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Zurek B, Ellwanger K, Vissers LELM, Schüle R, Synofzik M, Töpf A, de Voer RM, Laurie S, Matalonga L, Gilissen C, Ossowski S, 't Hoen PAC, Vitobello A, Schulze-Hentrich JM, Riess O, Brunner HG, Brookes AJ, Rath A, Bonne G, Gumus G, Verloes A, Hoogerbrugge N, Evangelista T, Harmuth T, Swertz M, Spalding D, Hoischen A, Beltran S, Graessner H. Solve-RD: systematic pan-European data sharing and collaborative analysis to solve rare diseases. Eur J Hum Genet 2021; 29:1325-1331. [PMID: 34075208 PMCID: PMC8440542 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-021-00859-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
For the first time in Europe hundreds of rare disease (RD) experts team up to actively share and jointly analyse existing patient's data. Solve-RD is a Horizon 2020-supported EU flagship project bringing together >300 clinicians, scientists, and patient representatives of 51 sites from 15 countries. Solve-RD is built upon a core group of four European Reference Networks (ERNs; ERN-ITHACA, ERN-RND, ERN-Euro NMD, ERN-GENTURIS) which annually see more than 270,000 RD patients with respective pathologies. The main ambition is to solve unsolved rare diseases for which a molecular cause is not yet known. This is achieved through an innovative clinical research environment that introduces novel ways to organise expertise and data. Two major approaches are being pursued (i) massive data re-analysis of >19,000 unsolved rare disease patients and (ii) novel combined -omics approaches. The minimum requirement to be eligible for the analysis activities is an inconclusive exome that can be shared with controlled access. The first preliminary data re-analysis has already diagnosed 255 cases form 8393 exomes/genome datasets. This unprecedented degree of collaboration focused on sharing of data and expertise shall identify many new disease genes and enable diagnosis of many so far undiagnosed patients from all over Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birte Zurek
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kornelia Ellwanger
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lisenka E L M Vissers
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rebecca Schüle
- Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ana Töpf
- John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Richarda M de Voer
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Steven Laurie
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leslie Matalonga
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Christian Gilissen
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Stephan Ossowski
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter A C 't Hoen
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Olaf Riess
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Han G Brunner
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Anthony J Brookes
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Ana Rath
- INSERM, US14-Orphanet, Plateforme Maladies Rares, Paris, France
| | - Gisèle Bonne
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM UMRS 974, Center of Research in Myology, Paris, France
| | | | - Alain Verloes
- Genetics Department, APHP-Robert Debré University Hospital, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Nicoline Hoogerbrugge
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Tina Harmuth
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Morris Swertz
- Department of Genetics, Genomics Coordination Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dylan Spalding
- European Bioinformatics Institute, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alexander Hoischen
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sergi Beltran
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Holm Graessner
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
- Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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Sowa AS, Popova TG, Harmuth T, Weber JJ, Pereira Sena P, Schmidt J, Hübener-Schmid J, Schmidt T. Neurodegenerative phosphoprotein signaling landscape in models of SCA3. Mol Brain 2021; 14:57. [PMID: 33741019 PMCID: PMC7980345 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-020-00723-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder resulting from an aberrant expansion of a polyglutamine stretch in the ataxin-3 protein and subsequent neuronal death. The underlying intracellular signaling pathways are currently unknown. We applied the Reverse-phase Protein MicroArray (RPMA) technology to assess the levels of 50 signaling proteins (in phosphorylated and total forms) using three in vitro and in vivo models expressing expanded ataxin-3: (i) human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells stably transfected with human ataxin-3 constructs, (ii) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) from SCA3 transgenic mice, and (iii) whole brains from SCA3 transgenic mice. All three models demonstrated a high degree of similarity sharing a subset of phosphorylated proteins involved in the PI3K/AKT/GSK3/mTOR pathway. Expanded ataxin-3 strongly interfered (by stimulation or suppression) with normal ataxin-3 signaling consistent with the pathogenic role of the polyglutamine expansion. In comparison with normal ataxin-3, expanded ataxin-3 caused a pro-survival stimulation of the ERK pathway along with reduced pro-apoptotic and transcriptional responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S Sowa
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Taissia G Popova
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, College of Science, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Tina Harmuth
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jonasz J Weber
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitaetsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Priscila Pereira Sena
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jana Schmidt
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jeannette Hübener-Schmid
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schmidt
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany. .,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
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Harmuth T, Prell-Schicker C, Weber JJ, Gellerich F, Funke C, Drießen S, Magg JCD, Krebiehl G, Wolburg H, Hayer SN, Hauser S, Krüger R, Schöls L, Riess O, Hübener-Schmid J. Mitochondrial Morphology, Function and Homeostasis Are Impaired by Expression of an N-terminal Calpain Cleavage Fragment of Ataxin-3. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:368. [PMID: 30364204 PMCID: PMC6192284 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in mitochondrial morphology and function have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease and Huntington disease. Metabolic defects, resulting from dysfunctional mitochondria, have been reported in patients and respective animal models of all those diseases. Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3), another neurodegenerative disorder, also presents with metabolic defects and loss of body weight in early disease stages although the possible role of mitochondrial dysfunction in SCA3 pathology is still to be determined. Interestingly, the SCA3 disease protein ataxin-3, which is predominantly localized in cytoplasm and nucleus, has also been associated with mitochondria in both its mutant and wildtype form. This observation provides an interesting link to a potential mitochondrial involvement of mutant ataxin-3 in SCA3 pathogenesis. Furthermore, proteolytic cleavage of ataxin-3 has been shown to produce toxic fragments and even overexpression of artificially truncated forms of ataxin-3 resulted in mitochondria deficits. Therefore, we analyzed the repercussions of expressing a naturally occurring N-terminal cleavage fragment of ataxin-3 and the influence of an endogenous expression of the S256 cleavage fragment in vitro and in vivo. In our study, expression of a fragment derived from calpain cleavage induced mitochondrial fragmentation and cristae alterations leading to a significantly decreased capacity of mitochondrial respiration and contributing to an increased susceptibility to apoptosis. Furthermore, analyzing mitophagy revealed activation of autophagy in the early pathogenesis with reduced lysosomal activity. In conclusion, our findings indicate that cleavage of ataxin-3 by calpains results in fragments which interfere with mitochondrial function and mitochondrial degradation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Harmuth
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, Tübingen, Germany.,Graduate School of Cellular Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Caroline Prell-Schicker
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jonasz J Weber
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Frank Gellerich
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Funke
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Drießen
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Janine C D Magg
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Guido Krebiehl
- Center of Neurology and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hartwig Wolburg
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefanie N Hayer
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Hauser
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rejko Krüger
- Center of Neurology and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Ludger Schöls
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Olaf Riess
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jeannette Hübener-Schmid
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, Tübingen, Germany
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