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Baron KR, Oviedo S, Krasny S, Zaman M, Aldakhlallah R, Mathur P, Pfeffer G, Bollong MJ, Shutt T, Grotjahn DA, Wiseman RL. Pharmacologic Activation of Integrated Stress Response Kinases Inhibits Pathologic Mitochondrial Fragmentation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.10.598126. [PMID: 38915623 PMCID: PMC11195119 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.10.598126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Excessive mitochondrial fragmentation is associated with the pathologic mitochondrial dysfunction implicated in the pathogenesis of etiologically-diverse diseases, including many neurodegenerative disorders. The integrated stress response (ISR) - comprising the four eIF2α kinases PERK, GCN2, PKR, and HRI - is a prominent stress-responsive signaling pathway that regulates mitochondrial morphology and function in response to diverse types of pathologic insult. This suggests that pharmacologic, stress-independent activation of the ISR represents a potential strategy to mitigate pathologic mitochondrial fragmentation associated with human disease. Here, we show that pharmacologic, stress-independent activation of the ISR kinases HRI or GCN2 promotes adaptive mitochondrial elongation and prevents mitochondrial fragmentation induced by the calcium ionophore ionomycin. Further, we show that stress-independent activation of these ISR kinases reduces mitochondrial fragmentation and restores basal mitochondrial morphology in patient fibroblasts expressing the pathogenic D414V variant of the pro-fusion mitochondrial GTPase MFN2 associated with neurological dysfunctions including ataxia, optic atrophy, and sensorineural hearing loss. These results identify pharmacologic, stress-independent activation of ISR kinases as a potential strategy to prevent pathologic mitochondrial fragmentation induced by disease-relevant chemical and genetic insults, further motivating the pursuit of highly selective ISR kinase-activating compounds as a therapeutic strategy to mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction implicated in diverse human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey R. Baron
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Samantha Oviedo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computation Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Sophia Krasny
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Mashiat Zaman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rama Aldakhlallah
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Prakhyat Mathur
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Gerald Pfeffer
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary; Alberta Child Health Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
| | - Michael J. Bollong
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Timothy Shutt
- Departments of Medical Genetics and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Danielle A. Grotjahn
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computation Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - R. Luke Wiseman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
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2
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Awuah WA, Tan JK, Shkodina AD, Ferreira T, Adebusoye FT, Mazzoleni A, Wellington J, David L, Chilcott E, Huang H, Abdul-Rahman T, Shet V, Atallah O, Kalmanovich J, Jiffry R, Madhu DE, Sikora K, Kmyta O, Delva MY. Hereditary spastic paraplegia: Novel insights into the pathogenesis and management. SAGE Open Med 2023; 12:20503121231221941. [PMID: 38162912 PMCID: PMC10757446 DOI: 10.1177/20503121231221941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Hereditary spastic paraplegia is a genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder characterised primarily by muscle stiffness in the lower limbs. Neurodegenerative disorders are conditions that result from cellular and metabolic abnormalities, many of which have strong genetic ties. While ageing is a known contributor to these changes, certain neurodegenerative disorders can manifest early in life, progressively affecting a person's quality of life. Hereditary spastic paraplegia is one such condition that can appear in individuals of any age. In hereditary spastic paraplegia, a distinctive feature is the degeneration of long nerve fibres in the corticospinal tract of the lower limbs. This degeneration is linked to various cellular and metabolic processes, including mitochondrial dysfunction, remodelling of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, autophagy, abnormal myelination processes and alterations in lipid metabolism. Additionally, hereditary spastic paraplegia affects processes like endosome membrane trafficking, oxidative stress and mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms. Disease-causing genetic loci and associated genes influence the progression and severity of hereditary spastic paraplegia, potentially affecting various cellular and metabolic functions. Although hereditary spastic paraplegia does not reduce a person's lifespan, it significantly impairs their quality of life as they age, particularly with more severe symptoms. Regrettably, there are currently no treatments available to halt or reverse the pathological progression of hereditary spastic paraplegia. This review aims to explore the metabolic mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of hereditary spastic paraplegia, emphasising the interactions of various genes identified in recent network studies. By comprehending these associations, targeted molecular therapies that address these biochemical processes can be developed to enhance treatment strategies for hereditary spastic paraplegia and guide clinical practice effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anastasiia D Shkodina
- Department of Neurological Diseases, Poltava State Medical University, Poltava, Ukraine
| | - Tomas Ferreira
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Adele Mazzoleni
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK
| | - Jack Wellington
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Wales, UK
| | - Lian David
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Ellie Chilcott
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Wales, UK
| | - Helen Huang
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Vallabh Shet
- Faculty of Medicine, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Karnataka, India
| | - Oday Atallah
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Riaz Jiffry
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | | | | | - Mykhailo Yu Delva
- Department of Neurological Diseases, Poltava State Medical University, Poltava, Ukraine
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3
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Tábara LC, Al-Salmi F, Maroofian R, Al-Futaisi AM, Al-Murshedi F, Kennedy J, Day JO, Courtin T, Al-Khayat A, Galedari H, Mazaheri N, Protasoni M, Johnson M, Leslie JS, Salter CG, Rawlins LE, Fasham J, Al-Maawali A, Voutsina N, Charles P, Harrold L, Keren B, Kunji ERS, Vona B, Jelodar G, Sedaghat A, Shariati G, Houlden H, Crosby AH, Prudent J, Baple EL. TMEM63C mutations cause mitochondrial morphology defects and underlie hereditary spastic paraplegia. Brain 2022; 145:3095-3107. [PMID: 35718349 PMCID: PMC9473353 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP) are among the most genetically diverse of all Mendelian disorders. They comprise a large group of neurodegenerative diseases that may be divided into 'pure HSP' in forms of the disease primarily entailing progressive lower-limb weakness and spasticity, and 'complex HSP' when these features are accompanied by other neurological (or non-neurological) clinical signs. Here, we identified biallelic variants in the transmembrane protein 63C (TMEM63C) gene, encoding a predicted osmosensitive calcium-permeable cation channel, in individuals with hereditary spastic paraplegias associated with mild intellectual disability in some, but not all cases. Biochemical and microscopy analyses revealed that TMEM63C is an endoplasmic reticulum-localized protein, which is particularly enriched at mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contact sites. Functional in cellula studies indicate a role for TMEM63C in regulating both endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial morphologies. Together, these findings identify autosomal recessive TMEM63C variants as a cause of pure and complex HSP and add to the growing evidence of a fundamental pathomolecular role of perturbed mitochondrial-endoplasmic reticulum dynamics in motor neurone degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Carlos Tábara
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of
Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Fatema Al-Salmi
- Level 4, RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford)
NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School,
Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Reza Maroofian
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College
London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Amna Mohammed Al-Futaisi
- Genetic and Developmental Medicine Clinic, Department of Genetics, College
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital,
Muscat 123, Oman
| | - Fathiya Al-Murshedi
- Genetic and Developmental Medicine Clinic, Department of Genetics, College
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital,
Muscat 123, Oman
| | - Joanna Kennedy
- Level 4, RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford)
NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School,
Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
- Clinical Genetics, University Hospitals Bristol,
Bristol BS2 8EG, UK
| | - Jacob O Day
- Level 4, RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford)
NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School,
Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
- Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth,
Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Thomas Courtin
- Département de génétique, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance
Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75019 Paris, Sorbonne
Université, France
| | - Aisha Al-Khayat
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos
University, Muscat, Oman
| | - Hamid Galedari
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of
Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Neda Mazaheri
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of
Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Margherita Protasoni
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of
Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Mark Johnson
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of
Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Joseph S Leslie
- Level 4, RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford)
NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School,
Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Claire G Salter
- Level 4, RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford)
NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School,
Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Lettie E Rawlins
- Level 4, RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford)
NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School,
Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
- Peninsula Clinical Genetics Service, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
(Heavitree), Exeter EX1 2ED, UK
| | - James Fasham
- Level 4, RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford)
NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School,
Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
- Peninsula Clinical Genetics Service, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
(Heavitree), Exeter EX1 2ED, UK
| | - Almundher Al-Maawali
- Genetic and Developmental Medicine Clinic, Department of Genetics, College
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital,
Muscat 123, Oman
| | - Nikol Voutsina
- Level 4, RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford)
NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School,
Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Perrine Charles
- Département de génétique, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance
Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75019 Paris, Sorbonne
Université, France
| | - Laura Harrold
- Level 4, RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford)
NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School,
Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Boris Keren
- Département de génétique, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance
Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75019 Paris, Sorbonne
Université, France
| | - Edmund R S Kunji
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of
Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Barbara Vona
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing
Research Centre, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen,
Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gholamreza Jelodar
- Pediatric Neurology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical
Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Alireza Sedaghat
- Health Research Institute, Diabetes Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur
University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Shariati
- Department of Medical Genetic, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur,
University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Henry Houlden
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College
London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Andrew H Crosby
- Level 4, RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford)
NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School,
Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Julien Prudent
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of
Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Emma L Baple
- Level 4, RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford)
NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School,
Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
- Peninsula Clinical Genetics Service, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
(Heavitree), Exeter EX1 2ED, UK
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4
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Chen Z, Chai E, Mou Y, Roda RH, Blackstone C, Li XJ. Inhibiting mitochondrial fission rescues degeneration in hereditary spastic paraplegia neurons. Brain 2022; 145:4016-4031. [PMID: 35026838 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are characterized by lower limb spasticity resulting from degeneration of long corticospinal axons. SPG11 is one of the most common autosomal recessive HSPs, and the SPG11 protein spatacsin forms a complex with the SPG15 protein spastizin and heterotetrameric AP5 adaptor protein complex, which includes the SPG48 protein AP5Z1. Using the integration-free episomal method, we established SPG11 patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patient fibroblasts. We differentiated SPG11 iPSCs, as well as SPG48 iPSCs previously established, into cortical projection neurons (PNs) and examined protective effects by targeting mitochondrial dynamics using P110, a peptide that selectively inhibits mitochondrial fission GTPase Drp1. P110 treatment mitigates mitochondrial fragmentation, improves mitochondrial motility, and restores mitochondrial health and ATP levels in SPG11 and SPG48 neurons. Neurofilament (NF) aggregations are increased in SPG11 and SPG48 axons, and these are also suppressed by P110. Similarly, P110 mitigates NF disruption in both SPG11 and SPG48 knockdown cortical PNs, confirming the contribution of HSP gene deficiency to subsequent NF and mitochondrial defects. Strikingly, NF aggregations in SPG11 and SPG48 deficient neurons double stain with ubiquitin and autophagy related proteins, resembling the pathological hallmark observed in SPG11 autopsy brain sections. To confirm the cause-effect relationship between the SPG11 mutations and disease phenotypes, we knocked-in SPG11 disease mutations to human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and differentiated these stem cells into cortical PNs. Reduced ATP levels and accumulated NF aggregations along axons are observed, and both are mitigated by P110. Furthermore, rescue experiment with expression of wildtype SPG11 in cortical PNs derived from both SPG11 patient iPSCs and SPG11 disease mutation knock-in hESCs leads to rescue of mitochondrial dysfunction and NF aggregations in these SPG11 neurons. Finally, in SPG11 and SPG48 long-term cultures, increased release of phosphoNF-H, a biomarker for nerve degeneration, is significantly reduced by inhibiting mitochondrial fission pharmacologically using P110 and genetically using Drp1 shRNA. Taken together, our results demonstrate that impaired mitochondrial dynamics underlie both cytoskeletal disorganization and axonal degeneration in SPG11 and SPG48 neurons, highlighting the importance of targeting these pathologies therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Chen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Eric Chai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, USA
| | - Yongchao Mou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Ricardo H. Roda
- Cell Biology Section, Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Craig Blackstone
- Cell Biology Section, Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Movement Disorders Division, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Xue-Jun Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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5
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Güner F, Pozner T, Krach F, Prots I, Loskarn S, Schlötzer-Schrehardt U, Winkler J, Winner B, Regensburger M. Axon-Specific Mitochondrial Pathology in SPG11 Alpha Motor Neurons. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:680572. [PMID: 34326717 PMCID: PMC8314181 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.680572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic variants in SPG11 are the most frequent cause of autosomal recessive complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). In addition to spastic paraplegia caused by corticospinal degeneration, most patients are significantly affected by progressive weakness and muscle wasting due to alpha motor neuron (MN) degeneration. Mitochondria play a crucial role in neuronal health, and mitochondrial deficits were reported in other types of HSPs. To investigate whether mitochondrial pathology is present in SPG11, we differentiated MNs from induced pluripotent stem cells derived from SPG11 patients and controls. MN derived from human embryonic stem cells and an isogenic SPG11 knockout line were also included in the study. Morphological analysis of mitochondria in the MN soma versus neurites revealed specific alterations of mitochondrial morphology within SPG11 neurites, but not within the soma. In addition, impaired mitochondrial membrane potential was indicative of mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, we reveal neuritic aggregates further supporting neurite pathology in SPG11. Correspondingly, using a microfluidic-based MN culture system, we demonstrate that axonal mitochondrial transport was significantly impaired in SPG11. Overall, our data demonstrate that alterations in morphology, function, and transport of mitochondria are an important feature of axonal dysfunction in SPG11 MNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Güner
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tatyana Pozner
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Florian Krach
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Iryna Prots
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sandra Loskarn
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Jürgen Winkler
- Department of Molecular Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Center for Rare Diseases Erlangen, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Beate Winner
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Center for Rare Diseases Erlangen, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Martin Regensburger
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Molecular Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Center for Rare Diseases Erlangen, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
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6
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Karpe Y, Chen Z, Li XJ. Stem Cell Models and Gene Targeting for Human Motor Neuron Diseases. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:565. [PMID: 34204831 PMCID: PMC8231537 DOI: 10.3390/ph14060565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor neurons are large projection neurons classified into upper and lower motor neurons responsible for controlling the movement of muscles. Degeneration of motor neurons results in progressive muscle weakness, which underlies several debilitating neurological disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). With the development of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, human iPSCs can be derived from patients and further differentiated into motor neurons. Motor neuron disease models can also be generated by genetically modifying human pluripotent stem cells. The efficiency of gene targeting in human cells had been very low, but is greatly improved with recent gene editing technologies such as zinc-finger nucleases (ZFN), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN), and CRISPR-Cas9. The combination of human stem cell-based models and gene editing tools provides unique paradigms to dissect pathogenic mechanisms and to explore therapeutics for these devastating diseases. Owing to the critical role of several genes in the etiology of motor neuron diseases, targeted gene therapies have been developed, including antisense oligonucleotides, viral-based gene delivery, and in situ gene editing. This review summarizes recent advancements in these areas and discusses future challenges toward the development of transformative medicines for motor neuron diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashashree Karpe
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, IL 61107, USA; (Y.K.); (Z.C.)
| | - Zhenyu Chen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, IL 61107, USA; (Y.K.); (Z.C.)
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Xue-Jun Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, IL 61107, USA; (Y.K.); (Z.C.)
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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7
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Gumeni S, Vantaggiato C, Montopoli M, Orso G. Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and Future Therapeutic Directions: Beneficial Effects of Small Compounds Acting on Cellular Stress. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:660714. [PMID: 34025345 PMCID: PMC8134669 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.660714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a group of inherited neurodegenerative conditions that share a characteristic feature of degeneration of the longest axons within the corticospinal tract, which leads to progressive spasticity and weakness of the lower limbs. Mutations of over 70 genes produce defects in various biological pathways: axonal transport, lipid metabolism, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) shaping, mitochondrial function, and endosomal trafficking. HSPs suffer from an adequate therapeutic plan. Currently the treatments foreseen for patients affected by this pathology are physiotherapy, to maintain the outgoing tone, and muscle relaxant therapies for spasticity. Very few clinical studies have been conducted, and it's urgent to implement preclinical animal studies devoted to pharmacological test and screening, to expand the rose of compounds potentially attractive for clinical trials. Small animal models, such as Drosophila melanogaster and zebrafish, have been generated, analyzed, and used as preclinical model for screening of compounds and their effects. In this work, we briefly described the role of HSP-linked proteins in the organization of ER endomembrane system and in the regulation of ER homeostasis and stress as a common pathological mechanism for these HSP forms. We then focused our attention on the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic features of some recently identified molecules with antioxidant property, such as salubrinal, guanabenz, N-acetyl cysteine, methylene blue, rapamycin, and naringenin, and on their potential use in future clinical studies. Expanding the models and the pharmacological screening for HSP disease is necessary to give an opportunity to patients and clinicians to test new molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sentiljana Gumeni
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Chiara Vantaggiato
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Monica Montopoli
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Genny Orso
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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8
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Gunay A, Shin HH, Gozutok O, Gautam M, Ozdinler PH. Importance of lipids for upper motor neuron health and disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2020; 112:92-104. [PMID: 33323321 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Building evidence reveals the importance of maintaining lipid homeostasis for the health and function of neurons, and upper motor neurons (UMNs) are no exception. UMNs are critically important for the initiation and modulation of voluntary movement as they are responsible for conveying cerebral cortex' input to spinal cord targets. To maintain their unique cytoarchitecture with a prominent apical dendrite and a very long axon, UMNs require a stable cell membrane, a lipid bilayer. Lipids can act as building blocks for many biomolecules, and they also contribute to the production of energy. Therefore, UMNs require sustained control over the production, utilization and homeostasis of lipids. Perturbations of lipid homeostasis lead to UMN vulnerability and progressive degeneration in diseases such as hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) and primary lateral sclerosis (PLS). Here, we discuss the importance of lipids, especially for UMNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aksu Gunay
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA, 60611
| | - Heather H Shin
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA, 60611
| | - Oge Gozutok
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA, 60611
| | - Mukesh Gautam
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA, 60611
| | - P Hande Ozdinler
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA, 60611.
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Mou Y, Mukte S, Chai E, Dein J, Li XJ. Analyzing Mitochondrial Transport and Morphology in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons in Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. J Vis Exp 2020. [PMID: 32090993 DOI: 10.3791/60548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurons have intense demands for high energy in order to support their functions. Impaired mitochondrial transport along axons has been observed in human neurons, which may contribute to neurodegeneration in various disease states. Although it is challenging to examine mitochondrial dynamics in live human nerves, such paradigms are critical for studying the role of mitochondria in neurodegeneration. Described here is a protocol for analyzing mitochondrial transport and mitochondrial morphology in forebrain neuron axons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The iPSCs are differentiated into telencephalic glutamatergic neurons using well-established methods. Mitochondria of the neurons are stained with MitoTracker CMXRos, and mitochondrial movement within the axons are captured using a live-cell imaging microscope equipped with an incubator for cell culture. Time-lapse images are analyzed using software with "MultiKymograph", "Bioformat importer", and "Macros" plugins. Kymographs of mitochondrial transport are generated, and average mitochondrial velocity in the anterograde and retrograde directions is read from the kymograph. Regarding mitochondrial morphology analysis, mitochondrial length, area, and aspect ratio are obtained using the ImageJ. In summary, this protocol allows characterization of mitochondrial trafficking along axons and analysis of their morphology to facilitate studies of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongchao Mou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford; Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago
| | - Sukhada Mukte
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford
| | - Eric Chai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford
| | - Joshua Dein
- MD Program, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford
| | - Xue-Jun Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford; Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago;
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