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Boussicault L, Laffaire J, Schmitt P, Rinaudo P, Callizot N, Nabirotchkin S, Hajj R, Cohen D. Combination of acamprosate and baclofen (PXT864) as a potential new therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurosci Res 2020; 98:2435-2450. [PMID: 32815196 PMCID: PMC7693228 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
There is currently no therapy impacting the course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The only approved treatments are riluzole and edaravone, but their efficacy is modest and short‐lasting, highlighting the need for innovative therapies. We previously demonstrated the ability of PXT864, a combination of low doses of acamprosate and baclofen, to synergistically restore cellular and behavioral activity in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease models. The overlapping genetic, molecular, and cellular characteristics of these neurodegenerative diseases supported investigating the effectiveness of PXT864 in ALS. As neuromuscular junction (NMJ) alterations is a key feature of ALS, the effects of PXT864 in primary neuron‐muscle cocultures injured by glutamate were studied. PXT864 significantly and synergistically preserved NMJ and motoneuron integrity following glutamate excitotoxicity. PXT864 added to riluzole significantly improved such protection. PXT864 activity was then assessed in primary cultures of motoneurons derived from SOD1G93A rat embryos. These motoneurons presented severe maturation defects that were significantly improved by PXT864. In this model, glutamate application induced an accumulation of TDP‐43 protein in the cytoplasm, a hallmark that was completely prevented by PXT864. The anti‐TDP‐43 aggregation effect was also confirmed in a cell line expressing TDP‐43 fused to GFP. These results demonstrate the value of PXT864 as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ALS.
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Prukop T, Wernick S, Boussicault L, Ewers D, Jäger K, Adam J, Winter L, Quintes S, Linhoff L, Barrantes-Freer A, Bartl M, Czesnik D, Zschüntzsch J, Schmidt J, Primas G, Laffaire J, Rinaudo P, Brureau A, Nabirotchkin S, Schwab MH, Nave KA, Hajj R, Cohen D, Sereda MW. Synergistic PXT3003 therapy uncouples neuromuscular function from dysmyelination in male Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) rats. J Neurosci Res 2020; 98:1933-1952. [PMID: 32588471 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 1 A (CMT1A) is caused by an intrachromosomal duplication of the gene encoding for PMP22 leading to peripheral nerve dysmyelination, axonal loss, and progressive muscle weakness. No therapy is available. PXT3003 is a low-dose combination of baclofen, naltrexone, and sorbitol which has been shown to improve disease symptoms in Pmp22 transgenic rats, a bona fide model of CMT1A disease. However, the superiority of PXT3003 over its single components or dual combinations have not been tested. Here, we show that in a dorsal root ganglion (DRG) co-culture system derived from transgenic rats, PXT3003 induced myelination when compared to its single and dual components. Applying a clinically relevant ("translational") study design in adult male CMT1A rats for 3 months, PXT3003, but not its dual components, resulted in improved performance in behavioral motor and sensory endpoints when compared to placebo. Unexpectedly, we observed only a marginally increased number of myelinated axons in nerves from PXT3003-treated CMT1A rats. However, in electrophysiology, motor latencies correlated with increased grip strength indicating a possible effect of PXT3003 on neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and muscle fiber pathology. Indeed, PXT3003-treated CMT1A rats displayed an increased perimeter of individual NMJs and a larger number of functional NMJs. Moreover, muscles of PXT3003 CMT1A rats displayed less neurogenic atrophy and a shift toward fast contracting muscle fibers. We suggest that ameliorated motor function in PXT3003-treated CMT1A rats result from restored NMJ function and muscle innervation, independent from myelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Prukop
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stephanie Wernick
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - David Ewers
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Karoline Jäger
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Julia Adam
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lorenz Winter
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Quintes
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lisa Linhoff
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Michael Bartl
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dirk Czesnik
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jana Zschüntzsch
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jens Schmidt
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Markus H Schwab
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Klaus-Armin Nave
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Michael W Sereda
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Harasztosi C, Wolter S, Gutsche K, Durán-Alonso MB, López-Hernández I, Pascual A, López-Barneo J, Knipper M, Rüttiger L, Schimmang T. Differential deletion of GDNF in the auditory system leads to altered sound responsiveness. J Neurosci Res 2019; 98:1764-1779. [PMID: 31663646 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been proposed as a potent neurotrophic factor with the potential to cure neurodegenerative diseases. In the cochlea, GDNF has been detected in auditory neurons and sensory receptor cells and its expression is upregulated upon trauma. Moreover, the application of GDNF in different animal models of deafness has shown its capacity to prevent hearing loss and promoted its future use in therapeutic trials in humans. In the present study we have examined the endogenous requirement of GDNF during auditory development in mice. Using a lacZ knockin allele we have confirmed the expression of GDNF in the cochlea including its sensory regions during development. Global inactivation of GDNF throughout the hearing system using a Foxg1-Cre line causes perinatal lethality but reveals no apparent defects during formation of the cochlea. Using TrkC-Cre and Atoh1-Cre lines, we were able to generate viable mutants lacking GDNF in auditory neurons or both auditory neurons and sensory hair cells. These mutants show normal frequency-dependent auditory thresholds. However, mechanoelectrical response properties of outer hair cells (OHCs) in TrkC-Cre GDNF mutants are altered at low thresholds. Furthermore, auditory brainstem wave analysis shows an abnormal increase of wave I. On the other hand, Atoh1-Cre GDNF mutants show normal OHC function but their auditory brainstem wave pattern is reduced at the levels of wave I, III and IV. These results show that GDNF expression during the development is required to maintain functional hearing at different levels of the auditory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csaba Harasztosi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research Centre Tübingen (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, ENT Clinic, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Steffen Wolter
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research Centre Tübingen (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, ENT Clinic, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Katja Gutsche
- Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valladolid, Spain
| | - María Beatriz Durán-Alonso
- Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Iris López-Hernández
- Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Alberto Pascual
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - José López-Barneo
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Marlies Knipper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research Centre Tübingen (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, ENT Clinic, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lukas Rüttiger
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research Centre Tübingen (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, ENT Clinic, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Schimmang
- Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valladolid, Spain
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Dorgau B, Herrling R, Schultz K, Greb H, Segelken J, Ströh S, Bolte P, Weiler R, Dedek K, Janssen-Bienhold U. Connexin50 couples axon terminals of mouse horizontal cells by homotypic gap junctions. J Comp Neurol 2015; 523:2062-81. [PMID: 25823610 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [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: 04/10/2014] [Revised: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Horizontal cells in the mouse retina are of the axon-bearing B-type and contribute to the gain control of photoreceptors and to the center-surround organization of bipolar cells by providing feedback and feedforward signals to photoreceptors and bipolar cells, respectively. Horizontal cells form two independent networks, coupled by dendro-dendritic and axo-axonal gap junctions composed of connexin57 (Cx57). In Cx57-deficient mice, occasionally the residual tracer coupling of horizontal cell somata was observed. Also, negative feedback from horizontal cells to photoreceptors, potentially mediated by connexin hemichannels, appeared unaffected. These results point to the expression of a second connexin in mouse horizontal cells. We investigated the expression of Cx50, which was recently identified in axonless A-type horizontal cells of the rabbit retina. In the mouse retina, Cx50-immunoreactive puncta were predominantly localized on large axon terminals of horizontal cells. Electron microscopy did not reveal any Cx50-immunolabeling at the membrane of horizontal cell tips invaginating photoreceptor terminals, ruling out the involvement of Cx50 in negative feedback. Moreover, Cx50 colocalized only rarely with Cx57 on horizontal cell processes, indicating that both connexins form homotypic rather than heterotypic or heteromeric gap junctions. To check whether the expression of Cx50 is changed when Cx57 is lacking, we compared the Cx50 expression in wildtype and Cx57-deficient mice. However, Cx50 expression was unaffected in Cx57-deficient mice. In summary, our results indicate that horizontal cell axon terminals form two independent sets of homotypic gap junctions, a feature which might be important for light adaptation in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birthe Dorgau
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Oldenburg, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany.,Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Regina Herrling
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Oldenburg, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Konrad Schultz
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Oldenburg, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Helena Greb
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Oldenburg, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Jasmin Segelken
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Oldenburg, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ströh
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Petra Bolte
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.,Animal Navigation, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | | | - Karin Dedek
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Oldenburg, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany
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