1
|
Cwerman-Thibault H, Malko-Baverel V, Le Guilloux G, Torres-Cuevas I, Ratcliffe E, Mouri D, Mignon V, Saubaméa B, Boespflug-Tanguy O, Gressens P, Corral-Debrinski M. Harlequin mice exhibit cognitive impairment, severe loss of Purkinje cells and a compromised bioenergetic status due to the absence of Apoptosis Inducing Factor. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167272. [PMID: 38897257 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167272] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The functional integrity of the central nervous system relies on complex mechanisms in which the mitochondria are crucial actors because of their involvement in a multitude of bioenergetics and biosynthetic pathways. Mitochondrial diseases are among the most prevalent groups of inherited neurological disorders, affecting up to 1 in 5000 adults and despite considerable efforts around the world there is still limited curative treatments. Harlequin mice correspond to a relevant model of recessive X-linked mitochondrial disease due to a proviral insertion in the first intron of the Apoptosis-inducing factor gene, resulting in an almost complete depletion of the corresponding protein. These mice exhibit progressive degeneration of the retina, optic nerve, cerebellum, and cortical regions leading to irremediable blindness and ataxia, reminiscent of what is observed in patients suffering from mitochondrial diseases. We evaluated the progression of cerebellar degeneration in Harlequin mice, especially for Purkinje cells and its relationship with bioenergetics failure and behavioral damage. For the first time to our knowledge, we demonstrated that Harlequin mice display cognitive and emotional impairments at early stage of the disease with further deteriorations as ataxia aggravates. These functions, corresponding to higher-order cognitive processing, have been assigned to a complex network of reciprocal connections between the cerebellum and many cortical areas which could be dysfunctional in these mice. Consequently, Harlequin mice become a suitable experimental model to test innovative therapeutics, via the targeting of mitochondria which can become available to a large spectrum of neurological diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Isabel Torres-Cuevas
- Université Paris Cité, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, F-75019 Paris, France; Department of Physiology, University of Valencia, Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 12 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Edward Ratcliffe
- Université Paris Cité, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, F-75019 Paris, France
| | - Djmila Mouri
- Université Paris Cité, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, F-75019 Paris, France
| | - Virginie Mignon
- Université de Paris, UMR-S 1144 Inserm, 75006 Paris, France; Université Paris Cité, Platform of Cellular and Molecular Imaging, US25 Inserm, UAR3612 CNRS, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Bruno Saubaméa
- Université de Paris, UMR-S 1144 Inserm, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Odile Boespflug-Tanguy
- Université Paris Cité, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, F-75019 Paris, France; Service de Neurologie et Maladies métaboliques, CHU Paris - Hôpital Robert Debré, F-75019 Paris, France
| | - Pierre Gressens
- Université Paris Cité, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, F-75019 Paris, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sekerková G, Kilic S, Cheng YH, Fredrick N, Osmani A, Kim H, Opal P, Martina M. Phenotypical, genotypical and pathological characterization of the moonwalker mouse, a model of ataxia. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 195:106492. [PMID: 38575093 PMCID: PMC11089908 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106492] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
We performed a comprehensive study of the morphological, functional, and genetic features of moonwalker (MWK) mice, a mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia caused by a gain of function of the TRPC3 channel. These mice show numerous behavioral symptoms including tremor, altered gait, circling behavior, impaired motor coordination, impaired motor learning and decreased limb strength. Cerebellar pathology is characterized by early and almost complete loss of unipolar brush cells as well as slowly progressive, moderate loss of Purkinje cell (PCs). Structural damage also includes loss of synaptic contacts from parallel fibers, swollen ER structures, and degenerating axons. Interestingly, no obvious correlation was observed between PC loss and severity of the symptoms, as the phenotype stabilizes around 2 months of age, while the cerebellar pathology is progressive. This is probably due to the fact that PC function is severely impaired much earlier than the appearance of PC loss. Indeed, PC firing is already impaired in 3 weeks old mice. An interesting feature of the MWK pathology that still remains to be explained consists in a strong lobule selectivity of the PC loss, which is puzzling considering that TRPC is expressed in every PC. Intriguingly, genetic analysis of MWK cerebella shows, among other alterations, changes in the expression of both apoptosis inducing and resistance factors possibly suggesting that damaged PCs initiate specific cellular pathways that protect them from overt cell loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Sekerková
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 300 E. Superior, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Sumeyra Kilic
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 300 E. Superior, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Yen-Hsin Cheng
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 300 E. Superior, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Natalie Fredrick
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 300 E. Superior, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Anne Osmani
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 300 E. Superior, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Haram Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 300 E. Superior, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Puneet Opal
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 300 E. Superior, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Marco Martina
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 300 E. Superior, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cwerman-Thibault H, Malko-Baverel V, Le Guilloux G, Ratcliffe E, Mouri D, Torres-Cuevas I, Millán I, Saubaméa B, Mignon V, Boespflug-Tanguy O, Gressens P, Corral-Debrinski M. Neuroglobin overexpression in cerebellar neurons of Harlequin mice improves mitochondrial homeostasis and reduces ataxic behavior. Mol Ther 2024:S1525-0016(24)00332-0. [PMID: 38796706 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.05.030] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroglobin, a member of the globin superfamily, is abundant in the brain, retina, and cerebellum of mammals and localizes to mitochondria. The protein exhibits neuroprotective capacities by participating in electron transfer, oxygen supply, and protecting against oxidative stress. Our objective was to determine whether neuroglobin overexpression can be used to treat neurological disorders. We chose Harlequin mice, which harbor a retroviral insertion in the first intron of the apoptosis-inducing factor gene resulting in the depletion of the corresponding protein essential for mitochondrial biogenesis. Consequently, Harlequin mice display degeneration of the cerebellum and suffer from progressive blindness and ataxia. Cerebellar ataxia begins in Harlequin mice at the age of 4 months and is characterized by neuronal cell disappearance, bioenergetics failure, and motor and cognitive impairments, which aggravated with aging. Mice aged 2 months received adeno-associated viral vectors harboring the coding sequence of neuroglobin or apoptosis-inducing factor in both cerebellar hemispheres. Six months later, Harlequin mice exhibited substantial improvements in motor and cognitive skills; probably linked to the preservation of respiratory chain function, Purkinje cell numbers and connectivity. Thus, without sharing functional properties with apoptosis-inducing factor, neuroglobin was efficient in reducing ataxia in Harlequin mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Cwerman-Thibault
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Maladies neurodéveloppementales et neurovasculaires, F-75019 Paris, France
| | - Vassilissa Malko-Baverel
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Maladies neurodéveloppementales et neurovasculaires, F-75019 Paris, France
| | - Gwendoline Le Guilloux
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Maladies neurodéveloppementales et neurovasculaires, F-75019 Paris, France
| | - Edward Ratcliffe
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Maladies neurodéveloppementales et neurovasculaires, F-75019 Paris, France
| | - Djmila Mouri
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Maladies neurodéveloppementales et neurovasculaires, F-75019 Paris, France
| | - Isabel Torres-Cuevas
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Maladies neurodéveloppementales et neurovasculaires, F-75019 Paris, France; Neonatal Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ivan Millán
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Maladies neurodéveloppementales et neurovasculaires, F-75019 Paris, France; Neonatal Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; Laboratory of Comparative Neurobiology, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Bruno Saubaméa
- Université Paris Cité, Platform of Cellular and Molecular Imaging (PICMO), US25 Inserm, UAR3612 CNRS, 75006 Paris, France; Université Paris Cité, Optimisation Thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie, UMR-S 1144 Inserm, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Virginie Mignon
- Université Paris Cité, Platform of Cellular and Molecular Imaging (PICMO), US25 Inserm, UAR3612 CNRS, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Odile Boespflug-Tanguy
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Maladies neurodéveloppementales et neurovasculaires, F-75019 Paris, France; Service de Neurologie et Maladies métaboliques, CHU Paris - Hôpital Robert Debré, F-75019 Paris, France
| | - Pierre Gressens
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Maladies neurodéveloppementales et neurovasculaires, F-75019 Paris, France
| | - Marisol Corral-Debrinski
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Maladies neurodéveloppementales et neurovasculaires, F-75019 Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Ameliorates Ara-C-Induced Motor Deficits in a Mouse Model of Cerebellar Ataxia. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12051756. [PMID: 36902541 PMCID: PMC10003478 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12051756] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the therapeutic effects of transplanting human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into wild-type mice that were intraperitoneally administered cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) to develop cerebellar ataxia (CA) during the first three postnatal days. hMSCs were intrathecally injected into 10-week-old mice once or thrice at 4-week intervals. Compared to the nontreated mice, the hMSC-treated mice showed improved motor and balance coordination, as measured using the rotarod, open-field, and ataxic scoring assessments, and increased protein levels in Purkinje and cerebellar granule cells, as measured using calbindin and NeuN protein markers. Multiple hMSC injections preserved Ara-C-induced cerebellar neuronal loss and improved cerebellar weight. Furthermore, the hMSC implantation significantly elevated the levels of neurotrophic factors, including brain-derived and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factors, and suppressed TNF-α-, IL-1β-, and iNOS-mediated proinflammatory responses. Collectively, our results demonstrate that hMSCs exhibit therapeutic potential for Ara-C-induced CA by protecting neurons through the stimulation of neurotrophic factors and inhibition of cerebellar inflammatory responses, which can improve motor behavior and alleviate ataxia-related neuropathology. In summary, this study suggests that hMSC administration, particularly multiple treatments, can effectively treat ataxia-related symptoms with cerebellar toxicity.
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
This narrative review aims at providing an update on the management of inherited cerebellar ataxias (ICAs), describing main clinical entities, genetic analysis strategies and recent therapeutic developments. Initial approach facing a patient with cerebellar ataxia requires family medical history, physical examination, exclusions of acquired causes and genetic analysis, including Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). To guide diagnosis, several algorithms and a new genetic nomenclature for recessive cerebellar ataxias have been proposed. The challenge of NGS analysis is the identification of causative variant, trio analysis being usually the most appropriate option. Public genomic databases as well as pathogenicity prediction software facilitate the interpretation of NGS results. We also report on key clinical points for the diagnosis of the main ICAs, including Friedreich ataxia, CANVAS, polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias, Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. Rarer forms should not be neglected because of diagnostic biomarkers availability, disease-modifying treatments, or associated susceptibility to malignancy. Diagnostic difficulties arise from allelic and phenotypic heterogeneity as well as from the possibility for one gene to be associated with both dominant and recessive inheritance. To complicate the phenotype, cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome can be associated with some subtypes of cerebellar ataxia. Lastly, we describe new therapeutic leads: antisense oligonucleotides approach in polyglutamine SCAs and viral gene therapy in Friedreich ataxia. This review provides support for diagnosis, genetic counseling and therapeutic management of ICAs in clinical practice.
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang SM, Chan YW, Tsui YO, Chu FY. Effects of Anodal Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Movements in Patients with Cerebellar Ataxias: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:10690. [PMID: 34682435 PMCID: PMC8535754 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (cerebellar tDCS) is a promising therapy for cerebellar ataxias and has attracted increasing attention from researchers and clinicians. A timely systematic review focusing on randomized sham-controlled trials and repeated measures studies is warranted. This study was to systematically review existing evidence regarding effects of anodal cerebellar tDCS on movements in patients with cerebellar ataxias. The searched databases included Web of Science, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and EBSCOhost. Methodological quality of the selected studies was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Five studies with 86 patients were identified. Among these, four studies showed positive effects of anodal cerebellar tDCS. Specifically, anodal cerebellar tDCS decreased disease severity and improved finger dexterity and quality of life in patients, but showed incongruent effects on gait control and balance, which may be due to heterogeneity of research participants and choices of measures. The protocols of anodal cerebellar tDCS that improved movements in patients commonly placed the anode over the whole cerebellum and provided ten 2-mA 20-min stimulation sessions. The results may show preliminary evidence that anodal cerebellar tDCS is beneficial to reducing disease severity and improving finger dexterity and quality of life in patients, which lays the groundwork for future studies further examining responses in the cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathway. An increase in sample size, the use of homogeneous patient groups, exploration of the optimal stimulation protocol, and investigation of detailed neural mechanisms are clearly needed in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Mei Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong; (Y.-W.C.); (Y.-O.T.); (F.-Y.C.)
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Billeri L, Naro A. A narrative review on non-invasive stimulation of the cerebellum in neurological diseases. Neurol Sci 2021; 42:2191-2209. [PMID: 33759055 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05187-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The cerebellum plays an important role in motor, cognitive, and affective functions owing to its dense interconnections with basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. This review aimed at summarizing the non-invasive cerebellar stimulation (NICS) approaches used to modulate cerebellar output and treat cerebellar dysfunction in the motor domain. OBSERVATION The utility of NICS in the treatment of cerebellar and non-cerebellar neurological diseases (including Parkinson's disease, dementia, cerebellar ataxia, and stroke) is discussed. NICS induces meaningful clinical effects from repeated sessions alone in both cerebellar and non-cerebellar diseases. However, there are no conclusive data on this issue and several concerns need to be still addressed before NICS could be considered a valuable, standard therapeutic tool. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Even though some challenges must be overcome to adopt NICS in a wider clinical setting, this tool might become a useful strategy to help patients with lesions in the cerebellum and cerebral areas that are connected with the cerebellum whether one could enhance cerebellar activity with the intention of facilitating the cerebellum and the entire, related network, rather than attempting to facilitate a partially damaged cortical region or inhibiting the homologs' contralateral area. The different outcome of each approach would depend on the residual functional reserve of the cerebellum, which is confirmed as a critical element to be probed preliminary in order to define the best patient-tailored NICS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luana Billeri
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, via Palermo, SS113, Ctr. Casazza, 98124, Messina, Italy
| | - Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, via Palermo, SS113, Ctr. Casazza, 98124, Messina, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|