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Ho NJ, Chen X, Lei Y, Gu S. Decoding hereditary spastic paraplegia pathogenicity through transcriptomic profiling. Zool Res 2023; 44:650-662. [PMID: 37161652 PMCID: PMC10236304 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.281] [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: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a group of genetic motor neuron diseases resulting from length-dependent axonal degeneration of the corticospinal upper motor neurons. Due to the advancement of next-generation sequencing, more than 70 novel HSP disease-causing genes have been identified in the past decade. Despite this, our understanding of HSP physiopathology and the development of efficient management and treatment strategies remain poor. One major challenge in studying HSP pathogenicity is selective neuronal vulnerability, characterized by the manifestation of clinical symptoms that are restricted to specific neuronal populations, despite the presence of germline disease-causing variants in every cell of the patient. Furthermore, disease genes may exhibit ubiquitous expression patterns and involve a myriad of different pathways to cause motor neuron degeneration. In the current review, we explore the correlation between transcriptomic data and clinical manifestations, as well as the importance of interspecies models by comparing tissue-specific transcriptomic profiles of humans and mice, expression patterns of different genes in the brain during development, and single-cell transcriptomic data from related tissues. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of emerging single-cell RNA sequencing technologies to resolve unanswered questions related to HSP pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas James Ho
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Dr. Li Dak Sum-Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine and Department of Orthopedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute & School of Basic Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Department of Sports Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- China Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine Group (CORMed), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058 China
| | - Yong Lei
- School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, China
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Futian Biomedical Innovation R&D Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, China. E-mail:
| | - Shen Gu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research of Common Diseases, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Hong Kong Branch of CAS Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. E-mail:
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Zlomuzica A, Plank L, Kodzaga I, Dere E. A fatal alliance: Glial connexins, myelin pathology and mental disorders. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 159:97-115. [PMID: 36701970 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Mature oligodendrocytes are myelin forming glial cells which are responsible for myelination of neuronal axons in the white matter of the central nervous system. Myelin pathology is a major feature of severe neurological disorders. Oligodendrocyte-specific gene mutations and/or white matter alterations have also been addressed in a variety of mental disorders. Breakdown of myelin integrity and demyelination is associated with severe symptoms, including impairments in motor coordination, breathing, dysarthria, perception (vision and hearing), and cognition. Furthermore, there is evidence indicating that myelin sheath defects and white matter pathology contributes to the affective and cognitive symptoms of patients with mental disorders. Oligodendrocytes express the connexins GJC2; mCx47 [human (GJC2) and mouse (mCx47) connexin gene nomenclature according to Söhl and Willecke (2003)], GJB1; mCx32, and GJD1; mCx29 in both white and gray matter. Preclinical findings indicate that alterations in connexin expression in oligodendrocytes and astrocytes can induce myelin defects. GJC2; mCx47 is expressed at early embryonic stages in oligodendrocyte precursors cells which precedes central nervous system myelination. In adult humans and animals GJC2, respectively mCx47 expression is essential for oligodendrocyte function and ensures adequate myelination as well as myelin maintenance in the central nervous system. In the past decade, evidence has accumulated suggesting that mental disorders can be accompanied by changes in connexin expression, myelin sheath defects and corresponding white matter alterations. This dual pathology could compromise inter-neuronal information transfer, processing and communication and eventually contribute to behavioral, sensory-motor, affective and cognitive symptoms in patients with mental disorders. The induction of myelin repair and remyelination in the central nervous system of patients with mental disorders could help to restore normal neuronal information propagation and ameliorate behavioral and cognitive symptoms in individuals with mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Zlomuzica
- Department of Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB), Massenbergstraße 9-13, D-44787, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Laurin Plank
- Department of Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB), Massenbergstraße 9-13, D-44787, Bochum, Germany
| | - Iris Kodzaga
- Department of Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB), Massenbergstraße 9-13, D-44787, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ekrem Dere
- Department of Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB), Massenbergstraße 9-13, D-44787, Bochum, Germany; Sorbonne Université, UFR des Sciences de la Vie, 9 quai Saint Bernard, F-75005, Paris, France.
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