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Gentenaar M, Meulmeester FL, van der Burg XR, Hoekstra AT, Hunt H, Kroon J, van Roon-Mom WMC, Meijer OC. Glucocorticoid receptor antagonist CORT113176 attenuates motor and neuropathological symptoms of Huntington's disease in R6/2 mice. Exp Neurol 2024; 374:114675. [PMID: 38216109 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Huntington's Disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene. The mutation leads to a toxic gain of function of the mutant huntingtin (mHtt) protein resulting in cellular malfunction, aberrant huntingtin aggregation and eventually neuronal cell death. Patients with HD show impaired motor functions and cognitive decline. Elevated levels of glucocorticoids have been found in HD patients and in HD mouse models, and there is a positive correlation between increased glucocorticoid levels and the progression of HD. Therefore, antagonism of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) may be an interesting strategy for the treatment of HD. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the selective GR antagonist CORT113176 in the commonly used R6/2 mouse model. In male mice, CORT113176 treatment significantly delayed the loss of grip strength, the development of hindlimb clasping, gait abnormalities, and the occurrence of epileptic seizures. CORT113176 treatment delayed loss of DARPP-32 immunoreactivity in the dorsolateral striatum. It also restored HD-related parameters including astrocyte markers in both the dorsolateral striatum and the hippocampus, and microglia markers in the hippocampus. This suggests that CORT113176 has both cell-type and brain region-specific effects. CORT113176 delayed the formation of mHtt aggregates in the striatum and the hippocampus. In female mice, we did not observe major effects of CORT113176 treatment on HD-related symptoms, with the exception of the anti-epileptic effects. We conclude that CORT113176 effectively delays several key symptoms related to the HD phenotype in male R6/2 mice and believe that GR antagonism may be a possible treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Gentenaar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Fleur L Meulmeester
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ximaine R van der Burg
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Anna T Hoekstra
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hazel Hunt
- Corcept Therapeutics, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Jan Kroon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Corcept Therapeutics, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | | | - Onno C Meijer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Metz T, Welling MM, Suidgeest E, Nieuwenhuize E, de Vlaam T, Curtis D, Hailu TT, van der Weerd L, van Roon-Mom WMC. Biodistribution of Radioactively Labeled Splice Modulating Antisense Oligonucleotides After Intracerebroventricular and Intrathecal Injection in Mice. Nucleic Acid Ther 2024; 34:26-34. [PMID: 38386285 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2023.0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) are promising therapeutic candidates, especially for neurological diseases. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection is the predominant route of administration in mouse studies, while in clinical trials, intrathecal (IT) administration is mostly used. There is little knowledge on the differences in distribution of these injection methods within the same species over time. In this study, we compared the distribution of splice-switching AONs targeting exon 15 of amyloid precursor protein pre-mRNA injected via the ICV and IT route in mice. The AON was labeled with radioactive indium-111 and mice were imaged using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) 0, 4, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after injection. In vivo SPECT imaging showed 111In-AON activity diffused throughout the central nervous system (CNS) in the first hours after injection. The 111In-AON activity in the CNS persisted over the course of 4 days, while signal in the kidneys rapidly decreased. Postmortem counting in different organs and tissues showed very similar distribution of 111In-AON activity throughout the body, while the signal in the different brain regions was higher with ICV injection. Overall, IT and ICV injection have very similar distribution patterns in the mouse, but ICV injection is much more effective in reaching the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Metz
- Department of Human Genetics,Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mick M Welling
- Interventional Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ernst Suidgeest
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Esmée Nieuwenhuize
- Department of Human Genetics,Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Louise van der Weerd
- Department of Human Genetics,Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Tramutola A, Bakels HS, Perrone F, Di Nottia M, Mazza T, Abruzzese MP, Zoccola M, Pagnotta S, Carrozzo R, de Bot ST, Perluigi M, van Roon-Mom WMC, Squitieri F. GLUT-1 changes in paediatric Huntington disease brain cortex and fibroblasts: an observational case-control study. EBioMedicine 2023; 97:104849. [PMID: 37898095 PMCID: PMC10630613 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paediatric Huntington disease with highly expanded mutations (HE-PHD; >80 CAG repeats) presents atypically, compared to adult-onset Huntington disease (AOHD), with neurodevelopmental delay, epilepsy, abnormal brain glucose metabolism, early striatal damage, and reduced lifespan. Since genetic GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome shows a symptom spectrum similar to HE-PHD, we investigated the potential role of the two main glucose transporters, GLUT-1 and GLUT-3, in HE-PHD. METHODS We compared GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 protein expression in HE-PHD, juvenile-onset (JOHD), and AOHD brains (n = 2; n = 3; n = 6) and periphery (n = 3; n = 2; n = 2) versus healthy adult controls (n = 6; n = 6). We also investigated mitochondrial complexes and hexokinase-II protein expression. FINDINGS GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 expression were significantly lower in HE-PHD frontal cortex (p = 0.009, 95% [CI 13.4, 14.7]; p = 0.017, 95% [CI 14.2, 14.5]) versus controls. In fibroblasts, GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 expression were lower compared to controls (p < 0.0001, 95% [CI 0.91, 1.09]; p = 0.046, 95% [CI 0.93, 1.07]). In the frontal cortex, this occurred without evidence of extensive neuronal degeneration. Patients with HE-PHD had deregulated mitochondrial complex expression, particularly complexes II-III, levels of which were lower in frontal cortex versus controls (p = 0.027, 95% [CI 17.1, 17.6]; p = 0.002, 95% CI [16.6, 16.9]) and patients with AOHD (p = 0.052, 95% [CI 17.0, 17.6]; p = 0.002, 95% [CI 16.6, 16.7]). Hexokinase-II expression was also lower in HE-PHD frontal cortex and striatum versus controls (p = 0.010, 95% [CI 17.8, 18.2]; p = 0.045, 95% [CI 18.6, 18.7]) and in frontal cortex versus patients with AOHD (p = 0.013, 95% [CI 17.7, 18.1]). Expression JOHD levels were consistently different to those of HE-PHD but similar to those of AOHD. INTERPRETATION Our data suggest a dysfunctional hypometabolic state occurring specifically in paediatric Huntington disease brains. FUNDING '5 × 1000' Personal Income Tax donation to LIRH Foundation; Italian Ministry of HealthRC2301MH04 and RF-2016-02364123 to CSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Tramutola
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Hannah S Bakels
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, ZA Leiden 2311, the Netherlands
| | - Federica Perrone
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (CSS) Research Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo 71013, Italy
| | - Michela Di Nottia
- Unit of Cellular Biology and Mitochondrial Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesú Children's Hospital, Rome 00146, Italy
| | - Tommaso Mazza
- Bioinformatics Unit, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (CSS) Research Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo 71013, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Abruzzese
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (CSS) Research Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo 71013, Italy
| | - Martina Zoccola
- Unit of Cellular Biology and Mitochondrial Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesú Children's Hospital, Rome 00146, Italy
| | - Sara Pagnotta
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Rosalba Carrozzo
- Unit of Cellular Biology and Mitochondrial Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesú Children's Hospital, Rome 00146, Italy
| | - Susanne T de Bot
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, ZA Leiden 2311, the Netherlands
| | - Marzia Perluigi
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | | | - Ferdinando Squitieri
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (CSS) Research Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo 71013, Italy; Centre for Rare Neurological Diseases (CMRN), Italian League for Research on Huntington (LIRH) Foundation, Viale di Villa Massimo 4, Rome 00161, Italy.
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Pilotto F, Douthwaite C, Diab R, Ye X, Al Qassab Z, Tietje C, Mounassir M, Odriozola A, Thapa A, Buijsen RAM, Lagache S, Uldry AC, Heller M, Müller S, van Roon-Mom WMC, Zuber B, Liebscher S, Saxena S. Early molecular layer interneuron hyperactivity triggers Purkinje neuron degeneration in SCA1. Neuron 2023; 111:2523-2543.e10. [PMID: 37321222 PMCID: PMC10431915 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Toxic proteinaceous deposits and alterations in excitability and activity levels characterize vulnerable neuronal populations in neurodegenerative diseases. Using in vivo two-photon imaging in behaving spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (Sca1) mice, wherein Purkinje neurons (PNs) degenerate, we identify an inhibitory circuit element (molecular layer interneurons [MLINs]) that becomes prematurely hyperexcitable, compromising sensorimotor signals in the cerebellum at early stages. Mutant MLINs express abnormally elevated parvalbumin, harbor high excitatory-to-inhibitory synaptic density, and display more numerous synaptic connections on PNs, indicating an excitation/inhibition imbalance. Chemogenetic inhibition of hyperexcitable MLINs normalizes parvalbumin expression and restores calcium signaling in Sca1 PNs. Chronic inhibition of mutant MLINs delayed PN degeneration, reduced pathology, and ameliorated motor deficits in Sca1 mice. Conserved proteomic signature of Sca1 MLINs, shared with human SCA1 interneurons, involved the higher expression of FRRS1L, implicated in AMPA receptor trafficking. We thus propose that circuit-level deficits upstream of PNs are one of the main disease triggers in SCA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Pilotto
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christopher Douthwaite
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Rim Diab
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - XiaoQian Ye
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Zahraa Al Qassab
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Tietje
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Meriem Mounassir
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Aishwarya Thapa
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sophie Lagache
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Christine Uldry
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Manfred Heller
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Müller
- Flow Cytometry and Cell sorting, Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Benoît Zuber
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Liebscher
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Martinsried, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany; University Hospital Cologne, Deptartment of Neurology, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Smita Saxena
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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Buijsen RAM, Hu M, Sáez-González M, Notopoulou S, Mina E, Koning W, Gardiner SL, van der Graaf LM, Daoutsali E, Pepers BA, Mei H, van Dis V, Frimat JP, van den Maagdenberg AMJM, Petrakis S, van Roon-Mom WMC. Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 Characteristics in Patient-Derived Fibroblast and iPSC-Derived Neuronal Cultures. Mov Disord 2023; 38:1428-1442. [PMID: 37278528 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the ataxin-1 protein resulting in neuropathology including mutant ataxin-1 protein aggregation, aberrant neurodevelopment, and mitochondrial dysfunction. OBJECTIVES Identify SCA1-relevant phenotypes in patient-specific fibroblasts and SCA1 induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) neuronal cultures. METHODS SCA1 iPSCs were generated and differentiated into neuronal cultures. Protein aggregation and neuronal morphology were evaluated using fluorescent microscopy. Mitochondrial respiration was measured using the Seahorse Analyzer. The multi-electrode array (MEA) was used to identify network activity. Finally, gene expression changes were studied using RNA-seq to identify disease-specific mechanisms. RESULTS Bioenergetics deficits in patient-derived fibroblasts and SCA1 neuronal cultures showed altered oxygen consumption rate, suggesting involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in SCA1. In SCA1 hiPSC-derived neuronal cells, nuclear and cytoplasmic aggregates were identified similar in localization as aggregates in SCA1 postmortem brain tissue. SCA1 hiPSC-derived neuronal cells showed reduced dendrite length and number of branching points while MEA recordings identified delayed development in network activity in SCA1 hiPSC-derived neuronal cells. Transcriptome analysis identified 1050 differentially expressed genes in SCA1 hiPSC-derived neuronal cells associated with synapse organization and neuron projection guidance, where a subgroup of 151 genes was highly associated with SCA1 phenotypes and linked to SCA1 relevant signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS Patient-derived cells recapitulate key pathological features of SCA1 pathogenesis providing a valuable tool for the identification of novel disease-specific processes. This model can be used for high throughput screenings to identify compounds, which may prevent or rescue neurodegeneration in this devastating disease. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Michel Hu
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Sáez-González
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Sofia Notopoulou
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleni Mina
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Winette Koning
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah L Gardiner
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Linda M van der Graaf
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Elena Daoutsali
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Barry A Pepers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Vera van Dis
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Philippe Frimat
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Arn M J M van den Maagdenberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Spyros Petrakis
- Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
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Ouwerkerk J, Feleus S, van der Zwaan KF, Li Y, Roos M, van Roon-Mom WMC, de Bot ST, Wolstencroft KJ, Mina E. Machine learning in Huntington's disease: exploring the Enroll-HD dataset for prognosis and driving capability prediction. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:218. [PMID: 37501188 PMCID: PMC10375780 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02785-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In biomedicine, machine learning (ML) has proven beneficial for the prognosis and diagnosis of different diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. For rare diseases, however, the requirement for large datasets often prevents this approach. Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the coding region of the huntingtin gene. The world's largest observational study for HD, Enroll-HD, describes over 21,000 participants. As such, Enroll-HD is amenable to ML methods. In this study, we pre-processed and imputed Enroll-HD with ML methods to maximise the inclusion of participants and variables. With this dataset we developed models to improve the prediction of the age at onset (AAO) and compared it to the well-established Langbehn formula. In addition, we used recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to demonstrate the utility of ML methods for longitudinal datasets, assessing driving capabilities by learning from previous participant assessments. RESULTS Simple pre-processing imputed around 42% of missing values in Enroll-HD. Also, 167 variables were retained as a result of imputing with ML. We found that multiple ML models were able to outperform the Langbehn formula. The best ML model (light gradient boosting machine) improved the prognosis of AAO compared to the Langbehn formula by 9.2%, based on root mean squared error in the test set. In addition, our ML model provides more accurate prognosis for a wider CAG repeat range compared to the Langbehn formula. Driving capability was predicted with an accuracy of 85.2%. The resulting pre-processing workflow and code to train the ML models are available to be used for related HD predictions at: https://github.com/JasperO98/hdml/tree/main . CONCLUSIONS Our pre-processing workflow made it possible to resolve the missing values and include most participants and variables in Enroll-HD. We show the added value of a ML approach, which improved AAO predictions and allowed for the development of an advisory model that can assist clinicians and participants in estimating future driving capability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Ouwerkerk
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus Medical Center (EMC), Wytemaweg, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stephanie Feleus
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kasper F van der Zwaan
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Yunlei Li
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus Medical Center (EMC), Wytemaweg, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marco Roos
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Susanne T de Bot
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Katherine J Wolstencroft
- Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 1, 2333 CA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eleni Mina
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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van Prooije T, Ruigrok S, van den Berkmortel N, Maas RPPWM, Wijn SRW, van Roon-Mom WMC, van de Warrenburg B, Grutters JPC. Correction to: The potential value of disease-modifying therapy in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 1: an early health economic modeling study. J Neurol 2023:10.1007/s00415-023-11751-w. [PMID: 37154897 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11751-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Teije van Prooije
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne Ruigrok
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Niels van den Berkmortel
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roderick P P W M Maas
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Stan R W Wijn
- Department of Operating Rooms, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Bart van de Warrenburg
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Janneke P C Grutters
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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8
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Kerkhof LMC, van de Warrenburg BPC, van Roon-Mom WMC, Buijsen RAM. Therapeutic Strategies for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050788. [PMID: 37238658 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder that affects one or two individuals per 100,000. The disease is caused by an extended CAG repeat in exon 8 of the ATXN1 gene and is characterized mostly by a profound loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells, leading to disturbances in coordination, balance, and gait. At present, no curative treatment is available for SCA1. However, increasing knowledge on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of SCA1 has led the way towards several therapeutic strategies that can potentially slow disease progression. SCA1 therapeutics can be classified as genetic, pharmacological, and cell replacement therapies. These different therapeutic strategies target either the (mutant) ATXN1 RNA or the ataxin-1 protein, pathways that play an important role in downstream SCA1 disease mechanisms or which help restore cells that are lost due to SCA1 pathology. In this review, we will provide a summary of the different therapeutic strategies that are currently being investigated for SCA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie M C Kerkhof
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Dutch Center for RNA Therapeutics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bart P C van de Warrenburg
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Dutch Center for RNA Therapeutics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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9
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van Prooije T, Ruigrok S, van den Berkmortel N, Maas RPPWM, Wijn S, van Roon-Mom WMC, van de Warrenburg B, Grutters JPC. The potential value of disease-modifying therapy in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 1: an early health economic modeling study. J Neurol 2023:10.1007/s00415-023-11704-3. [PMID: 37076599 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11704-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There currently is no disease-modifying therapy for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). Genetic interventions, such as RNA-based therapies, are being developed but those currently available are very expensive. Early evaluation of costs and benefits is, therefore, crucial. By developing a health economic model, we aimed to provide first insights into the potential cost-effectiveness of RNA-based therapies for SCA1 in the Netherlands. METHODS We simulated disease progression of individuals with SCA1 using a patient-level state-transition model. Five hypothetical treatment strategies with different start and endpoints and level of effectiveness (5-50% reduction in disease progression) were evaluated. Consequences of each strategy were measured in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), survival, healthcare costs, and maximum costs to be cost effective. RESULTS Most QALYs (6.68) are gained when therapy starts during the pre-ataxic stage and continues during the entire disease course. Incremental costs are lowest (- €14,048) if therapy is stopped when the severe ataxia stage is reached. The maximum costs per year to be cost-effective are €19,630 in the "stop after moderate ataxia stage" strategy at 50% effectiveness. DISCUSSION Our model indicates that the maximum price for a hypothetical therapy to be cost-effective is considerably lower than currently available RNA-based therapies. Most value for money can be gained by slowing progression in the early and moderate stages of SCA1 and by stopping therapy upon entering the severe ataxia stage. To allow for such a strategy, it is crucial to identify individuals in early stages of disease, preferably just before symptom onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teije van Prooije
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne Ruigrok
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Niels van den Berkmortel
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roderick P P W M Maas
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Stan Wijn
- Department of Operating Rooms, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Bart van de Warrenburg
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Janneke P C Grutters
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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10
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Bakels HS, van Duinen SG, de Bresser J, van Roon-Mom WMC, van der Weerd L, de Bot ST. Post-mortem 7T MR imaging and neuropathology in middle stage juvenile-onset Huntington disease: A case report. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2023; 49:e12858. [PMID: 36334065 PMCID: PMC10100344 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S Bakels
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd G van Duinen
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen de Bresser
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Louise van der Weerd
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Susanne T de Bot
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
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11
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Daoutsali E, Pepers BA, Stamatakis S, van der Graaf LM, Terwindt GM, Parfitt DA, Buijsen RAM, van Roon-Mom WMC. Amyloid beta accumulations and enhanced neuronal differentiation in cerebral organoids of Dutch-type cerebral amyloid angiopathy patients. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 14:1048584. [PMID: 36733499 PMCID: PMC9887998 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1048584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction ADutch-type cerebral amyloid angiopathy (D-CAA) is a hereditary brain disorder caused by a point mutation in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene. The mutation is located within the amyloid beta (Aβ) domain of APP and leads to Aβ peptide accumulation in and around the cerebral vasculature. There lack of disease models to study the cellular and molecular pathological mechanisms of D-CAA together with the absence of a disease phenotype in vitro in overexpression cell models, as well as the limited availability of D-CAA animal models indicates the need for a D-CAA patient-derived model. Methods We generated cerebral organoids from four D-CAA patients and four controls, cultured them up to 110 days and performed immunofluorescent and targeted gene expression analyses at two time points (D52 and D110). Results D-CAA cerebral organoids exhibited Aβ accumulations, showed enhanced neuronal and astrocytic gene expression and TGFβ pathway de-regulation. Conclusions These results illustrate the potential of cerebral organoids as in vitro disease model of D-CAA that can be used to understand disease mechanisms of D-CAA and can serve as therapeutic intervention platform for various Aβ-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Daoutsali
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Willeke M. C. van Roon-Mom, ; Elena Daoutsali,
| | - Barry A. Pepers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Stavros Stamatakis
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Gisela M. Terwindt
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - David A. Parfitt
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ronald A. M. Buijsen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Willeke M. C. van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Willeke M. C. van Roon-Mom, ; Elena Daoutsali,
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12
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Tabrizi SJ, Estevez-Fraga C, van Roon-Mom WMC, Flower MD, Scahill RI, Wild EJ, Muñoz-Sanjuan I, Sampaio C, Rosser AE, Leavitt BR. Potential disease-modifying therapies for Huntington's disease: lessons learned and future opportunities. Lancet Neurol 2022; 21:645-658. [PMID: 35716694 PMCID: PMC7613206 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(22)00121-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.5] [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: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is the most frequent autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder; however, no disease-modifying interventions are available for patients with this disease. The molecular pathogenesis of Huntington's disease is complex, with toxicity that arises from full-length expanded huntingtin and N-terminal fragments of huntingtin, which are both prone to misfolding due to proteolysis; aberrant intron-1 splicing of the HTT gene; and somatic expansion of the CAG repeat in the HTT gene. Potential interventions for Huntington's disease include therapies targeting huntingtin DNA and RNA, clearance of huntingtin protein, DNA repair pathways, and other treatment strategies targeting inflammation and cell replacement. The early termination of trials of the antisense oligonucleotide tominersen suggest that it is time to reflect on lessons learned, where the field stands now, and the challenges and opportunities for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Tabrizi
- Huntington's Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Carlos Estevez-Fraga
- Huntington's Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Michael D Flower
- Huntington's Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rachael I Scahill
- Huntington's Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Edward J Wild
- Huntington's Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Cristina Sampaio
- CHDI Management, CHDI Foundation Los Angeles, CA, USA; Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Anne E Rosser
- BRAIN unit, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- Centre for Huntington's disease, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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13
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Kenkhuis B, Somarakis A, Kleindouwel LRT, van Roon-Mom WMC, Höllt T, van der Weerd L. Co-expression patterns of microglia markers Iba1, TMEM119 and P2RY12 in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 167:105684. [PMID: 35247551 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [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: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia have been identified as key players in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Iba1, and more specifically TMEM119 and P2RY12 are gaining ground as presumedly more specific microglia markers, but comprehensive characterization of the expression of these three markers individually as well as combined is currently missing. Here we used a multispectral immunofluorescence dataset, in which over seventy thousand microglia from both aged controls and Alzheimer patients have been analysed for expression of Iba1, TMEM119 and P2RY12 on a single-cell level. For all markers, we studied the overlap and differences in expression patterns and the effect of proximity to β-amyloid plaques. We found no difference in absolute microglia numbers between control and Alzheimer subjects, but the prevalence of specific combinations of markers (phenotypes) differed greatly. In controls, the majority of microglia expressed all three markers. In Alzheimer patients, a significant loss of TMEM119+-phenotypes was observed, independent of the presence of β-amyloid plaques in its proximity. Contrary, phenotypes showing loss of P2RY12, but consistent Iba1 expression were increasingly prevalent around β-amyloid plaques. No morphological features were conclusively associated with loss or gain of any of the markers or any of the identified phenotypes. All in all, none of the three markers were expressed by all microglia, nor can be wholly regarded as a pan- or homeostatic marker, and preferential phenotypes were observed depending on the surrounding pathological or homeostatic environment. This work could help select and interpret microglia markers in previous and future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyd Kenkhuis
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Antonios Somarakis
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Lynn R T Kleindouwel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Thomas Höllt
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Intelligent Systems, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Louise van der Weerd
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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14
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Kuijper EC, Toonen LJA, Overzier M, Tsonaka R, Hettne K, Roos M, van Roon-Mom WMC, Mina E. Huntington Disease Gene Expression Signatures in Blood Compared to Brain of YAC128 Mice as Candidates for Monitoring of Pathology. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:2532-2551. [PMID: 35091961 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02680-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
While the genetic cause of Huntington disease (HD) is known since 1993, still no cure exists. Therapeutic development would benefit from a method to monitor disease progression and treatment efficacy, ideally using blood biomarkers. Previously, HD-specific signatures were identified in human blood representing signatures in human brain, showing biomarker potential. Since drug candidates are generally first screened in rodent models, we aimed to identify HD signatures in blood and brain of YAC128 HD mice and compare these with previously identified human signatures. RNA sequencing was performed on blood withdrawn at two time points and four brain regions from YAC128 and control mice. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to identify clusters of co-expressed genes (modules) associated with the HD genotype. These HD-associated modules were annotated via text-mining to determine the biological processes they represented. Subsequently, the processes from mouse blood were compared with mouse brain, showing substantial overlap, including protein modification, cell cycle, RNA splicing, nuclear transport, and vesicle-mediated transport. Moreover, the disease-associated processes shared between mouse blood and brain were highly comparable to those previously identified in human blood and brain. In addition, we identified HD blood-specific pathology, confirming previous findings for peripheral pathology in blood. Finally, we identified hub genes for HD-associated blood modules and proposed a strategy for gene selection for development of a disease progression monitoring panel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa C Kuijper
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333, ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Lodewijk J A Toonen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333, ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maurice Overzier
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333, ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Roula Tsonaka
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333, ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kristina Hettne
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333, ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marco Roos
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333, ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333, ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eleni Mina
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333, ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
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15
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Abstract
The use of antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) is a promising therapeutic strategy for central nervous system disorders. However, the delivery of AONs to the central nervous system is challenging because their size does not allow them to diffuse over the blood-brain barrier (BBB) when injected systemically. The BBB can be bypassed by administering directly into the brain. Here we describe a method to perform single and repeated intracerebroventricular injections into the lateral ventricle of the mouse brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Metz
- Department of Human Genetics, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Elsa C Kuijper
- Department of Human Genetics, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands
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16
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Bakels HS, Roos RAC, van Roon-Mom WMC, de Bot ST. Juvenile-Onset Huntington Disease Pathophysiology and Neurodevelopment: A Review. Mov Disord 2021; 37:16-24. [PMID: 34636452 PMCID: PMC9291924 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [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: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease is an autosomal dominant inherited brain disorder that typically becomes manifest in adulthood. Juvenile-onset Huntington disease refers to approximately 5% of patients with symptom onset before the age of 21 years. The causal factor is a pathologically expanded CAG repeat in the Huntingtin gene. Age at onset is inversely correlated with CAG repeat length. Juvenile-onset patients have distinct symptoms and signs with more severe pathology of involved brain structures in comparison with disease onset in adulthood. The aim of this review is to compare clinical and pathological features in juvenile- and adult-onset Huntington disease and to explore which processes potentially contribute to the observed differences. A specific focus is placed on molecular mechanisms of mutant huntingtin in early neurodevelopment and the interaction of a neurodegenerative disease and postnatal brain maturation. The importance of a better understanding of pathophysiological differences between juvenile- and adult-onset Huntington disease lies in development and implementation of new therapeutic strategies. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S Bakels
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Raymund A C Roos
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Susanne T de Bot
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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17
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Synofzik M, van Roon-Mom WMC, Marckmann G, van Duyvenvoorde HA, Graessner H, Schüle R, Aartsma-Rus A. Preparing n-of-1 Antisense Oligonucleotide Treatments for Rare Neurological Diseases in Europe: Genetic, Regulatory, and Ethical Perspectives. Nucleic Acid Ther 2021; 32:83-94. [PMID: 34591693 PMCID: PMC9058873 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2021.0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [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] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapies present a promising disease-modifying treatment approach for rare neurological diseases (RNDs). However, the current focus is on "more common" RNDs, leaving a large share of RND patients still without prospect of disease-modifying treatments. In response to this gap, n-of-1 ASO treatment approaches are targeting ultrarare or even private variants. While highly attractive, this emerging, academia-driven field of ultimately individualized precision medicine is in need of systematic guidance and standards, which will allow global scaling of this approach. We provide here genetic, regulatory, and ethical perspectives for preparing n-of-1 ASO treatments and research programs, with a specific focus on the European context. By example of splice modulating ASOs, we outline genetic criteria for variant prioritization, chart the regulatory field of n-of-1 ASO treatment development in Europe, and propose an ethically informed classification for n-of-1 ASO treatment strategies and level of outcome assessments. To accommodate the ethical requirements of both individual patient benefit and knowledge gain, we propose a stronger integration of patient care and clinical research when developing novel n-of-1 ASO treatments: each single trial of therapy should inherently be driven to generate generalizable knowledge, be registered in a ASO treatment registry, and include assessment of generic outcomes, which allow aggregated analysis across n-of-1 trials of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthis Synofzik
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Georg Marckmann
- Institute of Ethics, History and Theory of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Holm Graessner
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Center for Rare Diseases, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rebecca Schüle
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Annemieke Aartsma-Rus
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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18
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Daoutsali E, Hailu TT, Buijsen RAM, Pepers BA, van der Graaf LM, Verbeek MM, Curtis D, de Vlaam T, van Roon-Mom WMC. Antisense Oligonucleotide-Induced Amyloid Precursor Protein Splicing Modulation as a Therapeutic Approach for Dutch-Type Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy. Nucleic Acid Ther 2021; 31:351-363. [PMID: 34061681 PMCID: PMC8823675 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2021.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Dutch-type cerebral amyloid angiopathy (D-CAA) is a monogenic form of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. The disease is caused by a point mutation in exon 17 of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene that leads to an amino acid substitution at codon 693. The mutation is located within the amyloid beta (Aβ) domain of APP, and leads to accumulation of toxic Aβ peptide in and around the cerebral vasculature. We have designed an antisense oligonucleotide (AON) approach that results in skipping of exon 17, generating a shorter APP isoform that lacks part of the Aβ domain and the D-CAA mutation. We demonstrate efficient AON-induced skipping of exon 17 at RNA level and the occurrence of a shorter APP protein isoform in three different cell types. This resulted in a reduction of Aβ40 in neuronally differentiated, patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells. AON-treated wild-type mice showed successful exon skipping on RNA and protein levels throughout the brain. These results illustrate APP splice modulation as a promising therapeutic approach for D-CAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Daoutsali
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Barry A Pepers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Linda M van der Graaf
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel M Verbeek
- Departments of Neurology and Laboratory Medicine, Radboud Alzheimer Centre, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel Curtis
- Amylon Therapeutics, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Atalanta Therapeutics, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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19
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Hommersom MP, Buijsen RAM, van Roon-Mom WMC, van de Warrenburg BPC, van Bokhoven H. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Modelling of Spinocerebellar Ataxias. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 18:441-456. [PMID: 34031815 PMCID: PMC8930896 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-021-10184-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) constitute a large group of phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous disorders that mainly present with dysfunction of the cerebellum as their main hallmark. Although animal and cell models have been highly instrumental for our current insight into the underlying disease mechanisms of these neurodegenerative disorders, they do not offer the full human genetic and physiological context. The advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and protocols to differentiate these into essentially every cell type allows us to closely model SCAs in a human context. In this review, we systematically summarize recent findings from studies using hiPSC-based modelling of SCAs, and discuss what knowledge has been gained from these studies. We conclude that hiPSC-based models are a powerful tool for modelling SCAs as they contributed to new mechanistic insights and have the potential to serve the development of genetic therapies. However, the use of standardized methods and multiple clones of isogenic lines are essential to increase validity and reproducibility of the insights gained. Graphical Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina P Hommersom
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bart P C van de Warrenburg
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Hans van Bokhoven
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
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20
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Kenkhuis B, Somarakis A, de Haan L, Dzyubachyk O, IJsselsteijn ME, de Miranda NFCC, Lelieveldt BPF, Dijkstra J, van Roon-Mom WMC, Höllt T, van der Weerd L. Iron loading is a prominent feature of activated microglia in Alzheimer's disease patients. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:27. [PMID: 33597025 PMCID: PMC7887813 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01126-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [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: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain iron accumulation has been found to accelerate disease progression in amyloid-β(Aβ) positive Alzheimer patients, though the mechanism is still unknown. Microglia have been identified as key players in the disease pathogenesis, and are highly reactive cells responding to aberrations such as increased iron levels. Therefore, using histological methods, multispectral immunofluorescence and an automated in-house developed microglia segmentation and analysis pipeline, we studied the occurrence of iron-accumulating microglia and the effect on its activation state in human Alzheimer brains. We identified a subset of microglia with increased expression of the iron storage protein ferritin light chain (FTL), together with increased Iba1 expression, decreased TMEM119 and P2RY12 expression. This activated microglia subset represented iron-accumulating microglia and appeared morphologically dystrophic. Multispectral immunofluorescence allowed for spatial analysis of FTL+Iba1+-microglia, which were found to be the predominant Aβ-plaque infiltrating microglia. Finally, an increase of FTL+Iba1+-microglia was seen in patients with high Aβ load and Tau load. These findings suggest iron to be taken up by microglia and to influence the functional phenotype of these cells, especially in conjunction with Aβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyd Kenkhuis
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Antonios Somarakis
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lorraine de Haan
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Oleh Dzyubachyk
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Jouke Dijkstra
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Höllt
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Intelligent Systems, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Louise van der Weerd
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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21
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Fuady AM, van Roon-Mom WMC, Kiełbasa SM, Uh HW, Houwing-Duistermaat JJ. Statistical method for modeling sequencing data from different technologies in longitudinal studies with application to Huntington disease. Biom J 2020; 63:745-760. [PMID: 33350510 PMCID: PMC8049011 DOI: 10.1002/bimj.201900235] [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: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Advancement of gene expression measurements in longitudinal studies enables the identification of genes associated with disease severity over time. However, problems arise when the technology used to measure gene expression differs between time points. Observed differences between the results obtained at different time points can be caused by technical differences. Modeling the two measurements jointly over time might provide insight into the causes of these different results. Our work is motivated by a study of gene expression data of blood samples from Huntington disease patients, which were obtained using two different sequencing technologies. At time point 1, DeepSAGE technology was used to measure the gene expression, with a subsample also measured using RNA‐Seq technology. At time point 2, all samples were measured using RNA‐Seq technology. Significant associations between gene expression measured by DeepSAGE and disease severity using data from the first time point could not be replicated by the RNA‐Seq data from the second time point. We modeled the relationship between the two sequencing technologies using the data from the overlapping samples. We used linear mixed models with either DeepSAGE or RNA‐Seq measurements as the dependent variable and disease severity as the independent variable. In conclusion, (1) for one out of 14 genes, the initial significant result could be replicated with both technologies using data from both time points; (2) statistical efficiency is lost due to disagreement between the two technologies, measurement error when predicting gene expressions, and the need to include additional parameters to account for possible differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angga M Fuady
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Department of Biostatistics and Research Support, Div. Julius Centrum, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Szymon M Kiełbasa
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hae-Won Uh
- Department of Biostatistics and Research Support, Div. Julius Centrum, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jeanine J Houwing-Duistermaat
- Department of Biostatistics and Research Support, Div. Julius Centrum, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Statistics and Alan Turing Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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22
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Fulgencio-Covián A, Álvarez M, Pepers BA, López-Márquez A, Ugarte M, Pérez B, van Roon-Mom WMC, Desviat LR, Richard E. Generation of a gene-corrected human isogenic line (UAMi006-A) from propionic acidemia patient iPSC with an homozygous mutation in the PCCB gene using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Stem Cell Res 2020; 49:102055. [PMID: 33128956 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2020.102055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Propionic acidemia (PA) is an inherited metabolic disease caused by mutations in the PCCA and PCCB genes. We have previously generated an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line (UAMi004-A) from a PA patient with the c.1218_1231del14ins12 (p.Gly407Argfs*14) homozygous mutation in the PCCB gene. Here, we report the generation of the isogenic control in which the mutation was genetically corrected using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Off-target editing presence was excluded and the iPSCs had typical embryonic stem cell-like morphology and normal karyotype that expressed pluripotency markers and maintained their in vitro differentiation potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Fulgencio-Covián
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa UAM-CSIC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Diagnóstico de Enfermedades Moleculares (CEDEM), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital La Paz (IdiPaz), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Álvarez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa UAM-CSIC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Barry A Pepers
- Department of Human Genetics, LUMC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Arístides López-Márquez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa UAM-CSIC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Neuromuscular Unit, Neuropaediatrics Department, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Magdalena Ugarte
- Centro de Diagnóstico de Enfermedades Moleculares (CEDEM), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital La Paz (IdiPaz), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén Pérez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa UAM-CSIC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Diagnóstico de Enfermedades Moleculares (CEDEM), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital La Paz (IdiPaz), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Lourdes R Desviat
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa UAM-CSIC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Diagnóstico de Enfermedades Moleculares (CEDEM), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital La Paz (IdiPaz), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Eva Richard
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa UAM-CSIC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Diagnóstico de Enfermedades Moleculares (CEDEM), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital La Paz (IdiPaz), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
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23
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Milanese C, Payán-Gómez C, Galvani M, Molano González N, Tresini M, Nait Abdellah S, van Roon-Mom WMC, Figini S, Marinus J, van Hilten JJ, Mastroberardino PG. Peripheral mitochondrial function correlates with clinical severity in idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord 2019; 34:1192-1202. [PMID: 31136028 PMCID: PMC6771759 DOI: 10.1002/mds.27723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Parkinson's disease is an intractable disorder with heterogeneous clinical presentation that may reflect different underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Surrogate indicators of pathogenic processes correlating with clinical measures may assist in better patient stratification. Mitochondrial function, which is impaired in and central to PD pathogenesis, may represent one such surrogate indicator. Methods Mitochondrial function was assessed by respirometry experiment in fibroblasts derived from idiopathic patients (n = 47) in normal conditions and in experimental settings that do not permit glycolysis and therefore force energy production through mitochondrial function. Respiratory parameters and clinical measures were correlated with bivariate analysis. Machine‐learning‐based classification and regression trees were used to classify patients on the basis of biochemical and clinical measures. The effects of mitochondrial respiration on α‐synuclein stress were assessed monitoring the protein phosphorylation in permitting versus restrictive glycolysis conditions. Results Bioenergetic properties in peripheral fibroblasts correlate with clinical measures in idiopathic patients, and the correlation is stronger with predominantly nondopaminergic signs. Bioenergetic analysis under metabolic stress, in which energy is produced solely by mitochondria, shows that patients’ fibroblasts can augment respiration, therefore indicating that mitochondrial defects are reversible. Forcing energy production through mitochondria, however, favors α‐synuclein stress in different cellular experimental systems. Machine‐learning‐based classification identified different groups of patients in which increasing disease severity parallels higher mitochondrial respiration. Conclusion The suppression of mitochondrial activity in PD may be an adaptive strategy to cope with concomitant pathogenic factors. Moreover, mitochondrial measures in fibroblasts are potential peripheral biomarkers to follow disease progression. © 2019 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Milanese
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - César Payán-Gómez
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marta Galvani
- Department of Mathematics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Nicolás Molano González
- Center for Autoimmune Diseases Research, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Maria Tresini
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Soraya Nait Abdellah
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Silvia Figini
- Political and Social Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Johan Marinus
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jacobus J van Hilten
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Pier G Mastroberardino
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
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24
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Stuitje G, van Belzen MJ, Gardiner SL, van Roon-Mom WMC, Boogaard MW, Tabrizi SJ, Roos RAC, Aziz NA. Age of onset in Huntington's disease is influenced by CAG repeat variations in other polyglutamine disease-associated genes. Brain 2019; 140:e42. [PMID: 28549075 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awx122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Geerte Stuitje
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Martine J van Belzen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah L Gardiner
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Merel W Boogaard
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, University College London Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Raymund A C Roos
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - N A Aziz
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, University College London Institute of Neurology, London, UK
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25
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Abstract
Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs) are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by degeneration of the cerebellum and its connections. All ADCAs have progressive ataxia as their main clinical feature, frequently accompanied by dysarthria and oculomotor deficits. The most common spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are 6 polyglutamine (polyQ) SCAs. These diseases are all caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the coding region of a gene. Currently, no curative treatment is available for any of the polyQ SCAs, but increasing knowledge on the genetics and the pathological mechanisms of these polyQ SCAs has provided promising therapeutic targets to potentially slow disease progression. Potential treatments can be divided into pharmacological and gene therapies that target the toxic downstream effects, gene therapies that target the polyQ SCA genes, and stem cell replacement therapies. Here, we will provide a review on the genetics, mechanisms, and therapeutic progress in polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Human Genetics, LUMC, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Lodewijk J A Toonen
- Department of Human Genetics, LUMC, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah L Gardiner
- Department of Human Genetics, LUMC, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, LUMC, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
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26
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Gardiner SL, Milanese C, Boogaard MW, Buijsen RAM, Hogenboom M, Roos RAC, Mastroberardino PG, van Roon-Mom WMC, Aziz NA. Bioenergetics in fibroblasts of patients with Huntington disease are associated with age at onset. Neurol Genet 2018; 4:e275. [PMID: 30338295 PMCID: PMC6186024 DOI: 10.1212/nxg.0000000000000275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Objective We aimed to assess whether differences in energy metabolism in fibroblast cell lines derived from patients with Huntington disease were associated with age at onset independent of the cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeat number in the mutant allele. Methods For this study, we selected 9 pairs of patients with Huntington disease matched for mutant CAG repeat size and sex, but with a difference of at least 10 years in age at onset, using the Leiden Huntington disease database. From skin biopsies, we isolated fibroblasts in which we (1) quantified the ATP concentration before and after a hydrogen-peroxide challenge and (2) measured mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis in real time, using the Seahorse XF Extracellular Flux Analyzer XF24. Results The ATP concentration in fibroblasts was significantly lower in patients with Huntington disease with an earlier age at onset, independent of calendar age and disease duration. Maximal respiration, spare capacity, and respiration dependent on complex II activity, and indices of mitochondrial respiration were significantly lower in patients with Huntington disease with an earlier age at onset, again independent of calendar age and disease duration. Conclusions A less efficient bioenergetics profile was found in fibroblast cells from patients with Huntington disease with an earlier age at onset independent of mutant CAG repeat size. Thus, differences in bioenergetics could explain part of the residual variation in age at onset in Huntington disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Gardiner
- Department of Neurology (S.L.G., M.H., R.A.C.R., N.A.A.), Department of Human Genetic (S.L.G., R.A.M.B., W.M.C.v.R.-M.), and Department of Clinical Genetics (M.W.B.), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden; Department of Molecular Genetics (C.M., P.G.M.), Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (N.A.A.), Bonn, Germany
| | - Chiara Milanese
- Department of Neurology (S.L.G., M.H., R.A.C.R., N.A.A.), Department of Human Genetic (S.L.G., R.A.M.B., W.M.C.v.R.-M.), and Department of Clinical Genetics (M.W.B.), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden; Department of Molecular Genetics (C.M., P.G.M.), Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (N.A.A.), Bonn, Germany
| | - Merel W Boogaard
- Department of Neurology (S.L.G., M.H., R.A.C.R., N.A.A.), Department of Human Genetic (S.L.G., R.A.M.B., W.M.C.v.R.-M.), and Department of Clinical Genetics (M.W.B.), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden; Department of Molecular Genetics (C.M., P.G.M.), Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (N.A.A.), Bonn, Germany
| | - Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Neurology (S.L.G., M.H., R.A.C.R., N.A.A.), Department of Human Genetic (S.L.G., R.A.M.B., W.M.C.v.R.-M.), and Department of Clinical Genetics (M.W.B.), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden; Department of Molecular Genetics (C.M., P.G.M.), Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (N.A.A.), Bonn, Germany
| | - Marye Hogenboom
- Department of Neurology (S.L.G., M.H., R.A.C.R., N.A.A.), Department of Human Genetic (S.L.G., R.A.M.B., W.M.C.v.R.-M.), and Department of Clinical Genetics (M.W.B.), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden; Department of Molecular Genetics (C.M., P.G.M.), Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (N.A.A.), Bonn, Germany
| | - Raymund A C Roos
- Department of Neurology (S.L.G., M.H., R.A.C.R., N.A.A.), Department of Human Genetic (S.L.G., R.A.M.B., W.M.C.v.R.-M.), and Department of Clinical Genetics (M.W.B.), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden; Department of Molecular Genetics (C.M., P.G.M.), Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (N.A.A.), Bonn, Germany
| | - Pier G Mastroberardino
- Department of Neurology (S.L.G., M.H., R.A.C.R., N.A.A.), Department of Human Genetic (S.L.G., R.A.M.B., W.M.C.v.R.-M.), and Department of Clinical Genetics (M.W.B.), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden; Department of Molecular Genetics (C.M., P.G.M.), Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (N.A.A.), Bonn, Germany
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Neurology (S.L.G., M.H., R.A.C.R., N.A.A.), Department of Human Genetic (S.L.G., R.A.M.B., W.M.C.v.R.-M.), and Department of Clinical Genetics (M.W.B.), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden; Department of Molecular Genetics (C.M., P.G.M.), Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (N.A.A.), Bonn, Germany
| | - N Ahmad Aziz
- Department of Neurology (S.L.G., M.H., R.A.C.R., N.A.A.), Department of Human Genetic (S.L.G., R.A.M.B., W.M.C.v.R.-M.), and Department of Clinical Genetics (M.W.B.), Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden; Department of Molecular Genetics (C.M., P.G.M.), Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (N.A.A.), Bonn, Germany
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27
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Toonen LJA, Overzier M, Evers MM, Leon LG, van der Zeeuw SAJ, Mei H, Kielbasa SM, Goeman JJ, Hettne KM, Magnusson OT, Poirel M, Seyer A, 't Hoen PAC, van Roon-Mom WMC. Transcriptional profiling and biomarker identification reveal tissue specific effects of expanded ataxin-3 in a spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 mouse model. Mol Neurodegener 2018; 13:31. [PMID: 29929540 PMCID: PMC6013885 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-018-0261-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [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: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of the polyglutamine repeat in the ataxin-3 protein. Expression of mutant ataxin-3 is known to result in transcriptional dysregulation, which can contribute to the cellular toxicity and neurodegeneration. Since the exact causative mechanisms underlying this process have not been fully elucidated, gene expression analyses in brains of transgenic SCA3 mouse models may provide useful insights. Methods Here we characterised the MJD84.2 SCA3 mouse model expressing the mutant human ataxin-3 gene using a multi-omics approach on brain and blood. Gene expression changes in brainstem, cerebellum, striatum and cortex were used to study pathological changes in brain, while blood gene expression and metabolites/lipids levels were examined as potential biomarkers for disease. Results Despite normal motor performance at 17.5 months of age, transcriptional changes in brain tissue of the SCA3 mice were observed. Most transcriptional changes occurred in brainstem and striatum, whilst cerebellum and cortex were only modestly affected. The most significantly altered genes in SCA3 mouse brain were Tmc3, Zfp488, Car2, and Chdh. Based on the transcriptional changes, α-adrenergic and CREB pathways were most consistently altered for combined analysis of the four brain regions. When examining individual brain regions, axon guidance and synaptic transmission pathways were most strongly altered in striatum, whilst brainstem presented with strongest alterations in the pi-3 k cascade and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways. Similar to other neurodegenerative diseases, reduced levels of tryptophan and increased levels of ceramides, di- and triglycerides were observed in SCA3 mouse blood. Conclusions The observed transcriptional changes in SCA3 mouse brain reveal parallels with previous reported neuropathology in patients, but also shows brain region specific effects as well as involvement of adrenergic signalling and CREB pathway changes in SCA3. Importantly, the transcriptional changes occur prior to onset of motor- and coordination deficits. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13024-018-0261-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lodewijk J A Toonen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maurice Overzier
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Melvin M Evers
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leticia G Leon
- Cancer Pharmacology Lab, University of Pisa, Ospedale di Cisanello, Edificio 6 via Paradisa, 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sander A J van der Zeeuw
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Szymon M Kielbasa
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle J Goeman
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kristina M Hettne
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Peter A C 't Hoen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Centre for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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28
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Grand Moursel L, van Roon-Mom WMC, Kiełbasa SM, Mei H, Buermans HPJ, van der Graaf LM, Hettne KM, de Meijer EJ, van Duinen SG, Laros JFJ, van Buchem MA, 't Hoen PAC, van der Maarel SM, van der Weerd L. Brain Transcriptomic Analysis of Hereditary Cerebral Hemorrhage With Amyloidosis-Dutch Type. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:102. [PMID: 29706885 PMCID: PMC5908973 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis-Dutch type (HCHWA-D) is an early onset hereditary form of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) caused by a point mutation resulting in an amino acid change (NP_000475.1:p.Glu693Gln) in the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Post-mortem frontal and occipital cortical brain tissue from nine patients and nine age-related controls was used for RNA sequencing to identify biological pathways affected in HCHWA-D. Although previous studies indicated that pathology is more severe in the occipital lobe in HCHWA-D compared to the frontal lobe, the current study showed similar changes in gene expression in frontal and occipital cortex and the two brain regions were pooled for further analysis. Significantly altered pathways were analyzed using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) on 2036 significantly differentially expressed genes. Main pathways over-represented by down-regulated genes were related to cellular aerobic respiration (including ATP synthesis and carbon metabolism) indicating a mitochondrial dysfunction. Principal up-regulated pathways were extracellular matrix (ECM)–receptor interaction and ECM proteoglycans in relation with an increase in the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling pathway. Comparison with the publicly available dataset from pre-symptomatic APP-E693Q transgenic mice identified overlap for the ECM–receptor interaction pathway, indicating that ECM modification is an early disease specific pathomechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laure Grand Moursel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Szymon M Kiełbasa
- Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Henk P J Buermans
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Linda M van der Graaf
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Kristina M Hettne
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Emile J de Meijer
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd G van Duinen
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jeroen F J Laros
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Mark A van Buchem
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Peter A C 't Hoen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Louise van der Weerd
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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29
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Buijsen RAM, Gardiner SL, Bouma MJ, van der Graaf LM, Boogaard MW, Pepers BA, Eussen B, de Klein A, Freund C, van Roon-Mom WMC. Generation of 3 spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell lines LUMCi002-A, B, and C and 2 unaffected sibling control induced pluripotent stem cell lines LUMCi003-A and B. Stem Cell Res 2018; 29:125-128. [PMID: 29656178 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2018.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG repeat expansion in exon 8 of the ATXN1 gene. We generated induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from a SCA1 patient and his non-affected sister by using non-integrating Sendai Viruses (SeV). The resulting hiPSCs are SeVfree, express pluripotency markers, display a normal karyotype, retain the mutation (length of the CAG repeat expansion in the ATXN1 gene) and are able to differentiate into the three germ layers in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah L Gardiner
- Department of Human Genetics, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marga J Bouma
- LUMC hiPSC Core Facility, Department of Anatomy and Embryology, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Barry A Pepers
- Department of Human Genetics, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bert Eussen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annelies de Klein
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Christian Freund
- LUMC hiPSC Core Facility, Department of Anatomy and Embryology, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands
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30
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Toonen LJA, Casaca-Carreira J, Pellisé-Tintoré M, Mei H, Temel Y, Jahanshahi A, van Roon-Mom WMC. Intracerebroventricular Administration of a 2'-O-Methyl Phosphorothioate Antisense Oligonucleotide Results in Activation of the Innate Immune System in Mouse Brain. Nucleic Acid Ther 2018; 28:63-73. [PMID: 29565739 PMCID: PMC5899290 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2017.0705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) are versatile molecules that can be used to modulate gene expression by binding to RNA. The therapeutic potential of AONs appears particularly high in the central nervous system, due to excellent distribution and uptake in brain cells, as well as good tolerability in clinical trials thus far. Nonetheless, immune stimulation in response to AON treatment in the brain remains a concern. For this reason we performed RNA sequencing analysis of brain tissue from mice treated intracerebroventricularly with phosphorothioate, 2′-O-methyl modified AONs. A significant upregulation of immune system associated genes was observed in brains of AON treated mice, with the striatum showing largest transcriptional changes. Strongest upregulation was seen for the antiviral enzyme 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthase-like protein 2 (Oasl2) and Bone marrow stromal antigen 2 (Bst2). Histological analysis confirmed activation of microglia and astrocytes in striatum. The upregulation of immune system associated genes was detectable for at least 2 months after the last AON administration, consistent with a continuous immune response to the AON.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lodewijk J A Toonen
- 1 Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - João Casaca-Carreira
- 2 Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center , Maastricht, the Netherlands .,3 European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON) , Maastricht, the Netherlands .,4 Department of Physiotherapy, Portuguese Red Cross Health School , Lisbon, Portugal .,5 Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health Care , Setubal Polytechnic Institute, Setubal, Portugal
| | - Maria Pellisé-Tintoré
- 2 Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center , Maastricht, the Netherlands .,6 Department of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Girona (UdG) , Girona, Spain
| | - Hailiang Mei
- 7 Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Yasin Temel
- 2 Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center , Maastricht, the Netherlands .,3 European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON) , Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Ali Jahanshahi
- 2 Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center , Maastricht, the Netherlands .,3 European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON) , Maastricht, the Netherlands
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31
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van Roon-Mom WMC, Roos RAC, de Bot ST. Dose-Dependent Lowering of Mutant Huntingtin Using Antisense Oligonucleotides in Huntington Disease Patients. Nucleic Acid Ther 2018; 28:59-62. [PMID: 29620999 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2018.0720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
On December 11 of 2017, Ionis Pharmaceuticals published a press release announcing dose-dependent reductions of mutant huntingtin protein in their HTTRx Phase 1/2a study in Huntington disease (HD) patients. The results from this Ionis trial have gained much attention from the patient community and the oligonucleotide therapeutics field, since it is the first trial targeting the cause of HD, namely the mutant huntingtin protein, using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). The press release also states that the primary endpoints of the study (safety and tolerability) were met, but does not contain data. This news follows the approval of another therapeutic ASO nusinersen (trade name Spinraza) for a neurological disease, spinal muscular atrophy, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency, in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Combined, this offers hope for the development of the HTTRx therapy for HD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raymund A C Roos
- 2 Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Susanne T de Bot
- 2 Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden, the Netherlands
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32
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Keo A, Aziz NA, Dzyubachyk O, van der Grond J, van Roon-Mom WMC, Lelieveldt BPF, Reinders MJT, Mahfouz A. Co-expression Patterns between ATN1 and ATXN2 Coincide with Brain Regions Affected in Huntington's Disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:399. [PMID: 29249939 PMCID: PMC5714896 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [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: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeat expansions in the coding regions of nine polyglutamine (polyQ) genes (HTT, ATXN1, ATXN2, ATXN3, CACNA1A, ATXN7, ATN1, AR, and TBP) are the cause of several neurodegenerative diseases including Huntington’s disease (HD), six different spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy, and spinobulbar muscular atrophy. The expanded CAG repeat length in the causative gene is negatively related to the age-at-onset (AAO) of clinical symptoms. In addition to the expanded CAG repeat length in the causative gene, the normal CAG repeats in the other polyQ genes can affect the AAO, suggesting functional interactions between the polyQ genes. However, there is no detailed assessment of the relationships among polyQ genes in pathologically relevant brain regions. We used gene co-expression analysis to study the functional relationships among polyQ genes in different brain regions using the Allen Human Brain Atlas (AHBA), a spatial map of gene expression in the healthy brain. We constructed co-expression networks for seven anatomical brain structures, as well as a region showing a specific pattern of atrophy in HD patients detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. In this HD-associated region, we found that ATN1 and ATXN2 were co-expressed and shared co-expression partners which were enriched for DNA repair genes. We observed a similar co-expression pattern in the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and striatum in which this relation was most pronounced. Given that the co-expression patterns for these anatomical structures were similar to those for the HD-associated region, our results suggest that their disruption is likely involved in HD pathology. Moreover, ATN1 and ATXN2 also shared many co-expressed genes with HTT, the causative gene of HD, across the brain. Although this triangular relationship among these three polyQ genes may also be dysregulated in other polyQ diseases, stronger co-expression patterns between ATN1 and ATXN2 observed in the HD-associated region, especially in the striatum, may be more specific to HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlin Keo
- Computational Biology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Delft Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Intelligent Systems, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
| | - N Ahmad Aziz
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Oleh Dzyubachyk
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Boudewijn P F Lelieveldt
- Computational Biology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Delft Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Intelligent Systems, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands.,Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marcel J T Reinders
- Computational Biology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Delft Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Intelligent Systems, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Ahmed Mahfouz
- Computational Biology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Delft Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Intelligent Systems, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
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Maiuri T, Mocle AJ, Hung CL, Xia J, van Roon-Mom WMC, Truant R. Huntingtin is a scaffolding protein in the ATM oxidative DNA damage response complex. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:395-406. [PMID: 28017939 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [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: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an age-dependent neurodegenerative disease. DNA repair pathways have recently been implicated as the most predominant modifiers of age of onset in HD patients. We report that endogenous huntingtin protein directly participates in oxidative DNA damage repair. Using novel chromobodies to detect endogenous human huntingtin in live cells, we show that localization of huntingtin to DNA damage sites is dependent on the kinase activity of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein. Super-resolution microscopy and biochemical assays revealed that huntingtin co-localizes with and scaffolds proteins of the DNA damage response pathway in response to oxidative stress. In HD patient fibroblasts bearing typical clinical HD allele lengths, we demonstrate that there is deficient oxidative DNA damage repair. We propose that DNA damage in HD is caused by dysfunction of the mutant huntingtin protein in DNA repair, and accumulation of DNA oxidative lesions due to elevated reactive oxygen species may contribute to the onset of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Maiuri
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Research, McMaster University, HSC 4N54, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Canada L8N3Z5
| | - Andrew J Mocle
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Research, McMaster University, HSC 4N54, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Canada L8N3Z5
| | - Claudia L Hung
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Research, McMaster University, HSC 4N54, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Canada L8N3Z5
| | - Jianrun Xia
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Research, McMaster University, HSC 4N54, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Canada L8N3Z5
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Postzone S4-0P, P.O. Box 9600 2300RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ray Truant
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Research, McMaster University, HSC 4N54, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Canada L8N3Z5
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Toonen LJA, Rigo F, van Attikum H, van Roon-Mom WMC. Antisense Oligonucleotide-Mediated Removal of the Polyglutamine Repeat in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 Mice. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2017; 8:232-242. [PMID: 28918024 PMCID: PMC5504086 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2017.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a currently incurable neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG triplet expansion in exon 10 of the ATXN3 gene. The resultant expanded polyglutamine stretch in the mutant ataxin-3 protein causes a gain of toxic function, which eventually leads to neurodegeneration. One important function of ataxin-3 is its involvement in the proteasomal protein degradation pathway, and long-term downregulation of the protein may therefore not be desirable. In the current study, we made use of antisense oligonucleotides to mask predicted exonic splicing signals, resulting in exon 10 skipping from ATXN3 pre-mRNA. This led to formation of a truncated ataxin-3 protein lacking the toxic polyglutamine expansion, but retaining its ubiquitin binding and cleavage function. Repeated intracerebroventricular injections of the antisense oligonucleotides in a SCA3 mouse model led to exon skipping and formation of the modified ataxin-3 protein throughout the mouse brain. Exon skipping was long lasting, with the modified protein being detectable for at least 2.5 months after antisense oligonucleotide injection. A reduction in insoluble ataxin-3 and nuclear accumulation was observed following antisense oligonucleotide treatment, indicating a beneficial effect on pathogenicity. Together, these data suggest that exon 10 skipping is a promising therapeutic approach for SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lodewijk J A Toonen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA
| | - Haico van Attikum
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333ZA Leiden, the Netherlands.
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35
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Grand Moursel L, Munting LP, van der Graaf LM, van Duinen SG, Goumans MJTH, Ueberham U, Natté R, van Buchem MA, van Roon-Mom WMC, van der Weerd L. TGFβ pathway deregulation and abnormal phospho-SMAD2/3 staining in hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis-Dutch type. Brain Pathol 2017; 28:495-506. [PMID: 28557134 PMCID: PMC8028662 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [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: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis‐Dutch type (HCHWA‐D) is an early onset hereditary form of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) pathology, caused by the E22Q mutation in the amyloid β (Aβ) peptide. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) is a key player in vascular fibrosis and in the formation of angiopathic vessels in transgenic mice. Therefore, we investigated whether the TGFβ pathway is involved in HCHWA‐D pathogenesis in human postmortem brain tissue from frontal and occipital lobes. Components of the TGFβ pathway were analyzed with quantitative RT‐PCR. TGFβ1 and TGFβ Receptor 2 (TGFBR2) gene expression levels were significantly increased in HCHWA‐D in comparison to the controls, in both frontal and occipital lobes. TGFβ‐induced pro‐fibrotic target genes were also upregulated. We further assessed pathway activation by detecting phospho‐SMAD2/3 (pSMAD2/3), a direct TGFβ down‐stream signaling mediator, using immunohistochemistry. We found abnormal pSMAD2/3 granular deposits specifically on HCHWA‐D angiopathic frontal and occipital vessels. We graded pSMAD2/3 accumulation in angiopathic vessels and found a positive correlation with the CAA load independent of the brain area. We also observed pSMAD2/3 granules in a halo surrounding occipital vessels, which was specific for HCHWA‐D. The result of this study indicates an upregulation of TGFβ1 in HCHWA‐D, as was found previously in AD with CAA pathology. We discuss the possible origins and implications of the TGFβ pathway deregulation in the microvasculature in HCHWA‐D. These findings identify the TGFβ pathway as a potential biomarker of disease progression and a possible target of therapeutic intervention in HCHWA‐D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laure Grand Moursel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Leon P Munting
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Linda M van der Graaf
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd G van Duinen
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marie-Jose T H Goumans
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Uwe Ueberham
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Remco Natté
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Mark A van Buchem
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Louise van der Weerd
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Schut MH, Patassini S, Kim EH, Bullock J, Waldvogel HJ, Faull RLM, Pepers BA, den Dunnen JT, van Ommen GJB, van Roon-Mom WMC. Effect of post-mortem delay on N-terminal huntingtin protein fragments in human control and Huntington disease brain lysates. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178556. [PMID: 28570578 PMCID: PMC5453542 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease is associated with elongation of a CAG repeat in the HTT gene that results in a mutant huntingtin protein. Several studies have implicated N-terminal huntingtin protein fragments in Huntington disease pathogenesis. Ideally, these fragments are studied in human brain tissue. However, the use of human brain tissue comes with certain unavoidable variables such as post mortem delay, artefacts from freeze-thaw cycles and subject-to-subject variation. Knowledge on how these variables might affect N-terminal huntingtin protein fragments in post mortem human brain is important for a proper interpretation of study results. The effect of post mortem delay on protein in human brain is known to vary depending on the protein of interest. In the present study, we have assessed the effect of post mortem delay on N-terminal huntingtin protein fragments using western blot. We mimicked post mortem delay in one individual control case and one individual Huntington disease case with low initial post mortem delay. The influence of subject-to-subject variation on N-terminal huntingtin fragments was assessed in human cortex and human striatum using two cohorts of control and Huntington disease subjects. Our results show that effects of post mortem delay on N-terminal huntingtin protein fragments are minor in our individual subjects. Additionally, one freeze-thaw cycle decreases the huntingtin western blot signal intensity in the cortex control subject, but does not introduce additional N-terminal huntingtin fragments. Our results suggest that subject-to-subject variation contributes more to variability in N-terminal huntingtin fragments than post mortem delay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menno H. Schut
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Stefano Patassini
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Eric H. Kim
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jocelyn Bullock
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Henry J. Waldvogel
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard L. M. Faull
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Barry A. Pepers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Johan T. den Dunnen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Leiden Genome Technology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gert-Jan B. van Ommen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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van Hagen M, Piebes DGE, de Leeuw WC, Vuist IM, van Roon-Mom WMC, Moerland PD, Verschure PJ. The dynamics of early-state transcriptional changes and aggregate formation in a Huntington's disease cell model. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:373. [PMID: 28499347 PMCID: PMC5429582 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3745-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [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: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG expansion in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. Proteolytic cleavage of mutant huntingtin (Htt) protein with an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) stretch results in production of Htt fragments that aggregate and induce impaired ubiquitin proteasome, mitochondrial functioning and transcriptional dysregulation. To understand the time-resolved relationship between aggregate formation and transcriptional changes at early disease stages, we performed temporal transcriptome profiling and quantification of aggregate formation in living cells in an inducible HD cell model. Results Rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells containing a stably integrated, doxycycline-inducible, eGFP-tagged N-terminal human Htt fragment with an expanded polyQ domain were used to analyse gene expression changes at different stages of mutant Htt aggregation. At earliest time points after doxycycline induction no detectable aggregates and few changes in gene expression were observed. Aggregates started to appear at intermediate time points. Aggregate formation and subsequent enlargement of aggregates coincided with a rapid increase in the number of differentially expressed (DE) genes. The increase in number of large aggregates coincided with a decrease in the number of smaller aggregates whereas the transcription profile reverted towards the profile observed before mutant Htt induction. Cluster-based analysis of the 2,176 differentially expressed genes revealed fourteen distinct clusters responding differently over time. Functional enrichment analysis of the two major gene clusters revealed that genes in the up-regulated cluster were mainly involved in metabolic (antioxidant activity and cellular ketone metabolic processes) and genes in the down-regulated cluster in developmental processes, respectively. Promoter-based analysis of the identified gene clusters resulted in identification of a transcription factor network of which several previously have been linked to HD. Conclusions We demonstrate a time-resolved relationship between Htt aggregation and changes in the transcriptional profile. We identified two major gene clusters showing involvement of (i) mitochondrial dysfunction and (ii) developmental processes implying cellular homeostasis defects. We identified novel and known HD-linked transcription factors and show their interaction with known and predicted regulatory proteins. Our data provide a novel resource for hypothesis building on the role of transcriptional key regulators in early stages of HD and possibly other polyQ-dependent diseases. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3745-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn van Hagen
- Synthetic, Systems Biology and Nuclear Organization, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Diewertje G E Piebes
- Synthetic, Systems Biology and Nuclear Organization, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wim C de Leeuw
- MicroArray Department, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ilona M Vuist
- Synthetic, Systems Biology and Nuclear Organization, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Perry D Moerland
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pernette J Verschure
- Synthetic, Systems Biology and Nuclear Organization, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Hensman Moss DJ, Flower MD, Lo KK, Miller JRC, van Ommen GJB, ’t Hoen PAC, Stone TC, Guinee A, Langbehn DR, Jones L, Plagnol V, van Roon-Mom WMC, Holmans P, Tabrizi SJ. Huntington's disease blood and brain show a common gene expression pattern and share an immune signature with Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2017; 7:44849. [PMID: 28322270 PMCID: PMC5359597 DOI: 10.1038/srep44849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
There is widespread transcriptional dysregulation in Huntington's disease (HD) brain, but analysis is inevitably limited by advanced disease and postmortem changes. However, mutant HTT is ubiquitously expressed and acts systemically, meaning blood, which is readily available and contains cells that are dysfunctional in HD, could act as a surrogate for brain tissue. We conducted an RNA-Seq transcriptomic analysis using whole blood from two HD cohorts, and performed gene set enrichment analysis using public databases and weighted correlation network analysis modules from HD and control brain datasets. We identified dysregulated gene sets in blood that replicated in the independent cohorts, correlated with disease severity, corresponded to the most significantly dysregulated modules in the HD caudate, the most prominently affected brain region, and significantly overlapped with the transcriptional signature of HD myeloid cells. High-throughput sequencing technologies and use of gene sets likely surmounted the limitations of previously inconsistent HD blood expression studies. Our results suggest transcription is disrupted in peripheral cells in HD through mechanisms that parallel those in brain. Immune upregulation in HD overlapped with Alzheimer's disease, suggesting a common pathogenic mechanism involving macrophage phagocytosis and microglial synaptic pruning, and raises the potential for shared therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davina J. Hensman Moss
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Institute of Neurology, London, WC1B 5EH, UK
| | - Michael D. Flower
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Institute of Neurology, London, WC1B 5EH, UK
| | - Kitty K. Lo
- University College London Genetics Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - James R. C. Miller
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Institute of Neurology, London, WC1B 5EH, UK
| | - Gert-Jan B. van Ommen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Postzone S-4-P, The Netherlands
| | - Peter A. C. ’t Hoen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Postzone S-4-P, The Netherlands
| | - Timothy C. Stone
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Amelia Guinee
- Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, CB2 8PQ, Cambridge UK
| | - Douglas R. Langbehn
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biostatistics, University of Iowa, IA 52242, USA
| | - Lesley Jones
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Vincent Plagnol
- University College London Genetics Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | | | - Peter Holmans
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Sarah J. Tabrizi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Institute of Neurology, London, WC1B 5EH, UK
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Evers MM, Schut MH, Pepers BA, Atalar M, van Belzen MJ, Faull RL, Roos RA, van Roon-Mom WMC. Making (anti-) sense out of huntingtin levels in Huntington disease. Mol Neurodegener 2015; 10:21. [PMID: 25928884 PMCID: PMC4411791 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-015-0018-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by motor, psychiatric and cognitive symptoms. HD is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the first exon of the HTT gene, resulting in an expanded polyglutamine tract at the N-terminus of the huntingtin protein. Typical disease onset is around mid-life (adult-onset HD) whereas onset below 21 years is classified as juvenile HD. While much research has been done on the underlying HD disease mechanisms, little is known about regulation and expression levels of huntingtin RNA and protein. Results In this study we used 15 human post-mortem HD brain samples to investigate the expression of wild-type and mutant huntingtin mRNA and protein. In adult-onset HD brain samples, there was a small but significantly lower expression of mutant huntingtin mRNA compared to wild-type huntingtin mRNA, while wild-type and mutant huntingtin protein expression levels did not differ significantly. Juvenile HD subjects did show a lower expression of mutant huntingtin protein compared to wild-type huntingtin protein. Our results in HD brain and fibroblasts suggest that protein aggregation does not affect levels of huntingtin RNA and protein. Additionally, we did not find any evidence for a reduced expression of huntingtin antisense in fibroblasts derived from a homozygous HD patient. Conclusions We found small differences in allelic huntingtin mRNA levels in adult-onset HD brain, with significantly lower mutant huntingtin mRNA levels. Wild-type and mutant huntingtin protein were not significantly different in adult-onset HD brain samples. Conversely, in juvenile HD brain samples mutant huntingtin protein levels were lower compared with wild-type huntingtin, showing subtle differences between juvenile HD and adult-onset HD. Since most HD model systems harbor juvenile repeat expansions, our results suggest caution with the interpretation of huntingtin mRNA and protein studies using HD cell and animal models with such long repeats. Furthermore, our huntingtin antisense results in homozygous HD cells do not support reduced huntingtin antisense expression due to an expanded CAG repeat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin M Evers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, Leiden, 2333, ZA, the Netherlands.
| | - Menno H Schut
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, Leiden, 2333, ZA, the Netherlands.
| | - Barry A Pepers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, Leiden, 2333, ZA, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Martine J van Belzen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Richard Lm Faull
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Raymund Ac Roos
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, Leiden, 2333, ZA, the Netherlands.
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Schut MH, Pepers BA, Klooster R, van der Maarel SM, El Khatabi M, Verrips T, den Dunnen JT, van Ommen GJB, van Roon-Mom WMC. Selection and characterization of llama single domain antibodies against N-terminal huntingtin. Neurol Sci 2014; 36:429-34. [PMID: 25294428 PMCID: PMC4341019 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-014-1971-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Huntington disease is caused by expansion of a CAG repeat in the huntingtin gene that is translated into an elongated polyglutamine stretch within the N-terminal domain of the huntingtin protein. The mutation is thought to introduce a gain-of-toxic function in the mutant huntingtin protein, and blocking this toxicity by antibody binding could alleviate Huntington disease pathology. Llama single domain antibodies (VHH) directed against mutant huntingtin are interesting candidates as therapeutic agents or research tools in Huntington disease because of their small size, high thermostability, low cost of production, possibility of intracellular expression, and potency of blood-brain barrier passage. We have selected VHH from llama phage display libraries that specifically target the N-terminal domain of the huntingtin protein. Our VHH are capable of binding wild-type and mutant human huntingtin under native and denatured conditions and can be used in Huntington disease studies as a novel antibody that is easy to produce and manipulate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menno H Schut
- Department of Human Genetics, Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Evers MM, Toonen LJA, van Roon-Mom WMC. Ataxin-3 protein and RNA toxicity in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3: current insights and emerging therapeutic strategies. Mol Neurobiol 2014; 49:1513-31. [PMID: 24293103 PMCID: PMC4012159 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-013-8596-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Ataxin-3 is a ubiquitously expressed deubiqutinating enzyme with important functions in the proteasomal protein degradation pathway and regulation of transcription. The C-terminus of the ataxin-3 protein contains a polyglutamine (PolyQ) region that, when mutationally expanded to over 52 glutamines, causes the neurodegenerative disease spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3). In spite of extensive research, the molecular mechanisms underlying the cellular toxicity resulting from mutant ataxin-3 remain elusive and no preventive treatment is currently available. It has become clear over the last decade that the hallmark intracellular ataxin-3 aggregates are likely not the main toxic entity in SCA3. Instead, the soluble PolyQ containing fragments arising from proteolytic cleavage of ataxin-3 by caspases and calpains are now regarded to be of greater influence in pathogenesis. In addition, recent evidence suggests potential involvement of a RNA toxicity component in SCA3 and other PolyQ expansion disorders, increasing the pathogenic complexity. Herein, we review the functioning of ataxin-3 and the involvement of known protein and RNA toxicity mechanisms of mutant ataxin-3 that have been discovered, as well as future opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin M. Evers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lodewijk J. A. Toonen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke M. C. van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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Evers MM, Tran HD, Zalachoras I, Meijer OC, den Dunnen JT, van Ommen GJB, Aartsma-Rus A, van Roon-Mom WMC. Preventing formation of toxic N-terminal huntingtin fragments through antisense oligonucleotide-mediated protein modification. Nucleic Acid Ther 2013; 24:4-12. [PMID: 24380395 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2013.0452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive autosomal dominant disorder, caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene, which results in expansion of a polyglutamine stretch at the N-terminal end of the huntingtin protein. Several studies have implicated the importance of proteolytic cleavage of mutant huntingtin in HD pathogenesis and it is generally accepted that N-terminal huntingtin fragments are more toxic than full-length protein. Important cleavage sites are encoded by exon 12 of HTT. Here we report proof of concept using antisense oligonucleotides to induce skipping of exon 12 in huntingtin pre-mRNA, thereby preventing the formation of a 586 amino acid N-terminal huntingtin fragment implicated in HD toxicity. In vitro studies showed successful exon skipping and appearance of a shorter huntingtin protein. Cleavage assays showed reduced 586 amino acid N-terminal huntingtin fragments in the treated samples. In vivo studies revealed exon skipping after a single injection of antisense oligonucleotides in the mouse striatum. Recent advances to inhibit the formation of mutant huntingtin using oligonucleotides seem promising therapeutic strategies for HD. Nevertheless, huntingtin is an essential protein and total removal has been shown to result in progressive neurodegeneration in vivo. Our proof of concept shows a completely novel approach to reduce mutant huntingtin toxicity not by reducing its expressing levels, but by modifying the huntingtin protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin M Evers
- 1 Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center , The Netherlands
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Evers MM, Tran HD, Zalachoras I, Pepers BA, Meijer OC, den Dunnen JT, van Ommen GJB, Aartsma-Rus A, van Roon-Mom WMC. Ataxin-3 protein modification as a treatment strategy for spinocerebellar ataxia type 3: removal of the CAG containing exon. Neurobiol Dis 2013; 58:49-56. [PMID: 23659897 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2013.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [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: 03/01/2013] [Revised: 04/17/2013] [Accepted: 04/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 is caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the ataxin-3 protein, resulting in gain of toxic function of the mutant protein. The expanded glutamine stretch in the protein is the result of a CAG triplet repeat expansion in the penultimate exon of the ATXN3 gene. Several gene silencing approaches to reduce mutant ataxin-3 toxicity in this disease aim to lower ataxin-3 protein levels, but since this protein is involved in deubiquitination and proteasomal protein degradation, its long-term silencing might not be desirable. Here, we propose a novel protein modification approach to reduce mutant ataxin-3 toxicity by removing the toxic polyglutamine repeat from the ataxin-3 protein through antisense oligonucleotide-mediated exon skipping while maintaining important wild type functions of the protein. In vitro studies showed that exon skipping did not negatively impact the ubiquitin binding capacity of ataxin-3. Our in vivo studies showed no toxic properties of the novel truncated ataxin-3 protein. These results suggest that exon skipping may be a novel therapeutic approach to reduce polyglutamine-induced toxicity in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin M Evers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
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Zalachoras I, Grootaers G, van Weert LTCM, Aubert Y, de Kreij SR, Datson NA, van Roon-Mom WMC, Aartsma-Rus A, Meijer OC. Antisense-mediated isoform switching of steroid receptor coactivator-1 in the central nucleus of the amygdala of the mouse brain. BMC Neurosci 2013; 14:5. [PMID: 23294837 PMCID: PMC3551673 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-14-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Antisense oligonucleotide (AON)-mediated exon skipping is a powerful tool to manipulate gene expression. In the present study we investigated the potential of exon skipping by local injection in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) of the mouse brain. As proof of principle we targeted the splicing of steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1), a protein involved in nuclear receptor function. This nuclear receptor coregulator exists in two splice variants (SRC-1a and SRC-1e) which display differential distribution and opposing activities in the brain, and whose mRNAs differ in a single SRC-1e specific exon. Methods For proof of principle of feasibility, we used immunofluorescent stainings to study uptake by different cell types, translocation to the nucleus and potential immunostimulatory effects at different time points after a local injection in the CeA of the mouse brain of a control AON targeting human dystrophin with no targets in the murine brain. To evaluate efficacy we designed an AON targeting the SRC-1e-specific exon and with qPCR analysis we measured the expression ratio of the two splice variants. Results We found that AONs were taken up by corticotropin releasing hormone expressing neurons and other cells in the CeA, and translocated into the cell nucleus. Immune responses after AON injection were comparable to those after sterile saline injection. A successful shift of the naturally occurring SRC-1a:SRC-1e expression ratio in favor of SRC-1a was observed, without changes in total SRC-1 expression. Conclusions We provide a proof of concept for local neuropharmacological use of exon skipping by manipulating the expression ratio of the two splice variants of SRC-1, which may be used to study nuclear receptor function in specific brain circuits. We established that exon skipping after local injection in the brain is a versatile and useful tool for the manipulation of splice variants for numerous genes that are relevant for brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Zalachoras
- Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden University/Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Ivliev AE, 't Hoen PAC, van Roon-Mom WMC, Peters DJM, Sergeeva MG. Exploring the transcriptome of ciliated cells using in silico dissection of human tissues. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35618. [PMID: 22558177 PMCID: PMC3338421 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2011] [Accepted: 03/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cilia are cell organelles that play important roles in cell motility, sensory and developmental functions and are involved in a range of human diseases, known as ciliopathies. Here, we search for novel human genes related to cilia using a strategy that exploits the previously reported tendency of cell type-specific genes to be coexpressed in the transcriptome of complex tissues. Gene coexpression networks were constructed using the noise-resistant WGCNA algorithm in 12 publicly available microarray datasets from human tissues rich in motile cilia: airways, fallopian tubes and brain. A cilia-related coexpression module was detected in 10 out of the 12 datasets. A consensus analysis of this module's gene composition recapitulated 297 known and predicted 74 novel cilia-related genes. 82% of the novel candidates were supported by tissue-specificity expression data from GEO and/or proteomic data from the Human Protein Atlas. The novel findings included a set of genes (DCDC2, DYX1C1, KIAA0319) related to a neurological disease dyslexia suggesting their potential involvement in ciliary functions. Furthermore, we searched for differences in gene composition of the ciliary module between the tissues. A multidrug-and-toxin extrusion transporter MATE2 (SLC47A2) was found as a brain-specific central gene in the ciliary module. We confirm the localization of MATE2 in cilia by immunofluorescence staining using MDCK cells as a model. While MATE2 has previously gained attention as a pharmacologically relevant transporter, its potential relation to cilia is suggested for the first time. Taken together, our large-scale analysis of gene coexpression networks identifies novel genes related to human cell cilia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander E. Ivliev
- A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Peter A. C. 't Hoen
- Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Dorien J. M. Peters
- Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marina G. Sergeeva
- A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- * E-mail: .
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Aziz NA, van Roon-Mom WMC, Roos RAC. CAG repeat size in the normal HTT allele and age of onset in Huntington's disease. Mov Disord 2012; 26:2450-1; author reply 2451. [PMID: 22109852 DOI: 10.1002/mds.23849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Dumas EM, Versluis MJ, van den Bogaard SJA, van Osch MJP, Hart EP, van Roon-Mom WMC, van Buchem MA, Webb AG, van der Grond J, Roos RAC. Elevated brain iron is independent from atrophy in Huntington's Disease. Neuroimage 2012; 61:558-64. [PMID: 22480728 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.03.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2011] [Revised: 03/12/2012] [Accepted: 03/19/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased iron in subcortical structures in patients with Huntington's Disease (HD) has been suggested as a causal factor of neuronal degeneration. The present study examines iron accumulation, measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in premanifest gene carriers and in early HD patients as compared to healthy controls. In total 27 early HD patients, 22 premanifest gene carriers and 25 healthy controls, from the Leiden site of the TRACK-HD study, underwent 3T MRI including high resolution 3D T(1)- and T(2)-weighted and asymmetric spin echo (ASE) sequences. Magnetic Field Correlation (MFC) maps of iron levels were constructed to assess magnetic field inhomogeneities and compared between groups in the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, hippocampus, amygdala, accumbens nucleus, and thalamus. Subsequently the relationship of MFC value to volumetric data and disease state was examined. Higher MFC values were found in the caudate nucleus (p<0.05) and putamen (p<0.005) of early HD compared to controls and premanifest gene carriers. No differences in MFC were found between premanifest gene carriers and controls. MFC in the caudate nucleus and putamen is a predictor of disease state in HD. No correlation was found between the MFC value and volume of these subcortical structures. We conclude that Huntington's disease patients in the early stages of the disease, but not premanifest gene carriers, have higher iron concentrations in the caudate nucleus and putamen. We have demonstrated that the iron content of these structures relates to disease state in gene carriers, independently of the measured volume of these structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve M Dumas
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
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Mastrokolias A, den Dunnen JT, van Ommen GB, 't Hoen PAC, van Roon-Mom WMC. Increased sensitivity of next generation sequencing-based expression profiling after globin reduction in human blood RNA. BMC Genomics 2012; 13:28. [PMID: 22257641 PMCID: PMC3275489 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Accepted: 01/18/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Transcriptome analysis is of great interest in clinical research, where significant differences between individuals can be translated into biomarkers of disease. Although next generation sequencing provides robust, comparable and highly informative expression profiling data, with several million of tags per blood sample, reticulocyte globin transcripts can constitute up to 76% of total mRNA compromising the detection of low abundant transcripts. We have removed globin transcripts from 6 human whole blood RNA samples with a human globin reduction kit and compared them with the same non-reduced samples using deep Serial Analysis of Gene Expression. Results Globin tags comprised 52-76% of total tags in our samples. Out of 21,633 genes only 87 genes were detected at significantly lower levels in the globin reduced samples. In contrast, 11,338 genes were detected at significantly higher levels in the globin reduced samples. Removing globin transcripts allowed us to also identify 2112 genes that could not be detected in the non-globin reduced samples, with roles in cell surface receptor signal transduction, G-protein coupled receptor protein signalling pathways and neurological processes. Conclusions The reduction of globin transcripts in whole blood samples constitutes a reproducible and reliable method that can enrich data obtained from next generation sequencing-based expression profiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Mastrokolias
- Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Antisense-mediated exon skipping has multiple therapeutic applications. This chapter gives an overview of how this tool has been employed to restore normal splicing for cryptic splicing mutations, to switch between alternative splicing isoforms, to induce exon inclusion, to correct the reading frame to allow the production of internally deleted proteins, or to induce reading frame disruptions to achieve partial protein knockdown. For each application, examples are discussed and the current state of the art is described.
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Evers MM, Pepers BA, van Deutekom JCT, Mulders SAM, den Dunnen JT, Aartsma-Rus A, van Ommen GJB, van Roon-Mom WMC. Targeting several CAG expansion diseases by a single antisense oligonucleotide. PLoS One 2011; 6:e24308. [PMID: 21909428 PMCID: PMC3164722 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2011] [Accepted: 08/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
To date there are 9 known diseases caused by an expanded polyglutamine repeat, with the most prevalent being Huntington's disease. Huntington's disease is a progressive autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder for which currently no therapy is available. It is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene, which results in an expansion of a glutamine stretch at the N-terminal end of the huntingtin protein. This polyglutamine expansion plays a central role in the disease and results in the accumulation of cytoplasmic and nuclear aggregates. Here, we make use of modified 2'-O-methyl phosphorothioate (CUG)n triplet-repeat antisense oligonucleotides to effectively reduce mutant huntingtin transcript and protein levels in patient-derived Huntington's disease fibroblasts and lymphoblasts. The most effective antisense oligonucleotide, (CUG)(7), also reduced mutant ataxin-1 and ataxin-3 mRNA levels in spinocerebellar ataxia 1 and 3, respectively, and atrophin-1 in dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy patient derived fibroblasts. This antisense oligonucleotide is not only a promising therapeutic tool to reduce mutant huntingtin levels in Huntington's disease but our results in spinocerebellar ataxia and dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy cells suggest that this could also be applicable to other polyglutamine expansion disorders as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin M. Evers
- Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Barry A. Pepers
- Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Johan T. den Dunnen
- Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Leiden Genome Technology Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke Aartsma-Rus
- Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gert-Jan B. van Ommen
- Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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