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Exogenous Flupirtine as Potential Treatment for CLN3 Disease. Cells 2020; 9:cells9081872. [PMID: 32796515 PMCID: PMC7464162 DOI: 10.3390/cells9081872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
CLN3 disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder affecting children. Hallmarks include brain atrophy, accelerated neuronal apoptosis, and ceramide elevation. Treatment regimens are supportive, highlighting the importance of novel, disease-modifying drugs. Flupirtine and its new allyl carbamate derivative (compound 6) confer neuroprotective effects in CLN3-deficient cells. This study lays the groundwork for investigating beneficial effects in Cln3Δex7/8 mice. WT/Cln3Δex7/8 mice received flupirtine/compound 6/vehicle for 14 weeks. Short-term effect of flupirtine or compound 6 was tested using a battery of behavioral testing. For flupirtine, gene expression profiles, astrogliosis, and neuronal cell counts were determined. Flupirtine improved neurobehavioral parameters in open field, pole climbing, and Morris water maze tests in Cln3Δex7/8 mice. Several anti-apoptotic markers and ceramide synthesis/degradation enzymes expression was dysregulated in Cln3Δex7/8 mice. Flupirtine reduced astrogliosis in hippocampus and motor cortex of male and female Cln3Δex7/8 mice. Flupirtine increased neuronal cell counts in male mice. The newly synthesized compound 6 showed promising results in open field and pole climbing. In conclusion, flupirtine improved behavioral, neuropathological and biochemical parameters in Cln3Δex7/8 mice, paving the way for potential therapies for CLN3 disease.
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Zhong Y, Mohan K, Liu J, Al-Attar A, Lin P, Flight RM, Sun Q, Warmoes MO, Deshpande RR, Liu H, Jung KS, Mitov MI, Lin N, Butterfield DA, Lu S, Liu J, Moseley HNB, Fan TWM, Kleinman ME, Wang QJ. Loss of CLN3, the gene mutated in juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, leads to metabolic impairment and autophagy induction in retinal pigment epithelium. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165883. [PMID: 32592935 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL, aka. juvenile Batten disease or CLN3 disease) is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by progressive blindness, seizures, cognitive and motor failures, and premature death. JNCL is caused by mutations in the Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, Neuronal 3 (CLN3) gene, whose function is unclear. Although traditionally considered a neurodegenerative disease, CLN3 disease displays eye-specific effects: Vision loss not only is often one of the earliest symptoms of JNCL, but also has been reported in non-syndromic CLN3 disease. Here we described the roles of CLN3 protein in maintaining healthy retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and normal vision. Using electroretinogram, fundoscopy and microscopy, we showed impaired visual function, retinal autofluorescent lesions, and RPE disintegration and metaplasia/hyperplasia in a Cln3 ~ 1 kb-deletion mouse model [1] on C57BL/6J background. Utilizing a combination of biochemical analyses, RNA-Seq, Seahorse XF bioenergetic analysis, and Stable Isotope Resolved Metabolomics (SIRM), we further demonstrated that loss of CLN3 increased autophagic flux, suppressed mTORC1 and Akt activities, enhanced AMPK activity, and up-regulated gene expression of the autophagy-lysosomal system in RPE-1 cells, suggesting autophagy induction. This CLN3 deficiency induced autophagy induction coincided with decreased mitochondrial oxygen consumption, glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and ATP production. We also reported for the first time that loss of CLN3 led to glycogen accumulation despite of impaired glycogen synthesis. Our comprehensive analyses shed light on how loss of CLN3 affect autophagy and metabolism. This work suggests possible links among metabolic impairment, autophagy induction and lysosomal storage, as well as between RPE atrophy/degeneration and vision loss in JNCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhong
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Kabhilan Mohan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Jinpeng Liu
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Ahmad Al-Attar
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Penghui Lin
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Robert M Flight
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Qiushi Sun
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Marc O Warmoes
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Rahul R Deshpande
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Huijuan Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Kyung Sik Jung
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Mihail I Mitov
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | | | - D Allan Butterfield
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Shuyan Lu
- Pfizer Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jinze Liu
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Department of Computer Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Institute for Biomedical Informatics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Hunter N B Moseley
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Institute for Biomedical Informatics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Teresa W M Fan
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Mark E Kleinman
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Qing Jun Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.
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El-Sitt S, Soueid J, Maalouf K, Makhoul N, Al Ali J, Makoukji J, Asser B, Daou D, Harati H, Boustany RM. Exogenous Galactosylceramide as Potential Treatment for CLN3 Disease. Ann Neurol 2019; 86:729-742. [PMID: 31393621 DOI: 10.1002/ana.25573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE CLN3 disease is the commonest of the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, a group of pediatric neurodegenerative disorders. Functions of the CLN3 protein include antiapoptotic properties and facilitating anterograde transport of galactosylceramide from Golgi to lipid rafts. This study confirms the beneficial effects of long-term exogenous galactosylceramide supplementation on longevity, neurobehavioral parameters, neuronal cell counts, astrogliosis, and diminution in brain and serum ceramide levels in Cln3 Δex7/8 knock-in mice. Additionally, the impact of galactosylceramide on ceramide synthesis enzymes is documented. METHODS A group of 72 mice received galactosylceramide or vehicle for 40 weeks. The effect of galactosylceramide supplementation on Cln3 Δex7/8 mice was determined by performing behavioral tests, measuring ceramide in brains and serum, and assessing impact on longevity, subunit C storage, astrogliosis, and neuronal cell counts. RESULTS Galactosylceramide resulted in enhanced grip strength of forelimbs in male and female mice, better balance on the accelerating rotarod in females, and improved motor coordination during pole climbing in male mice. Brain and serum ceramide levels as well as apoptosis rates were lower in galactosylceramide-treated Cln3 Δex7/8 mice. Galactosylceramide also increased neuronal cell counts significantly in male and female mice and tended to decrease subunit C storage in specific brain regions. Astrogliosis dropped in females compared to a slight increase in males after galactosylceramide. Galactosylceramide increased the lifespan of affected mice. INTERPRETATION Galactosylceramide improved behavioral, neuropathological, and biochemical parameters in Cln3 Δex7/8 mice, paving the way for effective therapy for CLN3 disease and use of serum ceramide as a potential biomarker to track impact of therapies. ANN NEUROL 2019;86:729-742.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally El-Sitt
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Jihane Soueid
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Katia Maalouf
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Nadine Makhoul
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Jamal Al Ali
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Joelle Makoukji
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Bilal Asser
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Daniel Daou
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Hayat Harati
- Neuroscience Research Center, Medical School, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon
| | - Rose-Mary Boustany
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
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