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Defects in pancreatic development and glucose metabolism in SMN-depleted mice independent of canonical spinal muscular atrophy neuromuscular pathology.

ABSTRACT: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is characterized by motor neuron loss, caused by mutations or deletions in the ubiquitously expressed survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. We recently identified a novel role for Smn protein in glucose metabolism and pancreatic development in both an intermediate SMA mouse model (Smn(2B/-)) and type I SMA patients. In the present study, we sought to determine if the observed metabolic and pancreatic defects are SMA-dependent. We employed a line of heterozygous Smn-depleted mice (Smn(+/-)) that lack the hallmark SMA neuromuscular pathology and overt phenotype. At 1 month of age, pancreatic/metabolic function of Smn(+/-)mice is indistinguishable from wild type. However, when metabolically challenged with a high-fat diet, Smn(+/-)mice display abnormal localization of glucagon-producing ?-cells within the pancreatic islets and increased hepatic insulin and glucagon sensitivity, through increased p-AKT and p-CREB, respectively. Further, aging results in weight gain, an increased number of insulin-producing ? cells, hyperinsulinemia and increased hepatic glucagon sensitivity in Smn(+/-)mice. Our study uncovers and highlights an important function of Smn protein in pancreatic islet development and glucose metabolism, independent of canonical SMA pathology. These findings suggest that carriers of SMN1 mutations and/or deletions may be at an increased risk of developing pancreatic and glucose metabolism defects, as even small depletions in Smn protein may be a risk factor for diet- and age-dependent development of metabolic disorders.

SUBMITTER: Bowerman M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4049303 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Defects in pancreatic development and glucose metabolism in SMN-depleted mice independent of canonical spinal muscular atrophy neuromuscular pathology.

Bowerman Melissa M Michalski John-Paul JP Beauvais Ariane A Murray Lyndsay M LM DeRepentigny Yves Y Kothary Rashmi R

Human molecular genetics 20140204 13

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is characterized by motor neuron loss, caused by mutations or deletions in the ubiquitously expressed survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. We recently identified a novel role for Smn protein in glucose metabolism and pancreatic development in both an intermediate SMA mouse model (Smn(2B/-)) and type I SMA patients. In the present study, we sought to determine if the observed metabolic and pancreatic defects are SMA-dependent. We employed a line of heterozygous Smn-d ...[more]

PMID: 24497575

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Significant advances in the development of SMN-restoring therapeutics have occurred since 2010 when very effective biological treatments were reported in mouse models of spinal muscular atrophy. As these treatments are applied in human clinical trials, there is pressing need to define quantitative assessments of disease progression, treatment stratification, and therapeutic efficacy. The electrophysiological measures Compound Muscle Action Potential and Motor Unit Number Estimation are reliable measures of nerve function. In both the SMN?7 mouse and a pig model of spinal muscular atrophy, early SMN restoration results in preservation of electrophysiological measures. Currently, clinical trials are underway in patients at post-symptomatic stages of disease progression. In this study, we present results from both early and delayed SMN restoration using clinically-relevant measures including electrical impedance myography, compound muscle action potential, and motor unit number estimation to quantify the efficacy and time-sensitivity of SMN-restoring therapy. METHODS:SMA?7 mice were treated via intracerebroventricular injection with antisense oligonucleotides targeting ISS-N1 to increase SMN protein from the SMN2 gene on postnatal day 2, 4, or 6 and compared with sham-treated spinal muscular atrophy and control mice. Compound muscle action potential and motor unit number estimation of the triceps surae muscles were performed at day 12, 21, and 30 by a single evaluator blinded to genotype and treatment. Similarly, electrical impedance myography was measured on the biceps femoris muscle at 12days for comparison. RESULTS:Electrophysiological measures and electrical impedance myography detected significant differences at 12days between control and late-treated (4 or 6days) and sham-treated spinal muscular atrophy mice, but not in mice treated at 2days (p<0.01). EIM findings paralleled and correlated with compound muscle action potential and motor unit number estimation (r=0.61 and r=0.50, respectively, p<0.01). Longitudinal measures at 21 and 30days show that symptomatic therapy results in reduced motor unit number estimation associated with delayed normalization of compound muscle action potential. CONCLUSIONS:The incomplete effect of symptomatic treatment is accurately identified by both electrophysiological measures and electrical impedance myography. There is strong correlation between these measures and with weight and righting reflex. This study predicts that measures of compound muscle action potential, motor unit number estimation, and electrical impedance myography are promising biomarkers of treatment stratification and effect for future spinal muscular atrophy trials. The ease of application and simplicity of electrical impedance myography compared with standard electrophysiological measures may be particularly valuable in future pediatric clinical trials.

Dataset Information

Defects in pancreatic development and glucose metabolism in SMN-depleted mice independent of canonical spinal muscular atrophy neuromuscular pathology.

Publications

Defects in pancreatic development and glucose metabolism in SMN-depleted mice independent of canonical spinal muscular atrophy neuromuscular pathology.

Similar Datasets

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