First person – Katherine Robinson

ABSTRACT First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Disease Models & Mechanisms, helping early-career researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Katherine Robinson is first author on ‘ Flow cytometry allows rapid detection of protein aggregates in cellular and zebrafish models of spinocerebellar ataxia 3’, published in DMM. Katherine is a PhD student in the lab of Dr Angela Laird at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, using pre-clinical animal models (transgenic zebrafish and mice) to find new therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Flow cytometry allows rapid detection of protein aggregates in cellular and zebrafish models of spinocerebellar ataxia 3

ABSTRACT Spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3, also known as Machado–Joseph disease) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by inheritance of a CAG repeat expansion within the ATXN3 gene, resulting in polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat expansion within the ataxin-3 protein. In this study, we have identified protein aggregates in both neuronal-like (SHSY5Y) cells and transgenic zebrafish expressing human ataxin-3 with expanded polyQ. We have adapted a previously reported flow cytometry methodology named flow cytometric analysis of inclusions and trafficking, allowing rapid quantification of detergent insoluble forms of ataxin-3 fused to a GFP in SHSY5Y cells and cells dissociated from the zebrafish larvae. Flow cytometric analysis revealed an increased number of detergent-insoluble ataxin-3 particles per nuclei in cells and in zebrafish expressing polyQ-expanded ataxin-3 compared to those expressing wild-type human ataxin-3. Treatment with compounds known to modulate autophagic activity altered the number of detergent-insoluble ataxin-3 particles in cells and zebrafish expressing mutant human ataxin-3. We conclude that flow cytometry can be harnessed to rapidly count ataxin-3 aggregates, both in vitro and in vivo, and can be used to compare potential therapies targeting protein aggregates. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Flow cytometry allows rapid detection of protein aggregates in cell culture and zebrafish models of spinocerebellar ataxia-3

Spinocerebellar ataxia-3 (SCA3, also known as Machado Joseph Disease), is a neurodegenerative disease caused by inheritance of a ATXN3 gene containing a CAG repeat expansion, resulting in presence of a polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat expansion within the encoded human ataxin-3 protein. SCA3 is characterized by the formation of ataxin-3 protein aggregates within neurons, neurodegeneration, and impaired movement. In this study we have identified protein aggregates in both neuronal-like (SHSY5Y) cells and in vivo (transgenic zebrafish) models expressing human ataxin-3 protein containing polyQ expansion. We have adapted a flow cytometric methodology, allowing rapid quantification of detergent insoluble forms of ataxin-3 fused to a green fluorescent protein. Flow cytometric analysis revealed an increased number of detergent-insoluble ataxin-3 particles in cells and zebrafish expressing polyQ expanded ataxin-3 when compared to cells and zebrafish expressing wildtype human ataxin-3. Interestingly, a protein aggregation phenotype could be detected as early as two days of age in transgenic zebrafish, prior to the onset of a detectable movement impairment at 6 days of age, suggesting protein aggregation may be an early disease phenotype in SCA3. Further, treatment of SCA3 cells and transgenic zebrafish with compounds known to modulate the activity of the autophagy protein quality control pathway altered the number of detergent-insoluble ataxin-3 particles detected by flow cytometry. We conclude that flow cytometry is a powerful tool that can be harnessed to rapidly quantify ataxin-3 aggregates, both in vitro and in vivo, and can be utilised to screen and compare potential protein aggregate targeting therapies.

Sodium valproate increases activity of the sirtuin pathway resulting in beneficial effects for spinocerebellar ataxia-3 in vivo

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD, also known as spinocerebellar ataxia-3) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that impairs control and coordination of movement. Here we tested whether treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium valproate (SV) prevented a movement phenotype that develops in larvae of a transgenic zebrafish model of the disease. We found that treatment with SV improved the swimming of the MJD zebrafish, increased levels of acetylated histones 3 and 4, but also increased expression of polyglutamine expanded human ataxin-3. Proteomic analysis of protein lysates generated from the treated and untreated MJD zebrafish also predicted that SV treatment had activated the sirtuin longevity signaling pathway and this was confirmed by findings of increased SIRT1 protein levels and sirtuin activity in SV treated MJD zebrafish and HEK293 cells expressing ataxin-3-84Q, respectively. Treatment with resveratrol (another compound known to activate the sirtuin pathway), also improved swimming in the MJD zebrafish. Co-treatment with SV alongside EX527, a SIRT1 activity inhibitor, prevented induction of autophagy by SV and the beneficial effects of SV on the movement in the MJD zebrafish, indicating that they were both dependent on sirtuin activity. These findings provide the first evidence of sodium valproate inducing activation of the sirtuin pathway. Further, they indicate that drugs that target the sirtuin pathway, including sodium valproate and resveratrol, warrant further investigation for the treatment of MJD and related neurodegenerative diseases.

Sentinel Node Biopsy and Lumpectomy in a Patient with Machado–Joseph Disease

Spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3), also known as Machado–Joseph disease (MJD) is an autosomal dominant, progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Patients present with cerebellar ataxia, dystonia, rigidity, and neuropathy that worsen with time. On a molecular level, it occurs due to a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the ATXN3 gene. Due to the risk of pulmonary aspiration, hypoventilation, autonomic and thermoregulatory dysfunction, vocal cord paralysis, progressive paraplegia, parkinsonian symptoms, and chronic pain, it has significant anesthesia implications. Rarely, case reports occur in the literature describing regional anesthetic management of patients with SCA3, but none that describe general anesthesia specifically with MJD. We therefore describe a case of a patient with SCA3 who successfully underwent general anesthesia and considerations for perioperative management of this patient population.