Tissue Proteome of 2-Hydroxyacyl-CoA Lyase Deficient Mice Reveals Peroxisome Proliferation and Activation of ω-Oxidation

Peroxisomal fatty acid α-oxidation is an essential pathway for the degradation of β-carbon methylated fatty acids such as phytanic acid. One enzyme in this pathway is 2-hydroxyacyl CoA lyase (HACL1), which is responsible for the cleavage of 2-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA into pristanal and formyl-CoA. Hacl1 deficient mice do not present with a severe phenotype, unlike mice deficient in other α-oxidation enzymes such as phytanoyl-CoA hydroxylase deficiency (Refsum disease) in which neuropathy and ataxia are present. Tissues from wild-type and Hacl1^−/− mice fed a high phytol diet were obtained for proteomic and lipidomic analysis. There was no phenotype observed in these mice. Liver, brain, and kidney tissues underwent trypsin digestion for untargeted proteomic liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, while liver tissues also underwent fatty acid hydrolysis, extraction, and derivatisation for fatty acid gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The liver fatty acid profile demonstrated an accumulation of phytanic and 2-hydroxyphytanic acid in the Hacl1^−/− liver and significant decrease in heptadecanoic acid. The liver proteome showed a significant decrease in the abundance of Hacl1 and a significant increase in the abundance of proteins involved in PPAR signalling, peroxisome proliferation, and omega oxidation, particularly Cyp4a10 and Cyp4a14. In addition, the pathway associated with arachidonic acid metabolism was affected; Cyp2c55 was upregulated and Cyp4f14 and Cyp2b9 were downregulated. The kidney proteome revealed fewer significantly upregulated peroxisomal proteins and the brain proteome was not significantly different in Hacl1^−/− mice. This study demonstrates the powerful insight brought by proteomic and metabolomic profiling of Hacl1^−/− mice in better understanding disease mechanism in fatty acid α-oxidation disorders.

Systemic Exosomal Delivery of shRNA Minicircles Prevents Parkinsonian Pathology

The development of new therapies to slow down or halt the progression of Parkinson's disease is a health care priority. A key pathological feature is the presence of alpha-synuclein aggregates, and there is increasing evidence that alpha-synuclein propagation plays a central role in disease progression. Consequently, the downregulation of alpha-synuclein is a potential therapeutic target. As a chronic disease, the ideal treatment will be minimally invasive and effective in the long-term. Knockdown of gene expression has clear potential, and siRNAs specific to alpha-synuclein have been designed; however, the efficacy of siRNA treatment is limited by its short-term efficacy. To combat this, we designed shRNA minicircles (shRNA-MCs), with the potential for prolonged effectiveness, and used RVG-exosomes as the vehicle for specific delivery into the brain. We optimized this system using transgenic mice expressing GFP and demonstrated its ability to downregulate GFP protein expression in the brain for up to 6 weeks. RVG-exosomes were used to deliver anti-alpha-synuclein shRNA-MC therapy to the alpha-synuclein preformed-fibril-induced model of parkinsonism. This therapy decreased alpha-synuclein aggregation, reduced the loss of dopaminergic neurons, and improved the clinical symptoms. Our results confirm the therapeutic potential of shRNA-MCs delivered by RVG-exosomes for long-term treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

A specific nanobody prevents amyloidogenesis of D76N β2-microglobulin in vitro and modifies its tissue distribution in vivo

Systemic amyloidosis is caused by misfolding and aggregation of globular proteins in vivo for which effective treatments are urgently needed. Inhibition of protein self-aggregation represents an attractive therapeutic strategy. Studies on the amyloidogenic variant of β₂-microglobulin, D76N, causing hereditary systemic amyloidosis, have become particularly relevant since fibrils are formed in vitro in physiologically relevant conditions. Here we compare the potency of two previously described inhibitors of wild type β₂-microglobulin fibrillogenesis, doxycycline and single domain antibodies (nanobodies). The β₂-microglobulin -binding nanobody, Nb24, more potently inhibits D76N β₂-microglobulin fibrillogenesis than doxycycline with complete abrogation of fibril formation. In β₂-microglobulin knock out mice, the D76N β₂-microglobulin/ Nb24 pre-formed complex, is cleared from the circulation at the same rate as the uncomplexed protein; however, the analysis of tissue distribution reveals that the interaction with the antibody reduces the concentration of the variant protein in the heart but does not modify the tissue distribution of wild type β₂-microglobulin. These findings strongly support the potential therapeutic use of this antibody in the treatment of systemic amyloidosis.

Pharmacological removal of serum amyloid P component from intracerebral plaques and cerebrovascular Aβ amyloid deposits in vivo

Human amyloid deposits always contain the normal plasma protein serum amyloid P component (SAP), owing to its avid but reversible binding to all amyloid fibrils, including the amyloid β (Aβ) fibrils in the cerebral parenchyma plaques and cerebrovascular amyloid deposits of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). SAP promotes amyloid fibril formation in vitro, contributes to persistence of amyloid in vivo and is also itself directly toxic to cerebral neurons. We therefore developed (R)-1-[6-[(R)-2-carboxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl]-6-oxo-hexanoyl]pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (CPHPC), a drug that removes SAP from the blood, and thereby also from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), in patients with AD. Here we report that, after introduction of transgenic human SAP expression in the TASTPM double transgenic mouse model of AD, all the amyloid deposits contained human SAP. Depletion of circulating human SAP by CPHPC administration in these mice removed all detectable human SAP from both the intracerebral and cerebrovascular amyloid. The demonstration that removal of SAP from the blood and CSF also removes it from these amyloid deposits crucially validates the strategy of the forthcoming ‘Depletion of serum amyloid P component in Alzheimer's disease (DESPIAD)’ clinical trial of CPHPC. The results also strongly support clinical testing of CPHPC in patients with CAA.

The effects of short-term JNK inhibition on the survival and growth of aged sympathetic neurons

During the course of normal aging, certain populations of nerve growth factor (NGF)-responsive neurons become selectively vulnerable to cell death. Studies using dissociated neurons isolated from neonates have shown that c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are important in regulating the survival and neurite outgrowth of NGF-responsive sympathetic neurons. Unlike neonatal neurons, adult sympathetic neurons are not dependent on NGF for their survival. Moreover, the NGF precursor, proNGF, is neurotoxic for aging but not young adult NGF-responsive neurons. Because of these age-related differences, the effects of JNK inhibition on the survival and growth of sympathetic neurons isolated from aged mice were studied. Aged neurons, as well as glia, were found to be dependent on JNK for their growth but not their survival. Conversely, proNGF neurotoxicity was JNK-dependent and mediated by the p75-interacting protein NRAGE, whereas neurite outgrowth was independent of NRAGE. These results have implications for the potential use of JNK inhibitors as therapies for ameliorating age-related neurodegenerative disease.

Type II PI4-kinases control Weibel-Palade body biogenesis and von Willebrand factor structure in human endothelial cells

Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs) are endothelial storage organelles that mediate the release of molecules involved in thrombosis, inflammation and angiogenesis, including the pro-thrombotic glycoprotein von Willebrand factor (VWF). Although many protein components required for WPB formation and function have been identified, the role of lipids is almost unknown. We examined two key phosphatidylinositol kinases that control phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate levels at the trans-Golgi network, the site of WPB biogenesis. RNA interference of the type II phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases PI4KIIα and PI4KIIβ in primary human endothelial cells leads to formation of an increased proportion of short WPB with perturbed packing of VWF, as exemplified by increased exposure of antibody-binding sites. When stimulated with histamine, these cells release normal levels of VWF yet, under flow, form very few platelet-catching VWF strings. In PI4KIIα-deficient mice, immuno-microscopy revealed that VWF packaging is also perturbed and these mice exhibit increased blood loss after tail cut compared to controls. This is the first demonstration that lipid kinases can control the biosynthesis of VWF and the formation of WPBs that are capable of full haemostatic function.

Amyloid persistence in decellularized liver: biochemical and histopathological characterization

Systemic amyloidoses are a group of debilitating and often fatal diseases in which fibrillar protein aggregates are deposited in the extracellular spaces of a range of tissues. The molecular basis of amyloid formation and tissue localization is still unclear. Although it is likely that the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in amyloid deposition, this interaction is largely unexplored, mostly because current analytical approaches may alter the delicate and complicated three-dimensional architecture of both ECM and amyloid. We describe here a decellularization procedure for the amyloidotic mouse liver which allows high-resolution visualization of the interactions between amyloid and the constitutive fibers of the extracellular matrix. The primary structure of the fibrillar proteins remains intact and the amyloid fibrils retain their amyloid enhancing factor activity.

Systemic exosomal siRNA delivery reduced alpha-synuclein aggregates in brains of transgenic mice

Alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates are the main component of Lewy bodies, which are the characteristic pathological feature in Parkinson's disease (PD) brain. Evidence that α-Syn aggregation can be propagated between neurones has led to the suggestion that this mechanism is responsible for the stepwise progression of PD pathology. Decreasing α-Syn expression is predicted to attenuate this process and is thus an attractive approach to delay or halt PD progression. We have used α-Syn small interfering RNA (siRNA) to reduce total and aggregated α-Syn levels in mouse brains. To achieve widespread delivery of siRNAs to the brain we have peripherally injected modified exosomes expressing Ravies virus glycoprotein loaded with siRNA. Normal mice were analyzed 3 or 7 days after injection. To evaluate whether this approach can decrease α-Syn aggregates, we repeated the treatment using transgenic mice expressing the human phosphorylation-mimic S129D α-Syn, which exhibits aggregation. In normal mice we detected significantly reduced α-Syn messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels throughout the brain 3 and 7 days after treatment with RVG-exosomes loaded with siRNA to α-Syn. In S129D α-Syn transgenic mice we found a decreased α-Syn mRNA and protein levels throughout the brain 7 days after injection. This resulted in significant reductions in intraneuronal protein aggregates, including in dopaminergic neurones of the substantia nigra. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of RVG-exosome delivery of siRNA to delay and reverse brain α-Syn pathological conditions.

C-reactive protein is essential for innate resistance to pneumococcal infection

No deficiency of human C-reactive protein (CRP), or even structural polymorphism of the protein, has yet been reported so its physiological role is not known. Here we show for the first time that CRP-deficient mice are remarkably susceptible to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection and are protected by reconstitution with isolated pure human CRP, or by anti-pneumococcal antibodies. Autologous mouse CRP is evidently essential for innate resistance to pneumococcal infection before antibodies are produced. Our findings are consistent with the significant association between clinical pneumococcal infection and non-coding human CRP gene polymorphisms which affect CRP expression. Deficiency or loss of function variation in CRP may therefore be lethal at the first early-life encounter with this ubiquitous virulent pathogen, explaining the invariant presence and structure of CRP in human adults.

Class I major histocompatibility complex, the trojan horse for secretion of amyloidogenic β2-microglobulin

To form extracellular aggregates, amyloidogenic proteins bypass the intracellular quality control, which normally targets unfolded/aggregated polypeptides. Human D76N β₂-microglobulin (β₂m) variant is the prototype of unstable and amyloidogenic protein that forms abundant extracellular fibrillar deposits. Here we focus on the role of the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHCI) in the intracellular stabilization of D76N β₂m. Using biophysical and structural approaches, we show that the MHCI containing D76N β₂m (MHCI₇₆) displays stability, dissociation patterns, and crystal structure comparable with those of the MHCI with wild type β₂m. Conversely, limited proteolysis experiments show a reduced protease susceptibility for D76N β₂m within the MHCI₇₆ as compared with the free variant, suggesting that the MHCI has a chaperone-like activity in preventing D76N β₂m degradation within the cell. Accordingly, D76N β₂m is normally assembled in the MHCI and circulates as free plasma species in a transgenic mouse model.

Monitoring systemic amyloidosis using MRI measurements of the extracellular volume fraction

We report the in vivo evaluation, in a murine model, of MRI measurements of the extracellular volume fraction (ECV) for the detection and monitoring of systemic amyloidosis. A new inducible transgenic model was used, with increased production of mouse serum amyloid A protein controlled by oral administration of doxycycline, that causes both the usual hepatic and splenic amyloidosis and also cardiac deposits. ECV was measured in vivo by equilibrium contrast MRI in the heart and liver of 11 amyloidotic and 10 control mice. There was no difference in the cardiac function between groups, but ECV was significantly increased in the heart, mean (standard deviation) 0.20 (0.05) versus 0.14 (0.04), p < 0.005, and liver, 0.27 (0.04) versus 0.15 (0.04), p < 0.0005, of amyloidotic animals and was strongly correlated with the histological amyloid score, myocardium, ρ = 0.67, p < 0.01; liver, ρ = 0.87, p < 0.01. In a further four mice that received human serum amyloid P component (SAP) followed by anti-human SAP antibody, a treatment to eliminate visceral amyloid deposits, ECV in the liver and spleen returned to baseline after therapy (p < 0.01). MRI measurement of ECV is a sensitive marker of amyloid deposits with potential application for early detection and monitoring therapies promoting their clearance.

Exon skipping of hepatic APOB pre-mRNA with splice-switching oligonucleotides reduces LDL cholesterol in vivo

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder characterized by extremely high levels of plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL), due to defective LDL receptor-apolipoprotein B (APOB) binding. Current therapies such as statins or LDL apheresis for homozygous FH are insufficiently efficacious at lowering LDL cholesterol or are expensive. Treatments that target APOB100, the structural protein of LDL particles, are potential therapies for FH. We have developed a series of APOB-directed splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) that cause the expression of APOB87, a truncated isoform of APOB100. APOB87, like similarly truncated isoforms expressed in patients with a different condition, familial hypobetalipoproteinemia, lowers LDL cholesterol by inhibiting very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) assembly and increasing LDL clearance. We demonstrate that these "APO-skip " SSOs induce high levels of exon skipping and expression of the APOB87 isoform, but do not substantially inhibit APOB48 expression in cell lines. A single injection of an optimized APO-skip SSO into mice transgenic for human APOB resulted in abundant exon skipping that persists for >6 days. Weekly treatments generated a sustained reduction in LDL cholesterol levels of 34-51% in these mice, superior to pravastatin in a head-to-head comparison. These results validate APO-skip SSOs as a candidate therapy for FH.

Screening for mutations in the phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase 2-alpha gene in autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia

Numerous genes causing autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia (AR HSP) have been described. Despite this, in many families the causative gene and mutation are unknown. In this study we sequenced the Pi4k2a gene, whose knockout has been shown to cause a typical HSP model in mice, in 24 index cases of autosomal recessive HSP not known to be linked to any other HSP locus. No pathogenic changes were identified in exons or splice sites, suggesting the Pi4k2a gene may not be a cause of AR HSP in humans.

Overexpression of 5-HT2C receptors in forebrain leads to elevated anxiety and hypoactivity

The 5-HT(2C) receptor has been implicated in mood and eating disorders. In general, it is accepted that 5-HT(2C) receptor agonists increase anxiety behaviours and induce hypophagia. However, pharmacological analysis of the roles of these receptors is hampered by the lack of selective ligands and the complex regulation of receptor isoforms and expression levels. Therefore, the exact role of 5-HT(2C) receptors in mood disorders remain controversial, some suggesting agonists and others suggesting antagonists may be efficacious antidepressants, while there is general agreement that antagonists are beneficial anxiolytics. In order to test the hypothesis that increased 5-HT(2C) receptor expression, and thus increased 5-HT(2C) receptor signalling, is causative in mood disorders, we have undertaken a transgenic approach, directly altering the 5-HT(2C) receptor number in the forebrain and evaluating the consequences on behaviour. Transgenic mice overexpressing 5-HT(2C) receptors under the control of the CaMKIIalpha promoter (C2CR mice) have elevated 5-HT(2C) receptor mRNA levels in cerebral cortex and limbic areas (including the hippocampus and amygdala), but normal levels in the hypothalamus, resulting in > 100% increase in the number of 5-HT(2C) ligand binding sites in the forebrain. The C2CR mice show increased anxiety-like behaviour in the elevated plus-maze, decreased wheel-running behaviour and reduced activity in a novel environment. These behaviours were observed in the C2CR mice without stimulation by exogenous ligands. Our findings support a role for 5-HT(2C) receptor signalling in anxiety disorders. The C2CR mouse model offers a novel and effective approach for studying disorders associated with 5-HT(2C) receptors.

Neurotoxic and neurotrophic roles of proNGF and the receptor sortilin in the adult and ageing nervous system

The precursor form of the nerve growth factor (proNGF), forms a heterotrimeric complex with the receptors p75 and sortilin; this complex has been implicated in neuron cell death. However, it is not known whether proNGF and the receptors p75 and sortilin contribute to age- and disease-related neurodegeneration. Here we show that proNGF induces cell death in subpopulations of basal forebrain and peripheral sympathetic neurons of old, but not of young, adult rodents. In contrast, proNGF appears to induce neurite outgrowth rather than cell death of young adult sympathetic neurons. We have examined the neurotoxic role of proNGF in old age, and find that proNGF protein is elevated during ageing in the projection areas of some populations of vulnerable central and peripheral neurons; caloric restriction, which has known neuroprotective effects, partially prevents these increases. Sortilin was found to play a significant part in the observed patterns of age-related proNGF-mediated neurotoxicity. In particular, survival of aged neurons was rescued by neurotensin, an alternative sortilin ligand that blocks the sortilin-mediated effects of proNGF. Furthermore, sortilin immunoreactivity increases markedly in ageing rodent basal forebrain and sympathetic neurons; in contrast, p75 levels are either unchanged or reduced. From these data we propose that selective age-related neuronal atrophy and neurodegeneration may be mediated by increased sortilin expression in neurons, together with elevated levels of proNGF expression in some targets.

Expression of the Ror1 and Ror2 receptor tyrosine kinase genes during mouse development

Ror1 and Ror2 are orphan receptor tyrosine kinases that are most closely related to MuSK and the Trk family of neurotrophin receptors. We report the results of an extensive in situ hybridisation survey of the expression of these genes during mouse development. Expression of Ror1 and Ror2 differs markedly at early stages (E8.5--E9.5). At these times, Ror2 is expressed much more widely than Ror1, expression of which is largely restricted to head mesenchyme. At later stages of development (E12.5--E14.5), Ror1 expression expands and Ror2 expression becomes more restricted than at earlier times, although expression of Ror1 continues to be more restricted than that of Ror2. These changes result in overlapping expression domains but with major differences remaining. In many cases Ror1 is expressed in a sub-set of Ror2-expressing tissues; in others, there is complementary expression of Ror1 and Ror2. Ror1 and Ror2 are both expressed in derivatives of all three germ layers and in most organ systems, including the nervous, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urogenital and skeletal systems. Conspicuous themes are the expression in major sense organs, and in neural crest and its derivatives.

CRE and TRE sequences of the rat tyrosine hydroxylase promoter are required for TH basal expression in adult mice but not in the embryo

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of catecholamine neurotransmitters, is expressed in a restricted number of areas, and subject to numerous regulations during development and in adulthood. Two transcription factor binding sites present in the proximal region of the TH gene, the TPA-responsive element (TRE) and the c-AMP responsive element (CRE), have been shown to play important roles in TH gene regulation in vitro. In order to elucidate in vivo the role of these two sites, we produced transgenic mice bearing a 5.3-kb fragment from the 5' flanking sequence of the TH gene with mutations in either the CRE-or TRE-sites. Using the intact 5.3-kb fragment fused to two different reporter genes (HSV1-tk and lacZ), we show that this promoter fragment is able to specifically direct expression in catecholaminergic tissues both in adult mice and embryos. Interestingly, the CRE- and TRE-mutated transgenes were not expressed in adult mice, contrary to the situation in embryos where they were specifically expressed in catecholaminergic regions. These results demonstrate that the CRE and TRE play an essential role in basal TH expression in adult tissues in vivo. Moreover, they suggest that distinct transcription factors are involved in TH regulation in developing and adult tissues. In support of this, gel mobility shift experiments revealed a complex present only in embryonic tissues. Taken together, these data highlight the diversity of the mechanisms underlying the establishment and maintenance of the catecholaminergic phenotype.

A Mup promoter-thymidine kinase reporter gene shows relaxed tissue-specific expression and confers male sterility upon transgenic mice

A hybrid gene was made by fusing the 2.2-kilobase 5' promoter region of a mouse group 1 major urinary protein (Mup) gene to the coding region of the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene (HSV tk) and introduced into the genomes of mice by microinjection. Transgenic G0 males were sterile, or when fertile did not transmit the foreign gene, and the transgenic male descendants of G0 females were also sterile. Seven "lines" were established by breeding from G0 females and their transgenic female descendants. Six lines expressed HSV thymidine kinase activity in the liver, and activity correlated perfectly with the presence of HSV tk RNA. In three of four lines examined, expression was lower in female than in male liver, and in these lines the same sex difference was observed in the rate of run-on transcription of the foreign genes in liver nuclei. When females of one of the sexually dimorphic lines were treated with testosterone, the levels of HSV tk RNA and thymidine kinase activity were increased, although not to male levels. In these aspects of liver expression, and also in a lack of expression in seven other tissues, the hybrid gene exhibits many of the characteristics of an endogenous group 1 Mup gene. However, the gene was also expressed (at high levels) in the preputial gland and testis, two tissues in which Mup genes are not expressed. The gene, when introduced into five of the seven lines, carried a copy of the Escherichia coli supF gene attached beyond the 3' end of the HSV tk gene, but this did not affect the overall expression pattern. All of the lines were male sterile and expressed HSV thymidine kinase in the testis, but one line showed no activity in the liver, and another showed none in the preputial gland. Testicular expression is therefore the likely cause of sterility. Data are described which suggest that the causes of misexpression in the preputial gland and testis are different. Since expression in each tissue occurred in several lines, the structure of the hybrid gene must be responsible in each case. Five intensively studied lines showed at least four consistently different patterns of relative expression in preputial gland, testis, male liver, and female liver. These differences do not correlate in any way with the copy number of the foreign gene in the different lines and must be due to some other aspect of line specific integration.