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Dennys CN, Roussel F, Rodrigo R, Zhang X, Sierra Delgado A, Hartlaub A, Saelim-Ector A, Ray W, Heintzman S, Fox A, Kolb SJ, Beckman J, Franco MC, Meyer K. CuATSM effectively ameliorates ALS patient astrocyte-mediated motor neuron toxicity in human in vitro models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Glia 2023; 71:350-365. [PMID: 36213964 PMCID: PMC10092379 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Patient diversity and unknown disease cause are major challenges for drug development and clinical trial design for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Transgenic animal models do not adequately reflect the heterogeneity of ALS. Direct reprogramming of patient fibroblasts to neuronal progenitor cells and subsequent differentiation into patient astrocytes allows rapid generation of disease relevant cell types. Thus, this methodology can facilitate compound testing in a diverse genetic background resulting in a more representative population for therapeutic evaluation. Here, we used established co-culture assays with motor neurons and reprogrammed patient skin-derived astrocytes (iAs) to evaluate the effects of (SP-4-2)-[[2,2'-(1,2-dimethyl-1,2-ethanediylidene)bis[N-methylhydrazinecarbothioamidato-κN2 ,κS]](2-)]-copper (CuATSM), currently in clinical trial for ALS in Australia. Pretreatment of iAs with CuATSM had a differential effect on neuronal survival following co-culture with healthy motor neurons. Using this assay, we identified responding and non-responding cell lines for both sporadic and familial ALS (mutant SOD1 and C9ORF72). Importantly, elevated mitochondrial respiration was the common denominator in all CuATSM-responders, a metabolic phenotype not observed in non-responders. Pre-treatment of iAs with CuATSM restored mitochondrial activity to levels comparable to healthy controls. Hence, this metabolic parameter might allow selection of patient subpopulations best suited for CuATSM treatment. Moreover, CuATSM might have additional therapeutic value for mitochondrial disorders. Enhanced understanding of patient-specific cellular and molecular profiles could help improve clinical trial design in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra N Dennys
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Florence Roussel
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Rochelle Rodrigo
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Xiaojin Zhang
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrea Sierra Delgado
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Annalisa Hartlaub
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Asya Saelim-Ector
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Will Ray
- Mathematics Department, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Sarah Heintzman
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Ashley Fox
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Stephen J Kolb
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry & Pharmacology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Joseph Beckman
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Maria Clara Franco
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Kathrin Meyer
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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2
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Sinha Ray S, Dutta D, Dennys C, Powers S, Roussel F, Lisowski P, Glažar P, Zhang X, Biswas P, Caporale JR, Rajewsky N, Bickle M, Wein N, Bellen HJ, Likhite S, Marcogliese PC, Meyer KC. Mechanisms of IRF2BPL-related disorders and identification of a potential therapeutic strategy. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111751. [PMID: 36476864 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111751] [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: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The recently discovered neurological disorder NEDAMSS is caused by heterozygous truncations in the transcriptional regulator IRF2BPL. Here, we reprogram patient skin fibroblasts to astrocytes and neurons to study mechanisms of this newly described disease. While full-length IRF2BPL primarily localizes to the nucleus, truncated patient variants sequester the wild-type protein to the cytoplasm and cause aggregation. Moreover, patient astrocytes fail to support neuronal survival in coculture and exhibit aberrant mitochondria and respiratory dysfunction. Treatment with the small molecule copper ATSM (CuATSM) rescues neuronal survival and restores mitochondrial function. Importantly, the in vitro findings are recapitulated in vivo, where co-expression of full-length and truncated IRF2BPL in Drosophila results in cytoplasmic accumulation of full-length IRF2BPL. Moreover, flies harboring heterozygous truncations of the IRF2BPL ortholog (Pits) display progressive motor defects that are ameliorated by CuATSM treatment. Our findings provide insights into mechanisms involved in NEDAMSS and reveal a promising treatment for this severe disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrestha Sinha Ray
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Debdeep Dutta
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cassandra Dennys
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Samantha Powers
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Florence Roussel
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Pawel Lisowski
- The Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Magdalenka, Poland
| | - Petar Glažar
- The Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Xiaojin Zhang
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Pipasha Biswas
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Joseph R Caporale
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Nikolaus Rajewsky
- The Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marc Bickle
- Roche Institute for Translational Bioengineering, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Wein
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shibi Likhite
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Paul C Marcogliese
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathrin C Meyer
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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3
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Brown ML, McAlary L, Lum JS, Farrawell NE, Yerbury JJ. Cells Overexpressing ALS-Associated SOD1 Variants Are Differentially Susceptible to CuATSM-Associated Toxicity. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:2371-2379. [PMID: 35900338 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00253] [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] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
CuATSM has repeatedly demonstrated to be therapeutically effective in SOD1 mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), leading to current clinical trials. CuATSM acts to stabilize ALS-associated mutant SOD1 protein by supplying copper. However, in vitro work has demonstrated that CuATSM is only therapeutic for wild-type-like SOD1 mutants, not metal-binding-region mutants, suggesting that CuATSM may have genotype-specific effects. Furthermore, relatively high doses of CuATSM have been shown to produce adverse events in humans and mice. Here, we investigated the genotype-specific therapeutic window of CuATSM. NSC-34 cells transiently expressing copper-binding or non-binding mutations of SOD1 were treated with a broad range of CuATSM concentrations and examined for survival via time-lapse microscopy. Determination of the no-observed-adverse-effect level and the LC50 suggest that CuATSM-associated toxicity is dependent on the amount of copper-depleted SOD1 available as well as the mutant's ability to bind copper. Our results suggest that the particular variant of SOD1 mutant is crucial in not only determining the level of efficacy achieved but also potential adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikayla L Brown
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Luke McAlary
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Jeremy S Lum
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Natalie E Farrawell
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Justin J Yerbury
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
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4
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McAlary L, Shephard VK, Wright GSA, Yerbury JJ. A copper chaperone-mimetic polytherapy for SOD1-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101612. [PMID: 35065969 PMCID: PMC8885447 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease in which motor neurons progressively and rapidly degenerate, eventually leading to death. The first protein found to contain ALS-associated mutations was copper/zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), which is conformationally stable when it contains its metal ligands and has formed its native intramolecular disulfide. Mutations in SOD1 reduce protein folding stability via disruption of metal binding and/or disulfide formation, resulting in misfolding, aggregation, and ultimately cellular toxicity. A great deal of effort has focused on preventing the misfolding and aggregation of SOD1 as a potential therapy for ALS; however, the results have been mixed. Here, we utilize a small-molecule polytherapy of diacetylbis(N(4)-methylthiosemicarbazonato)copper(II) (CuATSM) and ebselen to mimic the metal delivery and disulfide bond promoting activity of the cellular chaperone of SOD1, the “copper chaperone for SOD1.” Using microscopy with automated image analysis, we find that polytherapy using CuATSM and ebselen is highly effective and acts in synergy to reduce inclusion formation in a cell model of SOD1 aggregation for multiple ALS-associated mutants. Polytherapy reduces mutant SOD1-associated cell death, as measured by live-cell microscopy. Measuring dismutase activity via zymography and immunoblotting for disulfide formation showed that polytherapy promoted more effective maturation of transfected SOD1 variants beyond either compound alone. Our data suggest that a polytherapy of CuATSM and ebselen may merit more study as an effective method of treating SOD1-associated ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- L McAlary
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
| | - V K Shephard
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - G S A Wright
- Department of Biochemistry & Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - J J Yerbury
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
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5
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Shi X, Ohta Y, Nakano Y, Liu X, Tadokoro K, Feng T, Nomura E, Tsunoda K, Sasaki R, Matsumoto N, Osakada Y, Bian Y, Bian Z, Omote Y, Takemoto M, Hishikawa N, Yamashita T, Abe K. Neuroprotective effect of CuATSM in mice stroke model by ameliorating oxidative stress. Neurosci Res 2020; 166:55-61. [PMID: 32461139 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2020.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Cu-diacetyl-bis (N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) (CuATSM) has both anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, but its therapeutic efficacy for oxidative stress has not been thoroughly investigated in acute ischemic stroke. Here, the present study was designed to assess the efficacies of CuATSM in acute ischemic stroke by comparing with the standard neuroprotective reagent edaravone. Mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral occlusion (tMCAO) for 60 min, and then intravenously administrated with CuATSM (1.5 mg/kg) or edaravone (3 mg/kg) just after the reperfusion, and examined at 1 and 3 d. Compared with the vehicle group, CuATSM treatment decreased infarct volumes and oxidative stress at 3d after tMCAO, which was further enhanced by combined CuATSM + edaravone treatment as compared with single CuATSM group, but not improve neurobehaviors. The present study demonstrated that CuATSM showed strong antioxidative and neuroprotective effects in acute ischemic stroke, which was enhanced by the combination with edaravone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Shi
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Ohta
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Yumiko Nakano
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Xia Liu
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Koh Tadokoro
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Tian Feng
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Emi Nomura
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Keiichiro Tsunoda
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Ryo Sasaki
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Namiko Matsumoto
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Yosuke Osakada
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Yuting Bian
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Zhihong Bian
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Yoshio Omote
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Mami Takemoto
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Nozomi Hishikawa
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Toru Yamashita
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Koji Abe
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
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6
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Kuo MTH, Beckman JS, Shaw CA. Neuroprotective effect of CuATSM on neurotoxin-induced motor neuron loss in an ALS mouse model. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 130:104495. [PMID: 31181282 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
CuATSM is a PET-imaging agent that has recently received attention for its success in extending the lifespan in animals in several neurodegenerative disease models. In the SOD1G93A model of ALS, CuATSM prolonged mouse longevity far longer than any previously tested therapeutic agents. The mechanism underlying this outcome has not been fully understood, but studies suggest that this copper complex contributes to maintaining copper homeostasis in mitochondria. More specifically for the SOD1 model, the molecule supplies copper back to the SOD1 protein. Additionally, CuATSM demonstrated similar protective effects in various in vivo Parkinson's disease mouse models. In the current pilot study, we utilized a neurodegenerative mouse model of motor neuron degeneration induced by the neurotoxin β-sitosterol β-D-glucoside. In this model, slow but distinct and progressive features of sporadic ALS occur. Treatment with CuATSM kept animal behavioural performance on par with the controls and prevented the extensive motor neuron degeneration and microglia activation seen in the untreated animals. These outcomes support a broader neuroprotective role for CuATSM beyond mutant SOD models of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T H Kuo
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Joseph S Beckman
- Linus Pauling Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Christopher A Shaw
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Pathology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Program in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Program in Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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7
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Farrawell NE, Yerbury MR, Plotkin SS, McAlary L, Yerbury JJ. CuATSM Protects Against the In Vitro Cytotoxicity of Wild-Type-Like Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutase Mutants but not Mutants That Disrupt Metal Binding. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:1555-1564. [PMID: 30462490 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00527] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the SOD1 gene are associated with some forms of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS). There are more than 150 different mutations in the SOD1 gene that have various effects on the copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) enzyme structure, including the loss of metal binding and a decrease in dimer affinity. The copper-based therapeutic CuATSM has been proven to be effective at rescuing neuronal cells from SOD1 mutant toxicity and has also increased the life expectancy of mice expressing the human transgenes SOD1G93A and SOD1G37R. Furthermore, CuATSM is currently the subject of a phase I/II clinical trial in Australia as a treatment for ALS. To determine if CuATSM protects against a broad variety of SOD1 mutations, we used a well-established cell culture model of SOD1-fALS. NSC-34 cells expressing SOD1-EGFP constructs were treated with CuATSM and examined by time-lapse microscopy. Our results show a concentration-dependent protection of cells expressing mutant SOD1A4V over the experimental time period. We tested the efficacy of CuATSM on 10 SOD1-fALS mutants and found that while protection was observed in cells expressing pathogenic wild-type-like mutants, cells expressing a truncation mutant or metal binding region mutants were not. We also show that CuATSM rescue is associated with an increase in human SOD1 activity and a decrease in the level of SOD1 aggregation in vitro. In conclusion, CuATSM has shown to be a promising therapeutic for SOD1-associated ALS; however, our in vitro results suggest that the protection afforded varies depending on the SOD1 variant, including negligible protection to mutants with deficient copper binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie E. Farrawell
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre of Medicine and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Maddison R. Yerbury
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre of Medicine and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Steven S. Plotkin
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
- Genome Sciences and Technology Program, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Luke McAlary
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Justin J. Yerbury
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Centre of Medicine and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
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