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Pereira-Sousa J, Ferreira-Lomba B, Bellver-Sanchis A, Vilasboas-Campos D, Fernandes JH, Costa MD, Varney MA, Newman-Tancredi A, Maciel P, Teixeira-Castro A. Identification of the 5-HT 1A serotonin receptor as a novel therapeutic target in a C. elegans model of Machado-Joseph disease. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 152:105278. [PMID: 33516872 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) or Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement coordination leading to a premature death. Despite several efforts, no disease-modifying treatment is yet available for this disease. Previous studies pinpointed the modulation of serotonergic signaling, through pharmacological inhibition of the serotonin transporter SERT, as a promising therapeutic approach for MJD/SCA3. Here, we describe the 5-HT1A receptor as a novel therapeutic target in MJD, using a C. elegans model of ATXN3 proteotoxicity. Chronic and acute administration of befiradol (also known as NLX-112), a highly specific 5-HT1A agonist, rescued motor function and suppressed mutant ATXN3 aggregation. This action required the 5-HT1A receptor orthologue in the nematode, SER-4. Tandospirone, a clinically tested 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist, showed a limited impact on animals' motor dysfunction on acute administration and a broader receptor activation profile upon chronic treatment, its effect depending on 5-HT1A but also on the 5-HT6/SER-5 and 5-HT7/SER-7 receptors. Our results support high potency and specificity of befiradol for activation of 5-HT1A/SER-4 receptors and highlight the contribution of the auto- and hetero-receptor function to the therapeutic outcome in this MJD model. Our study deepens the understanding of serotonergic signaling modulation in the suppression of ATXN3 proteotoxicity and suggests that a potent and selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist such as befiradol could constitute a promising therapeutic agent for MJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Pereira-Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Behavioral & Molecular Lab (Bn'ML), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Bruna Ferreira-Lomba
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Aina Bellver-Sanchis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Daniela Vilasboas-Campos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Jorge H Fernandes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Marta D Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | | | | | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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