1
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Torres P, Rico-Rios S, Ceron-Codorniu M, Santacreu-Vilaseca M, Seoane-Miraz D, Jad Y, Ayala V, Mariño G, Beltran M, Miralles MP, Andrés-Benito P, Fernandez-Irigoyen J, Santamaria E, López-Otín C, Soler RM, Povedano M, Ferrer I, Pamplona R, Wood MJA, Varela MA, Portero-Otin M. TDP-43 regulates LC3ylation in neural tissue through ATG4B cryptic splicing inhibition. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 148:45. [PMID: 39305312 PMCID: PMC11416411 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02780-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset motor neuron disease with a mean survival time of three years. The 97% of the cases have TDP-43 nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic aggregation in motor neurons. TDP-43 prevents non-conserved cryptic exon splicing in certain genes, maintaining transcript stability, including ATG4B, which is crucial for autophagosome maturation and Microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3B) homeostasis. In ALS mice (G93A), Atg4b depletion worsens survival rates and autophagy function. For the first time, we observed an elevation of LC3ylation in the CNS of both ALS patients and atg4b-/- mouse spinal cords. Furthermore, LC3ylation modulates the distribution of ATG3 across membrane compartments. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting cryptic exon restore ATG4B mRNA in TARDBP knockdown cells. We further developed multi-target ASOs targeting TDP-43 binding sequences for a broader effect. Importantly, our ASO based in peptide-PMO conjugates show brain distribution post-IV administration, offering a non-invasive ASO-based treatment avenue for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascual Torres
- Metabolic Pathophysiology Research Group, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida (UdL), Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Santiago Rico-Rios
- Metabolic Pathophysiology Research Group, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida (UdL), Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Miriam Ceron-Codorniu
- Metabolic Pathophysiology Research Group, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida (UdL), Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Marta Santacreu-Vilaseca
- Metabolic Pathophysiology Research Group, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida (UdL), Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - David Seoane-Miraz
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford, OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yahya Jad
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford, OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Victòria Ayala
- Metabolic Pathophysiology Research Group, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida (UdL), Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Guillermo Mariño
- Departamento de Biología Funcional, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), 33006, Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33011, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Maria Beltran
- Neuronal Signaling Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), University of Lleida (UdL), 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Maria P Miralles
- Neuronal Signaling Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), University of Lleida (UdL), 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Pol Andrés-Benito
- Neurologic Diseases and Neurogenetics Group, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquin Fernandez-Irigoyen
- Clinical Neuroproteomics Unit, Proteomics Platform, Proteored-ISCIII, Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), diSNA, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Enrique Santamaria
- Clinical Neuroproteomics Unit, Proteomics Platform, Proteored-ISCIII, Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), diSNA, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Carlos López-Otín
- Departamento de Biología Funcional, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), 33006, Oviedo, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Rosa M Soler
- Neuronal Signaling Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), University of Lleida (UdL), 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Monica Povedano
- Neurologic Diseases and Neurogenetics Group, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Neuropathology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research, IDIBELL, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, 08007, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Reinald Pamplona
- Metabolic Pathophysiology Research Group, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida (UdL), Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Matthew J A Wood
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford, OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Miguel A Varela
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford, OX3 7TY, UK.
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Manuel Portero-Otin
- Metabolic Pathophysiology Research Group, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida (UdL), Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida), 25198, Lleida, Spain.
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2
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van der Geest AT, Jakobs CE, Ljubikj T, Huffels CFM, Cañizares Luna M, Vieira de Sá R, Adolfs Y, de Wit M, Rutten DH, Kaal M, Zwartkruis MM, Carcolé M, Groen EJN, Hol EM, Basak O, Isaacs AM, Westeneng HJ, van den Berg LH, Veldink JH, Schlegel DK, Pasterkamp RJ. Molecular pathology, developmental changes and synaptic dysfunction in (pre-) symptomatic human C9ORF72-ALS/FTD cerebral organoids. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:152. [PMID: 39289761 PMCID: PMC11409520 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01857-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
A hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) in C9ORF72 is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Human brain imaging and experimental studies indicate early changes in brain structure and connectivity in C9-ALS/FTD, even before symptom onset. Because these early disease phenotypes remain incompletely understood, we generated iPSC-derived cerebral organoid models from C9-ALS/FTD patients, presymptomatic C9ORF72-HRE (C9-HRE) carriers, and controls. Our work revealed the presence of all three C9-HRE-related molecular pathologies and developmental stage-dependent size phenotypes in cerebral organoids from C9-ALS/FTD patients. In addition, single-cell RNA sequencing identified changes in cell type abundance and distribution in C9-ALS/FTD organoids, including a reduction in the number of deep layer cortical neurons and the distribution of neural progenitors. Further, molecular and cellular analyses and patch-clamp electrophysiology detected various changes in synapse structure and function. Intriguingly, organoids from all presymptomatic C9-HRE carriers displayed C9-HRE molecular pathology, whereas the extent to which more downstream cellular defects, as found in C9-ALS/FTD models, were detected varied for the different presymptomatic C9-HRE cases. Together, these results unveil early changes in 3D human brain tissue organization and synaptic connectivity in C9-ALS/FTD that likely constitute initial pathologies crucial for understanding disease onset and the design of therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid T van der Geest
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Channa E Jakobs
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tijana Ljubikj
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Christiaan F M Huffels
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marta Cañizares Luna
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Renata Vieira de Sá
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Youri Adolfs
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marina de Wit
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Daan H Rutten
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marthe Kaal
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maria M Zwartkruis
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mireia Carcolé
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL and Dept. of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Ewout J N Groen
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Onur Basak
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Adrian M Isaacs
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL and Dept. of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Henk-Jan Westeneng
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Leonard H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan H Veldink
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Domino K Schlegel
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - R Jeroen Pasterkamp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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3
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Zelina P, de Ruiter AA, Kolsteeg C, van Ginneken I, Vos HR, Supiot LF, Burgering BMT, Meye FJ, Veldink JH, van den Berg LH, Pasterkamp RJ. ALS-associated C21ORF2 variant disrupts DNA damage repair, mitochondrial metabolism, neuronal excitability and NEK1 levels in human motor neurons. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:144. [PMID: 39227882 PMCID: PMC11373222 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01852-6] [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: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease leading to motor neuron loss. Currently mutations in > 40 genes have been linked to ALS, but the contribution of many genes and genetic mutations to the ALS pathogenic process remains poorly understood. Therefore, we first performed comparative interactome analyses of five recently discovered ALS-associated proteins (C21ORF2, KIF5A, NEK1, TBK1, and TUBA4A) which highlighted many novel binding partners, and both unique and shared interactors. The analysis further identified C21ORF2 as a strongly connected protein. The role of C21ORF2 in neurons and in the nervous system, and of ALS-associated C21ORF2 variants is largely unknown. Therefore, we combined human iPSC-derived motor neurons with other models and different molecular cell biological approaches to characterize the potential pathogenic effects of C21ORF2 mutations in ALS. First, our data show C21ORF2 expression in ALS-relevant mouse and human neurons, such as spinal and cortical motor neurons. Further, the prominent ALS-associated variant C21ORF2-V58L caused increased apoptosis in mouse neurons and movement defects in zebrafish embryos. iPSC-derived motor neurons from C21ORF2-V58L-ALS patients, but not isogenic controls, show increased apoptosis, and changes in DNA damage response, mitochondria and neuronal excitability. In addition, C21ORF2-V58L induced post-transcriptional downregulation of NEK1, an ALS-associated protein implicated in apoptosis and DDR. In all, our study defines the pathogenic molecular and cellular effects of ALS-associated C21ORF2 mutations and implicates impaired post-transcriptional regulation of NEK1 downstream of mutant C21ORF72 in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavol Zelina
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Aster de Ruiter
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Christy Kolsteeg
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ilona van Ginneken
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Harmjan R Vos
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Oncode Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Laura F Supiot
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Boudewijn M T Burgering
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Oncode Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Frank J Meye
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan H Veldink
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Leonard H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - R Jeroen Pasterkamp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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4
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Scaber J, Thomas-Wright I, Clark AJ, Xu Y, Vahsen BF, Carcolé M, Dafinca R, Farrimond L, Isaacs AM, Bennett DL, Talbot K. Cellular and axonal transport phenotypes due to the C9ORF72 HRE in iPSC motor and sensory neurons. Stem Cell Reports 2024; 19:957-972. [PMID: 38876108 PMCID: PMC11252479 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.05.008] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neurons (MNs) from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the C9ORF72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) have multiple cellular phenotypes, but which of these accurately reflect the biology underlying the cell-specific vulnerability of ALS is uncertain. We therefore compared phenotypes due to the C9ORF72 HRE in MNs with sensory neurons (SNs), which are relatively spared in ALS. The iPSC models were able to partially reproduce the differential gene expression seen between adult SNs and MNs. We demonstrated that the typical hallmarks of C9ORF72-ALS, including RNA foci and dipeptide formation, as well as specific axonal transport defects, occurred equally in MNs and SNs, suggesting that these in vitro phenotypes are not sufficient to explain the cell-type selectivity of ALS in isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Scaber
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK.
| | - Iona Thomas-Wright
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Alex J Clark
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK; Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University, E1 2AT London, UK
| | - Yinyan Xu
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), CAMS Oxford Institute (COI), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7FZ Oxford, UK
| | - Björn F Vahsen
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Mireia Carcolé
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, WCIN 3BG London, UK
| | - Ruxandra Dafinca
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Lucy Farrimond
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK
| | - Adrian M Isaacs
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, WCIN 3BG London, UK
| | - David L Bennett
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, OX1 3QU Oxford, UK.
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5
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Clayton EL, Huggon L, Cousin MA, Mizielinska S. Synaptopathy: presynaptic convergence in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain 2024; 147:2289-2307. [PMID: 38451707 PMCID: PMC11224618 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are common forms of neurodegenerative disease that share overlapping genetics and pathologies. Crucially, no significantly disease-modifying treatments are available for either disease. Identifying the earliest changes that initiate neuronal dysfunction is important for designing effective intervention therapeutics. The genes mutated in genetic forms of frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have diverse cellular functions, and multiple disease mechanisms have been proposed for both. Identification of a convergent disease mechanism in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis would focus research for a targetable pathway, which could potentially effectively treat all forms of frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (both familial and sporadic). Synaptopathies are diseases resulting from physiological dysfunction of synapses, and define the earliest stages in multiple neuronal diseases, with synapse loss a key feature in dementia. At the presynapse, the process of synaptic vesicle recruitment, fusion and recycling is necessary for activity-dependent neurotransmitter release. The unique distal location of the presynaptic terminal means the tight spatio-temporal control of presynaptic homeostasis is dependent on efficient local protein translation and degradation. Recently, numerous publications have shown that mutations associated with frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis present with synaptopathy characterized by presynaptic dysfunction. This review will describe the complex local signalling and membrane trafficking events that occur at the presynapse to facilitate neurotransmission and will summarize recent publications linking frontotemporal dementia/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis genetic mutations to presynaptic function. This evidence indicates that presynaptic synaptopathy is an early and convergent event in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and illustrates the need for further research in this area, to identify potential therapeutic targets with the ability to impact this convergent pathomechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Clayton
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Laura Huggon
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Michael A Cousin
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Sarah Mizielinska
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London SE5 9RT, UK
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Guo R, Chen Y, Zhang J, Zhou Z, Feng B, Du X, Liu X, Ma J, Cui H. Neural Differentiation and spinal cord organoid generation from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for ALS modelling and inflammatory screening. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:4732-4749. [PMID: 38127186 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03836-4] [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: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
C9orf72 genetic mutation is the most common genetic cause of ALS/FTD accompanied by abnormal protein insufficiency. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cultures are providing new approaches. Therefore, this study established neuronal cell types and generated spinal cord organoids (SCOs) derived from C9orf72 knockdown human iPSCs to model ALS disease and screen the unrevealed phenotype. Wild-type (WT) iPSC lines from three healthy donor fibroblasts were established, and pluripotency and differentiation ability were identified by RT-PCR, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. After infection by the lentivirus with C9orf72-targeting shRNA, stable C9-knockdown iPSC colonies were selected and differentiated into astrocytes, motor neurons and SCOs. Finally, we analyzed the extracted RNA-seq data of human C9 mutant/knockout iPSC-derived motor neurons and astrocytes from the GEO database and the inflammatory regulation-related genes in function and pathways. The expression of inflammatory factors was measured by qRT-PCR. The results showed that both WT-iPSCs and edited C9-iPSCs maintained a similar ability to differentiate into the three germ layers, astrocytes and motor neurons, forming SCOs in a 3D culture system. The constructed C9-SCOs have features of spinal cord development and multiple neuronal cell types, including sensory neurons, motor neurons, and other neurons. Based on the bioinformatics analysis, proinflammatory factors were confirmed to be upregulated in C9-iPSC-derived 2D cells and 3D cultured SCOs. The above differentiated models exhibited low C9orf72 expression and the pathological characteristics of ALS, especially neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyun Guo
- Hebei Medical University-University of Galway Stem Cell Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Research Center for Stem Cell Medical Translational Engineering, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Technology Innovation Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yimeng Chen
- Hebei Medical University-University of Galway Stem Cell Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Research Center for Stem Cell Medical Translational Engineering, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Technology Innovation Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
| | - Jinyu Zhang
- Hebei Medical University-University of Galway Stem Cell Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Research Center for Stem Cell Medical Translational Engineering, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Technology Innovation Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
| | - Zijing Zhou
- Hebei Medical University-University of Galway Stem Cell Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Research Center for Stem Cell Medical Translational Engineering, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Technology Innovation Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
| | - Baofeng Feng
- Hebei Medical University-University of Galway Stem Cell Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Research Center for Stem Cell Medical Translational Engineering, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Technology Innovation Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Human Anatomy Department, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xiaofeng Du
- Hebei Medical University-University of Galway Stem Cell Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Research Center for Stem Cell Medical Translational Engineering, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Technology Innovation Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Hebei Medical University-University of Galway Stem Cell Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Research Center for Stem Cell Medical Translational Engineering, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
- Hebei Technology Innovation Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China
| | - Jun Ma
- Hebei Medical University-University of Galway Stem Cell Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China.
- Hebei Research Center for Stem Cell Medical Translational Engineering, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China.
- Hebei Technology Innovation Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China.
- Human Anatomy Department, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China.
| | - Huixian Cui
- Hebei Medical University-University of Galway Stem Cell Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China.
- Hebei Research Center for Stem Cell Medical Translational Engineering, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China.
- Hebei Technology Innovation Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China.
- Human Anatomy Department, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, China.
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7
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Pisciottani A, Croci L, Lauria F, Marullo C, Savino E, Ambrosi A, Podini P, Marchioretto M, Casoni F, Cremona O, Taverna S, Quattrini A, Cioni JM, Viero G, Codazzi F, Consalez GG. Neuronal models of TDP-43 proteinopathy display reduced axonal translation, increased oxidative stress, and defective exocytosis. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1253543. [PMID: 38026702 PMCID: PMC10679756 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1253543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, lethal neurodegenerative disease mostly affecting people around 50-60 years of age. TDP-43, an RNA-binding protein involved in pre-mRNA splicing and controlling mRNA stability and translation, forms neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions in an overwhelming majority of ALS patients, a phenomenon referred to as TDP-43 proteinopathy. These cytoplasmic aggregates disrupt mRNA transport and localization. The axon, like dendrites, is a site of mRNA translation, permitting the local synthesis of selected proteins. This is especially relevant in upper and lower motor neurons, whose axon spans long distances, likely accentuating their susceptibility to ALS-related noxae. In this work we have generated and characterized two cellular models, consisting of virtually pure populations of primary mouse cortical neurons expressing a human TDP-43 fusion protein, wt or carrying an ALS mutation. Both forms facilitate cytoplasmic aggregate formation, unlike the corresponding native proteins, giving rise to bona fide primary culture models of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Neurons expressing TDP-43 fusion proteins exhibit a global impairment in axonal protein synthesis, an increase in oxidative stress, and defects in presynaptic function and electrical activity. These changes correlate with deregulation of axonal levels of polysome-engaged mRNAs playing relevant roles in the same processes. Our data support the emerging notion that deregulation of mRNA metabolism and of axonal mRNA transport may trigger the dying-back neuropathy that initiates motor neuron degeneration in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Pisciottani
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Croci
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Lauria
- Institute of Biophysics, CNR Unit at Trento, Povo, Italy
| | - Chiara Marullo
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Savino
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Ambrosi
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Podini
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Filippo Casoni
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Ottavio Cremona
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Taverna
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Quattrini
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Jean-Michel Cioni
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Franca Codazzi
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - G. Giacomo Consalez
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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8
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Aly A, Laszlo ZI, Rajkumar S, Demir T, Hindley N, Lamont DJ, Lehmann J, Seidel M, Sommer D, Franz-Wachtel M, Barletta F, Heumos S, Czemmel S, Kabashi E, Ludolph A, Boeckers TM, Henstridge CM, Catanese A. Integrative proteomics highlight presynaptic alterations and c-Jun misactivation as convergent pathomechanisms in ALS. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 146:451-475. [PMID: 37488208 PMCID: PMC10412488 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02611-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease mainly affecting upper and lower motoneurons. Several functionally heterogeneous genes have been associated with the familial form of this disorder (fALS), depicting an extremely complex pathogenic landscape. This heterogeneity has limited the identification of an effective therapy, and this bleak prognosis will only improve with a greater understanding of convergent disease mechanisms. Recent evidence from human post-mortem material and diverse model systems has highlighted the synapse as a crucial structure actively involved in disease progression, suggesting that synaptic aberrations might represent a shared pathological feature across the ALS spectrum. To test this hypothesis, we performed the first comprehensive analysis of the synaptic proteome from post-mortem spinal cord and human iPSC-derived motoneurons carrying mutations in the major ALS genes. This integrated approach highlighted perturbations in the molecular machinery controlling vesicle release as a shared pathomechanism in ALS. Mechanistically, phosphoproteomic analysis linked the presynaptic vesicular phenotype to an accumulation of cytotoxic protein aggregates and to the pro-apoptotic activation of the transcription factor c-Jun, providing detailed insights into the shared pathobiochemistry in ALS. Notably, sub-chronic treatment of our iPSC-derived motoneurons with the fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid exerted a neuroprotective effect by efficiently rescuing the alterations revealed by our multidisciplinary approach. Together, this study provides strong evidence for the central and convergent role played by the synaptic microenvironment within the ALS spinal cord and highlights a potential therapeutic target that counteracts degeneration in a heterogeneous cohort of human motoneuron cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr Aly
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Zsofia I Laszlo
- Division of Cellular and Systems Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Sandeep Rajkumar
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tugba Demir
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Nicole Hindley
- Division of Cellular and Systems Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Douglas J Lamont
- FingerPrints Proteomics Facility, Discovery Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Johannes Lehmann
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mira Seidel
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Daniel Sommer
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Francesca Barletta
- Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Simon Heumos
- Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Biomedical Data Science, Department of Computer Science, University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Czemmel
- Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Edor Kabashi
- Laboratory of Translational Research for Neurological Disorders, Imagine Institute, Université de Paris, INSERM, UMR 1163, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Albert Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm Site, Germany
| | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm Site, Germany
| | - Christopher M Henstridge
- Division of Cellular and Systems Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
| | - Alberto Catanese
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm Site, Germany.
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9
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Rajkumar S, Böckers TM, Catanese A. Fast and efficient synaptosome isolation and post-synaptic density enrichment from hiPSC-motor neurons by biochemical sub-cellular fractionation. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102061. [PMID: 36853677 PMCID: PMC9898788 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe here a time-efficient, in-house protocol for synaptosome isolation and enrichment of the post-synaptic density (PSD) from hiPSC-derived motor neurons. By using biochemical sub-cellular fractionation, the crude synaptosome is first isolated from the cytosol and is then further separated into the synaptic cytosol and the enriched PSD fraction. The protocol can also potentially be adapted to other hiPSC-derived neuronal types, with necessary changes made to cell seeding density and buffer volumes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Rajkumar
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
| | - Tobias M Böckers
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm Site, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Alberto Catanese
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm Site, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
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10
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Gelon PA, Dutchak PA, Sephton CF. Synaptic dysfunction in ALS and FTD: anatomical and molecular changes provide insights into mechanisms of disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1000183. [PMID: 36263379 PMCID: PMC9575515 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1000183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic loss is a pathological feature of all neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). ALS is a disease of the cortical and spinal motor neurons resulting in fatal paralysis due to denervation of muscles. FTD is a form of dementia that primarily affects brain regions controlling cognition, language and behavior. Once classified as two distinct diseases, ALS and FTD are now considered as part of a common disease spectrum based on overlapping clinical, pathological and genetic evidence. At the cellular level, aggregation of common proteins and overlapping gene susceptibilities are shared in both ALS and FTD. Despite the convergence of these two fields of research, the underlying disease mechanisms remain elusive. However, recent discovers from ALS and FTD patient studies and models of ALS/FTD strongly suggests that synaptic dysfunction is an early event in the disease process and a unifying hallmark of these diseases. This review provides a summary of the reported anatomical and cellular changes that occur in cortical and spinal motor neurons in ALS and FTD tissues and models of disease. We also highlight studies that identify changes in the proteome and transcriptome of ALS and FTD models and provide a conceptual overview of the processes that contribute to synaptic dysfunction in these diseases. Due to space limitations and the vast number of publications in the ALS and FTD fields, many articles have not been discussed in this review. As such, this review focuses on the three most common shared mutations in ALS and FTD, the hexanucleuotide repeat expansion within intron 1 of chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9ORF72), transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TARDBP or TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma (FUS), with the intention of highlighting common pathways that promote synaptic dysfunction in the ALS-FTD disease spectrum.
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