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Wen P, Zhao Y, Yang M, Yang P, Nan K, Liu L, Xu P. Identification of necroptosis-related genes in ankylosing spondylitis by bioinformatics and experimental validation. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18557. [PMID: 39031474 PMCID: PMC11258886 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18557] [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: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) remains unclear, and while recent studies have implicated necroptosis in various autoimmune diseases, an investigation of its relationship with AS has not been reported. In this study, we utilized the Gene Expression Omnibus database to compare gene expressions between AS patients and healthy controls, identifying 18 differentially expressed necroptosis-related genes (DENRGs), with 8 upregulated and 10 downregulated. Through the application of three machine learning algorithms-least absolute shrinkage and selection operation, support vector machine-recursive feature elimination and random forest-two hub genes, FASLG and TARDBP, were pinpointed. These genes demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity for AS diagnosis, as evidenced by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. These findings were further supported by external datasets and cellular experiments, which confirmed the downregulation of FASLG and upregulation of TARDBP in AS patients. Immune cell infiltration analysis suggested that CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells and neutrophils may be associated with the development of AS. Notably, in the group with high FASLG expression, there was a significant infiltration of CD8+ T cells, memory-activated CD4+ T cells and resting NK cells, with relatively less infiltration of memory-resting CD4+ T cells and neutrophils. Conversely, in the group with high TARDBP expression, there was enhanced infiltration of naïve CD4+ T cells and M0 macrophages, with a reduced presence of memory-resting CD4+ T cells. In summary, FASLG and TARDBP may contribute to AS pathogenesis by regulating the immune microenvironment and immune-related signalling pathways. These findings offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms of AS and suggest potential new targets for therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Wen
- Department of Joint Surgery, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Laboratory, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Mingyi Yang
- Department of Joint Surgery, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Peng Yang
- Department of Joint Surgery, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Kai Nan
- Department of Joint Surgery, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Lin Liu
- Department of Joint Surgery, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Peng Xu
- Department of Joint Surgery, Honghui HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityShaanxiChina
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Dashtmian AR, Darvishi FB, Arnold WD. Chronological and Biological Aging in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and the Potential of Senolytic Therapies. Cells 2024; 13:928. [PMID: 38891059 PMCID: PMC11171952 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110928] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a group of sporadic and genetic neurodegenerative disorders that result in losses of upper and lower motor neurons. Treatment of ALS is limited, and survival is 2-5 years after disease onset. While ALS can occur in younger individuals, the risk significantly increases with advancing age. Notably, both sporadic and genetic forms of ALS share pathophysiological features overlapping hallmarks of aging including genome instability/DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, proteostasis, and cellular senescence. This review explores chronological and biological aging in the context of ALS onset and progression. Age-related muscle weakness and motor unit loss mirror aspects of ALS pathology and coincide with peak ALS incidence, suggesting a potential link between aging and disease development. Hallmarks of biological aging, including DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular senescence, are implicated in both aging and ALS, offering insights into shared mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, senescence-associated secretory phenotype and senolytic treatments emerge as promising avenues for ALS intervention, with the potential to mitigate neuroinflammation and modify disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Roshani Dashtmian
- NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (A.R.D.); (F.B.D.)
- NextGen Precision Health, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Fereshteh B. Darvishi
- NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (A.R.D.); (F.B.D.)
- NextGen Precision Health, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - William David Arnold
- NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (A.R.D.); (F.B.D.)
- NextGen Precision Health, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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Jamet M, Dupuis L, Gonzalez De Aguilar JL. Oligodendrocytes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia: the new players on stage. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1375330. [PMID: 38585368 PMCID: PMC10995329 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1375330] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are fatal adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders that share clinical, neuropathological and genetic features, which forms part of a multi-system disease spectrum. The pathological process leading to ALS and FTD is the result of the combination of multiple mechanisms that operate within specific populations of neurons and glial cells. The implication of oligodendrocytes has been the subject of a number of studies conducted on patients and related animal models. In this review we summarize our current knowledge on the alterations specific to myelin and the oligodendrocyte lineage occurring in ALS and FTD. We also consider different ways by which specific oligodendroglial alterations influence neurodegeneration and highlight the important role of oligodendrocytes in these two intrinsically associated neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jose-Luis Gonzalez De Aguilar
- Strasbourg Translational Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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Krus KL, Benitez AM, Strickland A, Milbrandt J, Bloom AJ, DiAntonio A. Reduced STMN2 and pathogenic TDP-43, two hallmarks of ALS, synergize to accelerate motor decline in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.19.585052. [PMID: 38562780 PMCID: PMC10983882 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.19.585052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Pathological TDP-43 loss from the nucleus and cytoplasmic aggregation occurs in almost all cases of ALS and half of frontotemporal dementia patients. Stathmin2 (Stmn2) is a key target of TDP-43 regulation and aberrantly spliced Stmn2 mRNA is found in patients with ALS, frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease. STMN2 participates in the axon injury response and its depletion in vivo partially replicates ALS-like symptoms including progressive motor deficits and distal NMJ denervation. The interaction between STMN2 loss and TDP-43 dysfunction has not been studied in mice because TDP-43 regulates human but not murine Stmn2 splicing. Therefore, we generated trans-heterozygous mice that lack one functional copy of Stmn2 and express one mutant TDP-43Q331K knock-in allele to investigate whether reduced STMN2 function exacerbates TDP-43-dependent pathology. Indeed, we observe synergy between these two alleles, resulting in an early onset, progressive motor deficit. Surprisingly, this behavioral defect is not accompanied by detectable neuropathology in the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves or at neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). However, the trans-heterozygous mice exhibit abnormal mitochondrial morphology in their distal axons and NMJs. As both STMN2 and TDP-43 affect mitochondrial dynamics, and neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction is a cardinal feature of many neurodegenerative diseases, this abnormality likely contributes to the observed motor deficit. These findings demonstrate that partial loss of STMN2 significantly exacerbates TDP-43-associated phenotypes, suggesting that STMN2 restoration could ameliorate TDP-43 related disease before the onset of degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey L. Krus
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States, 63110
| | - Ana Morales Benitez
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States, 63110
| | - Amy Strickland
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States, 63110
| | - Jeffrey Milbrandt
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States, 63110
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States, 63110
- Needleman Center for Neurometabolism and Axonal Therapeutics, St. Louis, United States, 63110
| | - A. Joseph Bloom
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States, 63110
- Needleman Center for Neurometabolism and Axonal Therapeutics, St. Louis, United States, 63110
| | - Aaron DiAntonio
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States, 63110
- Needleman Center for Neurometabolism and Axonal Therapeutics, St. Louis, United States, 63110
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Ounissi M, Latouche M, Racoceanu D. PhagoStat a scalable and interpretable end to end framework for efficient quantification of cell phagocytosis in neurodegenerative disease studies. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6482. [PMID: 38499658 PMCID: PMC10948879 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56081-7] [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: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Quantifying the phagocytosis of dynamic, unstained cells is essential for evaluating neurodegenerative diseases. However, measuring rapid cell interactions and distinguishing cells from background make this task very challenging when processing time-lapse phase-contrast video microscopy. In this study, we introduce an end-to-end, scalable, and versatile real-time framework for quantifying and analyzing phagocytic activity. Our proposed pipeline is able to process large data-sets and includes a data quality verification module to counteract potential perturbations such as microscope movements and frame blurring. We also propose an explainable cell segmentation module to improve the interpretability of deep learning methods compared to black-box algorithms. This includes two interpretable deep learning capabilities: visual explanation and model simplification. We demonstrate that interpretability in deep learning is not the opposite of high performance, by additionally providing essential deep learning algorithm optimization insights and solutions. Besides, incorporating interpretable modules results in an efficient architecture design and optimized execution time. We apply this pipeline to quantify and analyze microglial cell phagocytosis in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and obtain statistically reliable results showing that FTD mutant cells are larger and more aggressive than control cells. The method has been tested and validated on several public benchmarks by generating state-of-the art performances. To stimulate translational approaches and future studies, we release an open-source end-to-end pipeline and a unique microglial cells phagocytosis dataset for immune system characterization in neurodegenerative diseases research. This pipeline and the associated dataset will consistently crystallize future advances in this field, promoting the development of efficient and effective interpretable algorithms dedicated to the critical domain of neurodegenerative diseases' characterization. https://github.com/ounissimehdi/PhagoStat .
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Ounissi
- CNRS, Inserm, AP-HP, Inria, Paris Brain Institute-ICM, Sorbonne University, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Morwena Latouche
- Inserm, CNRS, AP-HP, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, Sorbonne Université, 75013, Paris, France
- PSL Research university, EPHE, Paris, France
| | - Daniel Racoceanu
- CNRS, Inserm, AP-HP, Inria, Paris Brain Institute-ICM, Sorbonne University, 75013, Paris, France.
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Sung W, Noh MY, Nahm M, Kim YS, Ki CS, Kim YE, Kim HJ, Kim SH. Progranulin haploinsufficiency mediates cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregation with lysosomal abnormalities in human microglia. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:47. [PMID: 38347588 PMCID: PMC10863104 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03039-1] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progranulin (PGRN) haploinsufficiency due to progranulin gene (GRN) variants can cause frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with aberrant TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) accumulation. Despite microglial burden with TDP-43-related pathophysiology, direct microglial TDP-43 pathology has not been clarified yet, only emphasized in neuronal pathology. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate TDP-43 pathology in microglia of patients with PGRN haploinsufficiency. METHODS To design a human microglial cell model with PGRN haploinsufficiency, monocyte-derived microglia (iMGs) were generated from FTD-GRN patients carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (p.M1? and p.W147*) and three healthy controls. RESULTS iMGs from FTD-GRN patients with PGRN deficiency exhibited severe neuroinflammation phenotype and failure to maintain their homeostatic molecular signatures, along with impaired phagocytosis. In FTD-GRN patients-derived iMGs, significant cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregation and accumulation of lipid droplets with profound lysosomal abnormalities were observed. These pathomechanisms were mediated by complement C1q activation and upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides considerable cellular and molecular evidence that loss-of-function variants of GRN in human microglia can cause microglial dysfunction with abnormal TDP-43 aggregation induced by inflammatory milieu as well as the impaired lysosome. Elucidating the role of microglial TDP-43 pathology in intensifying neuroinflammation in individuals with FTD due to PGRN deficiency and examining consequential effects on microglial dysfunction might yield novel insights into the mechanisms underlying FTD and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonjae Sung
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-Ro, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Young Noh
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-Ro, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Minyeop Nahm
- Dementia Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Sung Kim
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-Ro, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Young-Eun Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Jin Kim
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-Ro, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hyun Kim
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni-Ro, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
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7
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Ou Y, Shen C, Chen Z, Liu T, Peng Y, Zong D, Ouyang R. TDP43/HDAC6/Prdx1 signaling pathway participated in the cognitive impairment of obstructive sleep apnea via regulating inflammation and oxidative stress. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 127:111350. [PMID: 38104368 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111350] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress induced by intermittent hypoxia (IH) are associated with cognitive dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Recently, TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), and peroxiredoxin 1 (Prdx1) have been reported to be involved in cognitive impairment in many degenerative diseases; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, subjects underwent polysomnography to diagnose OSA. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and peripheral blood samples were collected. HMC3 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic in vitro neuroinflammation. Western blotting was used to assess protein expression and ELISA to assess inflammation and oxidative stress levels. Participants were divided into three groups: healthy control (n = 20); mild to moderate OSA (n = 20); and severe OSA (n = 20). The MoCA scores in mild-moderate OSA and severe OSA were lower than those in healthy controls. Continuous positive airway pressure therapy was found to be effective for cognitive impairment in subjects with severe OSA (24.70 ± 1.81). Expression of TDP-43 and HDAC6 was increased in subjects with OSA, whereas Prdx1 expression was decreased. Alterations in these proteins were partially reversed after 12 weeks of CPAP treatment. Protein expression of TDP-43 and HDAC6 was negatively correlated with MoCA scores in patients with OSA, while Prdx1 expression exhibited the opposite trend. In LPS-treated HMC3 cells, TDP-43 and HDAC6 were upregulated, whereas Prdx1 expression was reduced. TDP-43 influenced the expression of Prdx1 by regulating HDAC6, and inflammation and oxidative stress varied with the expression of TDP-43. When a specific inhibitor of HDAC6 was used, LPS-induced inflammation and oxidative stress were alleviated by an elevated level of Prdx1. In summary, findings of the present study suggest that TDP-43 influenced Prdx1 by regulating HDAC6 expression and promoting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. This process may be involved in the cognitive impairment experienced by patients with OSA and may provide potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanru Ou
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Research Unit of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Clinical Medical Research Center for Resipratory and Critical Care Medicine in Hunan Province, 410011, China; Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Chong Shen
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Research Unit of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Clinical Medical Research Center for Resipratory and Critical Care Medicine in Hunan Province, 410011, China; Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Zhifeng Chen
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Research Unit of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Clinical Medical Research Center for Resipratory and Critical Care Medicine in Hunan Province, 410011, China; Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Ting Liu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Research Unit of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Clinical Medical Research Center for Resipratory and Critical Care Medicine in Hunan Province, 410011, China; Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Yating Peng
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Research Unit of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Clinical Medical Research Center for Resipratory and Critical Care Medicine in Hunan Province, 410011, China; Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Dandan Zong
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Research Unit of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Clinical Medical Research Center for Resipratory and Critical Care Medicine in Hunan Province, 410011, China; Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
| | - Ruoyun Ouyang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Research Unit of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Clinical Medical Research Center for Resipratory and Critical Care Medicine in Hunan Province, 410011, China; Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
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Nammalwar B, Bunce RA. Recent Advances in Pyrimidine-Based Drugs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:104. [PMID: 38256937 PMCID: PMC10820437 DOI: 10.3390/ph17010104] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Pyrimidines have become an increasingly important core structure in many drug molecules over the past 60 years. This article surveys recent areas in which pyrimidines have had a major impact in drug discovery therapeutics, including anti-infectives, anticancer, immunology, immuno-oncology, neurological disorders, chronic pain, and diabetes mellitus. The article presents the synthesis of the medicinal agents and highlights the role of the biological target with respect to the disease model. Additionally, the biological potency, ADME properties and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (if available) are discussed. This survey attempts to demonstrate the versatility of pyrimidine-based drugs, not only for their potency and affinity but also for the improved medicinal chemistry properties of pyrimidine as a bioisostere for phenyl and other aromatic π systems. It is hoped that this article will provide insight to researchers considering the pyrimidine scaffold as a chemotype in future drug candidates in order to counteract medical conditions previously deemed untreatable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baskar Nammalwar
- Vividion Therapeutics, 5820 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, CA 92121, USA;
| | - Richard A. Bunce
- Department of Chemistry, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
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9
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Du P, Zhang X, Lian X, Hölscher C, Xue G. O-GlcNAcylation and Its Roles in Neurodegenerative Diseases. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 97:1051-1068. [PMID: 38250776 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230955] [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: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
As a non-classical post-translational modification, O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification (O-GlcNAcylation) is widely found in human organ systems, particularly in our brains, and is indispensable for healthy cell biology. With the increasing age of the global population, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing, too. The common characteristic of these disorders is the aggregation of abnormal proteins in the brain. Current research has found that O-GlcNAcylation dysregulation is involved in misfolding or aggregation of these abnormal proteins to mediate disease progression, but the specific mechanism has not been defined. This paper reviews recent studies on O-GlcNAcylation's roles in several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, Machado-Joseph's disease, and giant axonal neuropathy, and shows that O-GlcNAcylation, as glucose metabolism sensor, mediating synaptic function, participating in oxidative stress response and signaling pathway conduction, directly or indirectly regulates characteristic pathological protein toxicity and affects disease progression. The existing results suggest that targeting O-GlcNAcylation will provide new ideas for clinical diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyang Du
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xia Lian
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Christian Hölscher
- Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guofang Xue
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
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10
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Richardson PJ, Smith DP, de Giorgio A, Snetkov X, Almond-Thynne J, Cronin S, Mead RJ, McDermott CJ, Shaw PJ. Janus kinase inhibitors are potential therapeutics for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:47. [PMID: 37828541 PMCID: PMC10568794 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00380-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a poorly treated multifactorial neurodegenerative disease associated with multiple cell types and subcellular organelles. As with other multifactorial diseases, it is likely that drugs will need to target multiple disease processes and cell types to be effective. We review here the role of Janus kinase (JAK)/Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signalling in ALS, confirm the association of this signalling with fundamental ALS disease processes using the BenevolentAI Knowledge Graph, and demonstrate that inhibitors of this pathway could reduce the ALS pathophysiology in neurons, glia, muscle fibres, and blood cells. Specifically, we suggest that inhibition of the JAK enzymes by approved inhibitors known as Jakinibs could reduce STAT3 activation and modify the progress of this disease. Analysis of the Jakinibs highlights baricitinib as a suitable candidate due to its ability to penetrate the central nervous system and exert beneficial effects on the immune system. Therefore, we recommend that this drug be tested in appropriately designed clinical trials for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sara Cronin
- BenevolentAI, 15 MetroTech Centre, 8th FL, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA
| | - Richard J Mead
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Christopher J McDermott
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Pamela J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
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11
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Gastelum S, Michael AF, Bolger TA. Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a research tool for RNA-mediated human disease. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 15:e1814. [PMID: 37671427 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
The budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been used for decades as a powerful genetic tool to study a broad spectrum of biological topics. With its ease of use, economic utility, well-studied genome, and a highly conserved proteome across eukaryotes, it has become one of the most used model organisms. Due to these advantages, it has been used to study an array of complex human diseases. From broad, complex pathological conditions such as aging and neurodegenerative disease to newer uses such as SARS-CoV-2, yeast continues to offer new insights into how cellular processes are affected by disease and how affected pathways might be targeted in therapeutic settings. At the same time, the roles of RNA and RNA-based processes have become increasingly prominent in the pathology of many of these same human diseases, and yeast has been utilized to investigate these mechanisms, from aberrant RNA-binding proteins in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to translation regulation in cancer. Here we review some of the important insights that yeast models have yielded into the molecular pathology of complex, RNA-based human diseases. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Gastelum
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Allison F Michael
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Timothy A Bolger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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12
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Ghaderi S, Fatehi F, Kalra S, Batouli SAH. MRI biomarkers for memory-related impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023:1-17. [PMID: 37469125 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2236651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive and behavioral impairments and motor symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers have been investigated as potential tools for detecting and monitoring memory-related impairment in ALS. Our objective was to examine the importance of identifying MRI biomarkers for memory-related impairment in ALS, motor neuron disease (MND), and ALS frontotemporal dementia (FTD) (ALS-FTD) patients. Methods: PubMed and Scopus databases were searched. Keywords covering magnetic resonance imaging, ALS, MND, and memory impairments were searched. There were a total of 25 studies included in our work here. Results: The structural MRI (sMRI) studies reported gray matter (GM) atrophy in the regions associated with memory processing, such as the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus (PhG), in ALS patients. The diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies showed white matter (WM) alterations in the corticospinal tract (CST) and other tracts that are related to motor and extra-motor functions, and these alterations were associated with memory and executive function impairments in ALS. The functional MRI (fMRI) studies also demonstrated an altered activation in the prefrontal cortex, limbic system, and other brain regions involved in memory and emotional processing in ALS patients. Conclusion: MRI biomarkers show promise in uncovering the neural mechanisms of memory-related impairment in ALS. Nonetheless, addressing challenges such as sample sizes, imaging protocols, and longitudinal studies is crucial for future research. Ultimately, MRI biomarkers have the potential to be a tool for detecting and monitoring memory-related impairments in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadegh Ghaderi
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neurology Department, Neuromuscular Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farzad Fatehi
- Neurology Department, Neuromuscular Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sanjay Kalra
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Seyed Amir Hossein Batouli
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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13
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Zhang W, Xiao D, Mao Q, Xia H. Role of neuroinflammation in neurodegeneration development. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:267. [PMID: 37433768 PMCID: PMC10336149 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01486-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 97.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and so on, have suggested that inflammation is not only a result of neurodegeneration but also a crucial player in this process. Protein aggregates which are very common pathological phenomenon in neurodegeneration can induce neuroinflammation which further aggravates protein aggregation and neurodegeneration. Actually, inflammation even happens earlier than protein aggregation. Neuroinflammation induced by genetic variations in CNS cells or by peripheral immune cells may induce protein deposition in some susceptible population. Numerous signaling pathways and a range of CNS cells have been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration, although they are still far from being completely understood. Due to the limited success of traditional treatment methods, blocking or enhancing inflammatory signaling pathways involved in neurodegeneration are considered to be promising strategies for the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases, and many of them have got exciting results in animal models or clinical trials. Some of them, although very few, have been approved by FDA for clinical usage. Here we comprehensively review the factors affecting neuroinflammation and the major inflammatory signaling pathways involved in the pathogenicity of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We also summarize the current strategies, both in animal models and in the clinic, for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weifeng Zhang
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an, 710062, P.R. China
| | - Dan Xiao
- The State Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Air Force Medical University, No. 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, P.R. China
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No. 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Qinwen Mao
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute, 2000 Circle of Hope Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Haibin Xia
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 South Chang'an Road, Xi'an, 710062, P.R. China.
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14
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Acosta-Galeana I, Hernández-Martínez R, Reyes-Cruz T, Chiquete E, Aceves-Buendia JDJ. RNA-binding proteins as a common ground for neurodegeneration and inflammation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1193636. [PMID: 37475885 PMCID: PMC10355071 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1193636] [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: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurodegenerative and inflammatory illnesses of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis were once thought to be completely distinct entities that did not share any remarkable features, but new research is beginning to reveal more information about their similarities and differences. Here, we review some of the pathophysiological features of both diseases and their experimental models: RNA-binding proteins, energy balance, protein transportation, and protein degradation at the molecular level. We make a thorough analysis on TDP-43 and hnRNP A1 dysfunction, as a possible common ground in both pathologies, establishing a potential link between neurodegeneration and pathological immunity. Furthermore, we highlight the putative variations that diverge from a common ground in an atemporal course that proposes three phases for all relevant molecular events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tania Reyes-Cruz
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Erwin Chiquete
- Departamento de Neurología y Psiquiatría, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jose de Jesus Aceves-Buendia
- Departamento de Neurología y Psiquiatría, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
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15
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Lok HC, Katzeff JS, Hodges JR, Piguet O, Fu Y, Halliday GM, Kim WS. Elevated GRO-α and IL-18 in serum and brain implicate the NLRP3 inflammasome in frontotemporal dementia. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8942. [PMID: 37268663 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35945-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a hallmark of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a heterogeneous group of proteinopathies characterized by the progressive degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes. It is marked by microglial activation and subsequent cytokine release. Although cytokine levels in FTD brain and CSF have been examined, the number of cytokines measured in each study is limited and knowledge on cytokine concentrations in FTD serum is scarce. Here, we assessed 48 cytokines in FTD serum and brain. The aim was to determine common cytokine dysregulation pathways in serum and brain in FTD. Blood samples and brain tissue samples from the superior frontal cortex (SFC) were collected from individuals diagnosed with behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) and healthy controls, and 48 cytokines were measured using a multiplex immunological assay. The data were evaluated by principal component factor analysis to determine the contribution from different components of the variance in the cohort. Levels of a number of cytokines were altered in serum and SFC in bvFTD compared to controls, with increases in GRO-α and IL-18 in both serum and SFC. These changes could be associated with NLRP3 inflammasome activation or the NFκB pathway, which activates NLRP3. The results suggest the possible importance of the NLRP3 inflammasome in FTD. An improved understanding of the role of inflammasomes in FTD could provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiu Chuen Lok
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jared S Katzeff
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John R Hodges
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia
- School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - YuHong Fu
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Woojin Scott Kim
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia.
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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16
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De Marchi F, Franjkic T, Schito P, Russo T, Nimac J, Chami AA, Mele A, Vidatic L, Kriz J, Julien JP, Apic G, Russell RB, Rogelj B, Cannon JR, Baralle M, Agosta F, Hecimovic S, Mazzini L, Buratti E, Munitic I. Emerging Trends in the Field of Inflammation and Proteinopathy in ALS/FTD Spectrum Disorder. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1599. [PMID: 37371694 PMCID: PMC10295684 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteinopathy and neuroinflammation are two main hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. They also represent rare common events in an exceptionally broad landscape of genetic, environmental, neuropathologic, and clinical heterogeneity present in patients. Here, we aim to recount the emerging trends in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) spectrum disorder. Our review will predominantly focus on neuroinflammation and systemic immune imbalance in ALS and FTD, which have recently been highlighted as novel therapeutic targets. A common mechanism of most ALS and ~50% of FTD patients is dysregulation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), an RNA/DNA-binding protein, which becomes depleted from the nucleus and forms cytoplasmic aggregates in neurons and glia. This, in turn, via both gain and loss of function events, alters a variety of TDP-43-mediated cellular events. Experimental attempts to target TDP-43 aggregates or manipulate crosstalk in the context of inflammation will be discussed. Targeting inflammation, and the immune system in general, is of particular interest because of the high plasticity of immune cells compared to neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola De Marchi
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Toni Franjkic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
- Metisox, Cambridge CB24 9NL, UK;
| | - Paride Schito
- Department of Neurology & Neuropathology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (P.S.); (T.R.)
| | - Tommaso Russo
- Department of Neurology & Neuropathology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (P.S.); (T.R.)
| | - Jerneja Nimac
- Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (J.N.); (B.R.)
- Graduate School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anna A. Chami
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Angelica Mele
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Lea Vidatic
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.V.); (S.H.)
| | - Jasna Kriz
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | | | | | - Boris Rogelj
- Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (J.N.); (B.R.)
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jason R. Cannon
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA;
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | | | - Federica Agosta
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Silva Hecimovic
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.V.); (S.H.)
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ivana Munitic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
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17
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McGrath MS, Zhang R, Bracci PM, Azhir A, Forrest BD. Regulation of the Innate Immune System as a Therapeutic Approach to Supporting Respiratory Function in ALS. Cells 2023; 12:cells12071031. [PMID: 37048104 PMCID: PMC10093136 DOI: 10.3390/cells12071031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a clinical diagnosis used to define a neurodegenerative process that involves progressive loss of voluntary muscle function and leads to death within 2–5 years after diagnosis, in most cases because of respiratory function failure. Respiratory vital capacity (VC) measurements are reproducible and strong predictors of survival. To understand the role of the innate immune response in progressive VC loss we evaluated ALS clinical trial and biomarker results from a 6-month phase 2 study of NP001, a regulator of innate immune function. All ALS baseline values were similar between treated and controls except for those > 65 years old who were excluded from analysis. Treated patients with plasma CRP ≥ 1.13 mg/L (high CRP) showed a 64% slower rate of VC decline compared with placebo and those with plasma CRP < 1.13 mg/L (low CRP) who showed no response. High CRP patients showed no age associated loss of VC whereas low CRP patients showed an age dependent loss of VC function. Plasma levels of serum amyloid A (SAA) were similarly elevated in high CRP patients consistent with ongoing innate immune activation. Plasma TGFB1 in high CRP treated patients was 95% higher than placebo at 6-months, confirming the activation and release of this anti-inflammatory factor by the innate immune alpha 2 macroglobulin (A2M) system. This report is the first to link a biomarker confirmed regulation of the innate immune system with a therapeutic approach for controlling VC loss in ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. McGrath
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
- Neuvivo, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Rongzhen Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
| | - Paige M. Bracci
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ari Azhir
- Neuvivo, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA
| | - Bruce D. Forrest
- Neuvivo, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA
- Hudson Innovations, LLC, Nyack, NY 10960, USA
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18
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Gautam M, Genç B, Helmold B, Ahrens A, Kuka J, Makrecka-Kuka M, Günay A, Koçak N, Aguilar-Wickings IR, Keefe D, Zheng G, Swaminathan S, Redmon M, Zariwala HA, Özdinler PH. SBT-272 improves TDP-43 pathology in ALS upper motor neurons by modulating mitochondrial integrity, motility, and function. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 178:106022. [PMID: 36716828 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial defects are one of the common underlying causes of neuronal vulnerability in neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and TDP-43 pathology is the most commonly observed proteinopathy. Disrupted inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) reported in the upper motor neurons (UMNs) of ALS patients with TDP-43 pathology is recapitulated in the UMNs of well-characterized hTDP-43 mouse model of ALS. The construct validity, such as shared and common cellular pathology in mice and human, offers a unique opportunity to test treatment strategies that may translate to patients. SBT-272 is a well-tolerated brain-penetrant small molecule that stabilizes cardiolipin, a phospholipid found in IMM, thereby restoring mitochondrial structure and respiratory function. We investigated whether SBT-272 can improve IMM structure and health in UMNs diseased with TDP-43 pathology in our well-characterized UMN reporter line for ALS. We found that SBT-272 significantly improved mitochondrial structural integrity and restored mitochondrial motility and function. This led to improved health of diseased UMNs in vitro. In comparison to edaravone and AMX0035, SBT-272 appeared more effective in restoring health of diseased UMNs. Chronic treatment of SBT-272 for sixty days starting at an early symptomatic stage of the disease in vivo led to a significant reduction in astrogliosis, microgliosis, and TDP-43 pathology in the ALS motor cortex. Our results underscore the therapeutic potential of SBT-272, especially within the context of TDP-43 pathology and mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Gautam
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Barış Genç
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Benjamin Helmold
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Angela Ahrens
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Janis Kuka
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS), Aizkraukles Street 21, LV-2006 Riga, Latvia
| | - Marina Makrecka-Kuka
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS), Aizkraukles Street 21, LV-2006 Riga, Latvia
| | - Aksu Günay
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Nuran Koçak
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Izaak R Aguilar-Wickings
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Dennis Keefe
- Stealth BioTherapeutics, 140 Kendrick St Building C, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Guozhu Zheng
- Stealth BioTherapeutics, 140 Kendrick St Building C, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Suchitra Swaminathan
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 420 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Research Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 675 N St Clair Fl 21 Ste 100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Martin Redmon
- Stealth BioTherapeutics, 140 Kendrick St Building C, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Hatim A Zariwala
- Stealth BioTherapeutics, 140 Kendrick St Building C, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - P Hande Özdinler
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Research Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 675 N St Clair Fl 21 Ste 100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, 2205 Tech Dr, Evanston, IL 60208, USA..
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19
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Bedlack R, Barkhaus PE, Barnes B, Beauchamp M, Bertorini T, Bromberg MB, Carter GT, Chaudry V, Cudkowicz M, Jackson C, Levitsky G, Lund I, McDermott C, Novella S, Olby N, Ostrow L, Pattee GL, Heiman-Patterson T, Ratner D, Salmon K, Steves S, Terrelonge M, Wicks P, Wills AM. ALSUntangled #63: ketogenic diets. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023; 24:159-163. [PMID: 34645313 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2021.1990346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
ALSUntangled reviews alternative and off label treatments with a goal of helping patients make more informed decisions about them. Here we review ketogenic diets. We shows that these have plausible mechanisms, including augmenting cellular energy balance and reducing excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. We review a mouse model study, anecdotal reports and trials in ALS and other diseases. We conclude that there is yet not enough data to recommend ketogenic diets for patients with ALS, especially in light of the many side effects these can have.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Bedlack
- Neurology Department, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Paul E Barkhaus
- Neurology Department, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, Kenosha, WI, United States
| | - Benjamin Barnes
- Neurology Department, Augusta University Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, United States
| | | | - Tulio Bertorini
- Neurology Department, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center VolShop Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Mark B Bromberg
- Neurology Department, University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Gregory T Carter
- St Lukes Rehabilitation Hospital, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chesterfield, MO, United States
| | - Vinay Chaudry
- Neurology Department, University of North Carolina School of Medicine Neuroscience Center, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Merit Cudkowicz
- Neurology Department, Mass General Brigham Inc., Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ce Jackson
- Neurology Department, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - Greehey Academic and Research Campus, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | | | - Isaac Lund
- Green Hope High School, Cary, NC, United States
| | - Christopher McDermott
- The University of Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Novella
- Neurology Department, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Natasha Olby
- Neurology Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Lyle Ostrow
- Neurology Department, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Gary L Pattee
- Neurology Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, NE, United States
| | | | - Dylan Ratner
- Longmeadow High School, Longmeadow, MA, United States
| | - Kristiana Salmon
- Neurology Department, McGill Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Montreal, Canada
| | - Susan Steves
- Nutrition Department, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Mark Terrelonge
- Neurology Department, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Anne-Marie Wills
- Neurology Department, Mass General Brigham Inc., Boston, MA, United States
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20
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Tran NN, Lee BH. Functional implication of ubiquitinating and deubiquitinating mechanisms in TDP-43 proteinopathies. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:931968. [PMID: 36158183 PMCID: PMC9500471 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.931968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in which motor neurons in spinal cord and motor cortex are progressively lost. About 15% cases of ALS also develop the frontotemporal dementia (FTD), in which the frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) occurs in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Among the pathologic commonalities in ALS and FTD is ubiquitin-positive cytoplasmic aggregation of TDP-43 that may reflect both its loss-of-function and gain-of-toxicity from proteostasis impairment. Deep understanding of how protein quality control mechanisms regulate TDP-43 proteinopathies still remains elusive. Recently, a growing body of evidence indicates that ubiquitinating and deubiquitinating pathways are critically engaged in the fate decision of aberrant or pathological TDP-43 proteins. E3 ubiquitin ligases coupled with deubiquitinating enzymes may influence the TDP-43-associated proteotoxicity through diverse events, such as protein stability, translocation, and stress granule or inclusion formation. In this article, we recapitulate our current understanding of how ubiquitinating and deubiquitinating mechanisms can modulate TDP-43 protein quality and its pathogenic nature, thus shedding light on developing targeted therapies for ALS and FTD by harnessing protein degradation machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Non-Nuoc Tran
- Department of New Biology, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, South Korea
| | - Byung-Hoon Lee
- Department of New Biology, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, South Korea
- Department of New Biology Research Center (NBRC), Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Byung-Hoon Lee,
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21
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Ooi S, Patel SK, Eratne D, Kyndt C, Reidy N, Lewis C, Lee SC, Darby D, Brodtmann A. Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain and Clinical Diagnosis in Frontotemporal Dementia Syndromes. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 89:1221-1231. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-220272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) syndromes, mimics, phenocopy (phFTD), and slowly progressive behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) can be difficult to distinguish clinically. Biomarkers such as neurofilament light chain (NfL) may be helpful. Objective: To study plasma NfL levels in people with FTD syndromes and determine if plasma NfL can distinguish between FTD syndromes and phFTD. Methods: Plasma NfL levels were estimated using both Simoa ® Quanterix HD-X™ and SR-X™ machines grouped via final diagnosis after investigation and review. Results: Fifty participants were studied: bvFTD = 20, semantic variant FTD (svFTD) = 11, non-fluent variant FTD (nfvFTD) = 9, FTD with motor neuron disease (MND) = 4, phFTD = 2, slow progressors = 3, FTD mimic = 1, mean age 67.2 (SD 8.4) years. NfL levels were significantly higher in the FTD group compared to phenocopy group (p = 0.003). Median NfL (IQR) pg/mL was comparable in the FTD syndromes: bvFTD 41.10 (50.72), svFTD 44.38 (16.61), and nfvFTD 42.61 (22.93), highest in FTD with MND 79.67 (45.32) and lowest in both phFTD 13.99 (0.79) and slow progressors 17.97 (3.62). Conclusion: Plasma NfL appears to differentiate FTD syndromes and mimics. However, a lower NfL may predict a slower, but not necessarily lack of, neurodegeneration and therefore appears limited distinguishing slow progressors from FTD phenocopies. Larger numbers of patients from all clinical groups are required to strengthen diagnostic utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyi Ooi
- Eastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic, Eastern Health, Box Hill, VIC, Australia
- Eastern Clinical Research Unit, Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, VIC, Australia
- Royal Melbourne Hospital, Department of Neurology, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sheila K Patel
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Dhamidhu Eratne
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Neuropsychiatry and Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Christopher Kyndt
- Eastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic, Eastern Health, Box Hill, VIC, Australia
- Eastern Clinical Research Unit, Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, VIC, Australia
- Royal Melbourne Hospital, Department of Neurology, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Natalie Reidy
- Eastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic, Eastern Health, Box Hill, VIC, Australia
| | - Courtney Lewis
- Eastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic, Eastern Health, Box Hill, VIC, Australia
- Neuropsychiatry and Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah C.M. Lee
- Eastern Clinical Research Unit, Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, VIC, Australia
- Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Parkdale, VIC, Australia
| | - David Darby
- Eastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic, Eastern Health, Box Hill, VIC, Australia
- Eastern Clinical Research Unit, Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, VIC, Australia
- Royal Melbourne Hospital, Department of Neurology, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Alfred Health, Department of Neurology, Prahran, Australia
| | - Amy Brodtmann
- Eastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic, Eastern Health, Box Hill, VIC, Australia
- Eastern Clinical Research Unit, Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, VIC, Australia
- Royal Melbourne Hospital, Department of Neurology, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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22
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Transcranial Electromagnetic Treatment Stops Alzheimer’s Disease Cognitive Decline over a 2½-Year Period: A Pilot Study. MEDICINES 2022; 9:medicines9080042. [PMID: 36005647 PMCID: PMC9416517 DOI: 10.3390/medicines9080042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: There is currently no therapeutic that can stop or reverse the progressive memory impairment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, we recently published that 2 months of daily, in-home transcranial electromagnetic treatment (TEMT) reversed the cognitive impairment in eight mild/moderate AD subjects. These cognitive enhancements were accompanied by predicted changes in AD markers within both the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Methods: In view of these encouraging findings, the initial clinical study was extended twice to encompass a period of 2½ years. The present study reports on the resulting long-term safety, cognitive assessments, and AD marker evaluations from the five subjects who received long-term treatment. Results: TEMT administration was completely safe over the 2½-year period, with no deleterious side effects. In six cognitive/functional tasks (including the ADAS-cog13, Rey AVLT, MMSE, and ADL), no decline in any measure occurred over this 2½-year period. Long-term TEMT induced reductions in the CSF levels of C-reactive protein, p-tau217, Aβ1-40, and Aβ1-42 while modulating CSF oligomeric Aβ levels. In the plasma, long-term TEMT modulated/rebalanced levels of both p-tau217 and total tau. Conclusions: Although only a limited number of AD patients were involved in this study, the results suggest that TEMT can stop the cognitive decline of AD over a period of at least 2½ years and can do so with no safety issues.
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23
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Garg P, Semmler S, Baudouin C, Velde CV, Plotkin SS. Misfolding-Associated Exposure of Natively Buried Residues in Mutant SOD1 Facilitates Binding to TRAF6. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167697. [PMID: 35753527 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167697] [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: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease primarily impacting motor neurons. Mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) are the second most common cause of familial ALS. Several of these mutations lead to misfolding or toxic gain of function in the SOD1 protein. Recently, we reported that misfolded SOD1 interacts with TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) in the SOD1G93A rat model of ALS. Further, we showed in cultured cells that several mutant SOD1 proteins, but not wildtype SOD1 protein, interact with TRAF6 via the MATH domain. Here, we sought to uncover the structural details of this interaction through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a dimeric model system, coarse grained using the AWSEM force field. We used direct MD simulations to identify buried residues, and predict binding poses by clustering frames from the trajectories. Metadynamics simulations were also used to deduce preferred binding regions on the protein surfaces from the potential of the mean force in orientation space. Well-folded SOD1 was found to bind TRAF6 via co-option of its native homodimer interface. However, if loops IV and VII of SOD1 were disordered, as typically occurs in the absence of stabilizing Zn2+ ion binding, these disordered loops now participated in novel interactions with TRAF6. On TRAF6, multiple interaction hot-spots were distributed around the equatorial region of the MATH domain beta barrel. Expression of TRAF6 variants with mutations in this region in cultured cells demonstrated that TRAF6T475 facilitates interaction with different SOD1 mutants. These findings contribute to our understanding of the disease mechanism and uncover potential targets for the development of therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranav Garg
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Sabrina Semmler
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - Charlotte Baudouin
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec H2X 0A9, Canada; Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Christine Vande Velde
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec H2X 0A9, Canada; Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Steven S Plotkin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada; Genome Sciences and Technology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada.
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24
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Amor S, Nutma E, Marzin M, Puentes F. Imaging immunological processes from blood to brain in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Exp Immunol 2021; 206:301-313. [PMID: 34510431 PMCID: PMC8561688 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathology studies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and animal models of ALS reveal a strong association between aberrant protein accumulation and motor neurone damage, as well as activated microglia and astrocytes. While the role of neuroinflammation in the pathology of ALS is unclear, imaging studies of the central nervous system (CNS) support the idea that innate immune activation occurs early in disease in both humans and rodent models of ALS. In addition, emerging studies also reveal changes in monocytes, macrophages and lymphocytes in peripheral blood as well as at the neuromuscular junction. To more clearly understand the association of neuroinflammation (innate and adaptive) with disease progression, the use of biomarkers and imaging modalities allow monitoring of immune parameters in the disease process. Such approaches are important for patient stratification, selection and inclusion in clinical trials, as well as to provide readouts of response to therapy. Here, we discuss the different imaging modalities, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy and positron emission tomography as well as other approaches, including biomarkers of inflammation in ALS, that aid the understanding of the underlying immune mechanisms associated with motor neurone degeneration in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Amor
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Erik Nutma
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Manuel Marzin
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Fabiola Puentes
- Department of Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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25
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Mentis AFA, Bougea AM, Chrousos GP. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the endocrine system: Are there any further ties to be explored? AGING BRAIN 2021; 1:100024. [PMID: 36911507 PMCID: PMC9997134 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbas.2021.100024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) belongs to the family of neurodegenerative disorders and is classified as fronto-temporal dementia (FTD), progressive muscular atrophy, primary lateral sclerosis, and pseudobulbar palsy. Even though endocrine dysfunction independently impacts the ALS-related survival rate, the complex connection between ALS and the endocrine system has not been studied in depth. Here we review earlier and recent findings on how ALS interacts with hormones a) of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, b) the thyroid gland, c) the pancreas, d) the adipose tissue, e) the parathyroid glands, f) the bones, g) the adrenal glands, and h) the gonads (ovaries and testes). Of note, endocrine issues should always be explored in patients with ALS, especially those with low skeletal muscle and bone mass, vitamin D deficiency, and decreased insulin sensitivity (diabetes mellitus). Because ALS is a progressively deteriorating disease, addressing any potential endocrine co-morbidities in patients with this malady is quite important for decreasing the overall ALS-associated disease burden. Importantly, as this burden is estimated to increase globally in the decades to follow, in part because of an increasingly aging population, it is high time for future multi-center, multi-ethnic studies to assess the link between ALS and the endocrine system in significantly larger patient populations. Last, the psychosocial stress experienced by patients with ALS and its psycho-neuro-endocrinological sequelae, including hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal dysregulation, should become an area of intensive study in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexios-Fotios A Mentis
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.,UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia M Bougea
- Memory & Movement Disorders Clinic, 1st Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.,UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
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