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Xie ZF, Wang SY, Gao Y, Zhang YD, Han YN, Huang J, Gao MN, Wang CG. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) preventing postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD): two potential mechanisms in cognitive function. Mol Cell Biochem 2024:10.1007/s11010-024-05091-0. [PMID: 39138750 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-024-05091-0] [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: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) impacts a significant number of patients annually, frequently impairing their cognitive abilities and resulting in unfavorable clinical outcomes. Aimed at addressing cognitive impairment, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a therapeutic approach, which was used in many mental disordered diseases, through the modulation of vagus nerve activity. In POCD model, the enhancement of cognition function provided by VNS was shown, demonstrating VNS effect on cognition in POCD. In the present study, we primarily concentrates on elucidating the role of the VNS improving the cognitive function in POCD, via two potential mechanisms: the inflammatory microenvironment and epigenetics. This study provided a theoretical support for the feasibility that VNS can be a potential method to enhance cognition function in POCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Feng Xie
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Central Hospital of Baoding, Northern Great Wall Street 320#, Baoding, 071000, Hebei, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, Liaoning, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, Liaoning, China
| | - Sheng-Yu Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Central Hospital of Baoding, Northern Great Wall Street 320#, Baoding, 071000, Hebei, China
- Graduate College, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, 067000, Hebei, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, Liaoning, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, Liaoning, China
| | - Yi-Dan Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, Liaoning, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, Liaoning, China
| | - Ya-Nan Han
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Central Hospital of Baoding, Northern Great Wall Street 320#, Baoding, 071000, Hebei, China
- Graduate College, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, China
| | - Jin Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Central Hospital of Baoding, Northern Great Wall Street 320#, Baoding, 071000, Hebei, China
- Graduate College, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, Hebei, China
| | - Mei-Na Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Central Hospital of Baoding, Northern Great Wall Street 320#, Baoding, 071000, Hebei, China
| | - Chun-Guang Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Central Hospital of Baoding, Northern Great Wall Street 320#, Baoding, 071000, Hebei, China.
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2
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Allison RL, Ebert AD. ALS iPSC-derived microglia and motor neurons respond to astrocyte-targeted IL-10 and CCL2 modulation. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:530-542. [PMID: 38129120 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad209] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons (MNs). The loss of MNs in ALS leads to muscle weakness and wasting, respiratory failure, and death often within two years of diagnosis. Glial cells in ALS show aberrant expression of pro-inflammatory and neurotoxic proteins associated with activation and have been proposed as ideal therapeutic targets. In this study, we examined astrocyte-targeted treatments to reduce glial activation and neuron pathology using cells differentiated from ALS patient-derived iPSC carrying SOD1 and C9ORF72 mutations. Specifically, we tested the ability of increasing interleukin 10 (IL-10) and reducing C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2/MCP-1) signaling targeted to astrocytes to reduce activation phenotypes in both astrocytes and microglia. Overall, we found IL10/CCL2NAb treated astrocytes to support anti-inflammatory phenotypes and reduce neurotoxicity, through different mechanisms in SOD1 and C9ORF72 cultures. We also found altered responses of microglia and motor neurons to astrocytic influences when cells were cultured together rather than in isolation. Together these data support IL-10 and CCL2 as non-mutation-specific therapeutic targets for ALS and highlight the role of glial-mediated pathology in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reilly L Allison
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - Allison D Ebert
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
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3
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Liu Y, Yang W, Xue J, Chen J, Liu S, Zhang S, Zhang X, Gu X, Dong Y, Qiu P. Neuroinflammation: The central enabler of postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115582. [PMID: 37748409 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The proportion of advanced age patients undergoing surgical procedures is on the rise owing to advancements in surgical and anesthesia technologies as well as an overall aging population. As a complication of anesthesia and surgery, older patients frequently suffer from postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), which may persist for weeks, months or even longer. POCD is a complex pathological process involving multiple pathogenic factors, and its mechanism is yet unclear. Potential theories include inflammation, deposition of pathogenic proteins, imbalance of neurotransmitters, and chronic stress. The identification, prevention, and treatment of POCD are still in the exploratory stages owing to the absence of standardized diagnostic criteria. Undoubtedly, comprehending the development of POCD remains crucial in overcoming the illness. Neuroinflammation is the leading hypothesis and a crucial component of the pathological network of POCD and may have complex interactions with other mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the possible ways in which surgery and anesthesia cause neuroinflammation and investigate the connection between neuroinflammation and the development of POCD. Understanding these mechanisms may likely ensure that future treatment options of POCD are more effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning province, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Infectious Disease, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning province, China
| | - Jinqi Xue
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning province, China
| | - Juntong Chen
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 311121, Zhejiang province, China
| | - Shiqing Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Shijie Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xi Gu
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning province, China.
| | - Youjing Dong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China.
| | - Peng Qiu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China.
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4
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Arnold FJ, Nguyen AD, Bedlack RS, Bennett CL, La Spada AR. Intercellular transmission of pathogenic proteins in ALS: Exploring the pathogenic wave. Neurobiol Dis 2023:106218. [PMID: 37394036 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), disease symptoms and pathology typically spread in a predictable spatiotemporal pattern beginning at a focal site of onset and progressing along defined neuroanatomical tracts. Like other neurodegenerative diseases, ALS is characterized by the presence of protein aggregates in postmortem patient tissue. Cytoplasmic, ubiquitin-positive aggregates of TDP-43 are observed in approximately 97% of sporadic and familial ALS patients, while SOD1 inclusions are likely specific to cases of SOD1-ALS. Additionally, the most common subtype of familial ALS, caused by a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the first intron of the C9orf72 gene (C9-ALS), is further characterized by the presence of aggregated dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs). As we will describe, cell-to-cell propagation of these pathological proteins tightly correlates with the contiguous spread of disease. While TDP-43 and SOD1 are capable of seeding protein misfolding and aggregation in a prion-like manner, C9orf72 DPRs appear to induce (and transmit) a 'disease state' more generally. Multiple mechanisms of intercellular transport have been described for all of these proteins, including anterograde and retrograde axonal transport, extracellular vesicle secretion, and macropinocytosis. In addition to neuron-to-neuron transmission, transmission of pathological proteins occurs between neurons and glia. Given that the spread of ALS disease pathology corresponds with the spread of symptoms in patients, the various mechanisms by which ALS-associated protein aggregates propagate through the central nervous system should be closely examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- F J Arnold
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - A D Nguyen
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - R S Bedlack
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - C L Bennett
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - A R La Spada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Departments of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; UCI Center for Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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5
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Lorenzini I, Alsop E, Levy J, Gittings LM, Lall D, Rabichow BE, Moore S, Pevey R, Bustos LM, Burciu C, Bhatia D, Singer M, Saul J, McQuade A, Tzioras M, Mota TA, Logemann A, Rose J, Almeida S, Gao FB, Marks M, Donnelly CJ, Hutchins E, Hung ST, Ichida J, Bowser R, Spires-Jones T, Blurton-Jones M, Gendron TF, Baloh RH, Van Keuren-Jensen K, Sattler R. Moderate intrinsic phenotypic alterations in C9orf72 ALS/FTD iPSC-microglia despite the presence of C9orf72 pathological features. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1179796. [PMID: 37346371 PMCID: PMC10279871 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1179796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
While motor and cortical neurons are affected in C9orf72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD), it remains largely unknown if and how non-neuronal cells induce or exacerbate neuronal damage. We differentiated C9orf72 ALS/FTD patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells into microglia (iPSC-MG) and examined their intrinsic phenotypes. Similar to iPSC motor neurons, C9orf72 ALS/FTD iPSC-MG mono-cultures form G4C2 repeat RNA foci, exhibit reduced C9orf72 protein levels, and generate dipeptide repeat proteins. Healthy control and C9orf72 ALS/FTD iPSC-MG equally express microglial specific genes and perform microglial functions, including inflammatory cytokine release and phagocytosis of extracellular cargos, such as synthetic amyloid beta peptides and healthy human brain synaptoneurosomes. RNA sequencing analysis revealed select transcriptional changes of genes associated with neuroinflammation or neurodegeneration in diseased microglia yet no significant differentially expressed microglial-enriched genes. Moderate molecular and functional differences were observed in C9orf72 iPSC-MG mono-cultures despite the presence of C9orf72 pathological features suggesting that a diseased microenvironment may be required to induce phenotypic changes in microglial cells and the associated neuronal dysfunction seen in C9orf72 ALS/FTD neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ileana Lorenzini
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Eric Alsop
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Jennifer Levy
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Lauren M. Gittings
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Deepti Lall
- Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Benjamin E. Rabichow
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Stephen Moore
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Ryan Pevey
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Lynette M. Bustos
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Camelia Burciu
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Divya Bhatia
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Mo Singer
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Justin Saul
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Amanda McQuade
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Makis Tzioras
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Brain Discovery Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas A. Mota
- Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Amber Logemann
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Jamie Rose
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Brain Discovery Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Almeida
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Fen-Biao Gao
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Michael Marks
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Christopher J. Donnelly
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Hutchins
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Shu-Ting Hung
- Department of Stem Cell Biology Regenerative Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Justin Ichida
- Department of Stem Cell Biology Regenerative Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Robert Bowser
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Tara Spires-Jones
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Brain Discovery Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mathew Blurton-Jones
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Tania F. Gendron
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Robert H. Baloh
- Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | | | - Rita Sattler
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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6
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Arnold FJ, Burns M, Chiu Y, Carvalho J, Nguyen AD, Ralph PC, La Spada AR, Bennett CL. Chronic BMAA exposure combined with TDP-43 mutation elicits motor neuron dysfunction phenotypes in mice. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 126:44-57. [PMID: 36931113 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with an average age-of-onset of ∼60 years and is usually fatal within 2-5 years of diagnosis. Mouse models based upon single gene mutations do not recapitulate all ALS pathological features. Environmental insults may also contribute to ALS, and β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is an environmental toxin linked with an increased risk of developing ALS. BMAA, along with cycasin, are hypothesized to be the cause of the Guam-ALS epicenter of the 1950s. We developed a multihit model based on low expression of a dominant familial ALS TDP-43 mutation (Q331K) and chronic low-dose BMAA exposure. Our two-hit mouse model displayed a motor phenotype absent from either lesion alone. By LC/MS analysis, free BMAA was confirmed at trace levels in brain, and were as high as 405 ng/mL (free) and 208 ng/mL (protein-bound) in liver. Elevated BMAA levels in liver were associated with dysregulation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. Our data represent initial steps towards an ALS mouse model resulting from combined genetic and environmental insult.
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Affiliation(s)
- F J Arnold
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - M Burns
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Departments of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Y Chiu
- Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - J Carvalho
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - A D Nguyen
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - P C Ralph
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - A R La Spada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Departments of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; UCI Center for Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
| | - C L Bennett
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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7
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Takahashi K. Microglial heterogeneity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2023; 82:140-149. [PMID: 36440536 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlac110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an intractable neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system that is pathologically characterized by motor neuron loss. Although the cause of the disease is still unknown, its pathophysiology is considered heterogeneous. In recent years, there have been a series of reports on the existence of disease-associated microglia (DAM) in the lesions of various neurodegenerative diseases. DAM have also been reported in SOD1-deficient mice, a disease model of ALS. However, the role of DAM in sporadic ALS remains unclear. This study revealed that spinal cord lesions in ALS can be pathologically distinguished into 2 subgroups (TMEM119+ and TMEM119- microglia) according to the type of microglia. Expression of the microglial activation marker CD68 and endothelial activation were also observed in the TMEM119+ microglia group, suggesting the presence of inflammatory processes in ALS lesions. Since DAM suppress the expression of TMEM119, the TMEM119+ microglia group may indicate DAM-independent inflammatory neurodegeneration. These results may explain why, in some clinical trials of anti-inflammatory drugs for ALS, only some cases showed suppression of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuya Takahashi
- Department of Medicine, National Hospital Organization Iou National Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan
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8
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Marchi PM, Marrone L, Brasseur L, Coens A, Webster CP, Bousset L, Destro M, Smith EF, Walther CG, Alfred V, Marroccella R, Graves EJ, Robinson D, Shaw AC, Wan LM, Grierson AJ, Ebbens SJ, De Vos KJ, Hautbergue GM, Ferraiuolo L, Melki R, Azzouz M. C9ORF72-derived poly-GA DPRs undergo endocytic uptake in iAstrocytes and spread to motor neurons. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/9/e202101276. [PMID: 35568435 PMCID: PMC9108631 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins are aggregation-prone polypeptides encoded by the pathogenic GGGGCC repeat expansion in the C9ORF72 gene, the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. In this study, we focus on the role of poly-GA DPRs in disease spread. We demonstrate that recombinant poly-GA oligomers can directly convert into solid-like aggregates and form characteristic β-sheet fibrils in vitro. To dissect the process of cell-to-cell DPR transmission, we closely follow the fate of poly-GA DPRs in either their oligomeric or fibrillized form after administration in the cell culture medium. We observe that poly-GA DPRs are taken up via dynamin-dependent and -independent endocytosis, eventually converging at the lysosomal compartment and leading to axonal swellings in neurons. We then use a co-culture system to demonstrate astrocyte-to-motor neuron DPR propagation, showing that astrocytes may internalise and release aberrant peptides in disease pathogenesis. Overall, our results shed light on the mechanisms of poly-GA cellular uptake and propagation, suggesting lysosomal impairment as a possible feature underlying the cellular pathogenicity of these DPR species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo M Marchi
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Lara Marrone
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Laurent Brasseur
- The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Institut François Jacob (MIRcen) and The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases (UMR9199), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Audrey Coens
- The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Institut François Jacob (MIRcen) and The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases (UMR9199), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Christopher P Webster
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Luc Bousset
- The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Institut François Jacob (MIRcen) and The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases (UMR9199), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Marco Destro
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Emma F Smith
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK.,Centre for Membrane Interactions and Dynamics, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Christa G Walther
- The Wolfson Light Microscopy Facility, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Victor Alfred
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Raffaele Marroccella
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Emily J Graves
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Darren Robinson
- The Wolfson Light Microscopy Facility, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Allan C Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Lai Mei Wan
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Andrew J Grierson
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Stephen J Ebbens
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Kurt J De Vos
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK.,Centre for Membrane Interactions and Dynamics, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Guillaume M Hautbergue
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Laura Ferraiuolo
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Ronald Melki
- The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Institut François Jacob (MIRcen) and The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases (UMR9199), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Mimoun Azzouz
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK .,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
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9
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Jensen BK, McAvoy KJ, Heinsinger NM, Lepore AC, Ilieva H, Haeusler AR, Trotti D, Pasinelli P. Targeting TNFα produced by astrocytes expressing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked mutant fused in sarcoma prevents neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction in mice. Glia 2022; 70:1426-1449. [PMID: 35474517 PMCID: PMC9540310 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Genetic mutations that cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressively lethal motor neuron disease, are commonly found in ubiquitously expressed genes. In addition to direct defects within motor neurons, growing evidence suggests that dysfunction of non-neuronal cells is also an important driver of disease. Previously, we demonstrated that mutations in DNA/RNA binding protein fused in sarcoma (FUS) induce neurotoxic phenotypes in astrocytes in vitro, via activation of the NF-κB pathway and release of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα. Here, we developed an intraspinal cord injection model to test whether astrocyte-specific expression of ALS-causative FUSR521G variant (mtFUS) causes neuronal damage in vivo. We show that restricted expression of mtFUS in astrocytes is sufficient to induce death of spinal motor neurons leading to motor deficits through upregulation of TNFα. We further demonstrate that TNFα is a key toxic molecule as expression of mtFUS in TNFα knockout animals does not induce pathogenic changes. Accordingly, in mtFUS-transduced animals, administration of TNFα neutralizing antibodies prevents neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction. Together, these studies strengthen evidence that astrocytes contribute to disease in ALS and establish, for the first time, that FUS-ALS astrocytes induce pathogenic changes to motor neurons in vivo. Our work identifies TNFα as the critical driver of mtFUS-astrocytic toxicity and demonstrates therapeutic success of targeting TNFα to attenuate motor neuron dysfunction and death. Ultimately, through defining and subsequently targeting this toxic mechanism, we provide a viable FUS-ALS specific therapeutic strategy, which may also be applicable to sporadic ALS where FUS activity and cellular localization are frequently perturbed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigid K. Jensen
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Kevin J. McAvoy
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Present address:
Manfredi LaboratoryWeill Cornell Medicine, Cornell UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Nicolette M. Heinsinger
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Angelo C. Lepore
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Hristelina Ilieva
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Aaron R. Haeusler
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Davide Trotti
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Piera Pasinelli
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
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10
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Masrori P, Beckers J, Gossye H, Van Damme P. The role of inflammation in neurodegeneration: novel insights into the role of the immune system in C9orf72 HRE-mediated ALS/FTD. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:22. [PMID: 35303907 PMCID: PMC8932121 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00525-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is an important hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). An inflammatory reaction to neuronal injury is deemed vital for neuronal health and homeostasis. However, a continued activation of the inflammatory response can be detrimental to remaining neurons and aggravate the disease process. Apart from a disease modifying role, some evidence suggests that neuroinflammation may also contribute to the upstream cause of the disease. In this review, we will first focus on the role of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 gene (C9orf72) hexanucleotide repeat expansions (HRE)-mediated ALS/FTD (C9-ALS/FTD). Additionally, we will discuss evidence from ex vivo and in vivo studies and finally, we briefly summarize the trials and progress of anti-inflammatory therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pegah Masrori
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven-University of Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, Experimental Neurology, Center for Brain and Disease Research, VIB, Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N5, Herestraat 49, 602, 3000, Leuven, PB, Belgium.,Neurology Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Antwerp, 2650, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Jimmy Beckers
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven-University of Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, Experimental Neurology, Center for Brain and Disease Research, VIB, Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N5, Herestraat 49, 602, 3000, Leuven, PB, Belgium
| | - Helena Gossye
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Antwerp, 2650, Edegem, Belgium.,VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases, University of Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Philip Van Damme
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven-University of Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. .,Laboratory of Neurobiology, Experimental Neurology, Center for Brain and Disease Research, VIB, Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N5, Herestraat 49, 602, 3000, Leuven, PB, Belgium. .,Neurology Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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11
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Liu B, Li M, Zhang L, Chen Z, Lu P. Motor neuron replacement therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:1633-1639. [PMID: 35017408 PMCID: PMC8820706 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.332123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a motor neuron degenerative disease that is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease in the United States, Charcot's disease in France, and motor neuron disease in the UK. The loss of motor neurons causes muscle wasting, paralysis, and eventually death, which is commonly related to respiratory failure, within 3-5 years after onset of the disease. Although there are a limited number of drugs approved for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, they have had little success at treating the associated symptoms, and they cannot reverse the course of motor neuron degeneration. Thus, there is still a lack of effective treatment for this debilitating neurodegenerative disorder. Stem cell therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a very attractive strategy for both basic and clinical researchers, particularly as transplanted stem cells and stem cell-derived neural progenitor/precursor cells can protect endogenous motor neurons and directly replace the lost or dying motor neurons. Stem cell therapies may also be able to re-establish the motor control of voluntary muscles. Here, we review the recent progress in the use of neural stem cells and neural progenitor cells for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We focus on MN progenitor cells derived from fetal central nervous system tissue, embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. In our recent studies, we found that transplanted human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neuron progenitors survive well, differentiate into motor neurons, and extend axons into the host white matter, not only in the rostrocaudal direction, but also along motor axon tracts towards the ventral roots in the immunodeficient rat spinal cord. Furthermore, the significant motor axonal extension after neural progenitor cell transplantation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis models demonstrates that motor neuron replacement therapy could be a promising therapeutic strategy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, particularly as a variety of stem cell derivatives, including induced pluripotent stem cells, are being considered for clinical trials for various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bochao Liu
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education; Center of Neural Injury and Repair; Center of Parkinson's Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Mo Li
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education; Center of Neural Injury and Repair; Center of Parkinson's Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Lingyan Zhang
- iXCells Biotechnologies USA, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Amogene Biotech, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China
| | - Zhiguo Chen
- Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education; Center of Neural Injury and Repair; Center of Parkinson's Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Paul Lu
- Veterans Administration San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego; Department of Neurosciences, University of California - San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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12
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Katisko K, Cajanus A, Huber N, Jääskeläinen O, Kokkola T, Kärkkäinen V, Rostalski H, Hartikainen P, Koivisto AM, Hannonen S, Lehtola JM, Korhonen VE, Helisalmi S, Koivumaa-Honkanen H, Herukka SK, Remes AM, Solje E, Haapasalo A. GFAP as a biomarker in frontotemporal dementia and primary psychiatric disorders: diagnostic and prognostic performance. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2021; 92:1305-1312. [PMID: 34187866 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-326487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and primary psychiatric disorders (PPD) are characterised by overlapping clinical features but different aetiologies. Here, we assessed for the first time the potential of blood glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP), marker of astrogliosis, as a discriminative and prognostic tool in FTLD and PPD. METHODS The levels of GFAP in serum (sGFAP) of patients with FTLD (N=107) and PPD (N=44) and GFAP in whole blood samples (bGFAP) from FTLD (N=10), PPD (N=10) and healthy controls (N=18) were measured. We evaluated whether the sGFAP levels associate with C9orf72 repeat expansion, survival of FTLD and PPD patients, and brain atrophy assessed cross-sectionally and longitudinally by structural T1W MRI. We also examined the correlation between sGFAP and bGFAP levels in a subset of patients. RESULTS sGFAP and bGFAP levels were elevated in the FTLD group compared with the PPD or control groups. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated an excellent diagnostic performance between FTLD and PPD (the area under the curve (AUC)=0.820, 95% CI 0.745 to 0.896). sGFAP and bGFAP levels showed a strong correlation and elevated sGFAP levels significantly associated with atrophy rate in the temporal cortex and predicted shorter survival time in patients with FTLD. No association with C9orf72 repeat expansion was detected. CONCLUSIONS sGFAP enabled differentiation of patients with FTLD and PPD and associated with shorter survival and more severe brain atrophy rate in patients with FTLD. These results suggest that blood-based GFAP represents a minimally invasive and useful biomarker in the differential diagnostics between patients with FTLD and PPD and in evaluating disease progression and astrogliosis in FTLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasper Katisko
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Cajanus
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Nadine Huber
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Olli Jääskeläinen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tarja Kokkola
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Virve Kärkkäinen
- Neuro center, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hannah Rostalski
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Paivi Hartikainen
- Neuro center, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anne M Koivisto
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Neuro center, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Internal Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatrics, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Neurosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sanna Hannonen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Neuro center, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Juha-Matti Lehtola
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Ville E Korhonen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Seppo Helisalmi
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Internal Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Mental Health and Wellbeing Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sanna-Kaisa Herukka
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Neuro center, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anne M Remes
- Unit of Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Eino Solje
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland .,Neuro center, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Annakaisa Haapasalo
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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13
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Rossi S, Cozzolino M. Dysfunction of RNA/RNA-Binding Proteins in ALS Astrocytes and Microglia. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113005. [PMID: 34831228 PMCID: PMC8616248 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a neurological disease that primarily affects motor neurons in the cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. The process that leads to motor neuron degeneration is strongly influenced by non-motor neuronal events that occur in a variety of cell types. Among these, neuroinflammatory processes mediated by activated astrocytes and microglia play a relevant role. In recent years, it has become clear that dysregulation of essential steps of RNA metabolism, as a consequence of alterations in RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), is a central event in the degeneration of motor neurons. Yet, a causal link between dysfunctional RNA metabolism and the neuroinflammatory processes mediated by astrocytes and microglia in ALS has been poorly defined. In this review, we will discuss the available evidence showing that RBPs and associated RNA processing are affected in ALS astrocytes and microglia, and the possible mechanisms involved in these events.
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14
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Serrano Nájera G, Narganes Carlón D, Crowther DJ. TrendyGenes, a computational pipeline for the detection of literature trends in academia and drug discovery. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15747. [PMID: 34344904 PMCID: PMC8333311 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94897-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Target identification and prioritisation are prominent first steps in modern drug discovery. Traditionally, individual scientists have used their expertise to manually interpret scientific literature and prioritise opportunities. However, increasing publication rates and the wider routine coverage of human genes by omic-scale research make it difficult to maintain meaningful overviews from which to identify promising new trends. Here we propose an automated yet flexible pipeline that identifies trends in the scientific corpus which align with the specific interests of a researcher and facilitate an initial prioritisation of opportunities. Using a procedure based on co-citation networks and machine learning, genes and diseases are first parsed from PubMed articles using a novel named entity recognition system together with publication date and supporting information. Then recurrent neural networks are trained to predict the publication dynamics of all human genes. For a user-defined therapeutic focus, genes generating more publications or citations are identified as high-interest targets. We also used topic detection routines to help understand why a gene is trendy and implement a system to propose the most prominent review articles for a potential target. This TrendyGenes pipeline detects emerging targets and pathways and provides a new way to explore the literature for individual researchers, pharmaceutical companies and funding agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Serrano Nájera
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - David Narganes Carlón
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
- Division of Population Health and Genomics, Ninewells Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK
- Exscientia Ltd, Dundee One, River Court, 5 West Victoria Dock Road, Dundee, DD1 3JT, UK
| | - Daniel J Crowther
- Exscientia Ltd, Dundee One, River Court, 5 West Victoria Dock Road, Dundee, DD1 3JT, UK.
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15
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Bright F, Chan G, van Hummel A, Ittner LM, Ke YD. TDP-43 and Inflammation: Implications for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22157781. [PMID: 34360544 PMCID: PMC8346169 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The abnormal mislocalisation and ubiquitinated protein aggregation of the TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) within the cytoplasm of neurons and glia in the central nervous system (CNS) is a pathological hallmark of early-onset neurodegenerative disorders amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The pathomechanisms underlying abnormal mislocalisation and aggregation of TDP-43 remain unknown. However, there is a growing body of evidence implicating neuroinflammation and immune-mediated mechanisms in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. Importantly, most of the evidence for an active role of immunity and inflammation in the pathogenesis of ALS and FTD relates specifically to TDP-43, posing the question as to whether immune-mediated mechanisms could hold the key to understanding TDP-43’s underlying role in neurodegeneration in both diseases. Therefore, this review aims to piece together key lines of evidence for the specific association of TDP-43 with key immune and inflammatory pathways to explore the nature of this relationship and the implications for potential pathomechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in ALS and FTD.
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16
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Stella R, Bonadio RS, Cagnin S, Massimino ML, Bertoli A, Peggion C. Perturbations of the Proteome and of Secreted Metabolites in Primary Astrocytes from the hSOD1(G93A) ALS Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22137028. [PMID: 34209958 PMCID: PMC8268687 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease whose pathophysiology is largely unknown. Despite the fact that motor neuron (MN) death is recognized as the key event in ALS, astrocytes dysfunctionalities and neuroinflammation were demonstrated to accompany and probably even drive MN loss. Nevertheless, the mechanisms priming astrocyte failure and hyperactivation are still obscure. In this work, altered pathways and molecules in ALS astrocytes were unveiled by investigating the proteomic profile and the secreted metabolome of primary spinal cord astrocytes derived from transgenic ALS mouse model overexpressing the human (h)SOD1(G93A) protein in comparison with the transgenic counterpart expressing hSOD1(WT) protein. Here we show that ALS primary astrocytes are depleted of proteins-and of secreted metabolites-involved in glutathione metabolism and signaling. The observed increased activation of Nf-kB, Ebf1, and Plag1 transcription factors may account for the augmented expression of proteins involved in the proteolytic routes mediated by proteasome or endosome-lysosome systems. Moreover, hSOD1(G93A) primary astrocytes also display altered lipid metabolism. Our results provide novel insights into the altered molecular pathways that may underlie astrocyte dysfunctionalities and altered astrocyte-MN crosstalk in ALS, representing potential therapeutic targets to abrogate or slow down MN demise in disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Stella
- Department of Chemistry, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Italy;
| | - Raphael Severino Bonadio
- Department of Biology and CRIBI Biotechnology Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (R.S.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Stefano Cagnin
- Department of Biology and CRIBI Biotechnology Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (R.S.B.); (S.C.)
- CIR-Myo Myology Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Bertoli
- CNR—Neuroscience Institute, 35131 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.B.); (C.P.)
| | - Caterina Peggion
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.B.); (C.P.)
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17
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Non-neuronal cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - from pathogenesis to biomarkers. Nat Rev Neurol 2021; 17:333-348. [PMID: 33927394 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-021-00487-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The prevailing motor neuron-centric view of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis could be an important factor in the failure to identify disease-modifying therapy for this neurodegenerative disorder. Non-neuronal cells have crucial homeostatic functions within the CNS and evidence of involvement of these cells in the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative disorders, including ALS, is accumulating. Microglia and astrocytes, in crosstalk with peripheral immune cells, can exert both neuroprotective and adverse effects, resulting in a highly nuanced range of neuronal and non-neuronal cell interactions. This Review provides an overview of the diverse roles of non-neuronal cells in relation to the pathogenesis of ALS and the emerging potential of non-neuronal cell biomarkers to advance therapeutic development.
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18
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Akkouh IA, Hughes T, Steen VM, Glover JC, Andreassen OA, Djurovic S, Szabo A. Transcriptome analysis reveals disparate expression of inflammation-related miRNAs and their gene targets in iPSC-astrocytes from people with schizophrenia. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 94:235-244. [PMID: 33571628 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.01.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the high heritability of schizophrenia (SCZ), details of its pathophysiology and etiology are still unknown. Recent findings suggest that aberrant inflammatory regulation and microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved. Here we performed a comparative analysis of the global miRNome of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-astrocytes, derived from SCZ patients and healthy controls (CTRLs), at baseline and following inflammatory modulation using IL-1β. We identified four differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-337-3p, miR-127-5p, miR-206, miR-1185-1-3p) in SCZ astrocytes that exhibited significantly lower baseline expression relative to CTRLs. Group-specific differential expression (DE) analyses exploring possible distinctions in the modulatory capacity of IL-1β on miRNA expression in SCZ versus CTRL astroglia revealed trends toward altered miRNA expressions. In addition, we analyzed peripheral blood samples from a large cohort of SCZ patients (n = 484) and CTRLs (n = 496) screening for the expression of specific gene targets of the four DE miRNAs that were identified in our baseline astrocyte setup. Three of these genes, LAMTOR4, IL23R, and ERBB3, had a significantly lower expression in the blood of SCZ patients compared to CTRLs after multiple testing correction. We also found nominally significant differences for ERBB2 and IRAK1, which similarly displayed lower expressions in SCZ versus CTRL. Furthermore, we found matching patterns between the expressions of identified miRNAs and their target genes when comparing our in vitro and in vivo results. The current results further our understanding of the pathobiological basis of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim A Akkouh
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Timothy Hughes
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vidar M Steen
- NORMENT, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Joel C Glover
- Laboratory for Neural Development and Optical Recording (NDEVOR), Section for Physiology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Center for Stem Cell Research, Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Attila Szabo
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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19
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Welcome MO, Mastorakis NE. The taste of neuroinflammation: Molecular mechanisms linking taste sensing to neuroinflammatory responses. Pharmacol Res 2021; 167:105557. [PMID: 33737243 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Evidence indicates a critical role of neuroinflammatory response as an underlying pathophysiological process in several central nervous system disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms that trigger neuroinflammatory processes are not fully known. The discovery of bitter taste receptors in regions other than the oral cavity substantially increased research interests on their functional roles in extra-oral tissues. It is now widely accepted that bitter taste receptors, for instance, in the respiratory, intestinal, reproductive and urinary tracts, are crucial not only for sensing poisonous substances, but also, act as immune sentinels, mobilizing defense mechanisms against pathogenic aggression. The relatively recent discovery of bitter taste receptors in the brain has intensified research investigation on the functional implication of cerebral bitter taste receptor expression. Very recent data suggest that responses of bitter taste receptors to neurotoxins and microbial molecules, under normal condition, are necessary to prevent neuroinflammatory reactions. Furthermore, emerging data have revealed that downregulation of key components of the taste receptor signaling cascade leads to increased oxidative stress and inflammasome signaling in neurons that ultimately culminate in neuroinflammation. Nevertheless, the mechanisms that link taste receptor mediated surveillance of the extracellular milieu to neuroinflammatory responses are not completely understood. This review integrates new data on the molecular mechanisms that link bitter taste receptor sensing to neuroinflammatory responses. The role of bitter taste receptor-mediated sensing of toxigenic substances in brain disorders is also discussed. The therapeutic significance of targeting these receptors for potential treatment of neurodegenerative diseases is also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menizibeya O Welcome
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
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20
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Broce IJ, Castruita PA, Yokoyama JS. Moving Toward Patient-Tailored Treatment in ALS and FTD: The Potential of Genomic Assessment as a Tool for Biological Discovery and Trial Recruitment. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:639078. [PMID: 33732107 PMCID: PMC7956998 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.639078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two devastating and intertwined neurodegenerative diseases. Historically, ALS and FTD were considered distinct disorders given differences in presenting clinical symptoms, disease duration, and predicted risk of developing each disease. However, research over recent years has highlighted the considerable clinical, pathological, and genetic overlap of ALS and FTD, and these two syndromes are now thought to represent different manifestations of the same neuropathological disease spectrum. In this review, we discuss the need to shift our focus from studying ALS and FTD in isolation to identifying the biological mechanisms that drive these diseases-both common and distinct-to improve treatment discovery and therapeutic development success. We also emphasize the importance of genomic data to facilitate a "precision medicine" approach for treating ALS and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris J. Broce
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Patricia A. Castruita
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer S. Yokoyama
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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21
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Ghasemi M, Keyhanian K, Douthwright C. Glial Cell Dysfunction in C9orf72-Related Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Cells 2021; 10:cells10020249. [PMID: 33525344 PMCID: PMC7912327 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of the chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) repeat expansion mutation in 2011 as the most common genetic abnormality in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), progress in understanding the signaling pathways related to this mutation can only be described as intriguing. Two major theories have been suggested-(i) loss of function or haploinsufficiency and (ii) toxic gain of function from either C9orf72 repeat RNA or dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs) generated from repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation. Each theory has provided various signaling pathways that potentially participate in the disease progression. Dysregulation of the immune system, particularly glial cell dysfunction (mainly microglia and astrocytes), is demonstrated to play a pivotal role in both loss and gain of function theories of C9orf72 pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss the pathogenic roles of glial cells in C9orf72 ALS/FTD as evidenced by pre-clinical and clinical studies showing the presence of gliosis in C9orf72 ALS/FTD, pathologic hallmarks in glial cells, including TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and p62 aggregates, and toxicity of C9orf72 glial cells. A better understanding of these pathways can provide new insights into the development of therapies targeting glial cell abnormalities in C9orf72 ALS/FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Ghasemi
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-774-441-7726; Fax: +1-508-856-4485
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22
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Delbridge ARD, Huh D, Brickelmaier M, Burns JC, Roberts C, Challa R, Raymond N, Cullen P, Carlile TM, Ennis KA, Liu M, Sun C, Allaire NE, Foos M, Tsai HH, Franchimont N, Ransohoff RM, Butts C, Mingueneau M. Organotypic Brain Slice Culture Microglia Exhibit Molecular Similarity to Acutely-Isolated Adult Microglia and Provide a Platform to Study Neuroinflammation. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:592005. [PMID: 33473245 PMCID: PMC7812919 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.592005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia are central nervous system (CNS) resident immune cells that have been implicated in neuroinflammatory pathogenesis of a variety of neurological conditions. Their manifold context-dependent contributions to neuroinflammation are only beginning to be elucidated, which can be attributed in part to the challenges of studying microglia in vivo and the lack of tractable in vitro systems to study microglia function. Organotypic brain slice cultures offer a tissue-relevant context that enables the study of CNS resident cells and the analysis of brain slice microglial phenotypes has provided important insights, in particular into neuroprotective functions. Here we use RNA sequencing, direct digital quantification of gene expression with nCounter® technology and targeted analysis of individual microglial signature genes, to characterize brain slice microglia relative to acutely-isolated counterparts and 2-dimensional (2D) primary microglia cultures, a widely used in vitro surrogate. Analysis using single cell and population-based methods found brain slice microglia exhibited better preservation of canonical microglia markers and overall gene expression with stronger fidelity to acutely-isolated adult microglia, relative to in vitro cells. We characterized the dynamic phenotypic changes of brain slice microglia over time, after plating in culture. Mechanical damage associated with slice preparation prompted an initial period of inflammation, which resolved over time. Based on flow cytometry and gene expression profiling we identified the 2-week timepoint as optimal for investigation of microglia responses to exogenously-applied stimuli as exemplified by treatment-induced neuroinflammatory changes observed in microglia following LPS, TNF and GM-CSF addition to the culture medium. Altogether these findings indicate that brain slice cultures provide an experimental system superior to in vitro culture of microglia as a surrogate to investigate microglia functions, and the impact of soluble factors and cellular context on their physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex R D Delbridge
- Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Biogen Postdoctoral Scientist Program, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Dann Huh
- Translational Biology, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Margot Brickelmaier
- Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Jeremy C Burns
- Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Chris Roberts
- Translational Biology, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Ravi Challa
- Translational Biology, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Naideline Raymond
- Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Patrick Cullen
- Translational Biology, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | - Katelin A Ennis
- Genetic and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Mei Liu
- Biogen Postdoctoral Scientist Program, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Chao Sun
- Biogen Postdoctoral Scientist Program, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Normand E Allaire
- Biogen Postdoctoral Scientist Program, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Marianna Foos
- Biogen Postdoctoral Scientist Program, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Hui-Hsin Tsai
- Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | - Richard M Ransohoff
- Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Cherie Butts
- Digital & Quantitative Medicine, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Michael Mingueneau
- Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
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23
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Pang W, Hu F. Cellular and physiological functions of C9ORF72 and implications for ALS/FTD. J Neurochem 2020; 157:334-350. [PMID: 33259633 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) in the C9ORF72 gene is the main cause of two tightly linked neurodegenerative diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). HRE leads to not only a gain of toxicity from RNA repeats and dipeptide repeats but also reduced levels of C9ORF72 protein. However, the cellular and physiological functions of C9ORF72 were unknown until recently. Through proteomic analysis, Smith-Magenis chromosome regions 8 (SMCR8) and WD repeat-containing protein (WDR41) were identified as binding partners of C9ORF72. These three proteins have been shown to form a tight complex, but the exact functions of this complex remain to be characterized. Both C9ORF72 and SMCR8 contain a DENN domain, which has been shown to regulate the activities of small GTPases. The C9ORF72 complex has been implicated in many cellular processes, including vesicle trafficking, lysosome homeostasis, mTORC1 signaling , and autophagy. C9ORF72 deficiency in mice results in exaggerated inflammatory responses and human patients with C9ORF72 mutations have neuroinflammation phenotype. Recent studies indicate that C9ORF72 regulates trafficking and lysosomal degradation of inflammatory mediators, including toll-like receptors (TLRs) and STING, to affect inflammatory outputs. Further exploration of cellular and physiological functions of C9ORF72 will help dissect the pathological mechanism of ALS/FTD caused by C9ORF72 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weilun Pang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Fenghua Hu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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24
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Bell SM, Burgess T, Lee J, Blackburn DJ, Allen SP, Mortiboys H. Peripheral Glycolysis in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E8924. [PMID: 33255513 PMCID: PMC7727792 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21238924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of nervous system conditions characterised pathologically by the abnormal deposition of protein throughout the brain and spinal cord. One common pathophysiological change seen in all neurodegenerative disease is a change to the metabolic function of nervous system and peripheral cells. Glycolysis is the conversion of glucose to pyruvate or lactate which results in the generation of ATP and has been shown to be abnormal in peripheral cells in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Changes to the glycolytic pathway are seen early in neurodegenerative disease and highlight how in multiple neurodegenerative conditions pathology is not always confined to the nervous system. In this paper, we review the abnormalities described in glycolysis in the three most common neurodegenerative diseases. We show that in all three diseases glycolytic changes are seen in fibroblasts, and red blood cells, and that liver, kidney, muscle and white blood cells have abnormal glycolysis in certain diseases. We highlight there is potential for peripheral glycolysis to be developed into multiple types of disease biomarker, but large-scale bio sampling and deciphering how glycolysis is inherently altered in neurodegenerative disease in multiple patients' needs to be accomplished first to meet this aim.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon M. Bell
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neurosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK; (T.B.); (J.L.); (D.J.B.); (S.P.A.); (H.M.)
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25
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Sun Y, Curle AJ, Haider AM, Balmus G. The role of DNA damage response in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Essays Biochem 2020; 64:847-861. [PMID: 33078197 PMCID: PMC7588667 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20200002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly disabling and fatal neurodegenerative disease. Due to insufficient disease-modifying treatments, there is an unmet and urgent need for elucidating disease mechanisms that occur early and represent common triggers in both familial and sporadic ALS. Emerging evidence suggests that impaired DNA damage response contributes to age-related somatic accumulation of genomic instability and can trigger or accelerate ALS pathological manifestations. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent studies indicating a direct link between DNA damage response and ALS. Further mechanistic understanding of the role genomic instability is playing in ALS disease pathophysiology will be critical for discovering new therapeutic avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Sun
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, U.K
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, U.K
| | - Annabel J Curle
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, U.K
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, U.K
| | - Arshad M Haider
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, U.K
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, U.K
| | - Gabriel Balmus
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, U.K
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, U.K
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26
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Woollacott IOC, Toomey CE, Strand C, Courtney R, Benson BC, Rohrer JD, Lashley T. Microglial burden, activation and dystrophy patterns in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:234. [PMID: 32778130 PMCID: PMC7418403 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-01907-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Microglial dysfunction is implicated in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Although studies have reported excessive microglial activation or senescence (dystrophy) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), few have explored this in FTLD. We examined regional patterns of microglial burden, activation and dystrophy in sporadic and genetic FTLD, sporadic AD and controls. Methods Immunohistochemistry was performed in frontal and temporal grey and white matter from 50 pathologically confirmed FTLD cases (31 sporadic, 19 genetic: 20 FTLD-tau, 26 FTLD-TDP, four FTLD-FUS), five AD cases and five controls, using markers to detect phagocytic (CD68-positive) and antigen-presenting (CR3/43-positive) microglia, and microglia in general (Iba1-positive). Microglial burden and activation (morphology) were assessed quantitatively for each microglial phenotype. Iba1-positive microglia were assessed semi-quantitatively for dystrophy severity and qualitatively for rod-shaped and hypertrophic morphology. Microglia were compared in each region between FTLD, AD and controls, and between different pathological subtypes of FTLD, including its main subtypes (FTLD-tau, FTLD-TDP, FTLD-FUS), and subtypes of FTLD-tau, FTLD-TDP and genetic FTLD. Microglia were also compared between grey and white matter within each lobe for each group. Results There was a higher burden of phagocytic and antigen-presenting microglia in FTLD and AD cases than controls, but activation was often not increased. Burden was generally higher in white matter than grey matter, but activation was greater in grey matter. However, microglia varied regionally according to FTLD subtype and disease mechanism. Dystrophy was more severe in FTLD and AD than controls, and more severe in white than grey matter, but this also varied regionally and was particularly extensive in FTLD due to progranulin (GRN) mutations. Presence of rod-shaped and hypertrophic microglia also varied by FTLD subtype. Conclusions This study demonstrates regionally variable microglial involvement in FTLD and links this to underlying disease mechanisms. This supports investigation of microglial dysfunction in disease models and consideration of anti-senescence therapies in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ione O C Woollacott
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Christina E Toomey
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 1 Wakefield Street, London, WC1N 1PJ, UK.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Catherine Strand
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 1 Wakefield Street, London, WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Robert Courtney
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 1 Wakefield Street, London, WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Bridget C Benson
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 1 Wakefield Street, London, WC1N 1PJ, UK.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 1 Wakefield Street, London, WC1N 1PJ, UK. .,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
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27
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Gleichman AJ, Carmichael ST. Glia in neurodegeneration: Drivers of disease or along for the ride? Neurobiol Dis 2020; 142:104957. [PMID: 32512150 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
While much of the research on neurodegenerative diseases has focused on neurons, non-neuronal cells are also affected. The extent to which glia and other non-neuronal cells are causally involved in disease pathogenesis versus more passively responding to disease is an area of active research. This is complicated by the fact that there is rarely one known cause of neurodegenerative diseases; rather, these disorders likely involve feedback loops that perpetuate dysfunction. Here, we will review genetic as well as experimental evidence that suggest that non-neuronal cells are at least partially driving disease pathogenesis in numerous neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy J Gleichman
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
| | - S Thomas Carmichael
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
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28
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Liscic RM, Alberici A, Cairns NJ, Romano M, Buratti E. From basic research to the clinic: innovative therapies for ALS and FTD in the pipeline. Mol Neurodegener 2020; 15:31. [PMID: 32487123 PMCID: PMC7268618 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-020-00373-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) are neurodegenerative disorders, related by deterioration of motor and cognitive functions and short survival. Aside from cases with an inherited pathogenic mutation, the causes of the disorders are still largely unknown and no effective treatment currently exists. It has been shown that FTD may coexist with ALS and this overlap occurs at clinical, genetic, and molecular levels. In this work, we review the main pathological aspects of these complex diseases and discuss how the integration of the novel pathogenic molecular insights and the analysis of molecular interaction networks among all the genetic players represents a critical step to shed light on discovering novel therapeutic strategies and possibly tailoring personalized medicine approaches to specific ALS and FTD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajka Maria Liscic
- Department of Neurology, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
- School of Medicine, University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
| | - Antonella Alberici
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences and Vision, ASST-Spedali Civili-University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Nigel John Cairns
- College of Medicine and Health and Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Maurizio Romano
- Department of Life Sciences, Via Valerio 28, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
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29
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Filipi T, Hermanova Z, Tureckova J, Vanatko O, Anderova M. Glial Cells-The Strategic Targets in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Treatment. J Clin Med 2020; 9:E261. [PMID: 31963681 PMCID: PMC7020059 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9010261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disease, which is characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the motor cortex and the spinal cord and subsequently by muscle atrophy. To date, numerous gene mutations have been linked to both sporadic and familial ALS, but the effort of many experimental groups to develop a suitable therapy has not, as of yet, proven successful. The original focus was on the degenerating motor neurons, when researchers tried to understand the pathological mechanisms that cause their slow death. However, it was soon discovered that ALS is a complicated and diverse pathology, where not only neurons, but also other cell types, play a crucial role via the so-called non-cell autonomous effect, which strongly deteriorates neuronal conditions. Subsequently, variable glia-based in vitro and in vivo models of ALS were established and used for brand-new experimental and clinical approaches. Such a shift towards glia soon bore its fruit in the form of several clinical studies, which more or less successfully tried to ward the unfavourable prognosis of ALS progression off. In this review, we aimed to summarize current knowledge regarding the involvement of each glial cell type in the progression of ALS, currently available treatments, and to provide an overview of diverse clinical trials covering pharmacological approaches, gene, and cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Filipi
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14200 Prague, Czech Republic; (T.F.); (Z.H.); (J.T.); (O.V.)
- 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Hermanova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14200 Prague, Czech Republic; (T.F.); (Z.H.); (J.T.); (O.V.)
- 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Tureckova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14200 Prague, Czech Republic; (T.F.); (Z.H.); (J.T.); (O.V.)
| | - Ondrej Vanatko
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14200 Prague, Czech Republic; (T.F.); (Z.H.); (J.T.); (O.V.)
| | - Miroslava Anderova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14200 Prague, Czech Republic; (T.F.); (Z.H.); (J.T.); (O.V.)
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30
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de Majo M, Koontz M, Rowitch D, Ullian EM. An update on human astrocytes and their role in development and disease. Glia 2020; 68:685-704. [PMID: 31926040 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Human astrocytes provide trophic as well as structural support to the surrounding brain cells. Furthermore, they have been implicated in many physiological processes important for central nervous system function. Traditionally astrocytes have been considered to be a homogeneous class of cells, however, it has increasingly become more evident that astrocytes can have very different characteristics in different regions of the brain, or even within the same region. In this review we will discuss the features of human astrocytes, their heterogeneity, and their generation during neurodevelopment and the extraordinary progress that has been made to model these fascinating cells in vitro, mainly from induced pluripotent stem cells. Astrocytes' role in disease will also be discussed with a particular focus on their role in neurodegenerative disorders. As outlined here, astrocytes are important for the homeostasis of the central nervous system and understanding their regional specificity is a priority to elucidate the complexity of the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina de Majo
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Mark Koontz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - David Rowitch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Erik M Ullian
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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31
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Trageser KJ, Smith C, Herman FJ, Ono K, Pasinetti GM. Mechanisms of Immune Activation by c9orf72-Expansions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1298. [PMID: 31920478 PMCID: PMC6914852 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are neurodegenerative disorders with overlapping pathomechanisms, neurobehavioral features, and genetic etiologies. Individuals diagnosed with either disorder exhibit symptoms within a clinical spectrum. Symptoms of ALS involve neuromusculature deficits, reflecting upper and lower motor neurodegeneration, while the primary clinical features of FTD are behavioral and cognitive impairments, reflecting frontotemporal lobar degeneration. An intronic G4C2 hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) within the promoter region of chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) is the predominant monogenic cause of both ALS and FTD. While the heightened risk to develop ALS/FTD in response to C9orf72 expansions is well-established, studies continue to define the precise mechanisms by which this mutation elicits neurodegeneration. Studies show that G4C2 expansions undergo repeat-associated non-ATG dependent (RAN) translation, producing dipeptide repeat proteins (DRPs) with varying toxicities. Accumulation of DRPs in neurons, in particular arginine containing DRPs, have neurotoxic effects by potently impairing nucleocytoplasmic transport, nucleotide metabolism, lysosomal processes, and cellular metabolic pathways. How these pathophysiological effects of C9orf72 expansions engage and elicit immune activity with additional neurobiological consequences is an important line of future investigations. Immunoreactive microglia and elevated levels of peripheral inflammatory cytokines noted in individuals with C9orf72 ALS/FTD provide evidence that persistent immune activation has a causative role in the progression of each disorder. This review highlights the current understanding of the cellular, proteomic and genetic substrates through which G4C2 HREs may elicit detrimental immune activity, facilitating region-specific neurodegeneration in C9orf72 mediated ALS/FTD. We in particular emphasize interactions between intracellular pathways induced by C9orf72 expansions and innate immune inflammasome complexes, intracellular receptors responsible for eliciting inflammation in response to cellular stress. A further understanding of the intricate, reciprocal relationship between the cellular and molecular pathologies resulting from C9orf72 HREs and immune activation may yield novel therapeutics for ALS/FTD, which currently have limited treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J Trageser
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Chad Smith
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Francis J Herman
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kenjiro Ono
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Giulio Maria Pasinetti
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, JJ Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
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