1
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Duvick L, Southern WM, Benzow KA, Burch ZN, Handler HP, Mitchell JS, Kuivinen H, Gadiparthi U, Yang P, Soles A, Sheeler CA, Rainwater O, Serres S, Lind EB, Nichols-Meade T, You Y, O'Callaghan B, Zoghbi HY, Cvetanovic M, Wheeler VC, Ervasti JM, Koob MD, Orr HT. Mapping SCA1 regional vulnerabilities reveals neural and skeletal muscle contributions to disease. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e176057. [PMID: 38512434 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.176057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by an expanded polyglutamine tract in the widely expressed ataxin-1 (ATXN1) protein. To elucidate anatomical regions and cell types that underlie mutant ATXN1-induced disease phenotypes, we developed a floxed conditional knockin mouse (f-ATXN1146Q/2Q) with mouse Atxn1 coding exons replaced by human ATXN1 exons encoding 146 glutamines. f-ATXN1146Q/2Q mice manifested SCA1-like phenotypes including motor and cognitive deficits, wasting, and decreased survival. Central nervous system (CNS) contributions to disease were revealed using f-ATXN1146Q/2Q;Nestin-Cre mice, which showed improved rotarod, open field, and Barnes maze performance by 6-12 weeks of age. In contrast, striatal contributions to motor deficits using f-ATXN1146Q/2Q;Rgs9-Cre mice revealed that mice lacking ATXN1146Q/2Q in striatal medium-spiny neurons showed a trending improvement in rotarod performance at 30 weeks of age. Surprisingly, a prominent role for muscle contributions to disease was revealed in f-ATXN1146Q/2Q;ACTA1-Cre mice based on their recovery from kyphosis and absence of muscle pathology. Collectively, data from the targeted conditional deletion of the expanded allele demonstrated CNS and peripheral contributions to disease and highlighted the need to consider muscle in addition to the brain for optimal SCA1 therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Duvick
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and
| | - W Michael Southern
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kellie A Benzow
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and
| | - Zoe N Burch
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hillary P Handler
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and
| | - Jason S Mitchell
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and
| | - Hannah Kuivinen
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and
| | - Udaya Gadiparthi
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and
| | - Praseuth Yang
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and
| | - Alyssa Soles
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Carrie A Sheeler
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Orion Rainwater
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and
| | - Shannah Serres
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and
| | - Erin B Lind
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Tessa Nichols-Meade
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Yun You
- Mouse Genetics Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Minnesota, USA
| | - Brennon O'Callaghan
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and
| | - Huda Y Zoghbi
- Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Pediatrics, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Vanessa C Wheeler
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James M Ervasti
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Michael D Koob
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and
| | - Harry T Orr
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and
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2
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McLoughlin HS, Gundry K, Rainwater O, Schuster KH, Wellik IG, Zalon AJ, Benneyworth MA, Eberly LE, Öz G. Antisense Oligonucleotide Silencing Reverses Abnormal Neurochemistry in Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3 Mice. Ann Neurol 2023; 94:658-671. [PMID: 37243335 PMCID: PMC10543567 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common dominantly inherited ataxia, and biomarkers are needed to noninvasively monitor disease progression and treatment response. Anti-ATXN3 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) treatment has been shown to mitigate neuropathology and rescue motor phenotypes in SCA3 mice. Here, we investigated whether repeated ASO administration reverses brainstem and cerebellar neurochemical abnormalities by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). METHODS Symptomatic SCA3 mice received intracerebroventricular treatment of ASO or vehicle and were compared to wild-type vehicle-treated littermates. To quantify neurochemical changes in treated mice, longitudinal 9.4T MRS of cerebellum and brainstem was performed. Acquired magnetic resonance (MR) group means were analyzed by 2-way analysis of variance mixed-effects sex-adjusted analysis with post hoc Sidak correlation for multiple comparisons. Pearson correlations were used to relate SCA3 pathology and behavior. RESULTS MR spectra yielded 15 to 16 neurochemical concentrations in the cerebellum and brainstem. ASO treatment in SCA3 mice resulted in significant total choline rescue and partial reversals of taurine, glutamine, and total N-acetylaspartate across both regions. Some ASO-rescued neurochemicals correlated with reduction in diseased protein and nuclear ATXN3 accumulation. ASO-corrected motor activity correlated with total choline and total N-acetylaspartate levels early in disease. INTERPRETATION SCA3 mouse cerebellar and brainstem neurochemical trends parallel those in patients with SCA3. Decreased total choline may reflect oligodendrocyte abnormalities, decreased total N-acetylaspartate highlights neuronal health disturbances, and high glutamine may indicate gliosis. ASO treatment fully or partially reversed select neurochemical abnormalities in SCA3 mice, indicating the potential for these measures to serve as noninvasive treatment biomarkers in future SCA3 gene silencing trials. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:658-671.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katherine Gundry
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Orion Rainwater
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Isabel G. Wellik
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Annie J. Zalon
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Lynn E. Eberly
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Gülin Öz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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3
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Duvick L, Southern WM, Benzow K, Burch ZN, Handler HP, Mitchell JS, Kuivinen H, Gadiparthi UK, Yang P, Soles A, Scheeler C, Rainwater O, Serres S, Lind E, Nichols-Meade T, O'Callaghan B, Zoghbi HY, Cvetanovic M, Wheeler VC, Ervasti JM, Koob MD, Orr HT. Delineating regional vulnerability in the neurodegenerative disease SCA1 using a conditional mutant ATXN1 mouse. bioRxiv 2023:2023.02.08.527710. [PMID: 36798410 PMCID: PMC9934664 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.08.527710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by an expanded polyglutamine tract in the widely expressed ATXN1 protein. To elucidate anatomical regions and cell types that underlie mutant ATXN1-induced disease phenotypes, we developed a floxed conditional knockout mouse model ( f-ATXN1 146Q/2Q ) having mouse Atxn1 coding exons replaced by human exons encoding 146 glutamines. F-ATXN1 146Q/2Q mice manifest SCA1-like phenotypes including motor and cognitive deficits, wasting, and decreased survival. CNS contributions to disease were revealed using ATXN1 146Q/2Q ; Nestin-Cre mice, that showed improved rotarod, open field and Barnes maze performances. Striatal contributions to motor deficits were examined using f-ATXN1 146Q/2Q ; Rgs9-Cre mice. Mice lacking striatal ATXN1 146Q/2Q had improved rotarod performance late in disease. Muscle contributions to disease were revealed in f-ATXN1 146Q/2Q ; ACTA1-Cre mice which lacked muscle pathology and kyphosis seen in f-ATXN1 146Q/2Q mice. Kyphosis was not improved in f-ATXN1 146Q/2Q ;Nestin - Cre mice. Thus, optimal SCA1 therapeutics will require targeting mutant ATXN1 toxic actions in multiple brain regions and muscle.
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4
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Rosa JG, Hamel K, Soles A, Sheeler C, Borgenheimer E, Gilliat S, Sbrocco K, Ghanoum F, Handler HP, Forster C, Rainwater O, Cvetanovic M. BDNF is altered in a brain-region specific manner and rescues deficits in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 178:106023. [PMID: 36724861 PMCID: PMC9969743 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an adult-onset, dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by the expanded polyQ tract in the protein ATAXIN1 (ATXN1) and characterized by progressive motor and cognitive impairments. There are no disease-modifying treatments or cures for SCA1. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays important role in cerebellar physiology and has shown therapeutic potential for cerebellar pathology in the transgenic mouse model of SCA1, ATXN1[82Q] line that overexpress mutant ATXN1 under a cerebellar Purkinje-cell-specific promoter. Here we demonstrate decreased expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the cerebellum and medulla of patients with SCA1. Early stages of disease seem most amenable to therapy. Thus, we next quantified Bdnf expression in Atxn1154Q/2Q mice, a knock-in mouse model of SCA1, during the early symptomatic disease stage in four clinically relevant brain regions: cerebellum, medulla, hippocampus and motor cortex. We found that during the early stages of disease, Bdnf mRNA expression is reduced in the hippocampus and cerebellum, while it is increased in the cortex and brainstem. Importantly, we observed that pharmacological delivery of recombinant BDNF improved motor and cognitive performance, and mitigated pathology in the cerebellum and hippocampus of Atxn1154Q/2Q mice. Our findings demonstrate brain-region specific deficiency of BDNF in SCA1 and show that reversal of low BDNF levels offers the potential for meaningful treatment of motor and cognitive deficits in SCA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juao-Guilherme Rosa
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Katherine Hamel
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Alyssa Soles
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Carrie Sheeler
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Ella Borgenheimer
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Stephen Gilliat
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Kaelin Sbrocco
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Ferris Ghanoum
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
| | - Hillary P. Handler
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America,Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, United States of America
| | | | - Orion Rainwater
- Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, United States of America.
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States of America.
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5
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Handler HP, Duvick L, Mitchell JS, Cvetanovic M, Reighard M, Soles A, Mather KB, Rainwater O, Serres S, Nichols-Meade T, Coffin SL, You Y, Ruis BL, O'Callaghan B, Henzler C, Zoghbi HY, Orr HT. Decreasing mutant ATXN1 nuclear localization improves a spectrum of SCA1-like phenotypes and brain region transcriptomic profiles. Neuron 2023; 111:493-507.e6. [PMID: 36577403 PMCID: PMC9957934 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a dominant trinucleotide repeat neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and premature death. Degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells is a frequent and prominent pathological feature of SCA1. We previously showed that transport of ATXN1 to Purkinje cell nuclei is required for pathology, where mutant ATXN1 alters transcription. To examine the role of ATXN1 nuclear localization broadly in SCA1-like disease pathogenesis, CRISPR-Cas9 was used to develop a mouse with an amino acid alteration (K772T) in the nuclear localization sequence of the expanded ATXN1 protein. Characterization of these mice indicates that proper nuclear localization of mutant ATXN1 contributes to many disease-like phenotypes including motor dysfunction, cognitive deficits, and premature lethality. RNA sequencing analysis of genes with expression corrected to WT levels in Atxn1175QK772T/2Q mice indicates that transcriptomic aspects of SCA1 pathogenesis differ between the cerebellum, brainstem, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary P Handler
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Lisa Duvick
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jason S Mitchell
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Molly Reighard
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Alyssa Soles
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kathleen B Mather
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Orion Rainwater
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Shannah Serres
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Tessa Nichols-Meade
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Stephanie L Coffin
- Program in Genetics & Genomics and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yun You
- Mouse Genetics Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Brian L Ruis
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Brennon O'Callaghan
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Christine Henzler
- RISS Bioinformatics, Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Huda Y Zoghbi
- Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Pediatrics, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Harry T Orr
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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6
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Sheeler C, Rosa JG, Borgenheimer E, Mellesmoen A, Rainwater O, Cvetanovic M. Post-symptomatic Delivery of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Ameliorates Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 (SCA1) Pathogenesis. Cerebellum 2021; 20:420-429. [PMID: 33394333 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-020-01226-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by an abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the Ataxin1 (ATXN1) gene. SCA1 is characterized by motor deficits, cerebellar neurodegeneration, and gliosis and gene expression changes. Expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), growth factor important for the survival and function of cerebellar neurons, is decreased in ATXN1[82Q] mice, the Purkinje neuron specific transgenic mouse model of SCA1. As this decrease in BDNF expression may contribute to cerebellar neurodegeneration, we tested whether delivery of extrinsic human BDNF via osmotic ALZET pumps has a beneficial effect on disease severity in this mouse model of SCA1. Additionally, to test the effects of BDNF on established and progressing cerebellar pathogenesis and motor deficits, we delivered BDNF post-symptomatically. We have found that post-symptomatic delivery of extrinsic BDNF ameliorated motor deficits and cerebellar pathology (i.e., dendritic atrophy of Purkinje cells, and astrogliosis) indicating therapeutic potential of BDNF even after the onset of symptoms in SCA1. However, BDNF did not alter Purkinje cell gene expression changes indicating that certain aspects of disease pathogenesis cannot be ameliorated/slowed down with BDNF and that combinational therapies may be needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie Sheeler
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Juao-Guilherme Rosa
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Ella Borgenheimer
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Aaron Mellesmoen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Orion Rainwater
- Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, 55455, USA
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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7
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O'Callaghan B, Hofstra B, Handler HP, Kordasiewicz HB, Cole T, Duvick L, Friedrich J, Rainwater O, Yang P, Benneyworth M, Nichols-Meade T, Heal W, Ter Haar R, Henzler C, Orr HT. Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapeutic Approach for Suppression of Ataxin-1 Expression: A Safety Assessment. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2020; 21:1006-1016. [PMID: 32818920 PMCID: PMC7452125 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a lethal, autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the ATAXIN-1 (ATXN1) protein. Preclinical studies demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of approaches that target and reduce Atxn1 expression in a non-allele-specific manner. However, studies using Atxn1−/− mice raise cautionary notes that therapeutic reductions of ATXN1 might lead to undesirable effects such as reduction in the activity of the tumor suppressor Capicua (CIC), activation of the protease β-secretase 1 (BACE1) and subsequent increased amyloidogenic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), or a reduction in hippocampal neuronal precursor cells that would impact hippocampal function. Here, we tested whether an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-mediated reduction of Atxn1 produced unwanted effects involving BACE1, CIC activity, or reduction in hippocampal neuronal precursor cells. Notably, no effects on BACE1, CIC tumor suppressor function, or number of hippocampal neuronal precursor cells were found in mice subjected to a chronic in vivo ASO-mediated reduction of Atxn1. These data provide further support for targeted reductions of ATXN1 as a therapeutic approach for SCA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brennon O'Callaghan
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Bente Hofstra
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Hillary P Handler
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Tracy Cole
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Lisa Duvick
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jillian Friedrich
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Orion Rainwater
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Praseuth Yang
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | | | - Wesley Heal
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Rachel Ter Haar
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Christine Henzler
- Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Harry T Orr
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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8
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Asher M, Rosa JG, Rainwater O, Duvick L, Bennyworth M, Lai RY, Kuo SH, Cvetanovic M. Cerebellar contribution to the cognitive alterations in SCA1: evidence from mouse models. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:117-131. [PMID: 31696233 PMCID: PMC8216071 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by abnormal expansion of glutamine (Q) encoding CAG repeats in the gene Ataxin-1 (ATXN1). Although motor and balance deficits are the core symptoms of SCA1, cognitive decline is also commonly observed in patients. While mutant ATXN1 is expressed throughout the brain, pathological findings reveal severe atrophy of cerebellar cortex in SCA1 patients. The cerebellum has recently been implicated in diverse cognitive functions, yet to what extent cerebellar neurodegeneration contributes to cognitive alterations in SCA1 remains poorly understood. Much of our understanding of the mechanisms underlying pathogenesis of motor symptoms in SCA1 comes from mouse models. Reasoning that mouse models could similarly offer important insights into the mechanisms of cognitive alterations in SCA1, we tested cognition in several mouse lines using Barnes maze and fear conditioning. We confirmed cognitive deficits in Atxn1154Q/2Q knock-in mice with brain-wide expression of mutant ATXN1 and in ATXN1 null mice. We found that shorter polyQ length and haploinsufficiency of ATXN1 do not cause significant cognitive deficits. Finally, ATXN1[82Q ] transgenic mice-with cerebellum limited expression of mutant ATXN1-demonstrated milder impairment in most aspects of cognition compared to Atxn1154Q/2Q mice, supporting the concept that cognitive deficits in SCA1 arise from a combination of cerebellar and extra-cerebellar dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Asher
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Juao-Guilherme Rosa
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Orion Rainwater
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Lisa Duvick
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Michael Bennyworth
- Mouse Behavior Core, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455 NY 10032-3784, USA
| | - Ruo-Yah Lai
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032-3784, USA
| | - CRC-SCA
- Clinical Research Consortium for Spinocerebellar Ataxia (CRC-SCA)#
| | - Sheng-Han Kuo
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032-3784, USA
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Mouse Behavior Core, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455 NY 10032-3784, USA
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Mellesmoen A, Sheeler C, Ferro A, Rainwater O, Cvetanovic M. Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Delays Onset of Pathogenesis in Transgenic Mouse Model of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 (SCA1). Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 12:509. [PMID: 30718999 PMCID: PMC6348256 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by an abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the Ataxin-1 (ATXN1) gene and characterized by motor deficits and cerebellar neurodegeneration. Even though mutant ATXN1 is expressed from an early age, disease onset usually occurs in patient’s mid-thirties, indicating the presence of compensatory factors that limit the toxic effects of mutant ATXN1 early in disease. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a growth factor known to be important for the survival and function of cerebellar neurons. Using gene expression analysis, we observed altered BDNF expression in the cerebella of Purkinje neuron specific transgenic mouse model of SCA1, ATXN1[82Q] mice, with increased expression during the early stage and decreased expression in the late stage of disease. We therefore investigated the potentially protective role of BDNF in early stage SCA1 through intraventricular delivery of BDNF via ALZET osmotic pumps. Extrinsic BDNF delivery delayed onset of motor deficits and Purkinje neuron pathology in ATXN1[82Q] mice supporting its use as a novel therapeutic for SCA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Mellesmoen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Carrie Sheeler
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Austin Ferro
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Orion Rainwater
- Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.,Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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10
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Friedrich J, Kordasiewicz HB, O'Callaghan B, Handler HP, Wagener C, Duvick L, Swayze EE, Rainwater O, Hofstra B, Benneyworth M, Nichols-Meade T, Yang P, Chen Z, Ortiz JP, Clark HB, Öz G, Larson S, Zoghbi HY, Henzler C, Orr HT. Antisense oligonucleotide-mediated ataxin-1 reduction prolongs survival in SCA1 mice and reveals disease-associated transcriptome profiles. JCI Insight 2018; 3:123193. [PMID: 30385727 PMCID: PMC6238731 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.123193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a dominantly inherited ataxia caused by expansion of a translated CAG repeat encoding a glutamine tract in the ataxin-1 (ATXN1) protein. Despite advances in understanding the pathogenesis of SCA1, there are still no therapies to alter its progressive fatal course. RNA-targeting approaches have improved disease symptoms in preclinical rodent models of several neurological diseases. Here, we investigated the therapeutic capability of an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting mouse Atxn1 in Atxn1154Q/2Q-knockin mice that manifest motor deficits and premature lethality. Following a single ASO treatment at 5 weeks of age, mice demonstrated rescue of these disease-associated phenotypes. RNA-sequencing analysis of genes with expression restored to WT levels in ASO-treated Atxn1154Q/2Q mice was used to demonstrate molecular differences between SCA1 pathogenesis in the cerebellum and disease in the medulla. Finally, select neurochemical abnormalities detected by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vehicle-treated Atxn1154Q/2Q mice were reversed in the cerebellum and brainstem (a region containing the pons and the medulla) of ASO-treated Atxn1154Q/2Q mice. Together, these findings support the efficacy and therapeutic importance of directly targeting ATXN1 RNA expression as a strategy for treating both motor deficits and lethality in SCA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Friedrich
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Brennon O'Callaghan
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Hillary P Handler
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience
| | - Carmen Wagener
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Lisa Duvick
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Orion Rainwater
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Bente Hofstra
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | | | - Praseuth Yang
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Zhao Chen
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Judit Perez Ortiz
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience
| | - H Brent Clark
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gülin Öz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sarah Larson
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Huda Y Zoghbi
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Christine Henzler
- Research Informatics Support Systems Bioinformatics, Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Harry T Orr
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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11
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Liu CJ, Rainwater O, Clark HB, Orr HT, Akkin T. Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography reveals gray matter and white matter atrophy in SCA1 mouse models. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 116:69-77. [PMID: 29753755 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a fatal inherited neurodegenerative disease. In this study, we demonstrate the label-free optical imaging methodology that can detect, with a high degree of sensitivity, discrete areas of degeneration in the cerebellum of the SCA1 mouse models. We used ATXN1[82Q] and ATXN1[30Q]-D776 mice in which the transgene is directed only to Purkinje cells. Molecular layer, granular layer, and white matter regions are analyzed using the intrinsic contrasts provided by polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography. Cerebellar atrophy in SCA1 mice occurred both in gray matter and white matter. While gray matter atrophy is obvious, indications of white matter atrophy including different birefringence characteristics, and shortened and contorted branches are observed. Imaging results clearly show the loss or atrophy of myelinated axons in ATXN1[82Q] mice. The method provides unbiased contrasts that can facilitate the understanding of the pathological progression in neurodegenerative diseases and other neural disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao J Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Orion Rainwater
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - H Brent Clark
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Harry T Orr
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Taner Akkin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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