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Lu YS, Hung WC, Hsieh YT, Tsai PY, Tsai TH, Fan HH, Chang YG, Cheng HK, Huang SY, Lin HC, Lee YH, Shen TH, Hung BY, Tsai JW, Dzhagalov I, Cheng IHJ, Lin CJ, Chern Y, Hsu CL. Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 3 supports microglial functions and protects against the progression of Huntington's disease in the mouse model. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 120:413-429. [PMID: 38925413 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder characterized by involuntary movements, cognitive deficits, and psychiatric symptoms. Currently, there is no cure, and only limited treatments are available to manage the symptoms and to slow down the disease's progression. The molecular and cellular mechanisms of HD's pathogenesis are complex, involving immune cell activation, altered protein turnover, and disturbance in brain energy homeostasis. Microglia have been known to play a dual role in HD, contributing to neurodegeneration through inflammation but also enacting neuroprotective effects by clearing mHTT aggregates. However, little is known about the contribution of microglial metabolism to HD progression. This study explores the impact of a microglial metabolite transporter, equilibrative nucleoside transporter 3 (ENT3), in HD. Known as a lysosomal membrane transporter protein, ENT3 is highly enriched in microglia, with its expression correlated with HD severity. Using the R6/2 ENT3-/- mouse model, we found that the deletion of ENT3 increases microglia numbers yet worsens HD progression, leading to mHTT accumulation, cell death, and disturbed energy metabolism. These results suggest that the delicate balance between microglial metabolism and function is crucial for maintaining brain homeostasis and that ENT3 has a protective role in ameliorating neurodegenerative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Sui Lu
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Taiwan International Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chien Hung
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Hsieh
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yuan Tsai
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tsai-Hsien Tsai
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Han Fan
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Gin Chang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Taiwan International Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Kuei Cheng
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shen-Yan Huang
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Biomedical Industry Ph.D. Program, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Chuan Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yan-Hua Lee
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Hsiang Shen
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bing-Yu Hung
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jin-Wu Tsai
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ivan Dzhagalov
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Biomedical Industry Ph.D. Program, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Irene Han-Juo Cheng
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Jung Lin
- School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yijuang Chern
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Lin Hsu
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Taiwan International Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Biomedical Industry Ph.D. Program, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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2
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Kaur M, Fusco S, Van den Broek B, Aseervatham J, Rostami A, Iacovitti L, Grassi C, Lukomska B, Srivastava AK. Most recent advances and applications of extracellular vesicles in tackling neurological challenges. Med Res Rev 2024; 44:1923-1966. [PMID: 38500405 DOI: 10.1002/med.22035] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Over the past few decades, there has been a notable increase in the global burden of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Despite advances in technology and therapeutic options, neurological and neurodegenerative disorders persist as significant challenges in treatment and cure. Recently, there has been a remarkable surge of interest in extracellular vesicles (EVs) as pivotal mediators of intercellular communication. As carriers of molecular cargo, EVs demonstrate the ability to traverse the blood-brain barrier, enabling bidirectional communication. As a result, they have garnered attention as potential biomarkers and therapeutic agents, whether in their natural form or after being engineered for use in the CNS. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to EVs, encompassing various aspects such as their diverse isolation methods, characterization, handling, storage, and different routes for EV administration. Additionally, it underscores the recent advances in their potential applications in neurodegenerative disorder therapeutics. By exploring their unique capabilities, this study sheds light on the promising future of EVs in clinical research. It considers the inherent challenges and limitations of these emerging applications while incorporating the most recent updates in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandeep Kaur
- Department of Medicine, Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Salvatore Fusco
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Bram Van den Broek
- Department of Neurology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jaya Aseervatham
- Department of Neurology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Abdolmohamad Rostami
- Department of Neurology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lorraine Iacovitti
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Jefferson Stem Cell and Regenerative Neuroscience Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Claudio Grassi
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Lukomska
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Amit K Srivastava
- Department of Medicine, Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Bonavita R, Di Martino R, Cortone G, Prodomo A, Di Gennaro M, Scerra G, Panico V, Nuzzo S, Salvatore M, Williams SV, Vitale F, Caporaso MG, D’Agostino M, Pisani FM, Fleming A, Renna M. A method for the analysis of the oligomerization profile of the Huntington's disease-associated, aggregation-prone mutant huntingtin protein by isopycnic ultracentrifugation. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1420691. [PMID: 38993838 PMCID: PMC11236693 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1420691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Conformational diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases as well as ataxias and fronto-temporal disorders, are part of common class of neurological disorders characterised by the aggregation and progressive accumulation of mutant proteins which display aberrant conformation. In particular, Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by mutations leading to an abnormal expansion in the polyglutamine (poly-Q) tract of the huntingtin protein (HTT), leading to the formation of inclusion bodies in neurons of affected patients. Furthermore, recent experimental evidence is challenging the conventional view of the disease by revealing the ability of mutant HTT to be transferred between cells by means of extracellular vesicles (EVs), allowing the mutant protein to seed oligomers involving both the mutant and wild type forms of the protein. There is still no successful strategy to treat HD. In addition, the current understanding of the biological processes leading to the oligomerization and aggregation of proteins bearing the poly-Q tract has been derived from studies conducted on isolated poly-Q monomers and oligomers, whose structural properties are still unclear and often inconsistent. Here we describe a standardised biochemical approach to analyse by isopycnic ultracentrifugation the oligomerization of the N-terminal fragment of mutant HTT. The dynamic range of our method allows one to detect large and heterogeneous HTT complexes. Hence, it could be harnessed for the identification of novel molecular determinants responsible for the aggregation and the prion-like spreading properties of HTT in the context of HD. Equally, it provides a tool to test novel small molecules or bioactive compounds designed to inhibit the aggregation of mutant HTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Bonavita
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosaria Di Martino
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
- Institute for Endocrinology and Experimental Oncology “G. Salvatore”, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cortone
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonello Prodomo
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Di Gennaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
- Institute for Endocrinology and Experimental Oncology “G. Salvatore”, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluca Scerra
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Valentino Panico
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Sarah V. Williams
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Fulvia Vitale
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Gabriella Caporaso
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo D’Agostino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca M. Pisani
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Angeleen Fleming
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Maurizio Renna
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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4
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Noor AAM. Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Terpenoids for Depression and Anxiety. Chem Biodivers 2024:e202400788. [PMID: 38934531 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202400788] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
This review focus on the terpenoids as potential therapeutic agents for depression and anxiety disorders, which naturally found in a variety of plants and exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Among the terpenoids discussed in this review are α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, α-phellandrene, limonene, β-linalool, 1, 8-cineole, β-pinene, caryophyllene oxide, p-cymene, and eugenol. All of these compounds have been studied extensively regarding their pharmacological properties, such as neuroprotective effect, anti-inflammation, antibacterial, regulation of neurotransmitters and antioxidant effect. Preclinical evidence are reviewed to highlight their diverse mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential to support antidepressant and anxiolytic properties. Additionally, challenges and future directions are also discussed to emphasize therapeutic utility of terpenoids for mental health disorders. Overall, this review provides a promising role of terpenoids as novel therapeutic agents for depression and anxiety, with potential implications for the development of more effective and well-tolerated treatments in the field of psychopharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arif Azimi Md Noor
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Biomedical Informatics, 10 Shattuck Street Suite 514, Boston MA, 02115, United States of America
- Eyes Specialist Clinic, Raja Perempuan Zainab 2 Hospital, 15586, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
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5
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Hivare P, Mujmer K, Swarup G, Gupta S, Bhatia D. Endocytic pathways of pathogenic protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases. Traffic 2023; 24:434-452. [PMID: 37392160 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Endocytosis is the fundamental uptake process through which cells internalize extracellular materials and species. Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by a progressive accumulation of intrinsically disordered protein species, leading to neuronal death. Misfolding in many proteins leads to various NDs such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other disorders. Despite the significance of disordered protein species in neurodegeneration, their spread between cells and the cellular uptake of extracellular species is not entirely understood. This review discusses the major internalization mechanisms of the different conformer species of these proteins and their endocytic mechanisms. We briefly introduce the broad types of endocytic mechanisms found in cells and then summarize what is known about the endocytosis of monomeric, oligomeric and aggregated conformations of tau, Aβ, α-Syn, Huntingtin, Prions, SOD1, TDP-43 and other proteins associated with neurodegeneration. We also highlight the key players involved in internalizing these disordered proteins and the several techniques and approaches to identify their endocytic mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the obstacles involved in studying the endocytosis of these protein species and the need to develop better techniques to elucidate the uptake mechanisms of a particular disordered protein species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pravin Hivare
- Biological Engineering Discipline, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat, India
| | - Kratika Mujmer
- Center for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat, India
| | - Gitanjali Swarup
- Biological Engineering Discipline, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat, India
| | - Sharad Gupta
- Biological Engineering Discipline, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat, India
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat, India
| | - Dhiraj Bhatia
- Biological Engineering Discipline, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat, India
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat, India
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6
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Yang S, Ma J, Zhang H, Chen L, Li Y, Pan M, Zhu H, Liang J, He D, Li S, Li XJ, Guo X. Mutant HTT does not affect glial development but impairs myelination in the early disease stage. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1238306. [PMID: 37539389 PMCID: PMC10394243 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1238306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by expanded CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene (HTT) and is characterized by late-onset neurodegeneration that primarily affects the striatum. Several studies have shown that mutant HTT can also affect neuronal development, contributing to the late-onset neurodegeneration. However, it is currently unclear whether mutant HTT impairs the development of glial cells, which is important for understanding whether mutant HTT affects glial cells during early brain development. Methods Using HD knock-in mice that express full-length mutant HTT with a 140 glutamine repeat at the endogenous level, we analyzed the numbers of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes from postnatal day 1 to 3 months of age via Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. We also performed electron microscopy, RNAseq analysis, and quantitative RT-PCR. Results The numbers of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes were not significantly altered in postnatal HD KI mice compared to wild type (WT) mice. Consistently, glial protein expression levels were not significantly different between HD KI and WT mice. However, at 3 months of age, myelin protein expression was reduced in HD KI mice, as evidenced by Western blotting and immunocytochemical results. Electron microscopy revealed a slight but significant reduction in myelin thickness of axons in the HD KI mouse brain at 3 months of age. RNAseq analysis did not show significant reductions in myelin-related genes in postnatal HD KI mice. Conclusion These data suggest that cytoplasmic mutant HTT, rather than nuclear mutant HTT, mediates myelination defects in the early stages of the disease without impacting the differentiation and maturation of glial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xiangyu Guo
- *Correspondence: Xiao-Jiang Li, ; Xiangyu Guo
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7
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Saha G, Ghosh S, Dubey VK, Saudagar P. Gene Alterations Induced by Glutamine (Q) Encoding CAG Repeats Associated with Neurodegeneration. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2575:3-23. [PMID: 36301468 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2716-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have been reported linking the role of polyglutamine (polyQ) disease-associated proteins with altered gene regulation induced by an unstable trinucleotide (CAG) repeat. Owing to their dynamic nature of expansion, these DNA repeats form secondary structures interfering with the normal cellular mechanisms like replication and transcription and, thereby, have become the underlying cause of numerous neurodegenerative disorders involving mental retardation and/or muscular or neuronal degeneration. Despite the widespread expression of the disease-causing protein, specific subsets of neurons are susceptible to specific patterns of inheritance and clinical symptoms. Although this cell-type selectivity is still elusive and less understood, it has been found that aberrant transcriptional regulation is one of the primary causes of polyQ diseases where the functions of histone-modifying complexes are disrupted. Besides, epigenetic modifications play a critical role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. In this chapter, we will be delving into how these polyQ repeats induce the self-assembly and aggregation of altered carrier proteins based on gene alterations, causing neuronal toxicity and cellular deaths. Besides, genomic instability in CAG repeats due to altered chromatin-related enzymes will be highlighted, along with epigenetic changes present in many polyQ disorders. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms in the root cause of these disorders will culminate in identifying therapeutic approaches for the treatment of these neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gundappa Saha
- Department of Basic & Translational Sciences, Penn Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sukanya Ghosh
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Vikash Kumar Dubey
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prakash Saudagar
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Warangal, Telangana, India.
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8
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Merino M, Sequedo MD, Sánchez-Sánchez AV, Clares MP, García-España E, Vázquez-Manrique RP, Mullor JL. Mn(II) Quinoline Complex (4QMn) Restores Proteostasis and Reduces Toxicity in Experimental Models of Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8936. [PMID: 36012207 PMCID: PMC9409211 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder, of the so-called minority diseases, due to its low prevalence. It is caused by an abnormally long track of glutamines (polyQs) in mutant huntingtin (mHtt), which makes the protein toxic and prone to aggregation. Many pathways of clearance of badly-folded proteins are disrupted in neurons of patients with HD. In this work, we show that one Mn(II) quinone complex (4QMn), designed to work as an artificial superoxide dismutase, is able to activate both the ubiquitin-proteasome system and the autophagy pathway in vitro and in vivo models of HD. Activation of these pathways degrades mHtt and other protein-containing polyQs, which restores proteostasis in these models. Hence, we propose 4QMn as a potential drug to develop a therapy to treat HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marián Merino
- Bionos Biotech SL, Biopolo Hospital La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - María Dolores Sequedo
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Mª Paz Clares
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Enrique García-España
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rafael P. Vázquez-Manrique
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - José L. Mullor
- Bionos Biotech SL, Biopolo Hospital La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
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9
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Lawlor M, Zigo M, Kerns K, Cho IK, Easley IV CA, Sutovsky P. Spermatozoan Metabolism as a Non-Traditional Model for the Study of Huntington’s Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137163. [PMID: 35806166 PMCID: PMC9266437 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a fatal autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease manifested through motor dysfunction and cognitive deficits. Decreased fertility is also observed in HD animal models and HD male patients, due to altered spermatogenesis and sperm function, thus resulting in reduced fertilization potential. Although some pharmaceuticals are currently utilized to mitigate HD symptoms, an effective treatment that remedies the pathogenesis of the disease is yet to be approved by the FDA. Identification of genes and relevant diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic target pathways including glycolysis and mitochondrial complex-I-dependent respiration may be advantageous for early diagnosis, management, and treatment of the disease. This review addresses the HD pathway in neuronal and sperm metabolism, including relevant gene and protein expression in both neurons and spermatozoa, indicated in the pathogenesis of HD. Furthermore, zinc-containing and zinc-interacting proteins regulate and/or are regulated by zinc ion homeostasis in both neurons and spermatozoa. Therefore, this review also aims to explore the comparative role of zinc in both neuronal and sperm function. Ongoing studies aim to characterize the products of genes implicated in HD pathogenesis that are expressed in both neurons and spermatozoa to facilitate studies of future treatment avenues in HD and HD-related male infertility. The emerging link between zinc homeostasis and the HD pathway could lead to new treatments and diagnostic methods linking genetic sperm defects with somatic comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Lawlor
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (M.L.); (M.Z.); (K.K.)
| | - Michal Zigo
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (M.L.); (M.Z.); (K.K.)
| | - Karl Kerns
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (M.L.); (M.Z.); (K.K.)
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - In Ki Cho
- Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (I.K.C.); (C.A.E.IV)
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Charles A. Easley IV
- Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (I.K.C.); (C.A.E.IV)
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Peter Sutovsky
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (M.L.); (M.Z.); (K.K.)
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(573)-882-3329
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10
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Movahedpour A, Vakili O, Khalifeh M, Mousavi P, Mahmoodzadeh A, Taheri-Anganeh M, Razmeh S, Shabaninejad Z, Yousefi F, Behrouj H, Ghasemi H, Khatami SH. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway and traumatic brain injury: A novel insight into targeted therapy. Cell Biochem Funct 2022; 40:232-247. [PMID: 35258097 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most concerning health issues in which the normal brain function may be disrupted as a result of a blow, bump, or jolt to the head. Loss of consciousness, amnesia, focal neurological defects, alteration in mental state, and destructive diseases of the nervous system such as cognitive impairment, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease. Parkinson's disease is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the early loss of striatal dopaminergic neurons. TBI is a major risk factor for Parkinson's disease. Existing therapeutic approaches have not been often effective, indicating the necessity of discovering more efficient therapeutic targets. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway responds to different environmental cues to modulate a large number of cellular processes such as cell proliferation, survival, protein synthesis, autophagy, and cell metabolism. Moreover, mTOR has been reported to affect the regeneration of the injured nerves throughout the central nervous system (CNS). In this context, recent evaluations have revealed that mTOR inhibitors could be potential targets to defeat a group of neurological disorders, and thus, a number of clinical trials are investigating their efficacy in treating dementia, autism, epilepsy, stroke, and brain injury, as irritating neurological defects. The current review describes the interplay between mTOR signaling and major CNS-related disorders (esp. neurodegenerative diseases), as well as the mTOR signaling-TBI relationship. It also aims to discuss the promising therapeutic capacities of mTOR inhibitors during the TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Omid Vakili
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Masoomeh Khalifeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Pegah Mousavi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Amir Mahmoodzadeh
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Mortaza Taheri-Anganeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Saeed Razmeh
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Zahra Shabaninejad
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Yousefi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Behrouj
- Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran
| | | | - Seyyed Hossein Khatami
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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11
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Cui J, Zhao S, Li Y, Zhang D, Wang B, Xie J, Wang J. Regulated cell death: discovery, features and implications for neurodegenerative diseases. Cell Commun Signal 2021; 19:120. [PMID: 34922574 PMCID: PMC8684172 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-021-00799-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulated cell death (RCD) is a ubiquitous process in living organisms that is essential for tissue homeostasis or to restore biological balance under stress. Over the decades, various forms of RCD have been reported and are increasingly being found to involve in human pathologies and clinical outcomes. We focus on five high-profile forms of RCD, including apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy-dependent cell death, necroptosis and ferroptosis. Cumulative evidence supports that not only they have different features and various pathways, but also there are extensive cross-talks between modes of cell death. As the understanding of RCD pathway in evolution, development, physiology and disease continues to improve. Here we review an updated classification of RCD on the discovery and features of processes. The prominent focus will be placed on key mechanisms of RCD and its critical role in neurodegenerative disease. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juntao Cui
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 China
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 China
| | - Suhan Zhao
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 China
| | - Yinghui Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 China
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 China
| | - Danyang Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 China
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 China
| | - Bingjing Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 China
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 China
| | - Junxia Xie
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 China
| | - Jun Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 China
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071 China
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12
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[Disease-modifying treatment approaches in Huntington disease : Past and future]. DER NERVENARZT 2021; 93:179-190. [PMID: 34762178 PMCID: PMC8825394 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-021-01224-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Die Huntington-Krankheit (HK) ist die häufigste monogenetische neurodegenerative Erkrankung und kann bereits im präklinischen Stadium zweifelsfrei diagnostiziert werden, zumindest in allen Fällen, bei denen die CAG-Expansionsmutation im Huntingtin-Gen (HTT) im Bereich der vollen Penetranz liegt. Wichtige Voraussetzungen für eine früh im Krankheitsprozess einsetzende und deshalb den weiteren Verlauf der Krankheit in klinisch relevanter Weise modifizierende Therapie sind damit gegeben und machen die HK zu einer Modellerkrankung für neuroprotektive Behandlungsansätze. In der Vergangenheit lag der Schwerpunkt auf dem Ausgleich vermuteter Neurotransmitterdefizite (GABA) analog zur Parkinson-Erkrankung und auf klassischen neuroprotektiven Strategien zur Beeinflussung hypothetischer gemeinsamer Endstrecken neurodegenerativer Erkrankungen (z. B. Exzitotoxizität, mitochondriale Dysfunktion, oxidativer Stress etc.). Mit der Entdeckung der krankheitsverursachenden HTT-Mutation im Jahr 1993 fokussierte sich die Therapieforschung zunehmend darauf, soweit proximal wie möglich in die pathophysiologische Ereigniskette einzugreifen. Ein wichtiger Ansatzpunkt ist hier die HTT-mRNA mit dem Ziel, die Nachproduktion mutierter Huntingtin-Genprodukte zu senken und damit den Körper von deren schädigenden Auswirkungen zu entlasten; zu diesem Zweck sind verschiedene Behandlungsmodalitäten (einzelsträngige DNA und RNA, divalente RNA und Zinkfinger-Repressorkomplexe, oral verfügbare Spleißmodulatoren) entwickelt worden, die sich in der klinischen Prüfung (Phase I–III) oder in späten Stadien der präklinischen Entwicklung befinden. Zudem zeichnet sich ab, dass es möglich sein könnte, die Länge der somatisch instabilen, d. h. über die Lebenszeit v. a. im Hirngewebe zunehmende CAG-Mutation selbst zu beeinflussen und die Progression der HK hierdurch zu bremsen.
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13
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Kundu D, Dubey VK. Purines and Pyrimidines: Metabolism, Function and Potential as Therapeutic Options in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2021; 22:170-189. [PMID: 33292151 DOI: 10.2174/1389203721999201208200605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Various neurodegenerative disorders have various molecular origins but some common molecular mechanisms. In the current scenario, there are very few treatment regimens present for advanced neurodegenerative diseases. In this context, there is an urgent need for alternate options in the form of natural compounds with an ameliorating effect on patients. There have been individual scattered experiments trying to identify potential values of various intracellular metabolites. Purines and Pyrimidines, which are vital molecules governing various aspects of cellular biochemical reactions, have been long sought as crucial candidates for the same, but there are still many questions that go unanswered. Some critical functions of these molecules associated with neuromodulation activities have been identified. They are also known to play a role in foetal neurodevelopment, but there is a lacuna in understanding their mechanisms. In this review, we have tried to assemble and identify the importance of purines and pyrimidines, connecting them with the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases. The leading cause of this class of diseases is protein misfolding and the formation of amyloids. A direct correlation between loss of balance in cellular homeostasis and amyloidosis is yet an unexplored area. This review aims at bringing the current literature available under one umbrella serving as a foundation for further extensive research in this field of drug development in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debanjan Kundu
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Varanasi, UP - 221005, India
| | - Vikash Kumar Dubey
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Varanasi, UP - 221005, India
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14
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Ruffini N, Klingenberg S, Schweiger S, Gerber S. Common Factors in Neurodegeneration: A Meta-Study Revealing Shared Patterns on a Multi-Omics Scale. Cells 2020; 9:E2642. [PMID: 33302607 PMCID: PMC7764447 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are heterogeneous, progressive diseases with frequently overlapping symptoms characterized by a loss of neurons. Studies have suggested relations between neurodegenerative diseases for many years (e.g., regarding the aggregation of toxic proteins or triggering endogenous cell death pathways). We gathered publicly available genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data from 177 studies and more than one million patients to detect shared genetic patterns between the neurodegenerative diseases on three analyzed omics-layers. The results show a remarkably high number of shared differentially expressed genes between the transcriptomic and proteomic levels for all conditions, while showing a significant relation between genomic and proteomic data between AD and PD and AD and ALS. We identified a set of 139 genes being differentially expressed in several transcriptomic experiments of all four diseases. These 139 genes showed overrepresented gene ontology (GO) Terms involved in the development of neurodegeneration, such as response to heat and hypoxia, positive regulation of cytokines and angiogenesis, and RNA catabolic process. Furthermore, the four analyzed neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) were clustered by their mean direction of regulation throughout all transcriptomic studies for this set of 139 genes, with the closest relation regarding this common gene set seen between AD and HD. GO-Term and pathway analysis of the proteomic overlap led to biological processes (BPs), related to protein folding and humoral immune response. Taken together, we could confirm the existence of many relations between Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis on transcriptomic and proteomic levels by analyzing the pathways and GO-Terms arising in these intersections. The significance of the connection and the striking relation of the results to processes leading to neurodegeneration between the transcriptomic and proteomic data for all four analyzed neurodegenerative diseases showed that exploring many studies simultaneously, including multiple omics-layers of different neurodegenerative diseases simultaneously, holds new relevant insights that do not emerge from analyzing these data separately. Furthermore, the results shed light on processes like the humoral immune response that have previously been described only for certain diseases. Our data therefore suggest human patients with neurodegenerative diseases should be addressed as complex biological systems by integrating multiple underlying data sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Ruffini
- Institute for Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (N.R.); (S.K.); (S.S.)
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Leibniz Association, Wallstraße 7, 55122 Mainz, Germany
| | - Susanne Klingenberg
- Institute for Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (N.R.); (S.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Susann Schweiger
- Institute for Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (N.R.); (S.K.); (S.S.)
| | - Susanne Gerber
- Institute for Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (N.R.); (S.K.); (S.S.)
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15
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Escobar-Henriques M, Anton V. Mitochondrial Surveillance by Cdc48/p97: MAD vs. Membrane Fusion. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6841. [PMID: 32961852 PMCID: PMC7555132 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cdc48/p97 is a ring-shaped, ATP-driven hexameric motor, essential for cellular viability. It specifically unfolds and extracts ubiquitylated proteins from membranes or protein complexes, mostly targeting them for proteolytic degradation by the proteasome. Cdc48/p97 is involved in a multitude of cellular processes, reaching from cell cycle regulation to signal transduction, also participating in growth or death decisions. The role of Cdc48/p97 in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD), where it extracts proteins targeted for degradation from the ER membrane, has been extensively described. Here, we present the roles of Cdc48/p97 in mitochondrial regulation. We discuss mitochondrial quality control surveillance by Cdc48/p97 in mitochondrial-associated degradation (MAD), highlighting the potential pathologic significance thereof. Furthermore, we present the current knowledge of how Cdc48/p97 regulates mitofusin activity in outer membrane fusion and how this may impact on neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mafalda Escobar-Henriques
- Institute for Genetics, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Straße 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
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16
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Jiang M, Zhang X, Liu H, LeBron J, Alexandris A, Peng Q, Gu H, Yang F, Li Y, Wang R, Hou Z, Arbez N, Ren Q, Dong JL, Whela E, Wang R, Ratovitski T, Troncoso JC, Mori S, Ross CA, Lim J, Duan W. Nemo-like kinase reduces mutant huntingtin levels and mitigates Huntington's disease. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:1340-1352. [PMID: 32242231 PMCID: PMC7254850 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nemo-like kinase (NLK), an evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine kinase, is highly expressed in the brain, but its function in the adult brain remains not well understood. In this study, we identify NLK as an interactor of huntingtin protein (HTT). We report that NLK levels are significantly decreased in HD human brain and HD models. Importantly, overexpression of NLK in the striatum attenuates brain atrophy, preserves striatal DARPP32 levels and reduces mutant HTT (mHTT) aggregation in HD mice. In contrast, genetic reduction of NLK exacerbates brain atrophy and loss of DARPP32 in HD mice. Moreover, we demonstrate that NLK lowers mHTT levels in a kinase activity-dependent manner, while having no significant effect on normal HTT protein levels in mouse striatal cells, human cells and HD mouse models. The NLK-mediated lowering of mHTT is associated with enhanced phosphorylation of mHTT. Phosphorylation defective mutation of serine at amino acid 120 (S120) abolishes the mHTT-lowering effect of NLK, suggesting that S120 phosphorylation is an important step in the NLK-mediated lowering of mHTT. A further mechanistic study suggests that NLK promotes mHTT ubiquitination and degradation via the proteasome pathway. Taken together, our results indicate a protective role of NLK in HD and reveal a new molecular target to reduce mHTT levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mali Jiang
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hongshuai Liu
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jared LeBron
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Athanasios Alexandris
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Qi Peng
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hao Gu
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Fanghan Yang
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yuchen Li
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ruiling Wang
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Zhipeng Hou
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicolas Arbez
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Qianwei Ren
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jen-Li Dong
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emma Whela
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ronald Wang
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tamara Ratovitski
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Juan C Troncoso
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Susumu Mori
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christopher A Ross
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Janghoo Lim
- Departments of Genetics and of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Wenzhen Duan
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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17
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Systematic microsatellite repeat expansion cloning and validation. Hum Genet 2020; 139:1233-1246. [PMID: 32277284 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-020-02165-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 3% of the human genome is composed of short tandem repeat (STR) DNA sequence known as microsatellites, which can be found in both coding and non-coding regions. When associated with genic regions, expansion of microsatellite repeats beyond a critical threshold causes dozens of neurological repeat expansion disorders. To better understand the molecular pathology of repeat expansion disorders, precise cloning of microsatellite repeat sequence and expansion size is highly valuable. Unfortunately, cloning repeat expansions is often challenging and presents a significant bottleneck to practical investigation. Here, we describe a clear method for seamless and systematic cloning of practically any microsatellite repeat expansion. We use cloning and expansion of GGGGCC repeats, which are the leading genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), as an example. We employ a recursive directional ligation (RDL) technique to build multiple GGGGCC repeat-containing vectors. We describe methods to validate repeat expansion cloning, including diagnostic restriction digestion, PCR across the repeat, and next-generation long-read MinION nanopore sequencing. Validated cloning of microsatellite repeats beyond the critical expansion threshold can facilitate step-by-step characterization of disease mechanisms at the cellular and molecular level.
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18
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Sun Y, Jiang X, Pan R, Zhou X, Qin D, Xiong R, Wang Y, Qiu W, Wu A, Wu J. Escins Isolated from Aesculus chinensis Bge. Promote the Autophagic Degradation of Mutant Huntingtin and Inhibit its Induced Apoptosis in HT22 cells. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:116. [PMID: 32158393 PMCID: PMC7052340 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of Huntington’s disease (HD), an inherited progressive neurodegenerative disease, is highly associated with the cytotoxicity-inducing mutant huntingtin (mHtt) protein. Emerging evidence indicates that autophagy plays a pivotal role in degrading aggregated proteins such as mHtt to enhance neuronal viability. In this study, by employing preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (pre-HPLC), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography diode-array-detector quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-Q-TOF-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), three escins, escin IA (EA), escin IB (EB) and isoescin IA (IEA), were isolated and identified from the seed of Aesculus chinensis Bge. (ACB). After EGFP-HTT74-overexpressing HT22 cells were treated with EA, EB and IEA at safe concentrations, the clearance of mHtt and mHtt-induced apoptosis were investigated by Western blot, immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry methods. In addition, the autophagy induced by these escins in HT22 cells was monitored by detecting GFP-LC3 puncta, P62 and LC3 protein expression. The results showed that EA, EB and IEA could significantly decrease mHtt levels and inhibit its induced apoptosis in HT22 cells. In addition, these three saponins induced autophagic flux by increasing the ratio of RFP-LC3 to GFP-LC3, and by decreasing P62 expression. Among the tested escins, EB displayed the best autophagy induction, which was regulated via both the mTOR and ERK signaling pathways. Furthermore, the degradation of mHtt and the commensurate decrease in its cytotoxic effects by EA, EB and IEA were demonstrated to be closely associated with autophagy induction, which depended on ATG7. In conclusion, we are the first to report that the escins, including EA, EB and IEA are novel autophagy inducers that degrade mHtt and inhibit mHtt-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. As a result of these findings, the triterpenoid saponins in ACB might be considered to be promising candidates for the treatment of HD in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueshan Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xueqin Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Rong Pan
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiaogang Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Dalian Qin
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Druggability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Rui Xiong
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yiling Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Wenqiao Qiu
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Anguo Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Druggability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jianming Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Druggability Evaluation, Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
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19
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Franich NR, Basso M, André EA, Ochaba J, Kumar A, Thein S, Fote G, Kachemov M, Lau AL, Yeung SY, Osmand A, Zeitlin SO, Ratan RR, Thompson LM, Steffan JS. Striatal Mutant Huntingtin Protein Levels Decline with Age in Homozygous Huntington's Disease Knock-In Mouse Models. J Huntingtons Dis 2019; 7:137-150. [PMID: 29843246 PMCID: PMC6002862 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-170274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with aging, caused by an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat within the Huntingtin (HTT) protein. In HD, degeneration of the striatum and atrophy of the cortex are observed while cerebellum is less affected. Objective: To test the hypothesis that HTT protein levels decline with age, which together with HTT mutation could influence disease progression. Methods: Using whole brain cell lysates, a unique method of SDS-PAGE and western analysis was used to quantitate HTT protein, which resolves as a monomer and as a high molecular weight species that is modulated by the presence of transglutaminase 2. HTT levels were measured in striatum, cortex and cerebellum in congenic homozygous Q140 and HdhQ150 knock-in mice and WT littermate controls. Results: Mutant HTT in both homozygous knock-in HD mouse models and WT HTT in control striatal and cortical tissues significantly declined in a progressive manner over time. Levels of mutant HTT in HD cerebellum remained high during aging. Conclusions: A general decline in mutant HTT levels in striatum and cortex is observed that may contribute to disease progression in homozygous knock-in HD mouse models through reduction of HTT function. In cerebellum, sustained levels of mutant HTT with aging may be protective to this tissue which is less overtly affected in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R Franich
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Manuela Basso
- Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Emily A André
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Joseph Ochaba
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Amit Kumar
- Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, USA.,Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Neurology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Soe Thein
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Gianna Fote
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Marketta Kachemov
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Alice L Lau
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sylvia Y Yeung
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Alexander Osmand
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Scott O Zeitlin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Rajiv R Ratan
- Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, USA.,Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Neurology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Leslie M Thompson
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Joan S Steffan
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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20
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Bonfanti S, Lionetti MC, Fumagalli MR, Chirasani VR, Tiana G, Dokholyan NV, Zapperi S, La Porta CAM. Molecular mechanisms of heterogeneous oligomerization of huntingtin proteins. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7615. [PMID: 31110208 PMCID: PMC6527588 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44151-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There is still no successful strategy to treat Huntington's disease, an inherited autosomal disorder associated with the aggregation of mutated forms of the huntingtin protein containing polyglutamine tracts with more than 36 repeats. Recent experimental evidence is challenging the conventional view of the disease by revealing transcellular transfer of mutated huntingtin proteins which are able to seed oligomers involving wild type forms of the protein. Here we decipher the molecular mechanism of this unconventional heterogeneous oligomerization by performing discrete molecular dynamics simulations. We identify the most probable oligomer conformations and the molecular regions that can be targeted to destabilize them. Our computational findings are complemented experimentally by fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy/fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FLIM-FRET) of cells co-transfected with huntingtin proteins containing short and large polyglutamine tracts. Our work clarifies the structural features responsible for heterogeneous huntingtin aggregation with possible implications to contrast the prion-like spreading of Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Bonfanti
- Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Department of Physics, University of Milan, Via Celoria 16, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Lionetti
- Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Fumagalli
- Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Venkat R Chirasani
- Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Guido Tiana
- Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Department of Physics, University of Milan, Via Celoria 16, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Stefano Zapperi
- Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Department of Physics, University of Milan, Via Celoria 16, 20133, Milano, Italy
- CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Chimica della Materia Condensata e di Tecnologie per l'Energia, Via R. Cozzi 53, 20125, Milano, Italy
| | - Caterina A M La Porta
- Center for Complexity and Biosystems, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy.
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21
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van der Beek J, Jonker C, van der Welle R, Liv N, Klumperman J. CORVET, CHEVI and HOPS – multisubunit tethers of the endo-lysosomal system in health and disease. J Cell Sci 2019; 132:132/10/jcs189134. [DOI: 10.1242/jcs.189134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Multisubunit tethering complexes (MTCs) are multitasking hubs that form a link between membrane fusion, organelle motility and signaling. CORVET, CHEVI and HOPS are MTCs of the endo-lysosomal system. They regulate the major membrane flows required for endocytosis, lysosome biogenesis, autophagy and phagocytosis. In addition, individual subunits control complex-independent transport of specific cargoes and exert functions beyond tethering, such as attachment to microtubules and SNARE activation. Mutations in CHEVI subunits lead to arthrogryposis, renal dysfunction and cholestasis (ARC) syndrome, while defects in CORVET and, particularly, HOPS are associated with neurodegeneration, pigmentation disorders, liver malfunction and various forms of cancer. Diseases and phenotypes, however, vary per affected subunit and a concise overview of MTC protein function and associated human pathologies is currently lacking. Here, we provide an integrated overview on the cellular functions and pathological defects associated with CORVET, CHEVI or HOPS proteins, both with regard to their complexes and as individual subunits. The combination of these data provides novel insights into how mutations in endo-lysosomal proteins lead to human pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan van der Beek
- Section Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Institute for Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CX, The Netherlands
| | - Caspar Jonker
- Section Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Institute for Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CX, The Netherlands
| | - Reini van der Welle
- Section Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Institute for Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CX, The Netherlands
| | - Nalan Liv
- Section Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Institute for Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CX, The Netherlands
| | - Judith Klumperman
- Section Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Institute for Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CX, The Netherlands
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22
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Wang Q, Wang C, Ji B, Zhou J, Yang C, Chen J. Hapln2 in Neurological Diseases and Its Potential as Therapeutic Target. Front Aging Neurosci 2019; 11:60. [PMID: 30949044 PMCID: PMC6437066 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 2 (Hapln2) is important for the binding of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans to hyaluronan. Hapln2 deficiency leads to the abnormal expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and dysfunctional neuronal conductivity, demonstrating the vital role of Hapln2 in these processes. Studies have revealed that Hapln2 promotes the aggregation of α-synuclein, thereby contributing to neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD), and it was recently suggested to be in intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Additionally, the expression levels of Hapln2 showed lower in the anterior temporal lobes of individuals with schizophrenia than those of healthy subjects. Together, these studies implicate the involvement of Hapln2 in the pathological processes of neurological diseases. A better understanding of the function of Hapln2 in the central nervous system (CNS) will provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of these diseases and help to establish promising therapeutic strategies. Herein, we review the recent progress in defining the role of Hapln2 in brain physiology and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinqin Wang
- Neurobiology Key Laboratory, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Chunmei Wang
- Neurobiology Key Laboratory, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Bingyuan Ji
- Neurobiology Key Laboratory, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Jiawei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunqing Yang
- Neurobiology Key Laboratory, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Neurobiology Key Laboratory, Jining Medical University, Jining, China.,Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
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23
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Tabrizi SJ, Ghosh R, Leavitt BR. Huntingtin Lowering Strategies for Disease Modification in Huntington's Disease. Neuron 2019; 101:801-819. [PMID: 30844400 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is caused by an abnormally expanded CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene, which confers a predominant toxic gain of function in the mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein. There are currently no disease-modifying therapies available, but approaches that target proximally in disease pathogenesis hold great promise. These include DNA-targeting techniques such as zinc-finger proteins, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and CRISPR/Cas9; post-transcriptional huntingtin-lowering approaches such as RNAi, antisense oligonucleotides, and small-molecule splicing modulators; and novel methods to clear the mHTT protein, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras. Improvements in the delivery and distribution of such agents as well as the development of objective biomarkers of disease and of HTT lowering pharmacodynamic outcomes have brought these potential therapies to the forefront of Huntington's disease research, with clinical trials in patients already underway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Tabrizi
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute (DRI) at UCL, London, UK.
| | - Rhia Ghosh
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- UBC Centre for Huntington's Disease, Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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24
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Illarioshkin SN, Klyushnikov SA, Vigont VA, Seliverstov YA, Kaznacheyeva EV. Molecular Pathogenesis in Huntington's Disease. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2018; 83:1030-1039. [PMID: 30472941 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297918090043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a severe autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a combination of motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms, atrophy of the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex, and inevitably progressive course resulting in death 5-20 years after manifestation of its symptoms. HD is caused by expansion of CAG repeats in the HTT gene, which leads to pathological elongation of the polyglutamine tract within the respective protein - huntingtin. In this review, we present a modern view on molecular biology of HD as a representative of the group of polyglutamine diseases, with an emphasis on conformational changes of mutant huntingtin, disturbances in its cellular processing, and proteolytic stress in degenerating neurons. Main pathogenetic mechanisms of neurodegeneration in HD are discussed in detail, such as systemic failure of transcription, mitochondrial dysfunction and suppression of energy metabolism, abnormalities of cytoskeleton and axonal transport, microglial inflammation, decrease in synthesis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - S A Klyushnikov
- Research Center of Neurology, Moscow, 125367, Russia.,Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia
| | - V A Vigont
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia.
| | | | - E V Kaznacheyeva
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia.
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25
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Hussain R, Zubair H, Pursell S, Shahab M. Neurodegenerative Diseases: Regenerative Mechanisms and Novel Therapeutic Approaches. Brain Sci 2018; 8:E177. [PMID: 30223579 PMCID: PMC6162719 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8090177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Regeneration refers to regrowth of tissue in the central nervous system. It includes generation of new neurons, glia, myelin, and synapses, as well as the regaining of essential functions: sensory, motor, emotional and cognitive abilities. Unfortunately, regeneration within the nervous system is very slow compared to other body systems. This relative slowness is attributed to increased vulnerability to irreversible cellular insults and the loss of function due to the very long lifespan of neurons, the stretch of cells and cytoplasm over several dozens of inches throughout the body, insufficiency of the tissue-level waste removal system, and minimal neural cell proliferation/self-renewal capacity. In this context, the current review summarized the most common features of major neurodegenerative disorders; their causes and consequences and proposed novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashad Hussain
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
| | - Hira Zubair
- Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
| | - Sarah Pursell
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
| | - Muhammad Shahab
- Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
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26
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Chang CC, Lin TC, Ho HL, Kuo CY, Li HH, Korolenko TA, Chen WJ, Lai TJ, Ho YJ, Lin CL. GLP-1 Analogue Liraglutide Attenuates Mutant Huntingtin-Induced Neurotoxicity by Restoration of Neuronal Insulin Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19092505. [PMID: 30149534 PMCID: PMC6164932 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19092505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 08/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by CAG repeat expansion in the coding region of huntingtin (HTT) protein. The accumulation of mutant HTT (mHTT) contributes to neurotoxicity by causing autophagy defects and oxidative stress that ultimately lead to neuronal death. Interestingly, epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that the prevalence of type-2 diabetes, a metabolic disease mainly caused by defective insulin signaling, is higher in patients with HD than in healthy controls. Although the precise mechanisms of mHTT-mediated toxicity remain unclear, the blockade of brain insulin signaling may initiate or exacerbate mHTT-induced neurodegeneration. In this study, we used an in vitro HD model to investigate whether neuronal insulin signaling is involved in mHTT-mediated neurotoxicity. Our results demonstrated that mHTT overexpression significantly impairs insulin signaling and causes apoptosis in neuronal cells. However, treatment with liraglutide, a GLP-1 analogue, markedly restores insulin sensitivity and enhances cell viability. This neuroprotective effect may be attributed to the contribution of the upregulated expression of genes associated with endogenous antioxidant pathways to oxidative stress reduction. In addition, liraglutide stimulates autophagy through AMPK activation, which attenuates the accumulation of HTT aggregates within neuronal cells. Our findings collectively suggest that liraglutide can rescue impaired insulin signaling caused by mHTT and that GLP-1 may potentially reduce mHTT-induced neurotoxicity in the pathogenesis of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Chi Chang
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
- Department of Psychiatry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
| | - Tzu-Chin Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
| | - Hsiao-Li Ho
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
| | - Chien-Yin Kuo
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
| | - Hsin-Hua Li
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
| | - Tatiana A Korolenko
- Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution, Scientific Research Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk 630117, Russia.
| | - Wei-Jen Chen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
| | - Te-Jen Lai
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
- Department of Psychiatry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
| | - Ying-Jui Ho
- Department of Psychology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
| | - Chih-Li Lin
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
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27
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Corey-Bloom J, Haque AS, Park S, Nathan AS, Baker RW, Thomas EA. Salivary levels of total huntingtin are elevated in Huntington's disease patients. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7371. [PMID: 29743609 PMCID: PMC5943337 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25095-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with Huntington's disease (HD), an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disease, show substantial variability in age-of-onset, symptom severity and course of illness, warranting the need for biomarkers to anticipate and monitor these features. The HD gene encodes the disease protein huntingtin (Htt), a potentially useful biomarker for this disease. In the current study, we determined whether total Htt protein (normal plus mutant; "tHtt") could be reliably measured in human saliva, a body fluid that is much more accessible compared to cerebral spinal fluid or even blood, and whether salivary levels of tHtt were clinically meaningful. We collected 146 saliva samples from manifest HD patients, early-premanifest individuals, late-premanifest patients, gene-negative family members and normal controls. We found that tHtt protein could be reliably and stably detected in human saliva and that tHtt levels were significantly increased in saliva from HD individuals compared to normal controls. Salivary tHtt showed no gender effects, nor were levels correlated with total protein levels in saliva. Salivary tHtt was significantly positively correlated with age, but not age-of-onset or CAG-repeat length. Importantly, salivary tHtt was significantly correlated with several clinical measures, indicating relevance to disease symptom onset and/or severity. Measurements of salivary tHtt offer significant promise as a relevant, non-invasive disease biomarker for HD, and its use could be implemented into clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jody Corey-Bloom
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ameera S Haque
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sungmee Park
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ajay S Nathan
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Robert W Baker
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Thomas
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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28
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Denny P, Feuermann M, Hill DP, Lovering RC, Plun-Favreau H, Roncaglia P. Exploring autophagy with Gene Ontology. Autophagy 2018; 14:419-436. [PMID: 29455577 PMCID: PMC5915032 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2017.1415189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a fundamental cellular process that is well conserved among eukaryotes. It is one of the strategies that cells use to catabolize substances in a controlled way. Autophagy is used for recycling cellular components, responding to cellular stresses and ridding cells of foreign material. Perturbations in autophagy have been implicated in a number of pathological conditions such as neurodegeneration, cardiac disease and cancer. The growing knowledge about autophagic mechanisms needs to be collected in a computable and shareable format to allow its use in data representation and interpretation. The Gene Ontology (GO) is a freely available resource that describes how and where gene products function in biological systems. It consists of 3 interrelated structured vocabularies that outline what gene products do at the biochemical level, where they act in a cell and the overall biological objectives to which their actions contribute. It also consists of ‘annotations’ that associate gene products with the terms. Here we describe how we represent autophagy in GO, how we create and define terms relevant to autophagy researchers and how we interrelate those terms to generate a coherent view of the process, therefore allowing an interoperable description of its biological aspects. We also describe how annotation of gene products with GO terms improves data analysis and interpretation, hence bringing a significant benefit to this field of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Denny
- a Functional Gene Annotation , Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London , London , UK
| | - Marc Feuermann
- b SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics , Geneva , Switzerland
| | - David P Hill
- c The Jackson Laboratory , Bar Harbor , ME , USA.,f The Gene Ontology Consortium
| | - Ruth C Lovering
- a Functional Gene Annotation , Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London , London , UK
| | - Helene Plun-Favreau
- d Department of Molecular Neuroscience , UCL Institute of Neurology , London , UK
| | - Paola Roncaglia
- e European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) , European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Wellcome Genome Campus , Hinxton , Cambridge , UK.,f The Gene Ontology Consortium
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29
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Pierzynowska K, Gaffke L, Hać A, Mantej J, Niedziałek N, Brokowska J, Węgrzyn G. Correction of Huntington's Disease Phenotype by Genistein-Induced Autophagy in the Cellular Model. Neuromolecular Med 2018; 20:112-123. [PMID: 29435951 PMCID: PMC5834590 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-018-8482-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a monogenic disorder, caused by mutations in the HTT gene which result in expansion of CAG triplets. The product of the mutated gene is misfolded huntingtin protein that forms aggregates leading to impairment of neuronal function, neurodegeneration, motor abnormalities and cognitive deficits. No effective cure is currently available for HD. Here we studied effects of genistein (trihydroxyisoflavone) on a HD cellular model consisting of HEK-293 cells transfected with a plasmid bearing mutated HTT gene. Both level of mutated huntingtin and number of aggregates were significantly decreased in genistein-treated HD cell model. This led to increased viability of the cells. Autophagy was up-regulated while inhibition of lysosomal functions by chloroquine impaired the genistein-mediated degradation of the mutated huntingtin aggregates. Hence, we conclude that through stimulating autophagy, genistein removes the major pathogenic factor of HD. Prolonged induction of autophagy was suspected previously to be risky for patients due to putative adverse effects; however, genistein has been demonstrated recently to be safe and suitable for long-term therapies even at doses as high as 150 mg/kg/day. Therefore, results presented in this report provide a basis for the use of genistein in further studies on development of the potential treatment of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Pierzynowska
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Lidia Gaffke
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Hać
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jagoda Mantej
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Natalia Niedziałek
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Joanna Brokowska
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Węgrzyn
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland.
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30
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Luo H, Cao L, Liang X, Du A, Peng T, Li H. Herp Promotes Degradation of Mutant Huntingtin: Involvement of the Proteasome and Molecular Chaperones. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:7652-7668. [PMID: 29430620 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0900-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
In neurodegenerative diseases, pathogenic proteins tend to misfold and form aggregates that are difficult to remove and able to induce excessive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, leading to neuronal injury and apoptosis. Homocysteine-induced endoplasmic reticulum protein (Herp), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, is an important early marker of ER stress and is involved in the ubiquitination and degradation of many neurodegenerative proteins. However, in Huntington's disease (HD), a typical polyglutamine disease, whether Herp is also involved in the metabolism and degradation of the pathogenic protein, mutant huntingtin, has not been reported. Therefore, we studied the relationship between Herp and N-terminal fragments of huntingtin (HttN-20Q and HttN-160Q). We found that Herp was able to bind to the overexpressed Htt N-terminal, and this interaction was enhanced by expansion of the polyQ fragment. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that Herp was co-localized with the HttN-160Q aggregates in the cytoplasm and tightly surrounded the aggregates. Overexpression of Herp significantly decreased the amount of soluble and insoluble HttN-160Q, promoted its ubiquitination, and inhibited its cytotoxicity. In contrast, knockdown of Herp resulted in more HttN-160Q protein, less ubiquitination, and stronger cytotoxicity. Inhibition of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) had no effect on the function of Herp. However, blocking the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) inhibited the reduction in soluble HttN-160Q caused by Herp. Interestingly, blocking the UPP did not weaken the ability of Herp to reduce HttN-160Q aggregates. Deletions of the N-terminal of Herp weakened its ability to inhibit HttN-160Q aggregation but did not result in a significant increase in its soluble form. However, loss of the C-terminal led to a significant increase in soluble HttN-160Q, but Herp still maintained the ability to inhibit aggregate formation. We further found that the expression level of Herp was significantly increased in HD animal and cell models. Our findings suggest that Herp is a newly identified huntingtin-interacting protein that is able to reduce the cytotoxicity of mutant huntingtin by inhibiting its aggregation and promoting its degradation. The N-terminal of Herp serves as the molecular chaperone to inhibit protein aggregation, while its C-terminal functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase to promote the degradation of misfolded proteins through the UPP. Increased expression of Herp in HD models may be a pro-survival mechanism under stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Luo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, People's Republic of China
| | - Liying Cao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan Liang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Ana Du
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Peng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China. .,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
| | - He Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China. .,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Histology and Embryology, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, People's Republic of China.
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31
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Oliva J. Proteasome and Organs Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 19:ijms19010106. [PMID: 29301204 PMCID: PMC5796056 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19010106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The treatment of organ failure on patients requires the transplantation of functional organs, from donors. Over time, the methodology of transplantation was improved by the development of organ preservation solutions. The storage of organs in preservation solutions is followed by the ischemia of the organ, resulting in a shortage of oxygen and nutrients, which damage the tissues. When the organ is ready for the transplantation, the reperfusion of the organ induces an increase of the oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and inflammation which causes tissue damage, resulting in a decrease of the transplantation success. However, the addition of proteasome inhibitor in the preservation solution alleviated the injuries due to the ischemia-reperfusion process. The proteasome is a protein structure involved in the regulation the inflammation and the clearance of damaged proteins. The goal of this review is to summarize the role of the proteasome and pharmacological compounds that regulate the proteasome in protecting the organs from the ischemia-reperfusion injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Oliva
- Department of Medicine, LA BioMed at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA.
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Kapur M, Monaghan CE, Ackerman SL. Regulation of mRNA Translation in Neurons-A Matter of Life and Death. Neuron 2017; 96:616-637. [PMID: 29096076 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.09.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Dynamic regulation of mRNA translation initiation and elongation is essential for the survival and function of neural cells. Global reductions in translation initiation resulting from mutations in the translational machinery or inappropriate activation of the integrated stress response may contribute to pathogenesis in a subset of neurodegenerative disorders. Aberrant proteins generated by non-canonical translation initiation may be a factor in the neuron death observed in the nucleotide repeat expansion diseases. Dysfunction of central components of the elongation machinery, such as the tRNAs and their associated enzymes, can cause translational infidelity and ribosome stalling, resulting in neurodegeneration. Taken together, dysregulation of mRNA translation is emerging as a unifying mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mridu Kapur
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Section of Neurobiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Caitlin E Monaghan
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Section of Neurobiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Susan L Ackerman
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Section of Neurobiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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Paré MF, Jasmin BJ. Chronic 5-Aminoimidazole-4-Carboxamide-1-β-d-Ribofuranoside Treatment Induces Phenotypic Changes in Skeletal Muscle, but Does Not Improve Disease Outcomes in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. Front Neurol 2017; 8:516. [PMID: 29021780 PMCID: PMC5623671 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative genetic disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms. It is well established that regular physical activity supports brain health, benefiting cognitive function, mental health as well as brain structure and plasticity. Exercise mimetics (EMs) are a group of drugs and small molecules that target signaling pathways in skeletal muscle known to be activated by endurance exercise. The EM 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR) has been shown to induce cognitive benefits in healthy mice. Since AICAR does not readily cross the blood–brain barrier, its beneficial effect on the brain has been ascribed to its impact on skeletal muscle. Our objective, therefore, was to examine the effect of chronic AICAR treatment on the muscular and neurological pathology in a mouse model of HD. To this end, R6/2 mice were treated with AICAR for 8 weeks and underwent regular neurobehavioral testing. Under our conditions, AICAR increased expression of PGC-1α, a powerful phenotypic modifier of muscle, and induced the expected shift toward a more oxidative muscle phenotype in R6/2 mice. However, this treatment failed to induce benefits on HD progression. Indeed, neurobehavioral deficits, striatal, and muscle mutant huntingtin aggregate density, as well as muscle atrophy were not mitigated by the chronic administration of AICAR. Although the muscle adaptations seen in HD mice following AICAR treatment may still provide therapeutically relevant benefits to patients with limited mobility, our findings indicate that under our experimental conditions, AICAR had no effect on several hallmarks of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-France Paré
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Bernard J Jasmin
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Du X, Huo X, Yang Y, Hu Z, Botchway BOA, Jiang Y, Fang M. miR-124 downregulates BACE 1 and alters autophagy in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Toxicol Lett 2017; 280:195-205. [PMID: 28867212 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2017.08.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
One role of BACE 1 (Beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1) is to cleave the sequential amyloid precursor protein (APP) into β-Amyloid (Aβ), the accumulation of which is an important participant in the formation of the amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our previous study showed BACE 1, the potential functional downstream target of miR-124, to be connected to cell death in AD cell models. Recent studies have shown that autophagy is altered in AD, however, as to whether miR-124 is involved in this alteration is not clear. In this study, 7-month-old APP/PS1 transgenic mice were transfected with miR-124 lentiviral vectors, injected bilaterally into the dentate gyrus (DG) of mice hippocampi. Following 7 days of recovery, both behavior and biochemical pathology tests were implemented. The results demonstrated learning ability improvement and specific AD pathology alleviation. Meanwhile there was down-regulation of Bcl-2 to Bax ratio expression, increase in Beclin-1 and decreases in expression of LC3II, Atg5 and p62/SQSTMl. In view of this, we hypothesis that miR-124 conducts its neuroprotective effect through BACE 1 by regulation of autophagic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Du
- Institute of Neuroscience, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xue Huo
- Institute of Neuroscience, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhiying Hu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Benson O A Botchway
- Institute of Neuroscience, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuting Jiang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Marong Fang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
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Rohilla KJ, Gagnon KT. RNA biology of disease-associated microsatellite repeat expansions. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2017; 5:63. [PMID: 28851463 PMCID: PMC5574247 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-017-0468-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microsatellites, or simple tandem repeat sequences, occur naturally in the human genome and have important roles in genome evolution and function. However, the expansion of microsatellites is associated with over two dozen neurological diseases. A common denominator among the majority of these disorders is the expression of expanded tandem repeat-containing RNA, referred to as xtrRNA in this review, which can mediate molecular disease pathology in multiple ways. This review focuses on the potential impact that simple tandem repeat expansions can have on the biology and metabolism of RNA that contain them and underscores important gaps in understanding. Merging the molecular biology of repeat expansion disorders with the current understanding of RNA biology, including splicing, transcription, transport, turnover and translation, will help clarify mechanisms of disease and improve therapeutic development.
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Hwang HY, Cho SM, Kwon HJ. Approaches for discovering novel bioactive small molecules targeting autophagy. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2017; 12:909-923. [PMID: 28758515 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2017.1349751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In recent years, development of novel bioactive small molecules targeting autophagy has been implicated for autophagy-related disease treatment. Screening new small molecules regulating autophagy allows for the discovery of novel autophagy machinery and therapeutic agents. Areas covered: Two major screening methods for novel autophagy modulators are introduced in this review, namely target based screening and phenotype based screening. With increasing attention focused on chemical compound libraries, coupled with the development of new assay systems, this review attempts to provide an efficient strategy to explore autophagy biology and discover small molecules for the treatment of autophagy-related diseases. Expert opinion: Adopting an appropriate autophagy screening strategy is important for developing small molecules capable of treating neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. Phenotype based screening and target based screening were both used for developing effective small molecules. However, each of these methods has many pros and cons. An efficient approach is suggested to screen for novel lead compounds targeting autophagy, which could provide new hits with better efficiency and rapidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Yun Hwang
- a Chemical Genomics Global Research Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology , Yonsei University , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Min Cho
- a Chemical Genomics Global Research Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology , Yonsei University , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Jeong Kwon
- a Chemical Genomics Global Research Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology , Yonsei University , Seoul , Republic of Korea
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Cleary JD, Ranum LP. New developments in RAN translation: insights from multiple diseases. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2017; 44:125-134. [PMID: 28365506 PMCID: PMC5951168 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2017.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Since the discovery of repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation, and more recently its association with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/frontotemporal dementia, there has been an intense focus to understand how this process works and the downstream effects of these novel proteins. RAN translation across several different types of repeat expansions mutations (CAG, CTG, CCG, GGGGCC, GGCCCC) results in the production of proteins in all three reading frames without an ATG initiation codon. The combination of bidirectional transcription and RAN translation has been shown to result in the accumulation of up to six mutant expansion proteins in a growing number of diseases. This process is complex mechanistically and also complex from the perspective of the downstream consequences in disease. Here we review recent developments in RAN translation and their implications on our basic understanding of neurodegenerative disease and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Douglas Cleary
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Laura Pw Ranum
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Abstract
Maintaining synaptic integrity and function depends on the continuous removal and degradation of aged or damaged proteins. Synaptic protein degradation has received considerable attention in the context of synaptic plasticity and growing interest in relation to neurodegenerative and other disorders. Conversely, less attention has been given to constitutive, ongoing synaptic protein degradation and the roles canonical degradation pathways play in these processes. Here we briefly review recent progress on this topic and new experimental approaches which have expedited such progress and highlight several emerging principles. These include the realization that synaptic proteins typically have unusually long lifetimes, as might be expected from the remote locations of most synaptic sites; the possibility that degradation pathways can change with time from synthesis, cellular context, and physiological input; and that degradation pathways, other than ubiquitin-proteasomal-mediated degradation, might play key roles in constitutive protein degradation at synaptic sites. Finally, we point to the importance of careful experimental design and sufficiently sensitive techniques for studying synaptic protein degradation, which bring into account their slow turnover rates and complex life cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie D Cohen
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Rappaport Institute and Network Biology Research Laboratories, Technion City, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Noam E Ziv
- Technion Faculty of Medicine, Rappaport Institute and Network Biology Research Laboratories, Technion City, Haifa, 32000, Israel
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Sakuma S, D'Angelo MA. The roles of the nuclear pore complex in cellular dysfunction, aging and disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 68:72-84. [PMID: 28506892 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The study of the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC), the proteins that compose it (nucleoporins), and the nucleocytoplasmic transport that it controls have revealed an unexpected layer to pathogenic disease onset and progression. Recent advances in the study of the regulation of NPC composition and function suggest that the precise control of this structure is necessary to prevent diseases from arising or progressing. Here we discuss the role of nucleoporins in a diverse set of diseases, many of which directly or indirectly increase in occurrence and severity as we age, and often shorten the human lifespan. NPC biology has been shown to play a direct role in these diseases and therefore in the process of healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Sakuma
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program (DARe), Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Maximiliano A D'Angelo
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program (DARe), Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Xu H, An JJ, Xu B. Distinct cellular toxicity of two mutant huntingtin mRNA variants due to translation regulation. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177610. [PMID: 28494017 PMCID: PMC5426682 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG repeat expansion within exon1 of the HTT gene. The gene generates two mRNA variants that carry either a short or long 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) while encoding the same protein. It remains unknown whether the two mRNA variants play distinct roles in HD pathogenesis. We found that the long HTT 3'UTR was capable of guiding mRNA to neuronal dendrites, suggesting that some long-form HTT mRNA is transported to dendrites for local protein synthesis. To assay roles of two HTT mRNA variants in cell bodies, we expressed mRNA harboring HTT exon1 containing 23x or 145x CAGs with the short or long 3'UTR. We found that mutant mRNA containing the short 3'UTR produced more protein aggregates and caused more apoptosis in both cultured neurons and HEK293 cells, compared with mutant mRNA containing the long 3'UTR. Although the two 3'UTRs did not affect mRNA stability, we detected higher levels of protein synthesis from mRNA containing the short 3'UTR than from mRNA containing the long 3'UTR. These results indicate that the long HTT 3'UTR suppresses translation. Thus, short-form mutant HTT mRNA will be more efficient in producing toxic protein than its long-form counterpart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haifei Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, Florida, United States of America
| | - Juan Ji An
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, Florida, United States of America
| | - Baoji Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, Florida, United States of America
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Neurodegenerative Diseases: Might Citrus Flavonoids Play a Protective Role? Molecules 2016; 21:molecules21101312. [PMID: 27706034 PMCID: PMC6274333 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21101312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) result from the gradual and progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the central nervous system or the peripheral nervous system or both. They are characterized by deterioration of neurons and/or myelin sheath, disruption of sensory information transmission and loss of movement control. There is no effective treatment for ND, and the drugs currently marketed are symptom-oriented, albeit with several side effects. Within the past decades, several natural remedies have gained attention as potential neuroprotective drugs. Moreover, an increasing number of studies have suggested that dietary intake of vegetables and fruits can prevent or delay the onset of ND. These properties are mainly due to the presence of polyphenols, an important group of phytochemicals that are abundantly present in fruits, vegetables, cereals and beverages. The main class of polyphenols is flavonoids, abundant in Citrus fruits. Our review is an overview on the scientific literature concerning the neuroprotective effects of the Citrus flavonoids in the prevention or treatment of ND. This review may be used as scientific basis for the development of nutraceuticals, food supplements or complementary and alternative drugs to maintain and improve the neurophysiological status.
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