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Bolduc V, Sizov K, Brull A, Esposito E, Chen GS, Uapinyoying P, Sarathy A, Johnson KR, Bönnemann CG. Allele-specific CRISPR-Cas9 editing inactivates a single nucleotide variant associated with collagen VI muscular dystrophy. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102269. [PMID: 39171142 PMCID: PMC11338111 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
The application of allele-specific gene editing tools can expand the therapeutic options for dominant genetic conditions, either via gene correction or via allelic gene inactivation in situations where haploinsufficiency is tolerated. Here, we used allele-targeted CRISPR-Cas9 guide RNAs (gRNAs) to introduce inactivating frameshifting indels at an SNV in the COL6A1 gene (c.868G>A; G290R), a variant that acts as dominant negative and that is associated with a severe form of congenital muscular dystrophy. We expressed SpCas9 along with allele-targeted gRNAs, without providing a repair template, in primary fibroblasts derived from four patients and one control subject. Amplicon deep sequencing for two gRNAs tested showed that single-nucleotide deletions accounted for the majority of indels introduced. While activity of the two gRNAs was greater at the G290R allele, both gRNAs were also active at the wild-type allele. To enhance allele selectivity, we introduced deliberate additional mismatches to one gRNA. One of these optimized gRNAs showed minimal activity at the WT allele, while generating productive edits and improving collagen VI matrix in cultured patient fibroblasts. This study strengthens the potential of gene editing to treat dominant-negative disorders, but also underscores the challenges in achieving allele selectivity with gRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique Bolduc
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Katherine Sizov
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Astrid Brull
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Eric Esposito
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Grace S. Chen
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Prech Uapinyoying
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA
| | - Apurva Sarathy
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kory R. Johnson
- Bioinformatics Core, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Carsten G. Bönnemann
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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2
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Loret C, Pauset A, Faye PA, Prouzet-Mauleon V, Pyromali I, Nizou A, Miressi F, Sturtz F, Favreau F, Turcq B, Lia AS. CRISPR Base Editing to Create Potential Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Models with High Editing Efficiency: Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Harboring SH3TC2 Variants. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1550. [PMID: 39062123 PMCID: PMC11274897 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) represent a powerful tool to investigate neuropathological disorders in which the cells of interest are inaccessible, such as in the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), the most common inherited peripheral neuropathy. Developing appropriate cellular models becomes crucial in order to both study the disease's pathophysiology and test new therapeutic approaches. The generation of hiPS cellular models for disorders caused by a single nucleotide variation has been significantly improved following the development of CRISPR-based editing tools. In this study, we efficiently and quickly generated, by CRISPR editing, the two first hiPSCs cellular models carrying alterations involved in CMT4C, also called AR-CMTde-SH3TC2. This subtype of CMT is associated with alterations in the SH3TC2 gene and represents the most prevalent form of autosomal recessive demyelinating CMT. We aimed to develop models for two different SH3TC2 nonsense variants, c.211C>T, p.Gln71* and the most common AR-CMTde-SH3TC2 alteration, c.2860C>T, p.Arg954*. First, in order to determine the best CRISPR strategy to adopt on hiPSCs, we first tested a variety of sgRNAs combined with a selection of recent base editors using the conveniently cultivable and transfectable HEK-293T cell line. The chosen CRISPR base-editing strategy was then applied to hiPSCs derived from healthy individuals to generate isogenic CMT disease models with up to 93% editing efficiency. For point mutation generation, we first recommend to test your strategies on alternative cell line such as HEK-293T before hiPSCs to evaluate a variety of sgRNA-BE combinations, thus boosting the chance of achieving edited cellular clones with the hard-to-culture and to transfect hiPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Loret
- University of Limoges, NeurIT UR 20218, GEIST Institute, F-87000 Limoges, France; (P.-A.F.); (I.P.); (A.N.); (F.M.); (F.S.); (F.F.); (A.-S.L.)
| | - Amandine Pauset
- University of Bordeaux, CRISP'edit, TBMCore UAR CNRS 3427, US Inserm 005, F-33000 Bordeaux, France (V.P.-M.); (B.T.)
- University of Bordeaux, Modeling Transformation and Resistance in Leukemia, BRIC Inserm U1312, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Pierre-Antoine Faye
- University of Limoges, NeurIT UR 20218, GEIST Institute, F-87000 Limoges, France; (P.-A.F.); (I.P.); (A.N.); (F.M.); (F.S.); (F.F.); (A.-S.L.)
- CHU Limoges, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, F-87000 Limoges, France
| | - Valérie Prouzet-Mauleon
- University of Bordeaux, CRISP'edit, TBMCore UAR CNRS 3427, US Inserm 005, F-33000 Bordeaux, France (V.P.-M.); (B.T.)
- University of Bordeaux, Modeling Transformation and Resistance in Leukemia, BRIC Inserm U1312, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Ioanna Pyromali
- University of Limoges, NeurIT UR 20218, GEIST Institute, F-87000 Limoges, France; (P.-A.F.); (I.P.); (A.N.); (F.M.); (F.S.); (F.F.); (A.-S.L.)
| | - Angélique Nizou
- University of Limoges, NeurIT UR 20218, GEIST Institute, F-87000 Limoges, France; (P.-A.F.); (I.P.); (A.N.); (F.M.); (F.S.); (F.F.); (A.-S.L.)
| | - Federica Miressi
- University of Limoges, NeurIT UR 20218, GEIST Institute, F-87000 Limoges, France; (P.-A.F.); (I.P.); (A.N.); (F.M.); (F.S.); (F.F.); (A.-S.L.)
| | - Franck Sturtz
- University of Limoges, NeurIT UR 20218, GEIST Institute, F-87000 Limoges, France; (P.-A.F.); (I.P.); (A.N.); (F.M.); (F.S.); (F.F.); (A.-S.L.)
- CHU Limoges, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, F-87000 Limoges, France
| | - Frédéric Favreau
- University of Limoges, NeurIT UR 20218, GEIST Institute, F-87000 Limoges, France; (P.-A.F.); (I.P.); (A.N.); (F.M.); (F.S.); (F.F.); (A.-S.L.)
- CHU Limoges, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, F-87000 Limoges, France
| | - Béatrice Turcq
- University of Bordeaux, CRISP'edit, TBMCore UAR CNRS 3427, US Inserm 005, F-33000 Bordeaux, France (V.P.-M.); (B.T.)
- University of Bordeaux, Modeling Transformation and Resistance in Leukemia, BRIC Inserm U1312, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Lia
- University of Limoges, NeurIT UR 20218, GEIST Institute, F-87000 Limoges, France; (P.-A.F.); (I.P.); (A.N.); (F.M.); (F.S.); (F.F.); (A.-S.L.)
- CHU Limoges, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, F-87000 Limoges, France
- CHU Limoges, Department of Bioinformatics, F-87000 Limoges, France
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3
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Ramadoss GN, Namaganda SJ, Hamilton JR, Sharma R, Chow KG, Macklin BL, Sun M, Liu JC, Fellmann C, Watry HL, Jin J, Perez BS, Sandoval Espinoza CR, Matia MP, Lu SH, Judge LM, Nussenzweig A, Adamson B, Murthy N, Doudna JA, Kampmann M, Conklin BR. Neuronal DNA repair reveals strategies to influence CRISPR editing outcomes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.25.600517. [PMID: 38979269 PMCID: PMC11230251 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.25.600517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Genome editing is poised to revolutionize treatment of genetic diseases, but poor understanding and control of DNA repair outcomes hinders its therapeutic potential. DNA repair is especially understudied in nondividing cells like neurons, which must withstand decades of DNA damage without replicating. This lack of knowledge limits the efficiency and precision of genome editing in clinically relevant cells. To address this, we used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC-derived neurons to examine how postmitotic human neurons repair Cas9-induced DNA damage. We discovered that neurons can take weeks to fully resolve this damage, compared to just days in isogenic iPSCs. Furthermore, Cas9-treated neurons upregulated unexpected DNA repair genes, including factors canonically associated with replication. Manipulating this response with chemical or genetic perturbations allowed us to direct neuronal repair toward desired editing outcomes. By studying DNA repair in postmitotic human cells, we uncovered unforeseen challenges and opportunities for precise therapeutic editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gokul N Ramadoss
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | | | - Jennifer R Hamilton
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Rohit Sharma
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | | | | | - Mengyuan Sun
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Jia-Cheng Liu
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Christof Fellmann
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | | | - Julianne Jin
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Barbara S Perez
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Cindy R Sandoval Espinoza
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | | | - Serena H Lu
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Luke M Judge
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Andre Nussenzweig
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Britt Adamson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Niren Murthy
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- MBIB Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Martin Kampmann
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Bruce R Conklin
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
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4
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Van Lent J, Prior R, Pérez Siles G, Cutrupi AN, Kennerson ML, Vangansewinkel T, Wolfs E, Mukherjee-Clavin B, Nevin Z, Judge L, Conklin B, Tyynismaa H, Clark AJ, Bennett DL, Van Den Bosch L, Saporta M, Timmerman V. Advances and challenges in modeling inherited peripheral neuropathies using iPSCs. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:1348-1364. [PMID: 38825644 PMCID: PMC11263568 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01250-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Inherited peripheral neuropathies (IPNs) are a group of diseases associated with mutations in various genes with fundamental roles in the development and function of peripheral nerves. Over the past 10 years, significant advances in identifying molecular disease mechanisms underlying axonal and myelin degeneration, acquired from cellular biology studies and transgenic fly and rodent models, have facilitated the development of promising treatment strategies. However, no clinical treatment has emerged to date. This lack of treatment highlights the urgent need for more biologically and clinically relevant models recapitulating IPNs. For both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a particularly powerful platform for disease modeling and preclinical studies. In this review, we provide an update on different in vitro human cellular IPN models, including traditional two-dimensional monoculture iPSC derivatives, and recent advances in more complex human iPSC-based systems using microfluidic chips, organoids, and assembloids.
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Grants
- Wellcome Trust
- R01 NS119678 NINDS NIH HHS
- U01 ES032673 NIEHS NIH HHS
- DOC-PRO4 Universiteit Antwerpen (University of Antwerp)
- This work was supported in part by the University of Antwerp (DOC-PRO4 PhD fellowship to J.V.L. and TOP-BOF research grant no. 38694 to V.T.), the Association Française contre les Myopathies (AFM research grant no. 24063 to V.T.), Association Belge contre les Maladies Neuromusculaires (ABMM research grant no. 1 to J.V.L and V.T), the interuniversity research fund (iBOF project to. L.V.D.B, E.W. and V.T.). V.T. is part of the μNEURO Research Centre of Excellence of the University of Antwerp and is an active member of the European Network for Stem Cell Core Facilities (CorEUStem, COST Action CA20140). Work in the M.L.K group was supported by the NHMRC Ideas Grant (APP1186867), CMT Australia Grant awarded to M.L.K and G.P.-S and the Australian Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Genomics Health Futures Mission Grant 2007681. B.M.C. is supported by the American Academy of Neurology and the Passano Foundation. L.M.J. and B.R.C. are supported by the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association, NINDS R01 NS119678, NIEHS U01 ES032673. H.T. is supported by Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence in Stem Cell Metabolism and Sigrid Juselius Foundation. Work in the D.L.B. group is supported by a Wellcome Investigator Grant (223149/Z/21/Z), the MRC (MR/T020113/1), and with funding from the MRC and Versus Arthritis to the PAINSTORM consortium as part of the Advanced Pain Discovery Platform (MR/W002388/1).
- Australian Medical Association (Australian Medical Association Limited)
- Universiteit Hasselt (UHasselt)
- American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
- Gladstone Institutes (J. David Gladstone Institutes)
- Academy of Finland (Suomen Akatemia)
- Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC)
- Wellcome Trust (Wellcome)
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust (Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Trust)
- KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)
- Miami University | Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine (Miller School of Medicine)
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Van Lent
- Peripheral Neuropathy Research Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Pathology, Institute Born Bunge, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), BIOS+, 6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Robert Prior
- Universitätsklinikum Bonn (UKB), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Gonzalo Pérez Siles
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute Sydney Local Health District and Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Anthony N Cutrupi
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute Sydney Local Health District and Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Marina L Kennerson
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute Sydney Local Health District and Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tim Vangansewinkel
- UHasselt - Hasselt University, BIOMED, Laboratory for Functional Imaging and Research on Stem Cells (FIERCE Lab), Agoralaan, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- VIB-Center for Brain and Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Esther Wolfs
- UHasselt - Hasselt University, BIOMED, Laboratory for Functional Imaging and Research on Stem Cells (FIERCE Lab), Agoralaan, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | | | | | - Luke Judge
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bruce Conklin
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Henna Tyynismaa
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alex J Clark
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - David L Bennett
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- VIB-Center for Brain and Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mario Saporta
- Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Vincent Timmerman
- Peripheral Neuropathy Research Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Pathology, Institute Born Bunge, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
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5
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Ding EA, Kumar S. Neurofilament Biophysics: From Structure to Biomechanics. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:re1. [PMID: 38598299 PMCID: PMC11151108 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-11-0438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurofilaments (NFs) are multisubunit, neuron-specific intermediate filaments consisting of a 10-nm diameter filament "core" surrounded by a layer of long intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) "tails." NFs are thought to regulate axonal caliber during development and then stabilize the mature axon, with NF subunit misregulation, mutation, and aggregation featuring prominently in multiple neurological diseases. The field's understanding of NF structure, mechanics, and function has been deeply informed by a rich variety of biochemical, cell biological, and mouse genetic studies spanning more than four decades. These studies have contributed much to our collective understanding of NF function in axonal physiology and disease. In recent years, however, there has been a resurgence of interest in NF subunit proteins in two new contexts: as potential blood- and cerebrospinal fluid-based biomarkers of neuronal damage, and as model IDPs with intriguing properties. Here, we review established principles and more recent discoveries in NF structure and function. Where possible, we place these findings in the context of biophysics of NF assembly, interaction, and contributions to axonal mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika A. Ding
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158
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6
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Sachdev A, Gill K, Sckaff M, Birk AM, Aladesuyi Arogundade O, Brown KA, Chouhan RS, Issagholian-Lewin PO, Patel E, Watry HL, Bernardi MT, Keough KC, Tsai YC, Smith AST, Conklin BR, Clelland CD. Reversal of C9orf72 mutation-induced transcriptional dysregulation and pathology in cultured human neurons by allele-specific excision. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2307814121. [PMID: 38621131 PMCID: PMC11047104 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307814121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Efforts to genetically reverse C9orf72 pathology have been hampered by our incomplete understanding of the regulation of this complex locus. We generated five different genomic excisions at the C9orf72 locus in a patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line and a non-diseased wild-type (WT) line (11 total isogenic lines), and examined gene expression and pathological hallmarks of C9 frontotemporal dementia/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in motor neurons differentiated from these lines. Comparing the excisions in these isogenic series removed the confounding effects of different genomic backgrounds and allowed us to probe the effects of specific genomic changes. A coding single nucleotide polymorphism in the patient cell line allowed us to distinguish transcripts from the normal vs. mutant allele. Using digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), we determined that transcription from the mutant allele is upregulated at least 10-fold, and that sense transcription is independently regulated from each allele. Surprisingly, excision of the WT allele increased pathologic dipeptide repeat poly-GP expression from the mutant allele. Importantly, a single allele was sufficient to supply a normal amount of protein, suggesting that the C9orf72 gene is haplo-sufficient in induced motor neurons. Excision of the mutant repeat expansion reverted all pathology (RNA abnormalities, dipeptide repeat production, and TDP-43 pathology) and improved electrophysiological function, whereas silencing sense expression did not eliminate all dipeptide repeat proteins, presumably because of the antisense expression. These data increase our understanding of C9orf72 gene regulation and inform gene therapy approaches, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and CRISPR gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kamaljot Gill
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA94158
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | - Maria Sckaff
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA94158
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | | | - Olubankole Aladesuyi Arogundade
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | - Katherine A. Brown
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | - Runvir S. Chouhan
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | - Patrick Oliver Issagholian-Lewin
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | - Esha Patel
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | | | | | | | | | - Alec Simon Tulloch Smith
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
- The Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Bruce R. Conklin
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA94158
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | - Claire Dudley Clelland
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
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7
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Bolduc V, Sizov K, Brull A, Esposito E, Chen GS, Uapinyoying P, Sarathy A, Johnson K, Bönnemann CG. Allele-specific CRISPR/Cas9 editing inactivates a single nucleotide variant associated with collagen VI muscular dystrophy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.22.586265. [PMID: 38585815 PMCID: PMC10996683 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.22.586265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The application of allele-specific gene editing tools can expand the therapeutic options for dominant genetic conditions, either via gene correction or via allelic gene inactivation in situations where haploinsufficiency is tolerated. Here, we used allele-targeted CRISPR/Cas9 guide RNAs (gRNAs) to introduce inactivating frameshifting indels at a single nucleotide variant in the COL6A1 gene (c.868G>A; G290R), a variant that acts as dominant negative and that is associated with a severe form of congenital muscular dystrophy. We expressed spCas9 along with allele-targeted gRNAs, without providing a repair template, in primary fibroblasts derived from four patients and one control subject. Amplicon deep-sequencing for two gRNAs tested showed that single nucleotide deletions accounted for the majority of indels introduced. While activity of the two gRNAs was greater at the G290R allele, both gRNAs were also active at the wild-type allele. To enhance allele-selectivity, we introduced deliberate additional mismatches to one gRNA. One of these optimized gRNAs showed minimal activity at the WT allele, while generating productive edits and improving collagen VI matrix in cultured patient fibroblasts. This study strengthens the potential of gene editing to treat dominant-negative disorders, but also underscores the challenges in achieving allele selectivity with gRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique Bolduc
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Katherine Sizov
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Astrid Brull
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eric Esposito
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Grace S Chen
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Prech Uapinyoying
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Research and Innovation Campus, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, 20012, USA
| | - Apurva Sarathy
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kory Johnson
- Bioinformatics Core, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Carsten G Bönnemann
- Neurogenetics and Neuromuscular Disorders of Childhood Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Salomonsson SE, Maltos AM, Gill K, Aladesuyi Arogundade O, Brown KA, Sachdev A, Sckaff M, Lam KJK, Fisher IJ, Chouhan RS, Van Laar VS, Marley CB, McLaughlin I, Bankiewicz KS, Tsai YC, Conklin BR, Clelland CD. Validated assays for the quantification of C9orf72 human pathology. Sci Rep 2024; 14:828. [PMID: 38191789 PMCID: PMC10774390 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50667-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
A repeat expansion mutation in the C9orf72 gene is the leading known genetic cause of FTD and ALS. The C9orf72-ALS/FTD field has been plagued by a lack of reliable tools to monitor this genomic locus and its RNA and protein products. We have validated assays that quantify C9orf72 pathobiology at the DNA, RNA and protein levels using knock-out human iPSC lines as controls. Here we show that single-molecule sequencing can accurately measure the repeat expansion and faithfully report on changes to the C9orf72 locus in what has been a traditionally hard to sequence genomic region. This is of particular value to sizing and phasing the repeat expansion and determining changes to the gene locus after gene editing. We developed ddPCR assays to quantify two major C9orf72 transcript variants, which we validated by selective excision of their distinct transcriptional start sites. Using validated knock-out human iPSC lines, we validated 4 commercially available antibodies (of 9 tested) that were specific for C9orf72 protein quantification by Western blot, but none were specific for immunocytochemistry. We tested 15 combinations of antibodies against dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs) across 66 concentrations using MSD immunoassay, and found two (against poly-GA and poly-GP) that yielded a 1.5-fold or greater signal increase in patient iPSC-motor neurons compared to knock-out control, and validated them in human postmortem and transgenic mouse brain tissue. Our validated DNA, RNA and protein assays are applicable to discovery research as well as clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Salomonsson
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - A M Maltos
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - K Gill
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - O Aladesuyi Arogundade
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - K A Brown
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - A Sachdev
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - M Sckaff
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - K J K Lam
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - I J Fisher
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - R S Chouhan
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - V S Van Laar
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Gene Therapy Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - C B Marley
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - K S Bankiewicz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Gene Therapy Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Y-C Tsai
- Pacific Biosciences, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - B R Conklin
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Medicine, Ophthalmology, and Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - C D Clelland
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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9
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Kotaich F, Caillol D, Bomont P. Neurofilaments in health and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1275155. [PMID: 38164457 PMCID: PMC10758125 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1275155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurofilaments (NFs) are the most abundant component of mature neurons, that interconnect with actin and microtubules to form the cytoskeleton. Specifically expressed in the nervous system, NFs present the particularity within the Intermediate Filament family of being formed by four subunits, the neurofilament light (NF-L), medium (NF-M), heavy (NF-H) proteins and α-internexin or peripherin. Here, we review the current knowledge on NF proteins and neurofilaments, from their domain structures and their model of assembly to the dynamics of their transport and degradation along the axon. The formation of the filament and its behaviour are regulated by various determinants, including post-transcriptional (miRNA and RBP proteins) and post-translational (phosphorylation and ubiquitination) modifiers. Altogether, the complex set of modifications enable the neuron to establish a stable but elastic NF array constituting the structural scaffold of the axon, while permitting the local expression of NF proteins and providing the dynamics necessary to fulfil local demands and respond to stimuli and injury. Thus, in addition to their roles in mechano-resistance, radial axonal outgrowth and nerve conduction, NFs control microtubule dynamics, organelle distribution and neurotransmission at the synapse. We discuss how the studies of neurodegenerative diseases with NF aggregation shed light on the biology of NFs. In particular, the NEFL and NEFH genes are mutated in Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, the most common inherited neurological disorder of the peripheral nervous system. The clinical features of the CMT forms (axonal CMT2E, CMT2CC; demyelinating CMT1F; intermediate I-CMT) with symptoms affecting the central nervous system (CNS) will allow us to further investigate the physiological roles of NFs in the brain. Thus, NF-CMT mouse models exhibit various degrees of sensory-motor deficits associated with CNS symptoms. Cellular systems brought findings regarding the dominant effect of NF-L mutants on NF aggregation and transport, although these have been recently challenged. Neurofilament detection without NF-L in recessive CMT is puzzling, calling for a re-examination of the current model in which NF-L is indispensable for NF assembly. Overall, we discuss how the fundamental and translational fields are feeding each-other to increase but also challenge our knowledge of NF biology, and to develop therapeutic avenues for CMT and neurodegenerative diseases with NF aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pascale Bomont
- ERC team, NeuroMyoGene Institute-Pathophysiology and Genetics of Neuron and Muscle, Inserm U1315, CNRS UMR5261, University of Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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Molugu K, Khajanchi N, Lazzarotto CR, Tsai SQ, Saha K. Trichostatin A for Efficient CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. CRISPR J 2023; 6:473-485. [PMID: 37676985 PMCID: PMC10611976 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2023.0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-edited human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have broad applications in disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine. Despite the development of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 system, the gene editing process is inefficient and can take several weeks to months to generate edited iPSC clones. We developed a strategy to improve the efficiency of the iPSC gene editing process via application of a small-molecule, trichostatin A (TSA), a Class I and II histone deacetylase inhibitor. We observed that TSA decreased global chromatin condensation and further resulted in increased gene-editing efficiency of iPSCs by twofold to fourfold while concurrently ensuring no increased off-target effects. The edited iPSCs could be clonally expanded while maintaining genomic integrity and pluripotency. The rapid generation of therapeutically relevant gene-edited iPSCs could be enabled by these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaivalya Molugu
- Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Namita Khajanchi
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; and St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Cicera R. Lazzarotto
- Department of Hematology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Shengdar Q. Tsai
- Department of Hematology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Krishanu Saha
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; and St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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11
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Nair MA, Niu Z, Madigan NN, Shin AY, Brault JS, Staff NP, Klein CJ. Clinical trials in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorders: a retrospective and preclinical assessment. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1251885. [PMID: 37808507 PMCID: PMC10556688 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1251885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to evaluate the progression of clinical and preclinical trials in Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disorders. Background CMT has historically been managed symptomatically and with genetic counseling. The evolution of molecular and pathologic understanding holds a therapeutic promise in gene-targeted therapies. Methods ClinicalTrials.gov from December 1999 to June 2022 was data extracted for CMT with preclinical animal gene therapy trials also reviewed by PubMed search. Results The number of active trials was 1 in 1999 and 286 in 2022. Academic settings accounted for 91% and pharmaceutical companies 9%. Of the pharmaceutical and academic trials, 38% and 28%, respectively, were controlled, randomized, and double-blinded. Thirty-two countries participated: the United States accounted for 26% (75/286). In total, 86% of the trials were classified as therapeutic: 50% procedural (21% wrist/elbow surgery; 22% shock wave and hydrodissection therapy), 23% investigational drugs, 15% devices, and 11% physical therapy. Sixty-seven therapeutic trials (49%) were designated phases 1-2 and 51% phases 3-4. The remaining 14% represent non-therapeutic trials: diagnostic testing (3%), functional outcomes (4%), natural history (4%), and standard of care (3%). One-hundred and three (36%) resulted in publications. Phase I human pharmaceutical trials are focusing on the safety of small molecule therapies (n = 8) and AAV and non-viral gene therapy (n = 3). Preclinical animal gene therapy studies include 11 different CMT forms including viral, CRISPR-Cas9, and nanoparticle delivery. Conclusion Current CMT trials are exploring procedural and molecular therapeutic options with substantial participation of the pharmaceutical industry worldwide. Emerging drug therapies directed at molecular pathogenesis are being advanced in human clinical trials; however, the majority remain within animal investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malavika A. Nair
- Department of Graduate Education, Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Zhiyv Niu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Rochester, MN, United States
| | | | - Alexander Y. Shin
- Division of Hand Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Jeffrey S. Brault
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | | | - Christopher J. Klein
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Neurology, Rochester, MN, United States
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12
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Beloribi-Djefaflia S, Attarian S. Treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathies. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2023; 179:35-48. [PMID: 36588067 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2022.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is a heterogeneous group of inherited neuropathies that affect the peripheral nerves and slowly cause progressive disability. Currently, there is no effective therapy. Patients' management is based on rehabilitation and occupational therapy, fatigue, and pain treatment with regular follow-up according to the severity of the disease. In the last three decades, much progress has been made to identify mutations involved in the different types of CMT, decipher the pathophysiology of the disease, and identify key genes and pathways that could be targeted to propose new therapeutic strategies. Genetic therapy is one of the fields of interest to silence genes such as PMP22 in CMT1A or to express GJB1 in CMT1X. Among the most promising molecules, inhibitors of the NRG-1 axis and modulators of UPR or the HDACs enzyme family could be used in different types of CMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Beloribi-Djefaflia
- Reference center for neuromuscular disorders and ALS, AP-HM, CHU La Timone, Marseille, France
| | - S Attarian
- Reference center for neuromuscular disorders and ALS, AP-HM, CHU La Timone, Marseille, France; FILNEMUS, European Reference Network for Rare Diseases (ERN), Marseille, France; Medical Genetics, Aix Marseille Université-Inserm UMR_1251, 13005 Marseille, France.
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13
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Elder N, Fattahi F, McDevitt TC, Zholudeva LV. Diseased, differentiated and difficult: Strategies for improved engineering of in vitro neurological systems. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:962103. [PMID: 36238834 PMCID: PMC9550918 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.962103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapidly growing field of cellular engineering is enabling scientists to more effectively create in vitro models of disease and develop specific cell types that can be used to repair damaged tissue. In particular, the engineering of neurons and other components of the nervous system is at the forefront of this field. The methods used to engineer neural cells can be largely divided into systems that undergo directed differentiation through exogenous stimulation (i.e., via small molecules, arguably following developmental pathways) and those that undergo induced differentiation via protein overexpression (i.e., genetically induced and activated; arguably bypassing developmental pathways). Here, we highlight the differences between directed differentiation and induced differentiation strategies, how they can complement one another to generate specific cell phenotypes, and impacts of each strategy on downstream applications. Continued research in this nascent field will lead to the development of improved models of neurological circuits and novel treatments for those living with neurological injury and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Elder
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Faranak Fattahi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Todd C. McDevitt
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Sana Biotechnology, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Lyandysha V. Zholudeva
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Lyandysha V. Zholudeva,
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14
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Brooks JK, Porter NC, Bisordi KA, Miclat CE, Greene CL. Review of general and head and neck/oral and maxillofacial features of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and dental management considerations. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2022; 133:e170-e177. [PMID: 35305937 DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2021.12.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMTD) is an uncommon progressive neuromuscular disorder of the peripheral nervous system and primarily leads to distal extremity weakness and sensory deficits. Frequently, affected patients manifest pes cavus, drop foot, and digit contractures that may pose significant challenges in ambulation and grasping objects. Although there are numerous articles of this syndrome in the medical literature, there is a limited number of dental publications. The objective of this article is to review the general and head and neck/oral and maxillofacial features of CMTD. General guidelines for dental management are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- John K Brooks
- Clinical Professor, Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Neil C Porter
- Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Katharine A Bisordi
- Instructor and Genetic Counselor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Human Genetics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Claire E Miclat
- Predoctoral student, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carol L Greene
- Professor, Director of Clinical Genetics Service, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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15
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Sainio MT, Rasila T, Molchanova SM, Järvilehto J, Torregrosa-Muñumer R, Harjuhaahto S, Pennonen J, Huber N, Herukka SK, Haapasalo A, Zetterberg H, Taira T, Palmio J, Ylikallio E, Tyynismaa H. Neurofilament Light Regulates Axon Caliber, Synaptic Activity, and Organelle Trafficking in Cultured Human Motor Neurons. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:820105. [PMID: 35237613 PMCID: PMC8883324 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.820105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofilament light (NFL) is one of the proteins forming multimeric neuron-specific intermediate filaments, neurofilaments, which fill the axonal cytoplasm, establish caliber growth, and provide structural support. Dominant missense mutations and recessive nonsense mutations in the neurofilament light gene (NEFL) are among the causes of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathy, which affects the peripheral nerves with the longest axons. We previously demonstrated that a neuropathy-causing homozygous nonsense mutation in NEFL led to the absence of NFL in patient-specific neurons. To understand the disease-causing mechanisms, we investigate here the functional effects of NFL loss in human motor neurons differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). We used genome editing to generate NEFL knockouts and compared them to patient-specific nonsense mutants and isogenic controls. iPSC lacking NFL differentiated efficiently into motor neurons with normal axon growth and regrowth after mechanical axotomy and contained neurofilaments. Electrophysiological analysis revealed that motor neurons without NFL fired spontaneous and evoked action potentials with similar characteristics as controls. However, we found that, in the absence of NFL, human motor neurons 1) had reduced axonal caliber, 2) the amplitude of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSC) was decreased, 3) neurofilament heavy (NFH) levels were reduced and no compensatory increases in other filament subunits were observed, and 4) the movement of mitochondria and to a lesser extent lysosomes was increased. Our findings elaborate the functional roles of NFL in human motor neurons. NFL is not only a structural protein forming neurofilaments and filling the axonal cytoplasm, but our study supports the role of NFL in the regulation of synaptic transmission and organelle trafficking. To rescue the NFL deficiency in the patient-specific nonsense mutant motor neurons, we used three drugs, amlexanox, ataluren (PTC-124), and gentamicin to induce translational read-through or inhibit nonsense-mediated decay. However, the drugs failed to increase the amount of NFL protein to detectable levels and were toxic to iPSC-derived motor neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus T. Sainio
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tiina Rasila
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Svetlana M. Molchanova
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Julius Järvilehto
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rubén Torregrosa-Muñumer
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sandra Harjuhaahto
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jana Pennonen
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nadine Huber
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sanna-Kaisa Herukka
- Department of Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Annakaisa Haapasalo
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, United Kingdom
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tomi Taira
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences for Electrophysiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johanna Palmio
- Neuromuscular Research Center, Tampere University Hospital and Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Emil Ylikallio
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Clinical Neurosciences, Neurology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Henna Tyynismaa
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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