scholarly journals Rab8, POSH, and TAK1 regulate synaptic growth in a Drosophila model of frontotemporal dementia

2015 ◽  
Vol 208 (7) ◽  
pp. 931-947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan J.H. West ◽  
Yubing Lu ◽  
Bruno Marie ◽  
Fen-Biao Gao ◽  
Sean T. Sweeney
Keyword(s):  
Frontotemporal Dementia ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Growth Regulation ◽  
Activator Protein 1 ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Synaptic Growth ◽  
Recycling Endosome ◽  
Growth Activation ◽  
Mature Neurons ◽  
Als Patients

Mutations in genes essential for protein homeostasis have been identified in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Why mature neurons should be particularly sensitive to such perturbations is unclear. We identified mutations in Rab8 in a genetic screen for enhancement of an FTD phenotype associated with ESCRT-III dysfunction. Examination of Rab8 mutants or motor neurons expressing a mutant ESCRT-III subunit, CHMP2BIntron5, at the Drosophila melanogaster neuromuscular junction synapse revealed synaptic overgrowth and endosomal dysfunction. Expression of Rab8 rescued overgrowth phenotypes generated by CHMP2BIntron5. In Rab8 mutant synapses, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/activator protein-1 and TGF-β signaling were overactivated and acted synergistically to potentiate synaptic growth. We identify novel roles for endosomal JNK-scaffold POSH (Plenty-of-SH3s) and a JNK kinase kinase, TAK1, in regulating growth activation in Rab8 mutants. Our data uncover Rab8, POSH, and TAK1 as regulators of synaptic growth responses and point to recycling endosome as a key compartment for synaptic growth regulation during neurodegenerative processes.

Riluzole Exhibits No Therapeutic Efficacy on a Transgenic Rat model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si Chen ◽  
Qiao Liao ◽  
Ke Lu ◽  
Jinxia Zhou ◽  
Cao Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Microglial Activation ◽  
Transgenic Rat ◽  
Intragastric Administration ◽  
Behavioral Deficits ◽  
Als Patients ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Transgenic Rat Model

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurological disorder clinically characterized by motor system dysfunction, with intraneuronal accumulation of the TAR DNAbinding protein 43 (TDP-43) being a pathological hallmark. Riluzole is a primarily prescribed medicine for ALS patients, while its therapeutical efficacy appears limited. TDP-43 transgenic mice are existing animal models for mechanistic/translational research into ALS. Methods: We developed a transgenic rat model of ALS expressing a mutant human TDP-43 transgene (TDP-43M337V) and evaluated the therapeutic effect of Riluzole on this model. Relative to control, rats with TDP-43M337V expression promoted by the neurofilament heavy subunit (NEF) gene or specifically in motor neurons promoted by the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) gene showed progressive worsening of mobility and grip strength, along with loss of motor neurons, microglial activation, and intraneuronal accumulation of TDP-43 and ubiquitin aggregations in the spinal cord. Results: Compared to vehicle control, intragastric administration of Riluzole (30 mg/kg/d) did not mitigate the behavioral deficits nor alter the neuropathologies in the transgenics. Conclusion: These findings indicate that transgenic rats recapitulate the basic neurological and neuropathological characteristics of human ALS, while Riluzole treatment can not halt the development of the behavioral and histopathological phenotypes in this new transgenic rodent model of ALS.

scholarly journals Interleukin-17 and Th17 Lymphocytes Directly Impair Motoneuron Survival of Wildtype and FUS-ALS Mutant Human iPSCs

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8042
Author(s):  
Mengmeng Jin ◽  
Katja Akgün ◽  
Tjalf Ziemssen ◽  
Markus Kipp ◽  
Rene Günther ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Th17 Cells ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Interleukin 17 ◽  
Fused In Sarcoma ◽  
Th17 Lymphocytes ◽  
Human Ipscs ◽  
Als Patients

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease leading to the degeneration of motor neurons (MNs). Neuroinflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of ALS; however, interactions of specific immune cell types and MNs are not well studied. We recently found a shift toward T helper (Th)1/Th17 cell-mediated, pro-inflammatory immune responses in the peripheral immune system of ALS patients, which positively correlated with disease severity and progression. Whether Th17 cells or their central mediator, Interleukin-17 (IL-17), directly affects human motor neuron survival is currently unknown. Here, we evaluated the contribution of Th17 cells and IL-17 on MN degeneration using the co-culture of iPSC-derived MNs of fused in sarcoma (FUS)-ALS patients and isogenic controls with Th17 lymphocytes derived from ALS patients, healthy controls, and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (positive control). Only Th17 cells from MS patients induced severe MN degeneration in FUS-ALS as well as in wildtype MNs. Their main effector, IL-17A, yielded in a dose-dependent decline of the viability and neurite length of MNs. Surprisingly, IL-17F did not influence MNs. Importantly, neutralizing IL-17A and anti-IL-17 receptor A treatment reverted all effects of IL-17A. Our results offer compelling evidence that Th17 cells and IL-17A do directly contribute to MN degeneration.

scholarly journals Utility of Transcranial Magnetic Simulation in Studying Upper Motor Neuron Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 906
Author(s):  
Nimeshan Geevasinga ◽  
Mehdi Van den Bos ◽  
Parvathi Menon ◽  
Steve Vucic
Keyword(s):  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Cortical Excitability ◽  
Muscular Atrophy ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Bulbar Onset ◽  
Als Patients ◽  
Transcranial Magnetic Simulation ◽  
Cortical Dysfunction ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterised by progressive dysfunction of the upper and lower motor neurons. The disease can evolve over time from focal limb or bulbar onset to involvement of other regions. There is some clinical heterogeneity in ALS with various phenotypes of the disease described, from primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy and flail arm/leg phenotypes. Whilst the majority of ALS patients are sporadic in nature, recent advances have highlighted genetic forms of the disease. Given the close relationship between ALS and frontotemporal dementia, the importance of cortical dysfunction has gained prominence. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive neurophysiological tool to explore the function of the motor cortex and thereby cortical excitability. In this review, we highlight the utility of TMS and explore cortical excitability in ALS diagnosis, pathogenesis and insights gained from genetic and variant forms of the disease.

scholarly journals Cerebrospinal Fluid Chitinases as Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1210
Author(s):  
Júlia Costa ◽  
Marta Gromicho ◽  
Ana Pronto-Laborinho ◽  
Conceição Almeida ◽  
Ricardo A. Gomes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Progression Rate ◽  
Therapeutic Trials ◽  
Als Patients ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative neuromuscular disease that affects motor neurons controlling voluntary muscles. Survival is usually 2–5 years after onset, and death occurs due to respiratory failure. The identification of biomarkers would be very useful to help in disease diagnosis and for patient stratification based on, e.g., progression rate, with implications in therapeutic trials. Neurofilaments constitute already-promising markers for ALS and, recently, chitinases have emerged as novel marker targets for the disease. Here, we investigated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) chitinases as potential markers for ALS. Chitotriosidase (CHIT1), chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), chitinase-3-like protein 2 (CHI3L2) and the benchmark marker phosphoneurofilament heavy chain (pNFH) were quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from the CSF of 34 ALS patients and 24 control patients with other neurological diseases. CSF was also analyzed by UHPLC-mass spectrometry. All three chitinases, as well as pNFH, were found to correlate with disease progression rate. Furthermore, CHIT1 was elevated in ALS patients with high diagnostic performance, as was pNFH. On the other hand, CHIT1 correlated with forced vital capacity (FVC). The three chitinases correlated with pNFH, indicating a relation between degeneration and neuroinflammation. In conclusion, our results supported the value of CHIT1 as a diagnostic and progression rate biomarker, and its potential as respiratory function marker. The results opened novel perspectives to explore chitinases as biomarkers and their functional relevance in ALS.

scholarly journals Molecular Alterations in Sporadic and SOD1-ALS Immortalized Lymphocytes: Towards a Personalized Therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 3007
Author(s):  
Isabel Lastres-Becker ◽  
Gracia Porras ◽  
Marina Arribas-Blázquez ◽  
Inés Maestro ◽  
Daniel Borrego-Hernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Autophagic Flux ◽  
Metabolic Disturbances ◽  
Molecular Alterations ◽  
Healthy Donors ◽  
Inflammatory Profile ◽  
Als Patients

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological condition where motor neurons (MNs) degenerate. Most of the ALS cases are sporadic (sALS), whereas 10% are hereditarily transmitted (fALS), among which mutations are found in the gene that codes for the enzyme superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). A central question in ALS field is whether causative mutations display selective alterations not found in sALS patients, or they converge on shared molecular pathways. To identify specific and common mechanisms for designing appropriate therapeutic interventions, we focused on the SOD1-mutated (SOD1-ALS) versus sALS patients. Since ALS pathology involves different cell types other than MNs, we generated lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from sALS and SOD1-ALS patients and healthy donors and investigated whether they show changes in oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic disturbances, the antioxidant NRF2 pathway, inflammatory profile, and autophagic flux. Both oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis appear to be upregulated in lymphoblasts from sALS and SOD1-ALS. Our results indicate significant differences in NRF2/ARE pathway between sALS and SOD1-ALS lymphoblasts. Furthermore, levels of inflammatory cytokines and autophagic flux discriminate between sALS and SOD1-ALS lymphoblasts. Overall, different molecular mechanisms are involved in sALS and SOD1-ALS patients and thus, personalized medicine should be developed for each case.

scholarly journals Role of BMP receptor traffic in synaptic growth defects in an ALS model

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (19) ◽  
pp. 2898-2910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mugdha Deshpande ◽  
Zachary Feiger ◽  
Amanda K. Shilton ◽  
Christina C. Luo ◽  
Ethan Silverman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Impairment ◽  
Bmp Signaling ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Gain Of Function ◽  
Synaptic Growth ◽  
Recycling Endosome ◽  
Recycling Endosomes ◽  
Bmp Receptor ◽  
Bmp Receptors ◽  
Induced Defects

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is genetically and functionally linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and regulates transcription, splicing, and transport of thousands of RNA targets that function in diverse cellular pathways. In ALS, pathologically altered TDP-43 is believed to lead to disease by toxic gain-of-function effects on RNA metabolism, as well as by sequestering endogenous TDP-43 and causing its loss of function. However, it is unclear which of the numerous cellular processes disrupted downstream of TDP-43 dysfunction lead to neurodegeneration. Here we found that both loss and gain of function of TDP-43 in Drosophila cause a reduction of synaptic growth–promoting bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Further, we observed a shift of BMP receptors from early to recycling endosomes and increased mobility of BMP receptor–containing compartments at the NMJ. Inhibition of the recycling endosome GTPase Rab11 partially rescued TDP-43–induced defects in BMP receptor dynamics and distribution and suppressed BMP signaling, synaptic growth, and larval crawling defects. Our results indicate that defects in receptor traffic lead to neuronal dysfunction downstream of TDP-43 misregulation and that rerouting receptor traffic may be a viable strategy for rescuing neurological impairment.

scholarly journals Frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Revisiting one of the first case reports with neuropathological examination

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Nitrini
Keyword(s):  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Frontotemporal Dementia ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Rare Event ◽  
Motor Impairments ◽  
Late 20Th Century ◽  
First Case ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Neuropathological Examination

ABSTRACT The occurrence of dementia in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was only widely recognized in the late 20th century. Hitherto, it was believed that dementia was a rare event due to the fortuitous association with other diseases. In 1924, Kostantin Nikolaevich Tretiakoff and Moacyr de Freitas Amorim reported a case of dementia with features of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) that preceded the motor signs of ALS. Neuropathological examination confirmed ALS and found no signs of other dementia-causing diseases. The authors hypothesized that dementia was part of ALS and recommended the search for signs of involvement of motor neurons in cases of dementia with an ill-defined clinical picture, a practice currently accepted in the investigation of cases of FTD. This was one of the first descriptions of dementia preceding the motor impairments of ALS and was published in Portuguese and French in Memórias do Hospício de Juquery.

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Molecular Pathology in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silas Maniatis ◽  
Tarmo Äijö ◽  
Sanja Vickovic ◽  
Catherine Braine ◽  
Kristy Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Motor Neuron ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Early Time ◽  
Spatiotemporal Dynamics ◽  
Course Of Disease ◽  
Molecular Events ◽  
Als Patients ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

AbstractParalysis occurring in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) results from denervation of skeletal muscle as a consequence of motor neuron degeneration. Interactions between motor neurons and glia contribute to motor neuron loss, but the spatiotemporal ordering of molecular events that drive these processes in intact spinal tissue remains poorly understood. Here, we use spatial transcriptomics to obtain gene expression measurements of mouse spinal cords over the course of disease, as well as of postmortem tissue from ALS patients, to characterize the underlying molecular mechanisms in ALS. We identify novel pathway dynamics, regional differences between microglia and astrocyte populations at early time-points, and discern perturbations in several transcriptional pathways shared between murine models of ALS and human postmortem spinal cords.One Sentence SummaryAnalysis of the ALS spinal cord using Spatial Transcriptomics reveals spatiotemporal dynamics of disease driven gene regulation.

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