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Mehanna R, Jankovic J. Systemic Symptoms in Huntington's Disease: A Comprehensive Review. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2024; 11:453-464. [PMID: 38529740 PMCID: PMC11078495 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.14029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although Huntington's disease (HD) is usually thought of as a triad of motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms, there is growing appreciation of HD as a systemic illness affecting the entire body. OBJECTIVES This review aims to draw attention to these systemic non-motor symptoms in HD. METHODS We identified relevant studies published in English by searching MEDLINE (from 1966 to September 2023), using the following subject headings: Huntington disease, autonomic, systemic, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, sexual and cutaneous, and additional specific symptoms. RESULTS Data from 123 articles were critically reviewed with focus on systemic features associated with HD, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, sexual and sweating. CONCLUSION This systematic review draws attention to a variety of systemic and autonomic co-morbidities in patients with HD. Not all of them correlate with the severity of the primary HD symptoms or CAG repeats. More research is needed to better understand the pathophysiology and treatment of systemic and autonomic dysfunction in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raja Mehanna
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joseph Jankovic
- Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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2
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Burtscher J, Strasser B, Pepe G, Burtscher M, Kopp M, Di Pardo A, Maglione V, Khamoui AV. Brain-Periphery Interactions in Huntington's Disease: Mediators and Lifestyle Interventions. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4696. [PMID: 38731912 PMCID: PMC11083237 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Prominent pathological features of Huntington's disease (HD) are aggregations of mutated Huntingtin protein (mHtt) in the brain and neurodegeneration, which causes characteristic motor (such as chorea and dystonia) and non-motor symptoms. However, the numerous systemic and peripheral deficits in HD have gained increasing attention recently, since those factors likely modulate disease progression, including brain pathology. While whole-body metabolic abnormalities and organ-specific pathologies in HD have been relatively well described, the potential mediators of compromised inter-organ communication in HD have been insufficiently characterized. Therefore, we applied an exploratory literature search to identify such mediators. Unsurprisingly, dysregulation of inflammatory factors, circulating mHtt, and many other messenger molecules (hormones, lipids, RNAs) were found that suggest impaired inter-organ communication, including of the gut-brain and muscle-brain axis. Based on these findings, we aimed to assess the risks and potentials of lifestyle interventions that are thought to improve communication across these axes: dietary strategies and exercise. We conclude that appropriate lifestyle interventions have great potential to reduce symptoms and potentially modify disease progression (possibly via improving inter-organ signaling) in HD. However, impaired systemic metabolism and peripheral symptoms warrant particular care in the design of dietary and exercise programs for people with HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Burtscher
- Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Strasser
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rehabilitation Research, 1100 Vienna, Austria;
- Faculty of Medicine, Sigmund Freud Private University, 1020 Vienna, Austria
| | - Giuseppe Pepe
- IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (G.P.); (A.D.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Martin Burtscher
- Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (M.B.); (M.K.)
| | - Martin Kopp
- Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (M.B.); (M.K.)
| | - Alba Di Pardo
- IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (G.P.); (A.D.P.); (V.M.)
| | | | - Andy V. Khamoui
- Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33458, USA;
- Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
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3
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St-Cyr S, Child DD, Giaime E, Smith AR, Pascua CJ, Hahm S, Saiah E, Davidson BL. Huntington’s disease phenotypes are improved via mTORC1 modulation by small molecule therapy. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273710. [PMID: 36037192 PMCID: PMC9423655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease for which the major causes of mortality are neurodegeneration-associated aspiration pneumonia followed by cardiac failure. mTORC1 pathway perturbations are present in HD models and human tissues. Amelioration of mTORC1 deficits by genetic modulation improves disease phenotypes in HD models, is not a viable therapeutic strategy. Here, we assessed a novel small molecule mTORC1 pathway activator, NV-5297, for its improvement of the disease phenotypes in the N171-82Q HD mouse model. Oral dosing of NV-5297 over 6 weeks activated mTORC1, increased striatal volume, improved motor learning and heart contractility. Further, the heart contractility, heart fibrosis, and survival were improved in response to the cardiac stressor isoprenaline when compared to vehicle-treated mice. Cummulatively, these data support mTORC1 activation as a therapeutic target in HD and consolidates NV-5297 as a promising drug candidate for treating central and peripheral HD phenotypes and, more generally, mTORC1-deficit related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie St-Cyr
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Daniel D. Child
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- The Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Emilie Giaime
- Navitor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Alicia R. Smith
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Christine J. Pascua
- Division of Cardiology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Seung Hahm
- Navitor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Eddine Saiah
- Navitor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- * E-mail: (BLD); (ES)
| | - Beverly L. Davidson
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- The Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail: (BLD); (ES)
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4
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Tomczyk M, Braczko A, Mierzejewska P, Podlacha M, Krol O, Jablonska P, Jedrzejewska A, Pierzynowska K, Wegrzyn G, Slominska EM, Smolenski RT. Rosiglitazone Ameliorates Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction by Correction of Energetics in Huntington’s Disease. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172662. [PMID: 36078070 PMCID: PMC9454785 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare neurodegenerative disease that is accompanied by skeletal muscle atrophy and cardiomyopathy. Tissues affected by HD (central nervous system [CNS], skeletal muscle, and heart) are known to suffer from deteriorated cellular energy metabolism that manifests already at presymptomatic stages. This work aimed to test the effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ agonist—rosiglitazone on grip strength and heart function in an experimental HD model—on R6/1 mice and to address the mechanisms. We noted that rosiglitazone treatment lead to improvement of R6/1 mice grip strength and cardiac mechanical function. It was accompanied by an enhancement of the total adenine nucleotides pool, increased glucose oxidation, changes in mitochondrial number (indicated as increased citric synthase activity), and reduction in mitochondrial complex I activity. These metabolic changes were supported by increased total antioxidant status in HD mice injected with rosiglitazone. Correction of energy deficits with rosiglitazone was further indicated by decreased accumulation of nucleotide catabolites in HD mice serum. Thus, rosiglitazone treatment may not only delay neurodegeneration but also may ameliorate cardio- and myopathy linked to HD by improvement of cellular energetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Tomczyk
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (R.T.S.)
| | - Alicja Braczko
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
| | | | - Magdalena Podlacha
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Oliwia Krol
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Patrycja Jablonska
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Agata Jedrzejewska
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Karolina Pierzynowska
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Wegrzyn
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Ewa M. Slominska
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Ryszard T. Smolenski
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (R.T.S.)
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5
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A New Perspective on Huntington’s Disease: How a Neurological Disorder Influences the Peripheral Tissues. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116089. [PMID: 35682773 PMCID: PMC9181740 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a toxic, aggregation-prone expansion of CAG repeats in the HTT gene with an age-dependent progression that leads to behavioral, cognitive and motor symptoms. Principally affecting the frontal cortex and the striatum, mHTT disrupts many cellular functions. In fact, increasing evidence shows that peripheral tissues are affected by neurodegenerative diseases. It establishes an active crosstalk between peripheral tissues and the brain in different neurodegenerative diseases. This review focuses on the current knowledge of peripheral tissue effects in HD animal and cell experimental models and identifies biomarkers and mechanisms involved or affected in the progression of the disease as new therapeutic or early diagnostic options. The particular changes in serum/plasma, blood cells such as lymphocytes, immune blood cells, the pancreas, the heart, the retina, the liver, the kidney and pericytes as a part of the blood–brain barrier are described. It is important to note that several changes in different mouse models of HD present differences between them and between the different ages analyzed. The understanding of the impact of peripheral organ inflammation in HD may open new avenues for the development of novel therapeutic targets.
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6
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Park S, Luk SHC, Bains RS, Whittaker DS, Chiem E, Jordan MC, Roos KP, Ghiani CA, Colwell CS. Targeted Genetic Reduction of Mutant Huntingtin Lessens Cardiac Pathology in the BACHD Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 8:810810. [PMID: 35004919 PMCID: PMC8739867 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.810810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals affected by Huntington's disease (HD) present with progressive degeneration that results in a wide range of symptoms, including cardiovascular (CV) dysfunction. The huntingtin gene (HTT) and its product are ubiquitously expressed, hence, the cardiomyopathy could also be driven by defects caused by its mutated form (mHTT) in the cardiomyocytes themselves. In the present study, we sought to determine the contribution of the mHTT expressed in the cardiomyocytes to CV symptoms. We utilized the BACHD mouse model, which exhibits many of the HD core symptoms, including CV dysfunction. This model allows the targeted genetic reduction of mHTT expression in the cardiomyocytes while maintaining the expression of the mHTT in the rest of the body. The BACHD line was crossed with a line of mice in which the expression of Cre recombinase is driven by the cardiac-specific alpha myosin-heavy chain (Myh6) promoter. The offspring of this cross (BMYO mice) exhibited a dramatic reduction in mHTT in the heart but not in the striatum. The BMYO mice were evaluated at 6 months old, as at this age, the BACHD line displays a strong CV phenotype. Echocardiogram measurements found improvement in the ejection fraction in the BMYO line compared to the BACHD, while hypertrophy was observed in both mutant lines. Next, we examined the expression of genes known to be upregulated during pathological cardiac hypertrophy. As measured by qPCR, the BMYO hearts exhibited significantly less expression of collagen1a as well as Gata4, and brain natriuretic peptide compared to the BACHD. Fibrosis in the hearts assessed by Masson's trichrome stain and the protein levels of fibronectin were reduced in the BMYO hearts compared to BACHD. Finally, we examined the performance of the mice on CV-sensitive motor tasks. Both the overall activity levels and grip strength were improved in the BMYO mice. Therefore, we conclude that the reduction of mHtt expression in the heart benefits CV function in the BACHD model, and suggest that cardiomyopathy should be considered in the treatment strategies for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saemi Park
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology Graduate Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Shu Hon Christopher Luk
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Raj S Bains
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Daniel S Whittaker
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Emily Chiem
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology Graduate Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Maria C Jordan
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kenneth P Roos
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Cristina A Ghiani
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Christopher S Colwell
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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7
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Tomczyk M, Glaser T, Slominska EM, Ulrich H, Smolenski RT. Purine Nucleotides Metabolism and Signaling in Huntington's Disease: Search for a Target for Novel Therapies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126545. [PMID: 34207177 PMCID: PMC8234552 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a multi-system disorder that is caused by expanded CAG repeats within the exon-1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene that translate to the polyglutamine stretch in the HTT protein. HTT interacts with the proteins involved in gene transcription, endocytosis, and metabolism. HTT may also directly or indirectly affect purine metabolism and signaling. We aimed to review existing data and discuss the modulation of the purinergic system as a new therapeutic target in HD. Impaired intracellular nucleotide metabolism in the HD affected system (CNS, skeletal muscle and heart) may lead to extracellular accumulation of purine metabolites, its unusual catabolism, and modulation of purinergic signaling. The mechanisms of observed changes might be different in affected systems. Based on collected findings, compounds leading to purine and ATP pool reconstruction as well as purinergic receptor activity modulators, i.e., P2X7 receptor antagonists, may be applied for HD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Tomczyk
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland;
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (R.T.S.)
| | - Talita Glaser
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (T.G.); (H.U.)
| | - Ewa M. Slominska
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland;
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (T.G.); (H.U.)
| | - Ryszard T. Smolenski
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland;
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (R.T.S.)
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8
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Zhu Y, Shamblin I, Rodriguez E, Salzer GE, Araysi L, Margolies KA, Halade GV, Litovsky SH, Pogwizd S, Gray M, Huke S. Progressive cardiac arrhythmias and ECG abnormalities in the Huntington's disease BACHD mouse model. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:369-381. [PMID: 31816043 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease. There is accumulating evidence that HD patients have increased prevalence of conduction abnormalities and compromised sinoatrial node function which could lead to increased risk for arrhythmia. We used mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) expressing bacterial artificial chromosome Huntington's disease mice to determine if they exhibit electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities involving cardiac conduction that are known to increase risk of sudden arrhythmic death in humans. We obtained surface ECGs and analyzed arrhythmia susceptibility; we observed prolonged QRS duration, increases in PVCs as well as PACs. Abnormal histological and structural changes that could lead to cardiac conduction system dysfunction were seen. Finally, we observed decreases in desmosomal proteins, plakophilin-2 and desmoglein-2, which have been reported to cause cardiac arrhythmias and reduced conduction. Our study indicates that mHTT could cause progressive cardiac conduction system pathology that could increase the susceptibility to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in HD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Zhu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Isaac Shamblin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Efrain Rodriguez
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Grace E Salzer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Lita Araysi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Katherine A Margolies
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Ganesh V Halade
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Silvio H Litovsky
- Department of Pathology, Division of Anatomic Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Steven Pogwizd
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Michelle Gray
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Sabine Huke
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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9
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Cardiac electrical remodeling and neurodegenerative diseases association. Life Sci 2020; 267:118976. [PMID: 33387579 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118976] [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: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac impairment contributes significantly to the mortality associated with several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD), primarily recognized as brain pathologies. These diseases may be caused by aggregation of a misfolded protein, most often, in the brain, although new evidence also reveals peripheral abnormalities. After characterization of the cardiac involvement in neurodegenerative diseases, several studies concentrated on elucidating the cause of the impaired cardiac function. However, most of the current knowledge is focused on the mechanical aspects of the heart rather than the electrical disturbances. The main objective of this review is to summarize the most recent advances in the elucidation of cardiac electrical remodeling in the neurodegenerative environment. We aimed to determine a crosstalk between the heart and the brain in three neurodegenerative conditions: AD, PD, and HD. We found that the most studies demonstrated important alterations in the electrocardiogram (ECG) of patients with neurodegeneration and in animal models of the conditions. We also showed that little is described when considering excitability disruptions in cardiomyocytes, for example, action potential impairments. It is a matter of contention whether central nervous system abnormalities or the peripheral ones increase the risk of heart diseases in patients with neurodegenerative conditions. To determine this notion, there is a need for new heart studies focusing specifically on the cardiac electrophysiology (e.g., ECG and cardiomyocyte excitability). This review could serve as an important guide in designing novel accurate approaches targeting the heart in neuronal conditions.
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10
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Steventon JJ, Furby H, Ralph J, O'Callaghan P, Rosser AE, Wise RG, Busse M, Murphy K. Altered cerebrovascular response to acute exercise in patients with Huntington's disease. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa044. [PMID: 32566927 PMCID: PMC7293798 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine whether a single session of exercise was sufficient to induce cerebral adaptations in individuals with Huntington’s disease and to explore the time dynamics of any acute cerebrovascular response. In this case–control study, we employed arterial-spin labelling MRI in 19 Huntington’s disease gene-positive participants (32–65 years, 13 males) and 19 controls (29–63 years, 10 males) matched for age, gender, body mass index and self-reported activity levels, to measure global and regional perfusion in response to 20 min of moderate-intensity cycling. Cerebral perfusion was measured at baseline and 15, 40 and 60 min after exercise cessation. Relative to baseline, we found that cerebral perfusion increased in patients with Huntington’s disease yet was unchanged in control participants in the precentral gyrus (P = 0.016), middle frontal gyrus (P = 0.046) and hippocampus (P = 0.048) 40 min after exercise cessation (+15 to +32.5% change in Huntington’s disease participants, −7.7 to 0.8% change in controls). The length of the disease‐causing trinucleotide repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene predicted the change in the precentral gyrus (P = 0.03) and the intensity of the exercise intervention predicted hippocampal perfusion change in Huntington’s disease participants (P < 0.001). In both groups, exercise increased hippocampal blood flow 60 min after exercise cessation (P = 0.039). These findings demonstrate the utility of acute exercise as a clinically sensitive experimental paradigm to modulate the cerebrovasculature. Twenty minutes of aerobic exercise induced transient cerebrovascular adaptations in the hippocampus and cortex selectively in Huntington’s disease participants and likely represents latent neuropathology not evident at rest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J Steventon
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK.,Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Hannah Furby
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK.,Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - James Ralph
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Peter O'Callaghan
- Cardiology Department, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK
| | - Anne E Rosser
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK.,Cardiff Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Richard G Wise
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Monica Busse
- Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4YS, UK
| | - Kevin Murphy
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
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11
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Kielar C, Morton AJ. Early Neurodegeneration in R6/2 Mice Carrying the Huntington's Disease Mutation with a Super-Expanded CAG Repeat, Despite Normal Lifespan. J Huntingtons Dis 2019; 7:61-76. [PMID: 29480204 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-170265] [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: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The threshold of CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene that causes HD is 36 CAG repeats, although 'superlong' expansions are found in individual neurons in postmortem brains. Previously, we showed that, compared to mice with <250 CAG repeats, onset of disease in R6/2 mice carrying superlong (>440) CAG repeat expansions was delayed, and disease progression was slower. Inclusion pathology also differed from 250 CAG repeat mice, being dominated by a novel kind of extranuclear neuronal inclusion (nENNI) that resembles a class of aggregate seen in patients with the adult onset form of HD. Here, we characterised neuropathology in R6/2 mice with >400 CAG repeats using light and electron microscopy. nENNIs were found with increased frequency and wider distribution with age. Some nENNIs appear to 'mature' as the disease develops, developing a multi-layered cored structure. Mice with superlong CAG repeats do not develop clinical signs until they are around 30-40 weeks of age, and they attain a normal life span (>2 years). Nevertheless, they show brain atrophy and unequivocal neuron loss from the striatum and cortex by 22 weeks of age, an age at which similar pathology is seen in 250 CAG repeat mice. Since this time-point is 'end stage' for a 250 CAG mouse, but very far (at least 18 months) from end stage for a > 440 CAG repeat mouse, our data confirm that the appearance of clinical signs, the formation of inclusions, and neurodegeneration are processes that progress independently. A better understanding of the relationship between CAG repeat length, neurodegenerative pathways, and clinical behavioural signs is essential, if we are to find strategies to delay or reverse the course of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Kielar
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - A Jennifer Morton
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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12
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Child DD, Lee JH, Pascua CJ, Chen YH, Mas Monteys A, Davidson BL. Cardiac mTORC1 Dysregulation Impacts Stress Adaptation and Survival in Huntington's Disease. Cell Rep 2019; 23:1020-1033. [PMID: 29694882 PMCID: PMC5967646 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.03.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurological disorder caused by CAG-repeat expansion in exon 1 of Huntingtin (HTT). But in addition to the neurological disease, mutant HTT (mHTT), which is ubiquitously expressed, impairs other organ systems. Indeed, epidemiological and animal model studies suggest higher incidence of and mortality from heart disease in HD. Here, we show that the protein complex mTORC1 is dysregulated in two HD mouse models through a mechanism that requires intrinsic mHTT expression. Moreover, restoring cardiac mTORC1 activity with constitutively active Rheb prevents mortality and relieves the mHTT-induced block to hypertrophic adaptation to cardiac stress. Finally, we show that chronic mTORC1 dysregulation is due in part to mislocalization of endogenous Rheb. These data provide insight into the increased cardiac-related mortality of HD patients, with cardiac mHTT expression inhibiting mTORC1 activity, limiting heart growth, and decreasing the heart’s ability to compensate to chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel D Child
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John H Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christine J Pascua
- Division of Cardiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yong Hong Chen
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alejandro Mas Monteys
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Beverly L Davidson
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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13
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Smarr B, Cutler T, Loh DH, Kudo T, Kuljis D, Kriegsfeld L, Ghiani CA, Colwell CS. Circadian dysfunction in the Q175 model of Huntington's disease: Network analysis. J Neurosci Res 2019; 97:1606-1623. [PMID: 31359503 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Disturbances in sleep/wake cycle are a common complaint of individuals with Huntington's disease (HD) and are displayed by HD mouse models. The underlying mechanisms, including the possible role of the circadian timing system, have been the topic of a number of recent studies. The (z)Q175 mouse is a knock-in model in which the human exon 1 sequence of the huntingtin gene is inserted into the mouse DNA with approximately 190 CAG repeats. Among the numerous models available, the heterozygous Q175 offers strong construct validity with a single copy of the mutation, genetic precision of the insertion and control of mutation copy number. In this review, we will summarize the evidence that this model exhibits disrupted diurnal and circadian rhythms in locomotor activity. We found overwhelming evidence for autonomic dysfunction including blunted daily rhythms in heart rate and core body temperature (CBT), reduced heart rate variability, and almost a complete failure of the sympathetic arm of the autonomic nervous system to function during the baroreceptor reflex. Mechanistically, the Q175 mouse model exhibits deficits in the neural output of the central circadian clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus along with an enhancement of at least one type of potassium current in these neurons. Finally, we report a novel network analysis examining the phase coherence between activity, CBT, and cardiovascular measures. Such analyses found that even young Q175 mutants (heterozygous or homozygous) show coherence degradation, and suggests that loss of phase coherence is a variable that should be considered as a possible biomarker for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Smarr
- Department of Psychology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California.,Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Tamara Cutler
- Laboratory of Circadian and Sleep Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Dawn H Loh
- Laboratory of Circadian and Sleep Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Takashi Kudo
- Laboratory of Circadian and Sleep Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Dika Kuljis
- Laboratory of Circadian and Sleep Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Lance Kriegsfeld
- Department of Psychology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California.,Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Cristina A Ghiani
- Laboratory of Circadian and Sleep Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Pathology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Christopher S Colwell
- Laboratory of Circadian and Sleep Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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14
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Park S, Colwell CS. Do Disruptions in the Circadian Timing System Contribute to Autonomic Dysfunction in Huntington's Disease? THE YALE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2019; 92:291-303. [PMID: 31249490 PMCID: PMC6585531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) patients suffer from a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that inflicts both motor and non-motor symptoms. HD is caused by a CAG repeat expansion within the first exon of the huntingtin (HTT) gene that produces a polyglutamine repeat that leads to protein misfolding, soluble aggregates, and inclusion bodies detected throughout the body. Both clinical and preclinical research indicate that cardiovascular dysfunction should be considered a core symptom in at least a subset of HD patients. There is strong evidence for dysautonomia (dysfunctional autonomic nervous system, ANS) in HD patients that can be detected early in the disease progression. The temporal patterning of ANS function is controlled by the circadian timing system based in the anterior hypothalamus. Patients with neurodegenerative diseases including HD exhibit disrupted sleep/wake cycle and, in preclinical models, there is compelling evidence that the circadian timing system is compromised early in the disease process. Here we review data from preclinical models of HD that explore the intersection between disruption of circadian rhythms and dysautonomia. This work will lead to new therapeutic strategies and standards of care for HD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saemi Park
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology graduate program, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Christopher S. Colwell
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology graduate program, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA,To whom all correspondence should be addressed: Christopher S. Colwell, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095; . http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1059-184X
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15
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Critchley BJ, Isalan M, Mielcarek M. Neuro-Cardio Mechanisms in Huntington's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders. Front Physiol 2018; 9:559. [PMID: 29875678 PMCID: PMC5974550 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although Huntington's disease is generally considered to be a neurological disorder, there is mounting evidence that heart malfunction plays an important role in disease progression. This is perhaps not unexpected since both cardiovascular and nervous systems are strongly connected - both developmentally and subsequently in health and disease. This connection occurs through a system of central and peripheral neurons that control cardiovascular performance, while in return the cardiovascular system works as a sensor for the nervous system to react to physiological events. Hence, given their permanent interconnectivity, any pathological events occurring in one system might affect the second. In addition, some pathological signals from Huntington's disease might occur simultaneously in both the cardiovascular and nervous systems, since mutant huntingtin protein is expressed in both. Here we aim to review the source of HD-related cardiomyopathy in the light of recently published studies, and to identify similarities between HD-related cardiomyopathy and other neuro-cardio disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethan J. Critchley
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Isalan
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michal Mielcarek
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Epidemiology of Rare Diseases and Neuroepidemiology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
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16
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Stephen CD, Hung J, Schifitto G, Hersch SM, Rosas HD. Electrocardiogram Abnormalities Suggest Aberrant Cardiac Conduction in Huntington's Disease. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2018; 5:306-311. [PMID: 30363459 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.12596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is increasing evidence that the effects of Huntington's disease (HD) extend beyond the central nervous system. In particular, significant cardiac dysfunction has been described in transgenic mouse models and suggested in symptomatic patients, in whom cardiac involvement could provide an independent risk for sudden cardiac death. Methods Standard 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) obtained at screening from 590 early symptomatic (Stage 1 and 2) HD patients participating in a multi-site Phase III study were analyzed. Results Evaluating only those ECGs in individuals not on medications or with potentially contributing medical conditions, the prevalence of bradycardia was 28.3% (marked in 5.8%), prolonged QRS 4.9%, intraventricular conduction delay 3.4%, right bundle branch block 1.3%, and QTc prolongation 3.7%. Conclusion Significant cardiac abnormalities, characterized primarily by conduction abnormalities, were found in a larger than expected number of patients. Abnormal intraventricular conduction may lead to increased risk for arrhythmia and may be compounded by prescription of QT-prolonging medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Stephen
- Departments of Neurology Center for Neuro-imaging of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases
| | - Judy Hung
- Department of Cardiology Center for Neuro-imaging of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases
| | | | - Steven M Hersch
- Departments of Neurology Center for Neuro-imaging of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases
| | - H Diana Rosas
- Departments of Neurology Center for Neuro-imaging of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases.,Center for Neuro-imaging of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases.,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging.,Department of Radiology Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
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17
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Cutler TS, Park S, Loh DH, Jordan MC, Yokota T, Roos KP, Ghiani CA, Colwell CS. Neurocardiovascular deficits in the Q175 mouse model of Huntington's disease. Physiol Rep 2018; 5:5/11/e13289. [PMID: 28576852 PMCID: PMC5471434 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 04/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular dysautonomia as well as the deterioration of circadian rhythms are among the earliest detectable pathophysiological changes in individuals with Huntington's disease (HD). Preclinical research requires mouse models that recapitulate disease symptoms and the Q175 knock-in model offers a number of advantages but potential autonomic dysfunction has not been explored. In this study, we sought to test the dual hypotheses that cardiovascular dysautonomia can be detected early in disease progression in the Q175 model and that this dysfunction varies with the daily cycle. Using radiotelemetry implants, we observed a significant reduction in the diurnal and circadian activity rhythms in the Q175 mutants at the youngest ages. By middle age, the autonomically driven rhythms in core body temperature were highly compromised, and the Q175 mutants exhibited striking episodes of hypothermia that increased in frequency with mutant huntingtin gene dosage. In addition, Q175 mutants showed higher resting heart rate (HR) during sleep and greatly reduced correlation between activity and HR HR variability was reduced in the mutants in both time and frequency domains, providing more evidence of autonomic dysfunction. Measurement of the baroreceptor reflex revealed that the Q175 mutant could not appropriately increase HR in response to a pharmacologically induced decrease in blood pressure. Echocardiograms showed reduced ventricular mass and ejection fraction in mutant hearts. Finally, cardiac histopathology revealed localized points of fibrosis resembling those caused by myocardial infarction. Thus, the Q175 mouse model of HD exhibits cardiovascular dysautonomia similar to that seen in HD patients with prominent sympathetic dysfunction during the resting phase of the activity rhythm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara S Cutler
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Saemi Park
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Dawn H Loh
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Maria C Jordan
- Department of Physiology and Cardiovascular Research Lab, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Tomohiro Yokota
- Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Molecular Medicine David Geffen School of Medicine University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kenneth P Roos
- Department of Physiology and Cardiovascular Research Lab, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Cristina A Ghiani
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Christopher S Colwell
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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18
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Silva-Palacios A, Ostolga-Chavarría M, Buelna-Chontal M, Garibay C, Hernández-Reséndiz S, Roldán FJ, Flores PL, Luna-López A, Königsberg M, Zazueta C. 3-NP-induced Huntington's-like disease impairs Nrf2 activation without loss of cardiac function in aged rats. Exp Gerontol 2017. [PMID: 28624355 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2017.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of death in patients over 60years with Huntington's disease (HD). Here, we investigated if age-related oxidative stress (OS) is a relevant factor to develop cardiac damage in an in vivo model of striatal neurodegeneration induced by 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP). We also evaluated the potential effect of tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) to increase the Nrf2-regulated antioxidant response in hearts from adult and aged rats intoxicated with 3-NP. Our results showed that 3-NP-treatment did not induce cardiac dysfunction, neither in adult nor in aged rats. However, at the cellular level, adult animals showed higher susceptibility to 3-NP-induced damage than aged rats, which suggest that chronic oxidative stress ongoing during aging might have induced an hormetic response that probably prevented from further 3-NP damage. We also found that the oxidative unbalance concurs with unresponsiveness of the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response in old animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Silva-Palacios
- Departamento de Biomedicina Cardiovascular, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología, Ignacio Chávez, Mexico; Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico; Programa de Posgrado en Biología Experimental, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico
| | - M Ostolga-Chavarría
- Departamento de Biomedicina Cardiovascular, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología, Ignacio Chávez, Mexico
| | - M Buelna-Chontal
- Departamento de Biomedicina Cardiovascular, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología, Ignacio Chávez, Mexico
| | - C Garibay
- Departamento de Neuropatología, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Manuel Velasco Suárez, Mexico
| | - S Hernández-Reséndiz
- Departamento de Biomedicina Cardiovascular, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología, Ignacio Chávez, Mexico
| | - F J Roldán
- Departamento de Ecocardiografía, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología, Ignacio Chávez, Mexico
| | - P L Flores
- Departamento de Instrumentación Electromecánica, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología, Ignacio Chávez, Mexico
| | - A Luna-López
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Instituto Nacional de Geriatría, Mexico
| | - M Königsberg
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico
| | - C Zazueta
- Departamento de Biomedicina Cardiovascular, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología, Ignacio Chávez, Mexico.
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19
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Metabolic profiling of presymptomatic Huntington's disease sheep reveals novel biomarkers. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43030. [PMID: 28223686 PMCID: PMC5320451 DOI: 10.1038/srep43030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The pronounced cachexia (unexplained wasting) seen in Huntington’s disease (HD) patients suggests that metabolic dysregulation plays a role in HD pathogenesis, although evidence of metabolic abnormalities in HD patients is inconsistent. We performed metabolic profiling of plasma from presymptomatic HD transgenic and control sheep. Metabolites were quantified in sequential plasma samples taken over a 25 h period using a targeted LC/MS metabolomics approach. Significant changes with respect to genotype were observed in 89/130 identified metabolites, including sphingolipids, biogenic amines, amino acids and urea. Citrulline and arginine increased significantly in HD compared to control sheep. Ten other amino acids decreased in presymptomatic HD sheep, including branched chain amino acids (isoleucine, leucine and valine) that have been identified previously as potential biomarkers of HD. Significant increases in urea, arginine, citrulline, asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginine, alongside decreases in sphingolipids, indicate that both the urea cycle and nitric oxide pathways are dysregulated at early stages in HD. Logistic prediction modelling identified a set of 8 biomarkers that can identify 80% of the presymptomatic HD sheep as transgenic, with 90% confidence. This level of sensitivity, using minimally invasive methods, offers novel opportunities for monitoring disease progression in HD patients.
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20
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Motor phenotype is not associated with vascular dysfunction in symptomatic Huntington's disease transgenic R6/2 (160 CAG) mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42797. [PMID: 28211486 PMCID: PMC5314343 DOI: 10.1038/srep42797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Whereas Huntington’s disease (HD) is unequivocally a neurological disorder, a critical mass of emerging studies highlights the occurrence of peripheral pathology like cardiovascular defects in both animal models and humans. The overt impairment in cardiac function is normally expected to be associated with peripheral vascular dysfunction, however whether this assumption is reasonable or not in HD is still unknown. In this study we functionally characterized the vascular system in R6/2 mouse model (line 160 CAG), which recapitulates several features of human pathology including cardiac disease. Vascular reactivity in different arterial districts was determined by wire myography in symptomatic R6/2 mice and age-matched wild type (WT) littermates. Disease stage was assessed by using well-validated behavioural tests like rotarod and horizontal ladder task. Surprisingly, no signs of vascular dysfunction were detectable in symptomatic mice and no link with motor phenotype was found.
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21
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Skillings EA, Morton AJ. Delayed Onset and Reduced Cognitive Deficits through Pre-Conditioning with 3-Nitropropionic Acid is Dependent on Sex and CAG Repeat Length in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2016; 5:19-32. [PMID: 27031731 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-160189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Impairments in energy metabolism are implicated in Huntington's disease (HD) pathogenesis. Reduced levels of the mitochondrial enzyme succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), the main element of complex II, are observed post mortem in the brains of HD patients, and energy metabolism defects have been identified in both presymptomatic and symptomatic HD patients. OBJECTIVE Chemical preconditioning with 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), an irreversible inhibitor of SDH, has been shown to increase tolerance against experimental hypoxia in both heart and brain. Here we studied the effect of chronic preconditioning in the R6/2 mouse model of HD using mice carrying CAG repeat lengths of either 250 or 400 repeats. Both are transgenic fragment models, with 250CAG mice having a more rapid disease progression than 400CAG mice. METHODS Low doses of 3-NP (24 mg/kg) were administered via the drinking water and the effect on phenotype progression and cognition function assessed. RESULTS After 3-NP treatment there were significant improvements in all aspects of the behavioural phenotype, apart from body weight, with timing and magnitude of improvements dependent on both CAG repeat length and sex. Specifically, a delay in the deterioration of general health (as shown by delayed onset of glycosuria and increased survival) was seen in both male and female 400CAG mice and in female 250CAG mice and was consistent with improved appearance of 3-NP treated R6/2 mice. Male 250CAG mice showed improvements but these were short term, and 3-NP treatment eventually had deleterious effects on their survival rate. When cognitive performance of 250CAG mice was assessed using a two-choice discrimination touchscreen task, we found that female mice showed significant improvements. DISCUSSION Together, our results support the idea that energy metabolism contributes to the pathogenesis of HD, and suggest that improving energy deficits might be a therapeutically useful target.
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22
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Cardiac Fas-Dependent and Mitochondria-Dependent Apoptotic Pathways in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. Cardiovasc Toxicol 2016; 16:111-21. [PMID: 25800750 DOI: 10.1007/s12012-015-9318-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene. Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in patients with Huntington's disease. This study was to evaluate whether cardiac Fas-dependent and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways are activated in transgenic mice with Huntington's disease. Sixteen Huntington's disease transgenic mice (HD) and sixteen wild-type (WT) littermates were studied at 10.5 weeks of age. The cardiac characteristics, myocardial architecture, and two major apoptotic pathways in the excised left ventricle from mice were measured by histopathological analysis, Western blotting, and TUNEL assays. The whole heart weight and the left ventricular weight decreased significantly in the HD group, as compared to the WT group. Abnormal myocardial architecture, enlarged interstitial spaces, and more cardiac TUNEL-positive cells were observed in the HD group. The key components of Fas-dependent apoptosis (TNF-alpha, TNFR1, Fas ligand, Fas death receptors, FADD, activated caspase-8, and activated caspase-3) and the key components of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis (Bax, Bax-to-Bcl-2 ratio, cytosolic cytochrome c, activated caspase-9, and activated caspase-3) increased significantly in the hearts of the HD group. Cardiac Fas-dependent and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways were activated in transgenic mice with Huntington's disease, which might provide one of possible mechanisms to explain why patients with Huntington's disease will develop heart failure.
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23
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Coskun V, Lombardo DM. Studying the pathophysiologic connection between cardiovascular and nervous systems using stem cells. J Neurosci Res 2016; 94:1499-1510. [PMID: 27629698 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Revised: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The cardiovascular and nervous systems are deeply connected during development, health, and disease. Both systems affect and regulate the development of each other during embryogenesis and the early postnatal period. Specialized neural crest cells contribute to cardiac structures, and a number of growth factors released from the cardiac tissue (e.g., glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, neurturin, nerve growth factor, Neurotrophin-3) ensure proper maturation of the incoming parasympathetic and sympathetic neurons. Physiologically, the cardiovascular and nervous systems operate in harmony to adapt to various physical and emotional conditions to maintain homeostasis through sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Moreover, neurocardiac regulation involves a neuroaxis consisting of cortex, amygdala, and other subcortical structures, which have the ability to modify lower-level neurons in the hierarchy. Given the interconnectivity of cardiac and neural systems, when one undergoes pathological changes, the other is affected to a certain extent. In addition, there are specific neurocardiac diseases that affect both systems simultaneously, such as Huntington disease, Lewy body diseases, Friedreich ataxia, congenital heart diseases, Danon disease, and Timothy syndrome. Over the last decade, in vitro modeling of neurocardiac diseases using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has provided an invaluable opportunity to elevate our knowledge about the brain-heart connection, since previously primary cardiomyocytes and neurons had been extremely difficult to maintain long-term in vitro. Ultimately, the ability of iPSC technology to model abnormal functional phenotypes of human neurocardiac disorders, combined with the ease of therapeutic screening using this approach, will transform patient care through personalized medicine in the future. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volkan Coskun
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California.
| | - Dawn M Lombardo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California
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24
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Melkani GC. Huntington's Disease-Induced Cardiac Disorders Affect Multiple Cellular Pathways. REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES (APEX, N.C.) 2016; 2:325-338. [PMID: 29963642 PMCID: PMC6022757 DOI: 10.20455/ros.2016.859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare, inherited, progressive, and fatal neurological disorder resulting from expanded polyglutamine repeats in the huntingtin protein. While HD is predominately characterized as a disease of the central nervous system, mortality surveys and epidemiological studies reveal heart disease as one of the leading causes of death in HD patients. Emerging evidence supports a link between HD and cardiovascular disease, such as cardiac amyloidosis (accumulation of aggregates in the heart). Experimental animal and clinical studies have attempted to explain the mechanisms of HD-induced cardiac pathology in the association of protein misfolding, autophagic defects, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell death. HD is increasingly understood as a complex disease with peripheral components of cardiac and skeletal muscle pathophysiology. While the discovery of these linkages and apparent pathological markers is promising, the mechanism of HD-induced cardiac pathology and the nature of its cell autonomy remain elusive. Further study of the wide-ranging cardiac function in HD patients is needed. This review highlights published literature on the pathological factors associated with HD-induced cardiac amyloidosis and other cardiovascular diseases, and addresses gaps in this expanding area of study. Through comprehensive experimental and clinical studies, potential drugs can be tested to attenuate and/or ameliorate HD-induced cardiac pathology and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girish C Melkani
- Department of Biology, Molecular Biology and Heart Institutes, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
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25
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Kane AD, Niu Y, Herrera EA, Morton AJ, Giussani DA. Impaired Nitric Oxide Mediated Vasodilation In The Peripheral Circulation In The R6/2 Mouse Model Of Huntington's Disease. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25979. [PMID: 27181166 PMCID: PMC4867587 DOI: 10.1038/srep25979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence shows that the Huntington's disease (HD) extends beyond the nervous system to other sites, including the cardiovascular system. Further, the cardiovascular pathology pre-dates neurological decline, however the mechanisms involved remain unclear. We investigated in the R6/2 mouse model of HD nitric oxide (NO) dependent and independent endothelial mechanisms. Femoral artery reactivity was determined by wire myography in wild type (WT) and R6/2 mice at 12 and 16 weeks of adulthood. WT mice showed increased endothelial relaxation between 12 and 16 weeks (Rmax: 72 ± 7% vs. 97 ± 13%, P < 0.05). In contrast, R6/2 mice showed enhanced endothelial relaxation already by 12 weeks (Rmax at 12w: 72 ± 7% vs. 94 ± 5%, WT vs. R6/2, P < 0.05) that declined by 16 weeks compared with WT mice (Rmax at 16w: 97 ± 13% vs. 68 ± 7%, WT vs. R6/2, P < 0.05). In WT mice, the increase in femoral relaxation between 12 and 16 weeks was due to enhanced NO dependent mechanisms. By 16 weeks of adult age, the R6/2 mouse developed overt endothelial dysfunction due to an inability to increase NO dependent vasodilation. The data add to the growing literature of non-neural manifestations of HD and implicate NO depletion as a key mechanism underlying the HD pathophysiology in the peripheral vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Kane
- Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Youguo Niu
- Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Emilio A. Herrera
- Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - A. Jennifer Morton
- Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Dino A. Giussani
- Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
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Schroeder AM, Wang HB, Park S, Jordan MC, Gao F, Coppola G, Fishbein MC, Roos KP, Ghiani CA, Colwell CS. Cardiac Dysfunction in the BACHD Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147269. [PMID: 26807590 PMCID: PMC4725962 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
While Huntington's disease (HD) is classified as a neurological disorder, HD patients exhibit a high incidence of cardiovascular events leading to heart failure and death. In this study, we sought to better understand the cardiovascular phenotype of HD using the BACHD mouse model. The age-related decline in cardiovascular function was assessed by echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, histological and microarray analysis. We found that structural and functional differences between WT and BACHD hearts start at 3 months of age and continue throughout life. The aged BACHD mice develop cardiac fibrosis and ultimately apoptosis. The BACHD mice exhibited adaptive physiological changes to chronic isoproterenol treatment; however, the medication exacerbated fibrotic lesions in the heart. Gene expression analysis indicated a strong tilt toward apoptosis in the young mutant heart as well as changes in genes involved in cellular metabolism and proliferation. With age, the number of genes with altered expression increased with the large changes occurring in the cardiovascular disease, cellular metabolism, and cellular transport clusters. The BACHD model of HD exhibits a number of changes in cardiovascular function that start early in the disease progress and may provide an explanation for the higher cardiovascular risk in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Analyne M. Schroeder
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095–1751, United States of America
| | - Huei Bin Wang
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095–1751, United States of America
| | - Saemi Park
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095–1751, United States of America
| | - Maria C. Jordan
- Department of Physiology and Cardiovascular Research Lab, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095–1751, United States of America
| | - Fuying Gao
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095–1751, United States of America
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095–1751, United States of America
| | - Michael C. Fishbein
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095–1751, United States of America
| | - Kenneth P. Roos
- Department of Physiology and Cardiovascular Research Lab, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095–1751, United States of America
| | - Cristina A. Ghiani
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095–1751, United States of America
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095–1751, United States of America
| | - Christopher S. Colwell
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095–1751, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Jacquet L, Neueder A, Földes G, Karagiannis P, Hobbs C, Jolinon N, Mioulane M, Sakai T, Harding SE, Ilic D. Three Huntington's Disease Specific Mutation-Carrying Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Have Stable Number of CAG Repeats upon In Vitro Differentiation into Cardiomyocytes. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126860. [PMID: 25993131 PMCID: PMC4438866 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD; OMIM 143100), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is caused by an expanded trinucleotide CAG (polyQ) motif in the HTT gene. Cardiovascular symptoms, often present in early stage HD patients, are, in general, ascribed to dysautonomia. However, cardio-specific expression of polyQ peptides caused pathological response in murine models, suggesting the presence of a nervous system-independent heart phenotype in HD patients. A positive correlation between the CAG repeat size and severity of symptoms observed in HD patients has also been observed in in vitro HD cellular models. Here, we test the suitability of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines carrying HD-specific mutation as in vitro models for understanding molecular mechanisms of cardiac pathology seen in HD patients. We have differentiated three HD-hESC lines into cardiomyocytes and investigated CAG stability up to 60 days after starting differentiation. To assess CAG stability in other tissues, the lines were also subjected to in vivo differentiation into teratomas for 10 weeks. Neither directed differentiation into cardiomyocytes in vitro nor in vivo differentiation into teratomas, rich in immature neuronal tissue, led to an increase in the number of CAG repeats. Although the CAG stability might be cell line-dependent, induced pluripotent stem cells generated from patients with larger numbers of CAG repeats could have an advantage as a research tool for understanding cardiac symptoms of HD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laureen Jacquet
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Assisted Conception Unit, Division of Women’s Health, King’s College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Neueder
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Gabor Földes
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, ICTEM, 4th Floor, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Rd, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Panagiotis Karagiannis
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Carl Hobbs
- Histology Laboratory, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Nelly Jolinon
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Maxime Mioulane
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, ICTEM, 4th Floor, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Rd, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Takao Sakai
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Sherrington Building, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, United Kingdom
| | - Sian E. Harding
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, ICTEM, 4th Floor, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Rd, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Dusko Ilic
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Assisted Conception Unit, Division of Women’s Health, King’s College London, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Buonincontri G, Wood NI, Puttick SG, Ward AO, Carpenter TA, Sawiak SJ, Morton AJ. Right ventricular dysfunction in the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease is unmasked by dobutamine. J Huntingtons Dis 2014; 3:25-32. [PMID: 24744818 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-130083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasingly, evidence from studies in both animal models and patients suggests that cardiovascular dysfunction is important in HD. Previous studies measuring function of the left ventricle (LV) in the R6/2 model have found a clear cardiac abnormality, albeit with preserved LV systolic function. It was hypothesized that an impairment of RV function might play a role in this condition via mechanisms of ventricular interdependence. OBJECTIVE To investigate RV function in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease (HD). METHODS Cardiac cine-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to determine functional parameters in R6/2 mice. In a first experiment, these parameters were derived longitudinally to determine deterioration of cardiac function with disease progression. A second experiment compared the response to a stress test (using dobutamine) of wildtype and early-symptomatic R6/2 mice. RESULTS There was progressive deterioration of RV systolic function with age in R6/2 mice. Furthermore, beta-adrenergic stimulation with dobutamine revealed RV dysfunction in R6/2 mice before any overt symptoms of the disease were apparent. CONCLUSIONS This work adds to accumulating evidence of cardiovascular dysfunction in R6/2 mice, describing for the first time the involvement of the right ventricle. Cardiovascular dysfunction should be considered, both when treatment strategies are being designed, and when searching for biomarkers for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Buonincontri
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK, CB2 0QQ
| | - Nigel I Wood
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, UK, CB2 3DY
| | - Simon G Puttick
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, UK, CB2 3DY
| | - Alex O Ward
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK, CB2 0QQ
| | - T Adrian Carpenter
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK, CB2 0QQ
| | - Stephen J Sawiak
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK, CB2 0QQ ; Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, UK, CB2 3EB
| | - A Jennifer Morton
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, UK, CB2 3DY
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Mielcarek M, Inuabasi L, Bondulich MK, Muller T, Osborne GF, Franklin SA, Smith DL, Neueder A, Rosinski J, Rattray I, Protti A, Bates GP. Dysfunction of the CNS-heart axis in mouse models of Huntington's disease. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004550. [PMID: 25101683 PMCID: PMC4125112 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac remodelling and contractile dysfunction occur during both acute and chronic disease processes including the accumulation of insoluble aggregates of misfolded amyloid proteins that are typical features of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease (HD). While HD has been described mainly as a neurological disease, multiple epidemiological studies have shown that HD patients exhibit a high incidence of cardiovascular events leading to heart failure, and that this is the second highest cause of death. Given that huntingtin is ubiquitously expressed, cardiomyocytes may be at risk of an HD-related dysfunction. In mice, the forced expression of an expanded polyQ repeat under the control of a cardiac specific promoter led to severe heart failure followed by reduced lifespan. However the mechanism leading to cardiac dysfunction in the clinical and pre-clinical HD settings remains unknown. To unravel this mechanism, we employed the R6/2 transgenic and HdhQ150 knock-in mouse models of HD. We found that pre-symptomatic animals developed connexin-43 relocation and a significant deregulation of hypertrophic markers and Bdnf transcripts. In the symptomatic animals, pronounced functional changes were visualised by cardiac MRI revealing a contractile dysfunction, which might be a part of dilatated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This was accompanied by the re-expression of foetal genes, apoptotic cardiomyocyte loss and a moderate degree of interstitial fibrosis. To our surprise, we could identify neither mutant HTT aggregates in cardiac tissue nor a HD-specific transcriptional dysregulation, even at the end stage of disease. We postulate that the HD-related cardiomyopathy is caused by altered central autonomic pathways although the pathogenic effects of mutant HTT acting intrinsically in the heart may also be a contributing factor. Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder for which the mutation results in an extra-long tract of glutamines that causes the huntingtin protein to aggregate. It is characterized by neurological symptoms and brain pathology that is associated with nuclear and cytoplasmic aggregates and with transcriptional dysregulation. Despite the fact that HD has been recognized principally as a neurological disease, there are multiple epidemiological studies showing that HD patients exhibit a high rate of cardiovascular events leading to heart failure. To unravel the cause of cardiac dysfunction in HD models, we employed a wide range of molecular and physiological methods using two well established genetic mouse models of this disease. We found that pre-symptomatic animals developed aberrant gap junction channel expression and a significant deregulation of hypertrophic markers that may predispose them to arrhythmia and an overall change in cardiac function. These changes were accompanied by the re-expression of foetal genes, apoptotic cardiomyocyte loss and a moderate degree of interstitial fibrosis in the symptomatic animals. Surprisingly, we could identify neither mutant HTT aggregates in cardiac tissue nor a HD-specific transcriptional dysregulation. Therefore, we conclude that the HD-related cardiomyopathy could be driven by altered central autonomic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Mielcarek
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Linda Inuabasi
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marie K. Bondulich
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Muller
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Georgina F. Osborne
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie A. Franklin
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Donna L. Smith
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Neueder
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jim Rosinski
- CHDI Management Inc./CHDI Foundation Inc., Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Ivan Rattray
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Protti
- King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence, Cardiovascular Division and Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian P. Bates
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Wang R, Ross CA, Cai H, Cong WN, Daimon CM, Carlson OD, Egan JM, Siddiqui S, Maudsley S, Martin B. Metabolic and hormonal signatures in pre-manifest and manifest Huntington's disease patients. Front Physiol 2014; 5:231. [PMID: 25002850 PMCID: PMC4066441 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder typified by involuntary body movements, and psychiatric and cognitive abnormalities. Many HD patients also exhibit metabolic changes including progressive weight loss and appetite dysfunction. Here we have investigated metabolic function in pre-manifest and manifest HD subjects to establish an HD subject metabolic hormonal plasma signature. Individuals at risk for HD who have had predictive genetic testing showing the cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) expansion causative of HD, but who do not yet present signs and symptoms sufficient for the diagnosis of manifest HD are said to be “pre-manifest.” Pre-manifest and manifest HD patients, as well as both familial and non-familial controls, were evaluated for multiple peripheral metabolism signals including circulating levels of hormones, growth factors, lipids, and cytokines. Both pre-manifest and manifest HD subjects exhibited significantly reduced levels of circulating growth factors, including growth hormone and prolactin. HD-related changes in the levels of metabolic hormones such as ghrelin, glucagon, and amylin were also observed. Total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C were significantly decreased in HD subjects. C-reactive protein was significantly elevated in pre-manifest HD subjects. The observation of metabolic alterations, even in subjects considered to be in the pre-manifest stage of HD, suggests that in addition, and prior, to overt neuronal damage, HD affects metabolic hormone secretion and energy regulation, which may shed light on pathogenesis, and provide opportunities for biomarker development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- Metabolism Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christopher A Ross
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA ; Departments of Neuroscience and Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Huan Cai
- Metabolism Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Wei-Na Cong
- Metabolism Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Caitlin M Daimon
- Metabolism Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Olga D Carlson
- Diabetes Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Josephine M Egan
- Diabetes Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sana Siddiqui
- Receptor Pharmacology Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stuart Maudsley
- VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Bronwen Martin
- Metabolism Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health Baltimore, MD, USA
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Sawiak SJ, Wood NI, Williams GB, Morton AJ, Carpenter TA. Voxel-based morphometry with templates and validation in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. Magn Reson Imaging 2013; 31:1522-31. [PMID: 23835187 PMCID: PMC3919157 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2013.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Revised: 04/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Despite widespread application to human imaging, voxel-based morphometry (VBM), where images are compared following grey matter (GM) segmentation, is seldom used in mice. Here VBM is performed for the R6/2 model of Huntington's disease, a progressive neurological disorder. This article discusses issues in translating the methods to mice and shows that its statistical basis is sound in mice as it is in human studies. Whole brain images from live transgenic and control mice are segmented into GM maps after processing and compared to produce statistical parametric maps of likely differences. To assess whether false positives were likely to occur, a large cohort of ex vivo magnetic resonance brain images were sampled with permutation testing. Differences were seen particularly in the striatum and cortex, in line with studies performed ex vivo and as seen in human patients. In validation, the rate of false positives is as expected and these have no discernible distribution through the brain. The study shows that VBM successfully detects differences in the Huntington's disease mouse brain. The method is rapid compared to manual delineation and reliable. The templates created here for the mouse brain are freely released for other users in addition to an open-source software toolbox for performing mouse VBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Sawiak
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, Box 65 Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK; Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Experimental Psychology, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK
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Diamanti D, Mori E, Incarnato D, Malusa F, Fondelli C, Magnoni L, Pollio G. Whole gene expression profile in blood reveals multiple pathways deregulation in R6/2 mouse model. Biomark Res 2013; 1:28. [PMID: 24252798 PMCID: PMC4177605 DOI: 10.1186/2050-7771-1-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Huntington Disease (HD) is a progressive neurological disorder, with pathological manifestations in brain areas and in periphery caused by the ubiquitous expression of mutant Huntingtin protein. Transcriptional dysregulation is considered a key molecular mechanism responsible of HD pathogenesis but, although numerous studies investigated mRNA alterations in HD, so far none evaluated a whole gene expression profile in blood of R6/2 mouse model. Findings To discover novel pathogenic mechanisms and potential peripheral biomarkers useful to monitor disease progression or drug efficacy, a microarray study was performed in blood of R6/2 at manifest stage and wild type littermate mice. This approach allowed to propose new peripheral molecular processes involved in HD and to suggest different panels of candidate biomarkers. Among the discovered deregulated processes, we focused on specific ones: complement and coagulation cascades, PPAR signaling, cardiac muscle contraction, and dilated cardiomyopathy pathways. Selected genes derived from these pathways were additionally investigated in other accessible tissues to validate these matrices as source of biomarkers, and in brain, to link central and peripheral disease manifestations. Conclusions Our findings validated the skeletal muscle as suitable source to investigate peripheral transcriptional alterations in HD and supported the hypothesis that immunological alteration may contribute to neurological degeneration. Moreover, the identification of altered signaling in mouse blood enforce R6/2 transgenic mouse as a powerful HD model while suggesting novel disease biomarkers for pre-clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Diamanti
- Siena Biotech S,p,A,, strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo, Siena 35, 53100, Italy.
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