID: PMC6509145 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe motor neuron degenerative disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in the survival motor neuron gene SMN1. It is widely posited that defective gene expression underlies SMA. However, the identities of these affected genes remain to be elucidated. By analyzing the transcriptome of a Caenorhabditis elegans SMA model at the pre-symptomatic stage, we found that the expression of numerous nuclear encoded mitochondrial genes and vacuolar H+-ATPase genes was significantly down-regulated, while that of histone genes was significantly up-regulated. We previously showed that the uaf-1 gene, encoding key splicing factor U2AF large subunit, could affect the behavior and lifespan of smn-1 mutants. Here, we found that smn-1 and uaf-1 interact to affect the recognition of 3′ and 5′ splice sites in a gene-specific manner. Altogether, our results suggest a functional interaction between smn-1 and uaf-1 in affecting RNA splicing and a potential effect of smn-1 on the expression of mitochondrial and histone genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Gao
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dingwu Xue
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wenju Pan
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chuanman Zhou
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yongchao C Ma
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Long Ma
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
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13
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Notch Signaling Mediates Astrocyte Abnormality in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Model Systems. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3701. [PMID: 30842449 PMCID: PMC6403369 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39788-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder characterized by the degeneration of spinal motor neurons and muscle atrophy. The disease is mainly caused by low level of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, which is coded by two genes, namely SMN1 and SMN2, but leads to selective spinal motor neuron degeneration when SMN1 gene is deleted or mutated. Previous reports have shown that SMN-protein-deficient astrocytes are abnormally abundant in the spinal cords of SMA model mice. However, the mechanism of the SMN- deficient astrocyte abnormality remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to identify the cellular signaling pathways associated with the SMN-deficient astrocyte abnormality and propose a candidate therapy tool that modulates signaling. In the present study, we found that the astrocyte density was increased around the central canal of the spinal cord in a mouse SMA model and we identified the dysregulation of Notch signaling which is a known mechanism that regulates astrocyte differentiation and proliferation, in the spinal cord in both early and late stages of SMA pathogenesis. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of Notch signaling improved the motor functional deficits in SMA model mice. These findings indicate that dysregulated Notch signaling may be an underlying cause of SMA pathology.
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14
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Sun J, Harrington MA. The Alteration of Intrinsic Excitability and Synaptic Transmission in Lumbar Spinal Motor Neurons and Interneurons of Severe Spinal Muscular Atrophy Mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:15. [PMID: 30792629 PMCID: PMC6374350 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of death in infants. Studies with mouse models have demonstrated increased excitability and loss of afferent proprioceptive synapses on motor neurons (MNs). To further understand functional changes in the motor neural network occurring in SMA, we studied the intrinsic excitability and synaptic transmission of both MNs and interneurons (INs) from ventral horn in the lumbar spinal cord in the survival motor neuron (SMN)Δ7 mouse model. We found significant differences in the membrane properties of MNs in SMA mice compared to littermate controls, including hyperpolarized resting membrane potential, increased input resistance and decreased membrane capacitance. Action potential (AP) properties in MNs from SMA mice were also different from controls, including decreased rheobase current, increased amplitude and an increased afterdepolarization (ADP) potential. The relationship between AP firing frequency and injected current was reduced in MNs, as was the threshold current, while the percentage of MNs showing long-lasting potentiation (LLP) in the intrinsic excitability was higher in SMA mice. INs showed a high rate of spontaneous firing, and those from SMA mice fired at higher frequency. INs from SMA mice showed little difference in their input-output relationship, threshold current, and plasticity in intrinsic excitability. The changes observed in both passive membrane and AP properties suggest greater overall excitability in both MNs and INs in SMA mice, with MNs showing more differences. There were also changes of synaptic currents in SMA mice. The average charge transfer per post-synaptic current of spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory synaptic currents (sEPSCs/sIPSCs) were lower in SMA MNs, while in INs sIPSC frequency was higher. Strikingly in light of the known loss of excitatory synapses on MNs, there was no difference in sEPSC frequency in MNs from SMA mice compared to controls. For miniature synaptic currents, mEPSC frequency was higher in SMA MNs, while for SMA INs, both mEPSC and mIPSC frequencies were higher. In SMA-affected mice we observed alterations of intrinsic and synaptic properties in both MNs and INs in the spinal motor network that may contribute to the pathophysiology, or alternatively, may be a compensatory response to preserve network function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianli Sun
- Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, United States.,Department of Biological Science, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, United States
| | - Melissa A Harrington
- Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, United States.,Department of Biological Science, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, United States
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15
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Wen YF, Zheng L, Niu H, Zhang GL, Zhang GM, Ma YL, Tian YR, Liu YR, Yang P, Yang DY, Lei CZ, Dang RH, Qi XL, Chen H, Huang BZ, Huang YZ. Exploring genotype-phenotype relationships of the CRABP2 gene on growth traits in beef cattle. Anim Biotechnol 2018; 31:42-51. [PMID: 30570383 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2018.1531015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2 (CRABP2) is essential to myoblast differentiation. However, there was no report about the function of CRABP2 gene in cattle. This study explored the association of CRABP2 gene polymorphisms with growth traits in cattle breeds by several methods, such as DNA sequencing, PCR, PCR-RFLP and forced PCR-RFLP. Two sequence variants were determined. There were 621 individuals in six cattle breeds from China for the experiment, and three breeds were used to test validation of polymorphisms and extent of linkage disequilibrium (LD). The results showed that both SNPs (SNP1, g.2458 G > T, SNP2, g.3878 G > A) were in intron1. Two SNPs were in low linkage disequilibrium. Association analysis suggested that SNP1 had the significant difference on growth traits with body height, height at hip cross and body slanting length (P < .05), while SNP2 showed a significant difference in growth traits with body height, height at hip cross and body slanting length(P < .05). The results of this investigation displayed that the CRABP2 gene is an available candidate gene and may be used for breed selection and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Fan Wen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Zheng
- Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Niu
- Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guo-Liang Zhang
- Branch of Animal Science, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Gui-Min Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Lei Ma
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Ran Tian
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Rong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Di-Yi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Chu-Zhao Lei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui-Hua Dang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing-Lei Qi
- Bureau of Animal Husbandry of Biyang County, Biyang, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Bi-Zhi Huang
- Yunnan Academy of grassland animal science, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong-Zhen Huang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
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16
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Šoltić D, Bowerman M, Stock J, Shorrock HK, Gillingwater TH, Fuller HR. Multi-Study Proteomic and Bioinformatic Identification of Molecular Overlap between Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8120212. [PMID: 30518112 PMCID: PMC6315439 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8120212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Unravelling the complex molecular pathways responsible for motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) remains a persistent challenge. Interest is growing in the potential molecular similarities between these two diseases, with the hope of better understanding disease pathology for the guidance of therapeutic development. The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of published proteomic studies of ALS and SMA, seeking commonly dysregulated molecules to be prioritized as future therapeutic targets. Fifteen proteins were found to be differentially expressed in two or more proteomic studies of both ALS and SMA, and bioinformatics analysis identified over-representation of proteins known to associate in vesicles and molecular pathways, including metabolism of proteins and vesicle-mediated transport—both of which converge on endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi trafficking processes. Calreticulin, a calcium-binding chaperone found in the ER, was associated with both pathways and we independently confirm that its expression was decreased in spinal cords from SMA and increased in spinal cords from ALS mice. Together, these findings offer significant insights into potential common targets that may help to guide the development of new therapies for both diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darija Šoltić
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK; (D.S.); (M.B.)
- Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
- Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry SY10 7AG, UK
| | - Melissa Bowerman
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK; (D.S.); (M.B.)
- Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
- Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry SY10 7AG, UK
| | - Joanne Stock
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK; (D.S.); (M.B.)
- Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
- Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry SY10 7AG, UK
| | - Hannah K. Shorrock
- Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK; (H.K.S.); (T.H.G.)
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
| | - Thomas H. Gillingwater
- Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK; (H.K.S.); (T.H.G.)
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
| | - Heidi R. Fuller
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK; (D.S.); (M.B.)
- Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
- Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry SY10 7AG, UK
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-169-140-4693; Fax: +44-169-140-4065
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17
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Abstract
Autosomal-recessive proximal spinal muscular atrophy (Werdnig-Hoffmann, Kugelberg-Welander) is caused by mutation of the SMN1 gene, and the clinical severity correlates with the number of copies of a nearly identical gene, SMN2. The SMN protein plays a critical role in spliceosome assembly and may have other cellular functions, such as mRNA transport. Cell culture and animal models have helped to define the disease mechanism and to identify targets for therapeutic intervention. The main focus for developing treatment has been to increase SMN levels, and accomplishing this with small molecules, oligonucleotides, and gene replacement has been quite. An oligonucleotide, nusinersen, was recently approved for treatment in patients, and confirmatory studies of other agents are now under way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eveline S Arnold
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Kenneth H Fischbeck
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
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18
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Sison SL, Patitucci TN, Seminary ER, Villalon E, Lorson CL, Ebert AD. Astrocyte-produced miR-146a as a mediator of motor neuron loss in spinal muscular atrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2018. [PMID: 28637335 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading genetic cause of infant mortality, is caused by the loss of the survival motor neuron-1 (SMN1) gene, which leads to motor neuron loss, muscle atrophy, respiratory distress, and death. Motor neurons exhibit the most profound loss, but the mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis are not fully understood. Recent evidence suggests that motor neuron extrinsic influences, such as those arising from astrocytes, contribute to motor neuron malfunction and loss. Here we investigated both loss-of-function and toxic gain-of-function astrocyte mechanisms that could play a role in SMA pathology. We had previously found that glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is reduced in SMA astrocytes. However, reduced GDNF expression does not play a major role in SMA pathology as viral-mediated GDNF re-expression did not improve astrocyte function or motor neuron loss. In contrast, we found that SMA astrocytes increased microRNA (miR) production and secretion compared to control astrocytes, suggesting potential toxic gain-of-function properties. Specifically, we found that miR-146a was significantly upregulated in SMA induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes and SMNΔ7 mouse spinal cord. Moreover, increased miR-146a was sufficient to induce motor neuron loss in vitro, whereas miR-146a inhibition prevented SMA astrocyte-induced motor neuron loss. Together, these data indicate that altered astrocyte production of miR-146a may be a contributing factor in astrocyte-mediated SMA pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L Sison
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 53226 WI, USA
| | - Teresa N Patitucci
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 53226 WI, USA
| | - Emily R Seminary
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 53226 WI, USA
| | - Eric Villalon
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, 65211 MO, USA
| | - Christian L Lorson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, 65211 MO, USA
| | - Allison D Ebert
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 53226 WI, USA
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19
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Yan Y, Qi S, Gong SQ, Shang G, Zhao Y. Effect of CRABP2 on the proliferation and odontoblastic differentiation of hDPSCs. Braz Oral Res 2017; 31:e112. [PMID: 29267673 DOI: 10.1590/1807-3107bor-2017.vol31.0112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 2 (CRABP2) has been detected in several organs during embryonic development. Recent studies have demonstrated that CRABP2 plays important roles in the retinoic acid, β-catenin and Notch signaling pathways, as well as in the interaction between epithelial and mesenchymal cells, which are important for human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and tooth development. In the present study, the expression of CRABP2 during mouse molar development and the role of CRABP2 in hDPSC odontoblastic differentiation were evaluated. CRABP2 was gradually decreased during the development of the first maxillary molar, which exhibited the same trend as the expression of CRABP2 during the odontoblastic induction of hDPSCs. CRABP2 knockdown inhibited the proliferative ability of hDPSCs, while it enhanced odontoblastic differentiation via promoting mineralization nodule formation and upregulating the activity of alkaline phosphatase and the expression of mineralization-related genes. The present study uncovered a novel function of CRABP2 in hDPSCs. Our data suggest that CRABP2 may act as a regulator during the proliferation and differentiation of hDPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong Yan
- Tongji University, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Tooth Restoration and Regeneration, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengcai Qi
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Department of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Shi-Qiang Gong
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, Center of Stomatology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guangwei Shang
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Department of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yumei Zhao
- Tongji University, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Tooth Restoration and Regeneration, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Shanghai, China
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20
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Kim JK, Caine C, Awano T, Herbst R, Monani UR. Motor neuronal repletion of the NMJ organizer, Agrin, modulates the severity of the spinal muscular atrophy disease phenotype in model mice. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:2377-2385. [PMID: 28379354 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common and often fatal neuromuscular disorder caused by low levels of the Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein. Amongst the earliest detectable consequences of SMN deficiency are profound defects of the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). In model mice these synapses appear disorganized, fail to mature and are characterized by poorly arborized nerve terminals. Given one role of the SMN protein in orchestrating the assembly of spliceosomal snRNP particles and subsequently regulating the alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs, a plausible link between SMN function and the distal neuromuscular SMA phenotype is an incorrectly spliced transcript or transcripts involved in establishing or maintaining NMJ structure. In this study, we explore the effects of one such transcript-Z+Agrin-known to be a critical organizer of the NMJ. We confirm that low SMN protein reduces motor neuronal levels of Z+Agrin. Repletion of this isoform of Agrin in the motor neurons of SMA model mice increases muscle fiber size, enhances the post-synaptic NMJ area, reduces the abnormal accumulation of intermediate filaments in nerve terminals of the neuromuscular synapse and improves the innervation of muscles. While these effects are independent of changes in SMN levels or increases in motor neuron numbers they nevertheless have a significant effect on the overall disease phenotype, enhancing mean survival in severely affected SMA model mice by ∼40%. We conclude that Agrin is an important target of the SMN protein and that mitigating NMJ defects may be one strategy in treating human spinal muscular atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Ki Kim
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology.,Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Charlotte Caine
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology.,Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Tomoyuki Awano
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology.,Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Ruth Herbst
- Center for Brain Research.,Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna
| | - Umrao R Monani
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology.,Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
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21
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Raimer AC, Gray KM, Matera AG. SMN - A chaperone for nuclear RNP social occasions? RNA Biol 2017; 14:701-711. [PMID: 27648855 PMCID: PMC5519234 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2016.1236168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein localizes to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic SMN is diffusely localized in large oligomeric complexes with core member proteins, called Gemins. Biochemical and cell biological studies have demonstrated that the SMN complex is required for the cytoplasmic assembly and nuclear transport of Sm-class ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). Nuclear SMN accumulates with spliceosomal small nuclear (sn)RNPs in Cajal bodies, sub-domains involved in multiple facets of snRNP maturation. Thus, the SMN complex forms stable associations with both nuclear and cytoplasmic snRNPs, and plays a critical role in their biogenesis. In this review, we focus on potential functions of the nuclear SMN complex, with particular emphasis on its role within the Cajal body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C. Raimer
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kelsey M. Gray
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - A. Gregory Matera
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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22
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Wijngaarde CA, Blank AC, Stam M, Wadman RI, van den Berg LH, van der Pol WL. Cardiac pathology in spinal muscular atrophy: a systematic review. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2017; 12:67. [PMID: 28399889 PMCID: PMC5387385 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-017-0613-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hereditary proximal spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe neuromuscular disease of childhood caused by homozygous loss of function of the survival motor neuron (SMN) 1 gene. The presence of a second, nearly identical SMN gene (SMN2) in the human genome ensures production of residual levels of the ubiquitously expressed SMN protein. Alpha-motor neurons in the ventral horns of the spinal cord are most vulnerable to reduced SMN concentrations but the development or function of other tissues may also be affected, and cardiovascular abnormalities have frequently been reported both in patients and SMA mouse models. Methods We systematically reviewed reported cardiac pathology in relation to SMN deficiency. To investigate the relevance of the possible association in more detail, we used clinical classification systems to characterize structural cardiac defects and arrhythmias. Conclusions Seventy-two studies with a total of 264 SMA patients with reported cardiac pathology were identified, along with 14 publications on SMA mouse models with abnormalities of the heart. Structural cardiac pathology, mainly septal defects and abnormalities of the cardiac outflow tract, was reported predominantly in the most severely affected patients (i.e. SMA type 1). Cardiac rhythm disorders were most frequently reported in patients with milder SMA types (e.g. SMA type 3). All included studies lacked control groups and a standardized approach for cardiac evaluation. The convergence to specific abnormalities of cardiac structure and function may indicate vulnerability of specific cell types or developmental processes relevant for cardiogenesis. Future studies would benefit from a controlled and standardized approach for cardiac evaluation in patients with SMA. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13023-017-0613-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Wijngaarde
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, F02.230, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - A C Blank
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M Stam
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, F02.230, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - R I Wadman
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, F02.230, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - L H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, F02.230, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - W L van der Pol
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, F02.230, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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23
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Singh RN, Howell MD, Ottesen EW, Singh NN. Diverse role of survival motor neuron protein. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2017; 1860:299-315. [PMID: 28095296 PMCID: PMC5325804 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2016.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The multifunctional Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein is required for the survival of all organisms of the animal kingdom. SMN impacts various aspects of RNA metabolism through the formation and/or interaction with ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. SMN regulates biogenesis of small nuclear RNPs, small nucleolar RNPs, small Cajal body-associated RNPs, signal recognition particles and telomerase. SMN also plays an important role in DNA repair, transcription, pre-mRNA splicing, histone mRNA processing, translation, selenoprotein synthesis, macromolecular trafficking, stress granule formation, cell signaling and cytoskeleton maintenance. The tissue-specific requirement of SMN is dictated by the variety and the abundance of its interacting partners. Reduced expression of SMN causes spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a leading genetic cause of infant mortality. SMA displays a broad spectrum ranging from embryonic lethality to an adult onset. Aberrant expression and/or localization of SMN has also been associated with male infertility, inclusion body myositis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and osteoarthritis. This review provides a summary of various SMN functions with implications to a better understanding of SMA and other pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravindra N Singh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, United States.
| | - Matthew D Howell
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, United States
| | - Eric W Ottesen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, United States
| | - Natalia N Singh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, United States
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24
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Vazquez-Arango P, Vowles J, Browne C, Hartfield E, Fernandes H, Mandefro B, Sareen D, James W, Wade-Martins R, Cowley SA, Murphy S, O'Reilly D. Variant U1 snRNAs are implicated in human pluripotent stem cell maintenance and neuromuscular disease. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:10960-10973. [PMID: 27536002 PMCID: PMC5159530 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The U1 small nuclear (sn)RNA (U1) is a multifunctional ncRNA, known for its pivotal role in pre-mRNA splicing and regulation of RNA 3' end processing events. We recently demonstrated that a new class of human U1-like snRNAs, the variant (v)U1 snRNAs (vU1s), also participate in pre-mRNA processing events. In this study, we show that several human vU1 genes are specifically upregulated in stem cells and participate in the regulation of cell fate decisions. Significantly, ectopic expression of vU1 genes in human skin fibroblasts leads to increases in levels of key pluripotent stem cell mRNA markers, including NANOG and SOX2. These results reveal an important role for vU1s in the control of key regulatory networks orchestrating the transitions between stem cell maintenance and differentiation. Moreover, vU1 expression varies inversely with U1 expression during differentiation and cell re-programming and this pattern of expression is specifically de-regulated in iPSC-derived motor neurons from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 1 patient's. Accordingly, we suggest that an imbalance in the vU1/U1 ratio, rather than an overall reduction in Uridyl-rich (U)-snRNAs, may contribute to the specific neuromuscular disease phenotype associated with SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Vazquez-Arango
- University of Oxford, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Jane Vowles
- University of Oxford, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK,Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Cathy Browne
- University of Oxford, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Elizabeth Hartfield
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK,Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hugo J. R. Fernandes
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK,Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Berhan Mandefro
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Board of Governors-Regenerative Medicine Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences, 8700 Beverly Blvd, AHSP A8418, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA,iPSC Core, The David and Janet Polak Foundation Stem Cell Core Laboratory, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Dhruv Sareen
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Board of Governors-Regenerative Medicine Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences, 8700 Beverly Blvd, AHSP A8418, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA,iPSC Core, The David and Janet Polak Foundation Stem Cell Core Laboratory, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - William James
- University of Oxford, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Richard Wade-Martins
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK,Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sally A. Cowley
- University of Oxford, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK,Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shona Murphy
- University of Oxford, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Dawn O'Reilly
- University of Oxford, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
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25
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Rossi SL, Lumpkin CJ, Harris AW, Holbrook J, Gentillon C, McCahan SM, Wang W, Butchbach MER. Identification of early gene expression changes in primary cultured neurons treated with topoisomerase I poisons. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 479:319-324. [PMID: 27641670 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.09.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) poisons like camptothecin (CPT) are currently used in cancer chemotherapy but these compounds can have damaging, off-target effects on neurons leading to cognitive, sensory and motor deficits. To understand the molecular basis for the enhanced sensitivity of neurons to CPT, we examined the effects of compounds that inhibit TOP1-CPT, actinomycin D (ActD) and β-lapachone (β-Lap)-on primary cultured rat motor (MN) and cortical (CN) neurons as well as fibroblasts. Neuronal cells expressed higher levels of Top1 mRNA than fibroblasts but transcript levels are reduced in all cell types after treatment with CPT. Microarray analysis was performed to identify differentially regulated transcripts in MNs in response to a brief exposure to CPT. Pathway analysis of the differentially expressed transcripts revealed activation of ERK and JNK signaling cascades in CPT-treated MNs. Immediate-early genes like Fos, Egr-1 and Gadd45b were upregulated in CPT-treated MNs. Fos mRNA levels were elevated in all cell types treated with CPT; Egr-1, Gadd45b and Dyrk3 transcript levels, however, increased in CPT-treated MNs and CNs but decreased in CPT-treated fibroblasts. These transcripts may represent new targets for the development of therapeutic agents that mitigate the off-target effects of chemotherapy on the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharyn L Rossi
- Center for Applied Clinical Genomics, Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Casey J Lumpkin
- Center for Applied Clinical Genomics, Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Ashlee W Harris
- Center for Applied Clinical Genomics, Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Jennifer Holbrook
- Biomolecular Core Laboratory, Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Cinsley Gentillon
- Center for Applied Clinical Genomics, Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Suzanne M McCahan
- Center for Pediatric Research, Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA; Bioinformatics Core Facility, Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wenlan Wang
- Center for Applied Clinical Genomics, Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA; Center for Pediatric Research, Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Matthew E R Butchbach
- Center for Applied Clinical Genomics, Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA; Center for Pediatric Research, Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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26
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Doktor TK, Hua Y, Andersen HS, Brøner S, Liu YH, Wieckowska A, Dembic M, Bruun GH, Krainer AR, Andresen BS. RNA-sequencing of a mouse-model of spinal muscular atrophy reveals tissue-wide changes in splicing of U12-dependent introns. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 45:395-416. [PMID: 27557711 PMCID: PMC5224493 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by insufficient levels of the Survival of Motor Neuron (SMN) protein. SMN is expressed ubiquitously and functions in RNA processing pathways that include trafficking of mRNA and assembly of snRNP complexes. Importantly, SMA severity is correlated with decreased snRNP assembly activity. In particular, the minor spliceosomal snRNPs are affected, and some U12-dependent introns have been reported to be aberrantly spliced in patient cells and animal models. SMA is characterized by loss of motor neurons, but the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. It is likely that aberrant splicing of genes expressed in motor neurons is involved in SMA pathogenesis, but increasing evidence indicates that pathologies also exist in other tissues. We present here a comprehensive RNA-seq study that covers multiple tissues in an SMA mouse model. We show elevated U12-intron retention in all examined tissues from SMA mice, and that U12-dependent intron retention is induced upon siRNA knock-down of SMN in HeLa cells. Furthermore, we show that retention of U12-dependent introns is mitigated by ASO treatment of SMA mice and that many transcriptional changes are reversed. Finally, we report on missplicing of several Ca2+ channel genes that may explain disrupted Ca2+ homeostasis in SMA and activation of Cdk5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Koed Doktor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark.,The Villum Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Yimin Hua
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Henriette Skovgaard Andersen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark.,The Villum Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Sabrina Brøner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark.,The Villum Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Ying Hsiu Liu
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Anna Wieckowska
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Division of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, 10-243 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Maja Dembic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark.,The Villum Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Gitte Hoffmann Bruun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark.,The Villum Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Adrian R Krainer
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Brage Storstein Andresen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark .,The Villum Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
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27
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Yang CW, Chen CL, Chou WC, Lin HC, Jong YJ, Tsai LK, Chuang CY. An Integrative Transcriptomic Analysis for Identifying Novel Target Genes Corresponding to Severity Spectrum in Spinal Muscular Atrophy. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0157426. [PMID: 27331400 PMCID: PMC4917114 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disease resulting from a recessive mutation in the SMN1 gene. This disease affects multiple organ systems with varying degrees of severity. Exploration of the molecular pathological changes occurring in different cell types in SMA is crucial for developing new therapies. This study collected 39 human microarray datasets from ArrayExpress and GEO databases to build an integrative transcriptomic analysis for recognizing novel SMA targets. The transcriptomic analysis was conducted through combining weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) for gene module detection, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) for functional categorization and filtration, and Cytoscape (visual interaction gene network analysis) for target gene identification. Seven novel target genes (Bmp4, Serpine1, Gata6, Ptgs2, Bcl2, IL6 and Cntn1) of SMA were revealed, and are all known in the regulation of TNFα for controlling neural, cardiac and bone development. Sequentially, the differentially expressed patterns of these 7 target genes in mouse tissues (e.g., spinal cord, heart, muscles and bone) were validated in SMA mice of different severities (pre-symptomatic, mildly symptomatic, and severely symptomatic). In severely symptomatic SMA mice, TNFα was up-regulated with attenuation of Bmp4 and increase of Serpine1 and Gata6 (a pathway in neural and cardiac development), but not in pre-symptomatic and mildly symptomatic SMA mice. The severely symptomatic SMA mice also had the elevated levels of Ptgs2 and Bcl2 (a pathway in skeletal development) as well as IL6 and Cntn1 (a pathway in nervous system development). Thus, the 7 genes identified in this study might serve as potential target genes for future investigations of disease pathogenesis and SMA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Wei Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Lin Chen
- Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chun Chou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ho-Chen Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yuh-Jyh Jong
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Departments of Pediatrics and Clinical Laboratory, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Li-Kai Tsai
- Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (LKT); (CYC)
| | - Chun-Yu Chuang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (LKT); (CYC)
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28
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Wertz MH, Winden K, Neveu P, Ng SY, Ercan E, Sahin M. Cell-type-specific miR-431 dysregulation in a motor neuron model of spinal muscular atrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:2168-2181. [PMID: 27005422 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal-recessive pediatric neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective loss of spinal motor neurons. It is caused by mutation in the survival of motor neuron 1, SMN1, gene and leads to loss of function of the full-length SMN protein. microRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that are involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Prior studies have implicated miRNAs in the pathogenesis of motor neuron disease. We hypothesized that motor neuron-specific miRNA expression changes are involved in their selective vulnerability in SMA. Therefore, we sought to determine the effect of SMN loss on miRNAs and their target mRNAs in spinal motor neurons. We used microarray and RNAseq to profile both miRNA and mRNA expression in primary spinal motor neuron cultures after acute SMN knockdown. By integrating the miRNA:mRNA profiles, a number of dysregulated miRNAs were identified with enrichment in differentially expressed putative mRNA targets. miR-431 expression was highly increased, and a number of its putative mRNA targets were significantly downregulated in motor neurons after SMN loss. Further, we found that miR-431 regulates motor neuron neurite length by targeting several molecules previously identified to play a role in motor neuron axon outgrowth, including chondrolectin. Together, our findings indicate that cell-type-specific dysregulation of miR-431 plays a role in the SMA motor neuron phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary H Wertz
- Department of Neurology, The F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kellen Winden
- Department of Neurology, The F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pierre Neveu
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Shi-Yan Ng
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA Neurotherapeutics Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Ebru Ercan
- Department of Neurology, The F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mustafa Sahin
- Department of Neurology, The F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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29
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Sanchez G, Bondy-Chorney E, Laframboise J, Paris G, Didillon A, Jasmin BJ, Côté J. A novel role for CARM1 in promoting nonsense-mediated mRNA decay: potential implications for spinal muscular atrophy. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 44:2661-76. [PMID: 26656492 PMCID: PMC4824080 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv1334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of ‘Survival of Motor Neurons’ (SMN) leads to spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a disease characterized by degeneration of spinal cord alpha motor neurons, resulting in muscle weakness, paralysis and death during early childhood. SMN is required for assembly of the core splicing machinery, and splicing defects were documented in SMA. We previously uncovered that Coactivator-Associated Methyltransferase-1 (CARM1) is abnormally up-regulated in SMA, leading to mis-regulation of a number of transcriptional and alternative splicing events. We report here that CARM1 can promote decay of a premature terminating codon (PTC)-containing mRNA reporter, suggesting it can act as a mediator of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Interestingly, this pathway, while originally perceived as solely a surveillance mechanism preventing expression of potentially detrimental proteins, is now emerging as a highly regulated RNA decay pathway also acting on a subset of normal mRNAs. We further show that CARM1 associates with major NMD factor UPF1 and promotes its occupancy on PTC-containing transcripts. Finally, we identify a specific subset of NMD targets that are dependent on CARM1 for degradation and that are also misregulated in SMA, potentially adding exacerbated targeting of PTC-containing mRNAs to the already complex array of molecular defects associated with this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Sanchez
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Emma Bondy-Chorney
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Janik Laframboise
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Geneviève Paris
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Andréanne Didillon
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Bernard J Jasmin
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Jocelyn Côté
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
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30
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A Perturbed MicroRNA Expression Pattern Characterizes Embryonic Neural Stem Cells Derived from a Severe Mouse Model of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:18312-27. [PMID: 26258776 PMCID: PMC4581247 DOI: 10.3390/ijms160818312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder and the leading genetic cause of death in infants. Despite the disease-causing gene, survival motor neuron (SMN1), encodes a ubiquitous protein, SMN1 deficiency preferentially affects spinal motor neurons (MNs), leaving the basis of this selective cell damage still unexplained. As neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent self-renewing cells that can differentiate into neurons, they represent an in vitro model for elucidating the pathogenetic mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases such as SMA. Here we characterize for the first time neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from embryonic spinal cords of a severe SMNΔ7 SMA mouse model. SMNΔ7 NSCs behave as their wild type (WT) counterparts, when we consider neurosphere formation ability and the expression levels of specific regional and self-renewal markers. However, they show a perturbed cell cycle phase distribution and an increased proliferation rate compared to wild type cells. Moreover, SMNΔ7 NSCs are characterized by the differential expression of a limited number of miRNAs, among which miR-335-5p and miR-100-5p, reduced in SMNΔ7 NSCs compared to WT cells. We suggest that such miRNAs may be related to the proliferation differences characterizing SMNΔ7 NSCs, and may be potentially involved in the molecular mechanisms of SMA.
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Chong J, McMillin M, Shively K, Beck A, Marvin C, Armenteros J, Buckingham K, Nkinsi N, Boyle E, Berry M, Bocian M, Foulds N, Uzielli M, Haldeman-Englert C, Hennekam R, Kaplan P, Kline A, Mercer C, Nowaczyk M, Klein Wassink-Ruiter J, McPherson E, Moreno R, Scheuerle A, Shashi V, Stevens C, Carey J, Monteil A, Lory P, Tabor H, Smith J, Shendure J, Nickerson D, Bamshad MJ, Bamshad M, Shendure J, Nickerson D, Abecasis G, Anderson P, Blue E, Annable M, Browning B, Buckingham K, Chen C, Chin J, Chong J, Cooper G, Davis C, Frazar C, Harrell T, He Z, Jain P, Jarvik G, Jimenez G, Johanson E, Jun G, Kircher M, Kolar T, Krauter S, Krumm N, Leal S, Luksic D, Marvin C, McMillin M, McGee S, O’Reilly P, Paeper B, Patterson K, Perez M, Phillips S, Pijoan J, Poel C, Reinier F, Robertson P, Santos-Cortez R, Shaffer T, Shephard C, Shively K, Siegel D, Smith J, Staples J, Tabor H, Tackett M, Underwood J, Wegener M, Wang G, Wheeler M, Yi Q. De novo mutations in NALCN cause a syndrome characterized by congenital contractures of the limbs and face, hypotonia, and developmental delay. Am J Hum Genet 2015; 96:462-73. [PMID: 25683120 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2015.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, or distal arthrogryposis type 2A (DA2A), is an autosomal-dominant condition caused by mutations in MYH3 and characterized by multiple congenital contractures of the face and limbs and normal cognitive development. We identified a subset of five individuals who had been putatively diagnosed with "DA2A with severe neurological abnormalities" and for whom congenital contractures of the limbs and face, hypotonia, and global developmental delay had resulted in early death in three cases; this is a unique condition that we now refer to as CLIFAHDD syndrome. Exome sequencing identified missense mutations in the sodium leak channel, non-selective (NALCN) in four families affected by CLIFAHDD syndrome. We used molecular-inversion probes to screen for NALCN in a cohort of 202 distal arthrogryposis (DA)-affected individuals as well as concurrent exome sequencing of six other DA-affected individuals, thus revealing NALCN mutations in ten additional families with "atypical" forms of DA. All 14 mutations were missense variants predicted to alter amino acid residues in or near the S5 and S6 pore-forming segments of NALCN, highlighting the functional importance of these segments. In vitro functional studies demonstrated that NALCN alterations nearly abolished the expression of wild-type NALCN, suggesting that alterations that cause CLIFAHDD syndrome have a dominant-negative effect. In contrast, homozygosity for mutations in other regions of NALCN has been reported in three families affected by an autosomal-recessive condition characterized mainly by hypotonia and severe intellectual disability. Accordingly, mutations in NALCN can cause either a recessive or dominant condition characterized by varied though overlapping phenotypic features, perhaps based on the type of mutation and affected protein domain(s).
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Staropoli JF, Li H, Chun SJ, Allaire N, Cullen P, Thai A, Fleet CM, Hua Y, Bennett CF, Krainer AR, Kerr D, McCampbell A, Rigo F, Carulli JP. Rescue of gene-expression changes in an induced mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy by an antisense oligonucleotide that promotes inclusion of SMN2 exon 7. Genomics 2015; 105:220-8. [PMID: 25645699 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2015.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by disruption of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene, partly compensated for by the paralogous gene SMN2. Exon 7 inclusion is critical for full-length SMN protein production and occurs at a much lower frequency for SMN2 than for SMN1. Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-mediated blockade of an intron 7 splicing silencer was previously shown to promote inclusion of SMN2 exon 7 in SMA mouse models and mediate phenotypic rescue. However, downstream molecular consequences of this ASO therapy have not been defined. Here we characterize the gene-expression changes that occur in an induced model of SMA and show substantial rescue of those changes in central nervous system tissue upon intracerebroventricular administration of an ASO that promotes inclusion of exon 7, with earlier administration promoting greater rescue. This study offers a robust reference set of preclinical pharmacodynamic gene expression effects for comparison of other investigational therapies for SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Staropoli
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Biogen Idec, 12 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Huo Li
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Biogen Idec, 12 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Seung J Chun
- Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Norm Allaire
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Biogen Idec, 12 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Patrick Cullen
- Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Alice Thai
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Biogen Idec, 12 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Christina M Fleet
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Biogen Idec, 12 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Yimin Hua
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - C Frank Bennett
- Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Adrian R Krainer
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Doug Kerr
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Biogen Idec, 12 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Alexander McCampbell
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Biogen Idec, 12 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Frank Rigo
- Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - John P Carulli
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Biogen Idec, 12 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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