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Asadollahi R, Delvendahl I, Muff R, Tan G, Rodríguez DG, Turan S, Russo M, Oneda B, Joset P, Boonsawat P, Masood R, Mocera M, Ivanovski I, Baumer A, Bachmann-Gagescu R, Schlapbach R, Rehrauer H, Steindl K, Begemann A, Reis A, Winkler J, Winner B, Müller M, Rauch A. Pathogenic SCN2A variants cause early-stage dysfunction in patient-derived neurons. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:2192-2204. [PMID: 37010102 PMCID: PMC10281746 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic heterozygous variants in SCN2A, which encodes the neuronal sodium channel NaV1.2, cause different types of epilepsy or intellectual disability (ID)/autism without seizures. Previous studies using mouse models or heterologous systems suggest that NaV1.2 channel gain-of-function typically causes epilepsy, whereas loss-of-function leads to ID/autism. How altered channel biophysics translate into patient neurons remains unknown. Here, we investigated iPSC-derived early-stage cortical neurons from ID patients harboring diverse pathogenic SCN2A variants [p.(Leu611Valfs*35); p.(Arg937Cys); p.(Trp1716*)] and compared them with neurons from an epileptic encephalopathy (EE) patient [p.(Glu1803Gly)] and controls. ID neurons consistently expressed lower NaV1.2 protein levels. In neurons with the frameshift variant, NaV1.2 mRNA and protein levels were reduced by ~ 50%, suggesting nonsense-mediated decay and haploinsufficiency. In other ID neurons, only protein levels were reduced implying NaV1.2 instability. Electrophysiological analysis revealed decreased sodium current density and impaired action potential (AP) firing in ID neurons, consistent with reduced NaV1.2 levels. In contrast, epilepsy neurons displayed no change in NaV1.2 levels or sodium current density, but impaired sodium channel inactivation. Single-cell transcriptomics identified dysregulation of distinct molecular pathways including inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation in neurons with SCN2A haploinsufficiency and activation of calcium signaling and neurotransmission in epilepsy neurons. Together, our patient iPSC-derived neurons reveal characteristic sodium channel dysfunction consistent with biophysical changes previously observed in heterologous systems. Additionally, our model links the channel dysfunction in ID to reduced NaV1.2 levels and uncovers impaired AP firing in early-stage neurons. The altered molecular pathways may reflect a homeostatic response to NaV1.2 dysfunction and can guide further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Asadollahi
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
- Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich London, Medway Campus, Chatham Maritime ME4 4TB, UK
| | - I Delvendahl
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - R Muff
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - G Tan
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - D G Rodríguez
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - S Turan
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen 91054, Germany
| | - M Russo
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - B Oneda
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - P Joset
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - P Boonsawat
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - R Masood
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - M Mocera
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - I Ivanovski
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - A Baumer
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - R Bachmann-Gagescu
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - R Schlapbach
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - H Rehrauer
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - K Steindl
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - A Begemann
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
| | - A Reis
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen 91054, Germany
| | - J Winkler
- Department of Molecular Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen 91054, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases Erlangen, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen 91054, Germany
| | - B Winner
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen 91054, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases Erlangen, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen 91054, Germany
| | - M Müller
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- University of Zurich Clinical Research Priority Program (CRPP) Praeclare – Personalized prenatal and reproductive medicine, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- University of Zurich Research Priority Program (URPP) AdaBD: Adaptive Brain Circuits in Development and Learning, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
| | - A Rauch
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren-Zurich 8952, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- University of Zurich Clinical Research Priority Program (CRPP) Praeclare – Personalized prenatal and reproductive medicine, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- University of Zurich Research Priority Program (URPP) AdaBD: Adaptive Brain Circuits in Development and Learning, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- University of Zurich Research Priority Program (URPP) ITINERARE: Innovative Therapies in Rare Diseases, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
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Hauser F, Lindemann A, Vuilleumier S, Patrignani A, Schlapbach R, Fischer HM, Hennecke H. Design and validation of a partial-genome microarray for transcriptional profiling of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum symbiotic gene region. Mol Genet Genomics 2005; 275:55-67. [PMID: 16328374 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-005-0059-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2005] [Accepted: 10/08/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The design and use of a pilot microarray for transcriptome analysis of the symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing Bradyrhizobium japonicum is reported here. The custom-synthesized chip (Affymetrix GeneChip) features 738 genes, more than half of which belong to a 400-kb chromosomal segment strongly associated with symbiosis-related functions. RNA was isolated following an optimized protocol from wild-type cells grown aerobically and microaerobically, and from cells of aerobically grown regR mutant and microaerobically grown nifA mutant. Comparative microarray analyses thus revealed genes that are transcribed in either a RegR- or a NifA-dependent manner plus genes whose expression depends on the cellular oxygen status. Several genes were newly identified as members of the RegR and NifA regulons, beyond genes, which had been known from previous work. A comprehensive transcription analysis was performed with one of the new RegR-controlled genes (id880). Expression levels determined by microarray analysis of selected NifA- and RegR-controlled genes corresponded well with quantitative real-time PCR data, demonstrating the high complementarity of microarray analysis to classical methods of gene expression analysis in B. japonicum. Nevertheless, several previously established members of the NifA regulon were not detected as transcribed genes by microarray analysis, confirming the potential pitfalls of this approach also observed by other authors. By and large, this pilot study has paved the way towards the genome-wide transcriptome analysis of the 9.1-Mb B. japonicum genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Hauser
- Institute of Microbiology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule, ETH-Hönggerberg, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 10, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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Schlapbach R, Spanaus KS, Malipiero U, Lens S, Tasinato A, Tschopp J, Fontana A. TGF-beta induces the expression of the FLICE-inhibitory protein and inhibits Fas-mediated apoptosis of microglia. Eur J Immunol 2000; 30:3680-8. [PMID: 11169411 DOI: 10.1002/1521-4141(200012)30:12<3680::aid-immu3680>3.0.co;2-l] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
During inflammatory reactions in the central nervous system (CNS), resident macrophages, the microglia, are exposed to Th1 cell-derived cytokines and pro-apoptotic Fas ligand (FasL). Despite the presence of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, both being capable of sensitizing microglia to FasL, apoptosis of microglia is not a hallmark of inflammatory diseases of the CNS. In the present study, TGF-beta is found to counteract the effect of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma to sensitize microglia to FasL-mediated apoptosis. Resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis by TGF-beta does not correlate with a down-regulation of Fas expression. As a key inhibitor of Fas-mediated apoptosis, we found expression of the cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) to be induced by TGF-beta in resting as well as in activated microglia. Induction of FLIP was found to depend on a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK)-dependent pathway as shown by the use of the specific MKK-inhibitor PD98059. The presence of FLIP strongly interfered with FasL-induced activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3 preventing subsequent cell death. The presented data provide the first evidence for a TGF-beta-mediated FLIP in macrophage-like cells and suggest a mode of action for the anti-apoptotic role of TGF-beta in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Schlapbach
- University Hospital Zurich, Department of Internal Medicine, Section for Clinical Immunology, Zurich, Switzerland
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Malipiero U, Heuss C, Schlapbach R, Tschopp J, Gerber U, Fontana A. Involvement of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in neuronal cell death induced by cytotoxic T cell-derived secretory granules. Eur J Immunol 1999; 29:3053-62. [PMID: 10540316 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1521-4141(199910)29:10<3053::aid-immu3053>3.0.co;2-i] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying neurotoxicity mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and their secretory granule proteins perforin and granzymes remain unclear. We evaluated the possible role of the neurotransmitter glutamate in cell death observed in differentiated neurons exposed to CTL-derived granules. Excitotoxicity induced by excessive concentrations of extracellular glutamate is associated with a rise in intracellular calcium and can lead to generation of NO through the activation of glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Consistent with an involvement of glutamate, we found that cell death in mature cerebral granule cells was inhibited by 65-80% by two NMDA receptor blockers (MK-801 and D-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid) or a NO synthase blocker (N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methylester). Furthermore, neurons treated with secretory granules responded with a biphasic rise in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). Whereas MK-801 did not interfere with the immediate rise of [Ca2+]i, the second wave of calcium accumulation starting at 40 min was delayed by 20 min and reduced in amplitude in the presence of MK-801. In immature, NMDA receptor-negative neurons, MK-801 prevented neither the cytotoxicity nor the calcium influx observed 5 min after addition of cytotoxic granules. The demonstration that NMDA receptors and NO are involved in granule-mediated killing of mature neurons opens new avenues in the treatment of neuronal cell death in CTL-mediated diseases such as viral encephalitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Malipiero
- Clinical Immunology Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Tobler AR, Constam DB, Schmitt-Gräff A, Malipiero U, Schlapbach R, Fontana A. Cloning of the human puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase and evidence for expression in neurons. J Neurochem 1997; 68:889-97. [PMID: 9048733 DOI: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1997.68030889.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA) is thought to contribute to the degradation of enkephalins. Besides being the most abundant aminopeptidase in the brain, PSA is expressed in other organs as well. From a human fetal brain cDNA library, we have isolated a cDNA encoding the human PSA (huPSA) protein. The isolated cDNA gave rise to a protein with a molecular mass of 99 kDa. Compared with mouse PSA, homology at the amino acid and cDNA level was 98 and 93%, respectively. Translation of the huPSA was found to be initiated at the second of two possible start codons, as shown by studies with antibodies directed against peptide sequences of both potential N-terminal regions. Northern blot analysis with RNA isolated from different human organs demonstrated that the huPSA transcript is strongest but not exclusively expressed in the brain. Vesicular stomatitis virus epitope-tagged huPSA protein was expressed in HeLa cells and found to be localized in the cytoplasm, especially in the perinuclear region. By in situ hybridization, huPSA transcript could be identified in cortical and cerebellar neurons, whereas glial cells and blood vessels remained negative.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Tobler
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Zürich, Switzerland
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Richter C, Gogvadze V, Laffranchi R, Schlapbach R, Schweizer M, Suter M, Walter P, Yaffee M. Oxidants in mitochondria: from physiology to diseases. Biochim Biophys Acta 1995; 1271:67-74. [PMID: 7599228 DOI: 10.1016/0925-4439(95)00012-s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 394] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS: superoxide radical, O2.-; hydrogen peroxide, H2O2; hydroxyl radical, OH.), which arise from the univalent reduction of dioxygen are formed in mitochondria. We summarize here results which indicate that ROS, and also the radical nitrogen monoxide ('nitric oxide', NO), act as physiological modulators of some mitochondrial functions, but may also damage mitochondria. Hydrogen peroxide, which originates in mitochondria predominantly from the dismutation of superoxide, causes oxidation of mitochondrial pyridine nucleotides and thereby stimulates a specific Ca2+ release from intact mitochondria. This release is prevented by cyclosporin A (CSA). Hydrogen peroxide thus contributes to the maintenance of cellular Ca2+ homeostasis. A stimulation of mitochondrial ROS production followed by an enhanced Ca2+ release and re uptake (Ca2+ 'cycling') by mitochondria causes apoptosis and necrosis, and contributes to hypoxia/reperfusion injury. These kinds of cell injury can be attenuated at the mitochondrial level by CSA. When ROS are produced in excessive amounts in mitochondria nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids are extensively modified by oxidation. Physiological (sub-micromolar) concentrations of NO potently and reversibly deenergize mitochondria at oxygen tensions that prevail in cells by transiently binding to cytochrome oxidase. This is paralleled by mitochondrial Ca2+ release and uptake. Higher NO concentrations or prolonged exposure of cells to NO causes their death. It is concluded that ROS and NO are important physiological reactants in mitochondria and become toxic only when present in excessive amounts.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Richter
- Laboratory of Biochemistry I, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zürich
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