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Chang KH, Chen CM. The Role of NRF2 in Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion Disorders. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:649. [PMID: 38929088 PMCID: PMC11200942 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13060649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Trinucleotide repeat expansion disorders, a diverse group of neurodegenerative diseases, are caused by abnormal expansions within specific genes. These expansions trigger a cascade of cellular damage, including protein aggregation and abnormal RNA binding. A key contributor to this damage is oxidative stress, an imbalance of reactive oxygen species that harms cellular components. This review explores the interplay between oxidative stress and the NRF2 pathway in these disorders. NRF2 acts as the master regulator of the cellular antioxidant response, orchestrating the expression of enzymes that combat oxidative stress. Trinucleotide repeat expansion disorders often exhibit impaired NRF2 signaling, resulting in inadequate responses to excessive ROS production. NRF2 activation has been shown to upregulate antioxidative gene expression, effectively alleviating oxidative stress damage. NRF2 activators, such as omaveloxolone, vatiquinone, curcumin, sulforaphane, dimethyl fumarate, and resveratrol, demonstrate neuroprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress in experimental cell and animal models of these diseases. However, translating these findings into successful clinical applications requires further research. In this article, we review the literature supporting the role of NRF2 in the pathogenesis of these diseases and the potential therapeutics of NRF2 activators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Kueishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Mei Chen
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Kueishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
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Lew SY, Mohd Hisam NS, Phang MWL, Syed Abdul Rahman SN, Poh RYY, Lim SH, Kamaruzzaman MA, Chau SC, Tsui KC, Lim LW, Wong KH. Adenosine Improves Mitochondrial Function and Biogenesis in Friedreich's Ataxia Fibroblasts Following L-Buthionine Sulfoximine-Induced Oxidative Stress. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040559. [PMID: 37106759 PMCID: PMC10136261 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Adenosine is a nucleoside that is widely distributed in the central nervous system and acts as a central excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. The protective role of adenosine in different pathological conditions and neurodegenerative diseases is mainly mediated by adenosine receptors. However, its potential role in mitigating the deleterious effects of oxidative stress in Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) remains poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the protective effects of adenosine against mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired mitochondrial biogenesis in L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO)-induced oxidative stress in dermal fibroblasts derived from an FRDA patient. The FRDA fibroblasts were pre-treated with adenosine for 2 h, followed by 12.50 mM BSO to induce oxidative stress. Cells in medium without any treatments or pre-treated with 5 µM idebenone served as the negative and positive controls, respectively. Cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), aconitase activity, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, mitochondrial biogenesis, and associated gene expressions were assessed. We observed disruption of mitochondrial function and biogenesis and alteration in gene expression patterns in BSO-treated FRDA fibroblasts. Pre-treatment with adenosine ranging from 0-600 µM restored MMP, promoted ATP production and mitochondrial biogenesis, and modulated the expression of key metabolic genes, namely nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), transcription factor A, mitochondrial (TFAM), and NFE2-like bZIP transcription factor 2 (NFE2L2). Our study demonstrated that adenosine targeted mitochondrial defects in FRDA, contributing to improved mitochondrial function and biogenesis, leading to cellular iron homeostasis. Therefore, we suggest a possible therapeutic role for adenosine in FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sze Yuen Lew
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | | | - Michael Weng Lok Phang
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | | | - Rozaida Yuen Ying Poh
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Siew Huah Lim
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Amir Kamaruzzaman
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Sze Chun Chau
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ka Chun Tsui
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lee Wei Lim
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kah Hui Wong
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Neuroinflammation in Friedreich's Ataxia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116297. [PMID: 35682973 PMCID: PMC9181348 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the gene frataxin, encoding for a mitochondrial protein involved in iron handling and in the biogenesis of iron-sulphur clusters, and leading to progressive nervous system damage. Although the overt manifestations of FRDA in the nervous system are mainly observed in the neurons, alterations in non-neuronal cells may also contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease, as recently suggested for other neurodegenerative disorders. In FRDA, the involvement of glial cells can be ascribed to direct effects caused by frataxin loss, eliciting different aberrant mechanisms. Iron accumulation, mitochondria dysfunction, and reactive species overproduction, mechanisms identified as etiopathogenic in neurons in FRDA, can similarly affect glial cells, leading them to assume phenotypes that can concur to and exacerbate neuron loss. Recent findings obtained in FRDA patients and cellular and animal models of the disease have suggested that neuroinflammation can accompany and contribute to the neuropathology. In this review article, we discuss evidence about the involvement of neuroinflammatory-related mechanisms in models of FRDA and provide clues for the modulation of glial-related mechanisms as a possible strategy to improve disease features.
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Phang MWL, Lew SY, Chung I, Lim WKS, Lim LW, Wong KH. Therapeutic roles of natural remedies in combating hereditary ataxia: A systematic review. Chin Med 2021; 16:15. [PMID: 33509239 PMCID: PMC7841890 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-020-00414-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hereditary ataxia (HA) represents a group of genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases caused by dysfunction of the cerebellum or disruption of the connection between the cerebellum and other areas of the central nervous system. Phenotypic manifestation of HA includes unsteadiness of stance and gait, dysarthria, nystagmus, dysmetria and complaints of clumsiness. There are no specific treatments for HA. Management strategies provide supportive treatment to reduce symptoms. Objectives This systematic review aimed to identify, evaluate and summarise the published literature on the therapeutic roles of natural remedies in the treatment of HA to provide evidence for clinical practice. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Web of Science, PubMed and Science Direct Scopus were thoroughly searched for relevant published articles from June 2007 to July 2020. Results Ten pre-clinical and two clinical studies were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. We identified the therapeutic roles of medicinal plants Brassica napus, Gardenia jasminoides, Gastrodia elata, Ginkgo biloba, Glycyrrhiza inflata, Paeonia lactiflora, Pueraria lobata and Rehmannia glutinosa; herbal formulations Shaoyao Gancao Tang and Zhengan Xifeng Tang; and medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceus in the treatment of HA. In this review, we evaluated the mode of actions contributing to their therapeutic effects, including activation of the ubiquitin–proteasome system, activation of antioxidant pathways, maintenance of intracellular calcium homeostasis and regulation of chaperones. We also briefly highlighted the integral cellular signalling pathways responsible for orchestrating the mode of actions. Conclusion We reviewed the therapeutic roles of natural remedies in improving or halting the progression of HA, which warrant further study for applications into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Weng Lok Phang
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia
| | - Sze Yuen Lew
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia
| | - Ivy Chung
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia
| | - William Kiong-Seng Lim
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak, 94300, Malaysia
| | - Lee Wei Lim
- Neuromodulation Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
| | - Kah Hui Wong
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia.
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La Rosa P, Petrillo S, Bertini ES, Piemonte F. Oxidative Stress in DNA Repeat Expansion Disorders: A Focus on NRF2 Signaling Involvement. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10050702. [PMID: 32369911 PMCID: PMC7277112 DOI: 10.3390/biom10050702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA repeat expansion disorders are a group of neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases that arise from the inheritance of long tracts of nucleotide repetitions, located in the regulatory region, introns, or inside the coding sequence of a gene. Although loss of protein expression and/or the gain of function of its transcribed mRNA or translated product represent the major pathogenic effect of these pathologies, mitochondrial dysfunction and imbalance in redox homeostasis are reported as common features in these disorders, deeply affecting their severity and progression. In this review, we examine the role that the redox imbalance plays in the pathological mechanisms of DNA expansion disorders and the recent advances on antioxidant treatments, particularly focusing on the expression and the activity of the transcription factor NRF2, the main cellular regulator of the antioxidant response.
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Zhao H, Lewellen BM, Wilson RJ, Cui D, Drake JC, Zhang M, Yan Z. Long-term voluntary running prevents the onset of symptomatic Friedreich's ataxia in mice. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6095. [PMID: 32269244 PMCID: PMC7142077 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62952-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The common clinical symptoms of Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) include ataxia, muscle weakness, type 2 diabetes and heart failure, which are caused by impaired mitochondrial function due to the loss of frataxin (FXN) expression. Endurance exercise is the most powerful intervention for promoting mitochondrial function; however, its impact on FRDA has not been studied. Here we found that mice with genetic knockout and knock-in of the Fxn gene (KIKO mice) developed exercise intolerance, glucose intolerance and moderate cardiac dysfunction at 6 months of age. These abnormalities were associated with impaired mitochondrial respiratory function concurrent with reduced iron regulatory protein 1 (Irp1) expression as well as increased oxidative stress, which were not due to loss of mitochondrial content and antioxidant enzyme expression. Importantly, long-term (4 months) voluntary running in KIKO mice starting at a young age (2 months) completely prevented the functional abnormalities along with restored Irp1 expression, improved mitochondrial function and reduced oxidative stress in skeletal muscle without restoring Fxn expression. We conclude that endurance exercise training prevents symptomatic onset of FRDA in mice associated with improved mitochondrial function and reduced oxidative stress. These preclinical findings may pave the way for clinical studies of the impact of endurance exercise in FRDA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henan Zhao
- Center for Skeletal Muscle Research at Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116044, China
| | - Bevan M Lewellen
- Center for Skeletal Muscle Research at Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA
| | - Rebecca J Wilson
- Center for Skeletal Muscle Research at Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA
| | - Di Cui
- Center for Skeletal Muscle Research at Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA
| | - Joshua C Drake
- Center for Skeletal Muscle Research at Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA
| | - Mei Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA
- Center for Skeletal Muscle Research at Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA.
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA.
- Center for Skeletal Muscle Research at Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA.
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McMackin MZ, Durbin-Johnson B, Napierala M, Napierala JS, Ruiz L, Napoli E, Perlman S, Giulivi C, Cortopassi GA. Potential biomarker identification for Friedreich's ataxia using overlapping gene expression patterns in patient cells and mouse dorsal root ganglion. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223209. [PMID: 31665133 PMCID: PMC6821053 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is a neurodegenerative disease with no approved therapy that is the result of frataxin deficiency. The identification of human FA blood biomarkers related to disease severity and neuro-pathomechanism could support clinical trials of drug efficacy. To try to identify human biomarkers of neuro-pathomechanistic relevance, we compared the overlapping gene expression changes of primary blood and skin cells of FA patients with changes in the Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) of the KIKO FA mouse model. As DRG is the primary site of neurodegeneration in FA, our goal was to identify which changes in blood and skin of FA patients provide a 'window' into the FA neuropathomechanism inside the nervous system. In addition, gene expression in frataxin-deficient neuroglial cells and FA mouse hearts were compared for a total of 5 data sets. The overlap of these changes strongly supports mitochondrial changes, apoptosis and alterations of selenium metabolism. Consistent biomarkers were observed, including three genes of mitochondrial stress (MTIF2, ENO2), apoptosis (DDIT3/CHOP), oxidative stress (PREX1), and selenometabolism (SEPW1). These results prompted our investigation of the GPX1 activity as a marker of selenium and oxidative stress, in which we observed a significant change in FA patients. We believe these lead biomarkers that could be assayed in FA patient blood as indicators of disease severity and progression, and also support the involvement of mitochondria, apoptosis and selenium in the neurodegenerative process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Z. McMackin
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Blythe Durbin-Johnson
- Bioinformatics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Marek Napierala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Jill S. Napierala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Luis Ruiz
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Eleonora Napoli
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Susan Perlman
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Cecilia Giulivi
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Gino A. Cortopassi
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
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Cherif K, Gérard C, Rousseau J, Ouellet DL, Chapdelaine P, Tremblay JP. Increased Frataxin Expression Induced in Friedreich Ataxia Cells by Platinum TALE-VP64s or Platinum TALE-SunTag. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2018; 12:19-32. [PMID: 30195758 PMCID: PMC6019861 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Frataxin gene (FXN) expression is reduced in Friedreich’s ataxia patients due to an increase in the number of GAA trinucleotides in intron 1. The frataxin protein, encoded by that gene, plays an important role in mitochondria’s iron metabolism. Platinum TALE (plTALE) proteins targeting the regulatory region of the FXN gene, fused with a transcriptional activator (TA) such as VP64 or P300, were used to increase the expression of that gene. Many effectors, plTALEVP64, plTALEp300, and plTALESunTag, targeting 14 sequences of the FXN gene promoter or intron 1 were produced. This permitted selection of 3 plTALEVP64s and 2 plTALESunTag that increased FXN gene expression by up to 19-fold in different Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) primary fibroblasts. Adeno-associated viruses were used to deliver the best effectors to the YG8R mouse model to validate their efficiencies in vivo. Our results showed that these selected plTALEVP64s or plTALESunTag induced transcriptional activity of the endogenous FXN gene as well as expression of the frataxin protein in YG8R mouse heart by 10-fold and in skeletal muscles by up to 35-fold. The aconitase activity was positively modulated by the frataxin level in mitochondria, and it was, thus, increased in vitro and in vivo by the increased frataxin expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadija Cherif
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de Médecine Moléculaire, l'Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Catherine Gérard
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de Médecine Moléculaire, l'Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Joël Rousseau
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de Médecine Moléculaire, l'Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Dominique L Ouellet
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de Médecine Moléculaire, l'Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Chapdelaine
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de Médecine Moléculaire, l'Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Jacques P Tremblay
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de Médecine Moléculaire, l'Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC, Canada.
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