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Xin J, Huang S, Wen J, Li Y, Li A, Satyanarayanan SK, Yao X, Su H. Drug Screening and Validation Targeting TDP-43 Proteinopathy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Aging Dis 2024:AD.2024.0440. [PMID: 38739934 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) stands as a rare, yet severely debilitating disorder marked by the deterioration of motor neurons (MNs) within the brain and spinal cord, which is accompanied by degenerated corticobulbar/corticospinal tracts and denervation in skeletal muscles. Despite ongoing research efforts, ALS remains incurable, attributed to its intricate pathogenic mechanisms. A notable feature in the pathology of ALS is the prevalence of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) proteinopathy, detected in approximately 97% of ALS cases, underscoring its significance in the disease's progression. As a result, strategies targeting the aberrant TDP-43 protein have garnered attention as a potential avenue for ALS therapy. This review delves into the existing drug screening systems aimed at TDP-43 proteinopathy and the models employed for drug efficacy validation. It also explores the hurdles encountered in the quest to develop potent medications against TDP-43 proteinopathy, offering insights into the intricacies of drug discovery and development for ALS. Through this comprehensive analysis, the review sheds light on the critical aspects of identifying and advancing therapeutic solutions for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Sen Huang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases; National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Yunhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Ang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Senthil Kumaran Satyanarayanan
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaoli Yao
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases; National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huanxing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
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Bassani D, Pavan M, Federico S, Spalluto G, Sturlese M, Moro S. The Multifaceted Role of GPCRs in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A New Therapeutic Perspective? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4504. [PMID: 35562894 PMCID: PMC9106011 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerating disease involving the motor neurons, which causes a progressive loss of movement ability, usually leading to death within 2 to 5 years from the diagnosis. Much effort has been put into research for an effective therapy for its eradication, but still, no cure is available. The only two drugs approved for this pathology, Riluzole and Edaravone, are onlyable to slow down the inevitable disease progression. As assessed in the literature, drug targets such as protein kinases have already been extensively examined as potential drug targets for ALS, with some molecules already in clinical trials. Here, we focus on the involvement of another very important and studied class of biological entities, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), in the onset and progression of ALS. This workaimsto give an overview of what has been already discovered on the topic, providing useful information and insights that can be used by scientists all around the world who are putting efforts into the fight against this very important neurodegenerating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Bassani
- Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (D.B.); (M.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Matteo Pavan
- Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (D.B.); (M.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Stephanie Federico
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (S.F.); (G.S.)
| | - Giampiero Spalluto
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (S.F.); (G.S.)
| | - Mattia Sturlese
- Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (D.B.); (M.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Stefano Moro
- Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (D.B.); (M.P.); (M.S.)
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Liu YJ, Kuo HC, Chern Y. A system-wide mislocalization of RNA-binding proteins in motor neurons is a new feature of ALS. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 160:105531. [PMID: 34634461 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons. Mislocalization of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is an early event in the formation of cytoplasmic TDP-43-positive inclusions in motor neurons and a hallmark of ALS. However, the underlying mechanism and the pathogenic impact of this mislocalization are relatively unexplored. We previously reported that abnormal AMPK activation mediates TDP-43 mislocalization in motor neurons of humans and mice with ALS. In the present study, we hypothesized that other nuclear proteins are mislocalized in the cytoplasm of motor neurons due to the AMPK-mediated phosphorylation of importin-α1 and subsequently contribute to neuronal degeneration in ALS. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed motor neurons of sporadic ALS patients and found that when AMPK is activated, importin-α1 is abnormally located in the nucleus. Multiple integrative molecular and cellular approaches (including proteomics, immunoprecipitation/western blot analysis, immunohistological evaluations and gradient analysis of preribosomal complexes) were employed to demonstrate that numerous RNA binding proteins are mislocalized in a rodent motor neuron cell line (NSC34) and human motor neurons derived from iPSCs during AMPK activation. We used comparative proteomic analysis of importin-α1 complexes that were immunoprecipitated with a phosphorylation-deficient mutant of importin-α1 (importin-α1-S105A) and a phosphomimetic mutant of importin-α1 (importin-α1-S105D) to identify 194 proteins that have stronger affinity for the unphosphorylated form than the phosphorylated form of importin-α1. Furthermore, GO and STRING analyses suggested that RNA processing and protein translation is the major machinery affected by abnormalities in the AMPK-importin-α1 axis. Consistently, the expression of importin-α1-S105D alters the assembly of preribosomal complexes and increases cell apoptosis. Collectively, we propose that by impairing importin-α1-mediated nuclear import, abnormal AMPK activation in motor neurons alters the cellular distribution of many RNA-binding proteins, which pathogenically affect multiple cellular machineries in motor neurons and contribute to ALS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ju Liu
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chih Kuo
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yijuang Chern
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Emerging roles of dysregulated adenosine homeostasis in brain disorders with a specific focus on neurodegenerative diseases. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:70. [PMID: 34635103 PMCID: PMC8507231 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-021-00766-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In modern societies, with an increase in the older population, age-related neurodegenerative diseases have progressively become greater socioeconomic burdens. To date, despite the tremendous effort devoted to understanding neurodegenerative diseases in recent decades, treatment to delay disease progression is largely ineffective and is in urgent demand. The development of new strategies targeting these pathological features is a timely topic. It is important to note that most degenerative diseases are associated with the accumulation of specific misfolded proteins, which is facilitated by several common features of neurodegenerative diseases (including poor energy homeostasis and mitochondrial dysfunction). Adenosine is a purine nucleoside and neuromodulator in the brain. It is also an essential component of energy production pathways, cellular metabolism, and gene regulation in brain cells. The levels of intracellular and extracellular adenosine are thus tightly controlled by a handful of proteins (including adenosine metabolic enzymes and transporters) to maintain proper adenosine homeostasis. Notably, disruption of adenosine homeostasis in the brain under various pathophysiological conditions has been documented. In the past two decades, adenosine receptors (particularly A1 and A2A adenosine receptors) have been actively investigated as important drug targets in major degenerative diseases. Unfortunately, except for an A2A antagonist (istradefylline) administered as an adjuvant treatment with levodopa for Parkinson's disease, no effective drug based on adenosine receptors has been developed for neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we summarize the emerging findings on proteins involved in the control of adenosine homeostasis in the brain and discuss the challenges and future prospects for the development of new therapeutic treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and their associated disorders based on the understanding of adenosine homeostasis.
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How Are Adenosine and Adenosine A 2A Receptors Involved in the Pathophysiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis? Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9081027. [PMID: 34440231 PMCID: PMC8392384 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9081027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenosine is extensively distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, where it plays a key role as a neuromodulator. It has long been implicated in the pathogenesis of progressive neurogenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, and there is now growing interest in its role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The motor neurons affected in ALS are responsive to adenosine receptor function, and there is accumulating evidence for beneficial effects of adenosine A2A receptor antagonism. In this article, we focus on recent evidence from ALS clinical pathology and animal models that support dynamism of the adenosinergic system (including changes in adenosine levels and receptor changes) in ALS. We review the possible mechanisms of chronic neurodegeneration via the adenosinergic system, potential biomarkers and the acute symptomatic pharmacology, including respiratory motor neuron control, of A2A receptor antagonism to explore the potential of the A2A receptor as target for ALS therapy.
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Just-Borràs L, Hurtado E, Cilleros-Mañé V, Biondi O, Charbonnier F, Tomàs M, Garcia N, Tomàs J, Lanuza MA. Running and swimming prevent the deregulation of the BDNF/TrkB neurotrophic signalling at the neuromuscular junction in mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:3027-3040. [PMID: 31646358 PMCID: PMC11104938 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03337-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nerve-induced muscle contraction regulates the BDNF/TrkB neurotrophic signalling to retrogradely modulate neurotransmission and protect the neuromuscular junctions and motoneurons. In muscles with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, this pathway is strongly misbalanced and neuromuscular junctions are destabilized, which may directly cause the motoneuron degeneration and muscular atrophy observed in this disease. Here, we sought to demonstrate (1) that physical exercise, whose recommendation has been controversial in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, would be a good option for its therapy, because it normalizes and improves the altered neurotrophin pathway and (2) a plausible molecular mechanism underlying its positive effect. SOD1-G93A mice were trained following either running or swimming-based protocols since the beginning of the symptomatic phase (day 70 of age) until day 115. Next, the full BDNF pathway, including receptors, downstream kinases and proteins related with neurotransmission, was characterized and motoneuron survival was analysed. The results establish that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-induced damaging molecular changes in the BDNF/TrkB pathway are reduced, prevented or even overcompensated by precisely defined exercise protocols that modulate TrkB isoforms and neurotransmission regulatory proteins and reduce motoneuron death. Altogether, the maintenance of the BDNF/TrkB signalling and the downstream pathway, particularly after the swimming protocol, adds new molecular evidence of the benefits of physical exercise to reduce the impact of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These results are encouraging since they reveal an improvement even starting the therapy after the onset of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Just-Borràs
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain
| | - Erica Hurtado
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain
| | - Víctor Cilleros-Mañé
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain
| | - Olivier Biondi
- UMR-S1124, INSERM, Faculté des Sciences Fondamentales et Biomédicales, Université Paris Descartes, 45 Rue des Saints-Pères, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Charbonnier
- UMR-S1124, INSERM, Faculté des Sciences Fondamentales et Biomédicales, Université Paris Descartes, 45 Rue des Saints-Pères, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Marta Tomàs
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain
| | - Neus Garcia
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain
| | - Josep Tomàs
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain.
| | - Maria A Lanuza
- Unitat d'Histologia i Neurobiologia (UHNEUROB), Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Spain.
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Buratti E. Targeting TDP-43 proteinopathy with drugs and drug-like small molecules. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 178:1298-1315. [PMID: 32469420 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Following the discovery of the involvement of the ribonucleoprotein TDP-43 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), a major research focus has been to develop treatments that can prevent or alleviate these disease conditions. One pharmacological approach has been to use TDP-43-based disease models to test small molecules and drugs already known to have some therapeutic effect in a variety of neurodegenerative conditions. In parallel, various disease models have been used to perform high-throughput screens of drugs and small compound libraries. The aim of this review will be to provide a general overview of the compounds that have been described to alter pathological characteristics of TDP-43. These include expression levels, cytoplasmic mis-localization, post-translational modifications, cleavage, stress granule recruitment and aggregation. In parallel, this review will also address the use of compounds that modify the autophagic/proteasome systems that are known to target TDP-43 misfolding and aggregation. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Neurochemistry in Japan. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.6/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
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Chern Y, Rei N, Ribeiro JA, Sebastião AM. Adenosine and Its Receptors as Potential Drug Targets in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. J Caffeine Adenosine Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1089/caff.2019.0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yijuang Chern
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nádia Rei
- Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joaquim A. Ribeiro
- Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana M. Sebastião
- Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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Wold EA, Chen J, Cunningham KA, Zhou J. Allosteric Modulation of Class A GPCRs: Targets, Agents, and Emerging Concepts. J Med Chem 2019; 62:88-127. [PMID: 30106578 PMCID: PMC6556150 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been tractable drug targets for decades with over one-third of currently marketed drugs targeting GPCRs. Of these, the class A GPCR superfamily is highly represented, and continued drug discovery for this family of receptors may provide novel therapeutics for a vast range of diseases. GPCR allosteric modulation is an innovative targeting approach that broadens the available small molecule toolbox and is proving to be a viable drug discovery strategy, as evidenced by recent FDA approvals and clinical trials. Numerous class A GPCR allosteric modulators have been discovered recently, and emerging trends such as the availability of GPCR crystal structures, diverse functional assays, and structure-based computational approaches are improving optimization and development. This Perspective provides an update on allosterically targeted class A GPCRs and their disease indications and the medicinal chemistry approaches toward novel allosteric modulators and highlights emerging trends and opportunities in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A. Wold
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chemical Biology Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Addiction Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Jianping Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chemical Biology Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Addiction Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Kathryn A. Cunningham
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chemical Biology Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Addiction Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Jia Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chemical Biology Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Addiction Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
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