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The Role of Protein Kinase CK2 in Development and Disease Progression: A Critical Review. J Dev Biol 2022; 10:jdb10030031. [PMID: 35997395 PMCID: PMC9397010 DOI: 10.3390/jdb10030031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein kinase CK2 (CK2) is a ubiquitous holoenzyme involved in a wide array of developmental processes. The involvement of CK2 in events such as neurogenesis, cardiogenesis, skeletogenesis, and spermatogenesis is essential for the viability of almost all organisms, and its role has been conserved throughout evolution. Further into adulthood, CK2 continues to function as a key regulator of pathways affecting crucial processes such as osteogenesis, adipogenesis, chondrogenesis, neuron differentiation, and the immune response. Due to its vast role in a multitude of pathways, aberrant functioning of this kinase leads to embryonic lethality and numerous diseases and disorders, including cancer and neurological disorders. As a result, CK2 is a popular target for interventions aiming to treat the aforementioned diseases. Specifically, two CK2 inhibitors, namely CX-4945 and CIBG-300, are in the early stages of clinical testing and exhibit promise for treating cancer and other disorders. Further, other researchers around the world are focusing on CK2 to treat bone disorders. This review summarizes the current understanding of CK2 in development, the structure of CK2, the targets and signaling pathways of CK2, the implication of CK2 in disease progression, and the recent therapeutics developed to inhibit the dysregulation of CK2 function in various diseases.
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Leite ADOF, Bento Torres Neto J, dos Reis RR, Sobral LL, de Souza ACP, Trévia N, de Oliveira RB, Lins NADA, Diniz DG, Diniz JAP, Vasconcelos PFDC, Anthony DC, Brites D, Picanço Diniz CW. Unwanted Exacerbation of the Immune Response in Neurodegenerative Disease: A Time to Review the Impact. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:749595. [PMID: 34744633 PMCID: PMC8570167 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.749595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic imposed a series of behavioral changes that resulted in increased social isolation and a more sedentary life for many across all age groups, but, above all, for the elderly population who are the most vulnerable to infections and chronic neurodegenerative diseases. Systemic inflammatory responses are known to accelerate neurodegenerative disease progression, which leads to permanent damage, loss of brain function, and the loss of autonomy for many aged people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a spectrum of inflammatory responses was generated in affected individuals, and it is expected that the elderly patients with chronic neurodegenerative diseases who survived SARSCoV-2 infection, it will be found, sooner or later, that there is a worsening of their neurodegenerative conditions. Using mouse prion disease as a model for chronic neurodegeneration, we review the effects of social isolation, sedentary living, and viral infection on the disease progression with a focus on sickness behavior and on the responses of microglia and astrocytes. Focusing on aging, we discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms related to immunosenescence in chronic neurodegenerative diseases and how infections may accelerate their progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda de Oliveira Ferreira Leite
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - João Bento Torres Neto
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Renata Rodrigues dos Reis
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Luciane Lobato Sobral
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Aline Cristine Passos de Souza
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Nonata Trévia
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Roseane Borner de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Nara Alves de Almeida Lins
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Daniel Guerreiro Diniz
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Laboratório de Microscopia Eletrônica, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Belém, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Dora Brites
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cristovam Wanderley Picanço Diniz
- Laboratório de Investigações em Neurodegeneração e Infecção, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
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3
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Chen DD, Gao LP, Wu YZ, Chen J, Hu C, Xiao K, Chen C, Shi Q, Dong XP. Accumulation of Prion and Abnormal Prion Protein Induces Hyperphosphorylation of α-Synuclein in the Brain Tissues from Prion Diseases and in the Cultured Cells. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:3838-3854. [PMID: 34595918 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion disease (PrD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by aggregation of misfolded proteins in brain tissues, including protease-resistant prion protein (PrPSc) in PrD and α-synuclein in PD. In recent years, overlap of these two proteins has attracted increased attention, and cross-seeding of prion proteins by aggregated α-synuclein has been proposed. However, the changes in α-synuclein after prion infection are still unclear. In this study, we showed that α-synuclein expression was significantly decreased in the brains of prion-infected rodent models, in the SMB-S15 cell line, which exhibits persistent prion replication, and in the brains of humans with PrDs. Meanwhile, α-synuclein phosphorylated at serine 129(p(S129)-α-synuclein) was significantly increased in the brains of scrapie-infected mice and prion-infected SMB-S15 cells. The increased p(S129)-α-synuclein colocalized with GFAP- and NeuN-positive cells in the brains of scrapie-infected mice. p(S129)-α-synuclein was also observed in the cytoplasm of SMB-S15 and HEK-293 cells transiently expressing an abnormal form of prion protein (Cyto-PrP). Molecular interactions between PrP and α-synuclein were detected in recombinant proteins, normal and prion-infected brain tissues, and cultured cells. The increased p(S129)-α-synuclein colocalized with PrP signals from prion-infected SMB-S15 and HEK-293 cells expressing Cyto-PrP. Moreover, increased morphological colocalization of p(S129)-α-synuclein with mitochondrial markers was also detected in the two cell types. Our results indicate that prion replication and accumulation in cells and brains induce hyperphosphorylation of α-synuclein, particularly at S129, which may aggravate mitochondrial damage and facilitate α-synuclein aggregation in the central nervous system tissues from PrDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Dong Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Li-Ping Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yue-Zhang Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jia Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Chao Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Kang Xiao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Cao Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
- Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 420115, China
| | - Qi Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
- Center for Global Public Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
- Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 420115, China
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
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Richards A, Berth SH, Brady S, Morfini G. Engagement of Neurotropic Viruses in Fast Axonal Transport: Mechanisms, Potential Role of Host Kinases and Implications for Neuronal Dysfunction. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:684762. [PMID: 34234649 PMCID: PMC8255969 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.684762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Much remains unknown about mechanisms sustaining the various stages in the life cycle of neurotropic viruses. An understanding of those mechanisms operating before their replication and propagation could advance the development of effective anti-viral strategies. Here, we review our current knowledge of strategies used by neurotropic viruses to undergo bidirectional movement along axons. We discuss how the invasion strategies used by specific viruses might influence their mode of interaction with selected components of the host’s fast axonal transport (FAT) machinery, including specialized membrane-bounded organelles and microtubule-based motor proteins. As part of this discussion, we provide a critical evaluation of various reported interactions among viral and motor proteins and highlight limitations of some in vitro approaches that led to their identification. Based on a large body of evidence documenting activation of host kinases by neurotropic viruses, and on recent work revealing regulation of FAT through phosphorylation-based mechanisms, we posit a potential role of host kinases on the engagement of viruses in retrograde FAT. Finally, we briefly describe recent evidence linking aberrant activation of kinase pathways to deficits in FAT and neuronal degeneration in the context of human neurodegenerative diseases. Based on these findings, we speculate that neurotoxicity elicited by viral infection may involve deregulation of host kinases involved in the regulation of FAT and other cellular processes sustaining neuronal function and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexsia Richards
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Sarah H Berth
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Scott Brady
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Gerardo Morfini
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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Kobro-Flatmoen A, Lagartos-Donate MJ, Aman Y, Edison P, Witter MP, Fang EF. Re-emphasizing early Alzheimer's disease pathology starting in select entorhinal neurons, with a special focus on mitophagy. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 67:101307. [PMID: 33621703 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The entorhinal-hippocampal system contains distinct networks subserving declarative memory. This system is selectively vulnerable to changes of ageing and pathological processes. The entorhinal cortex (EC) is a pivotal component of this memory system since it serves as the interface between the neocortex and the hippocampus. EC is heavily affected by the proteinopathies of Alzheimer's disease (AD). These appear in a stereotypical spatiotemporal manner and include increased levels of intracellular amyloid-beta Aβ (iAβ), parenchymal deposition of Aβ plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) containing abnormally processed Tau. Increased levels of iAβ and the formation of NFTs are seen very early on in a population of neurons belonging to EC layer II (EC LII), and recent evidence leads us to believe that this population is made up of highly energy-demanding reelin-positive (RE+) projection neurons. Mitochondria are fundamental to the energy supply, metabolism, and plasticity of neurons. Evidence from AD postmortem brain tissues supports the notion that mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the initial pathological events in AD, and this is likely to take place in the vulnerable RE + EC LII neurons. Here we review and discuss these notions, anchored to the anatomy of AD, and formulate a hypothesis attempting to explain the vulnerability of RE + EC LII neurons to the formation of NFTs. We attempt to link impaired mitochondrial clearance to iAβ and signaling involving both apolipoprotein 4 and reelin, and argue for their relevance to the formation of NFTs specifically in RE + EC LII neurons during the prodromal stages of AD. We believe future studies on these interactions holds promise to advance our understanding of AD etiology and provide new ideas for drug development.
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Borgo C, D'Amore C, Cesaro L, Sarno S, Pinna LA, Ruzzene M, Salvi M. How can a traffic light properly work if it is always green? The paradox of CK2 signaling. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 56:321-359. [PMID: 33843388 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2021.1908951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
CK2 is a constitutively active protein kinase that assuring a constant level of phosphorylation to its numerous substrates supports many of the most important biological functions. Nevertheless, its activity has to be controlled and adjusted in order to cope with the varying needs of a cell, and several examples of a fine-tune regulation of its activity have been described. More importantly, aberrant regulation of this enzyme may have pathological consequences, e.g. in cancer, chronic inflammation, neurodegeneration, and viral infection. Our review aims at summarizing our current knowledge about CK2 regulation. In the first part, we have considered the most important stimuli shown to affect protein kinase CK2 activity/expression. In the second part, we focus on the molecular mechanisms by which CK2 can be regulated, discussing controversial aspects and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Borgo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Claudio D'Amore
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Cesaro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefania Sarno
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lorenzo A Pinna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,CNR Institute of Neurosciences, Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Ruzzene
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,CNR Institute of Neurosciences, Padova, Italy
| | - Mauro Salvi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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7
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Cellular Prion Protein (PrPc): Putative Interacting Partners and Consequences of the Interaction. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197058. [PMID: 32992764 PMCID: PMC7583789 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular prion protein (PrPc) is a small glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchored protein most abundantly found in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane (PM) in the central nervous system (CNS). PrPc misfolding causes neurodegenerative prion diseases in the CNS. PrPc interacts with a wide range of protein partners because of the intrinsically disordered nature of the protein’s N-terminus. Numerous studies have attempted to decipher the physiological role of the prion protein by searching for proteins which interact with PrPc. Biochemical characteristics and biological functions both appear to be affected by interacting protein partners. The key challenge in identifying a potential interacting partner is to demonstrate that binding to a specific ligand is necessary for cellular physiological function or malfunction. In this review, we have summarized the intracellular and extracellular interacting partners of PrPc and potential consequences of their binding. We also briefly describe prion disease-related mutations at the end of this review.
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8
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Colini Baldeschi A, Vanni S, Zattoni M, Legname G. Novel regulators of PrP C expression as potential therapeutic targets in prion diseases. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:759-776. [PMID: 32631090 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1782384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Prion diseases are rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorders. The key molecular event in these disorders is the misfolding of the physiological form of the cellular prion protein, PrPC, leading to the accumulation of a pathological isoform, PrPSc, with unique features. Both isoforms share the same primary sequence, lacking detectable differences in posttranslational modification, a major hurdle for their biochemical or biophysical independent characterization. The mechanism underlying the conversion of PrPC to PrPSc is not completely understood, so finding an effective therapy to cure prion disorders is extremely challenging. AREAS COVERED This review discusses the strategies for decreasing prion replication and throws a spotlight on the relevance of PrPC in the prion accumulation process. EXPERT OPINION PrPC is the key substrate for prion pathology; hence, the most promising therapeutic approach appears to be the targeting of PrPC to block the production of the infectious isoform. The use of RNA interference and antisense oligonucleotide technologies may offer opportunities for treatment because of their success in clinical trials for other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Colini Baldeschi
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) , Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvia Vanni
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per Lo Studio E La Cura Dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS , Meldola, Italy
| | - Marco Zattoni
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) , Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) , Trieste, Italy
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9
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D'Amore C, Salizzato V, Borgo C, Cesaro L, Pinna LA, Salvi M. A Journey through the Cytoskeleton with Protein Kinase CK2. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2019; 20:547-562. [PMID: 30659536 DOI: 10.2174/1389203720666190119124846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Substrate pleiotropicity, a very acidic phosphorylation consensus sequence, and an apparent uncontrolled activity, are the main features of CK2, a Ser/Thr protein kinase that is required for a plethora of cell functions. Not surprisingly, CK2 appears to affect cytoskeletal structures and correlated functions such as cell shape, mechanical integrity, cell movement and division. This review outlines our current knowledge of how CK2 regulates cytoskeletal structures, and discusses involved pathways and molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio D'Amore
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy
| | - Valentina Salizzato
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy.,CNR Institute of Neurosciences, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy
| | - Christian Borgo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Cesaro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy
| | - Lorenzo A Pinna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy.,CNR Institute of Neurosciences, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy
| | - Mauro Salvi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy
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Zamponi E, Pigino GF. Protein Misfolding, Signaling Abnormalities and Altered Fast Axonal Transport: Implications for Alzheimer and Prion Diseases. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:350. [PMID: 31417367 PMCID: PMC6683957 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Histopathological studies revealed that progressive neuropathies including Alzheimer, and Prion diseases among others, include accumulations of misfolded proteins intracellularly, extracellularly, or both. Experimental evidence suggests that among the accumulated misfolded proteins, small soluble oligomeric conformers represent the most neurotoxic species. Concomitant phenomena shared by different protein misfolding diseases includes alterations in phosphorylation-based signaling pathways synaptic dysfunction, and axonal pathology, but mechanisms linking these pathogenic features to aggregated neuropathogenic proteins remain unknown. Relevant to this issue, results from recent work revealed inhibition of fast axonal transport (AT) as a novel toxic effect elicited by oligomeric forms of amyloid beta and cellular prion protein PrPC, signature pathological proteins associated with Alzheimer and Prion diseases, respectively. Interestingly, the toxic effect of these oligomers was fully prevented by pharmacological inhibitors of casein kinase 2 (CK2), a remarkable discovery with major implications for the development of pharmacological target-driven therapeutic intervention for Alzheimer and Prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Zamponi
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Gustavo F Pigino
- Laboratorio de Neuropatología Experimental, Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
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11
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Biggi S, Pancher M, Stincardini C, Luotti S, Massignan T, Dalle Vedove A, Astolfi A, Gatto P, Lolli G, Barreca ML, Bonetto V, Adami V, Biasini E. Identification of compounds inhibiting prion replication and toxicity by removing PrP C from the cell surface. J Neurochem 2019; 152:136-150. [PMID: 31264722 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The vast majority of therapeutic approaches tested so far for prion diseases, transmissible neurodegenerative disorders of human and animals, tackled PrPSc , the aggregated and infectious isoform of the cellular prion protein (PrPC ), with largely unsuccessful results. Conversely, targeting PrPC expression, stability or cell surface localization are poorly explored strategies. We recently characterized the mode of action of chlorpromazine, an anti-psychotic drug known to inhibit prion replication and toxicity by inducing the re-localization of PrPC from the plasma membrane. Unfortunately, chlorpromazine possesses pharmacokinetic properties unsuitable for chronic use in vivo, namely low specificity and high toxicity. Here, we employed HEK293 cells stably expressing EGFP-PrP to carry out a semi-automated high content screening (HCS) of a chemical library directed at identifying non-cytotoxic molecules capable of specifically relocalizing PrPC from the plasma membrane as well as inhibiting prion replication in N2a cell cultures. We identified four candidate hits inducing a significant reduction in cell surface PrPC , one of which also inhibited prion propagation and toxicity in cell cultures in a strain-independent fashion. This study defines a new screening method and novel anti-prion compounds supporting the notion that removing PrPC from the cell surface could represent a viable therapeutic strategy for prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Biggi
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Michael Pancher
- HTS Core Facility, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Claudia Stincardini
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Silvia Luotti
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Tania Massignan
- HTS Core Facility, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Andrea Dalle Vedove
- Laboratory of Protein Crystallography and Structure-Based Drug Design, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Andrea Astolfi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Pamela Gatto
- HTS Core Facility, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Graziano Lolli
- Laboratory of Protein Crystallography and Structure-Based Drug Design, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Bonetto
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Adami
- HTS Core Facility, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
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12
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Zamponi E, Helguera PR. The Shape of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Down Syndrome. Dev Neurobiol 2019; 79:613-621. [PMID: 30830726 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Oxidative stress (OS) and mitochondrial dysfunction (MD) have been extensively studied and defined as therapeutic targets in Down syndrome (DS). Though originally associated to individual genes located in supernumerary chromosome 21, OS and MD metabolic compromises appear to be linked to whole genome functionally defined transcriptional fingerprints that further exacerbate the contribution of critical genes in DS-AD pathology. As the main ROS generator, mitochondrial complex double-membrane organization, tightly regulated fission/fusion dynamics, and involvement in critical pathways, makes it particularly vulnerable to functional alterations. Consequently, mitochondrial network morphology depends on its metabolic state and has been used as an indicator of cellular homeostasis. Initial qualitative categorization, suitable for sparse arranged fragments analysis, were proven to be ineffective to measure network connectivity and replaced by innovative tools that involve the transformation of raw images to linear skeletons. These manipulations allowed the development of a new generation of structural parameters, such as mean degree value (MDV). Alterations in DS mitochondrial networks include increased frequency of aberrant morphologies, shorter mitochondrial fragments, and significantly lower mitochondrial network connectivity. Similar structural and functional mitochondrial defects are common to other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson disease and Prion disease, and to a progeroid syndrome like HGPS. Therapeutic interventions aimed to either increase mitochondrial biogenesis or diminish OS using mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants, successfully restored mitochondrial activity and structural organization, confirming the strong correlation between network form and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Zamponi
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET-UNC, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - P R Helguera
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET-UNC, Córdoba, Argentina
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Schopfer LM, Lockridge O. Chlorpyrifos oxon promotes tubulin aggregation via isopeptide cross-linking between diethoxyphospho-Lys and Glu or Asp: Implications for neurotoxicity. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:13566-13577. [PMID: 30006344 PMCID: PMC6120212 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.004172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to organophosphorus toxicants (OP) can have chronic adverse effects that are not explained by inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, the cause of acute OP toxicity. We therefore hypothesized that OP-induced chronic illness is initiated by the formation of organophosphorus adducts on lysine residues in proteins, followed by protein cross-linking and aggregation. Here, Western blots revealed that exposure to the OP chlorpyrifos oxon converted porcine tubulin from its original 55-kDa mass to high-molecular-weight aggregates. Liquid chromatography–tandem MS analysis of trypsin-digested samples identified several diethoxyphospho-lysine residues in the OP-treated tubulin. Using a search approach based on the Batch Tag program, we identified cross-linked peptides and found that these chemically activated lysines reacted with acidic amino acid residues creating γ-glutamyl-ϵ-lysine or aspartyl-ϵ-lysine isopeptide bonds between β- and α-tubulin. Of note, these cross-linked tubulin molecules accounted for the high-molecular-weight aggregates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report indicating that chlorpyrifos oxon–exposed tubulin protein forms intermolecular cross-links with other tubulin molecules, resulting in high-molecular-weight protein aggregates. It is tempting to speculate that chronic illness from OP exposure may be explained by a mechanism that starts with OP adduct formation on protein lysines followed by protein cross-linking. We further speculate that OP-modified or cross-linked tubulin can impair axonal transport, reduce neuron connections, and result in neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence M Schopfer
- From the Eppley Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900
| | - Oksana Lockridge
- From the Eppley Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900
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