In vivo protein complementation demonstrates direct detection of presynaptic α-synuclein oligomerization and age-dependent accumulation of 8-16mer oligomer species
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Intracellular accumulation of a-synuclein (a-syn) and formation of Lewy bodies are neuropathological characteristics of Parkinson‘s disease (PD), related a-synucleinopathies, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Recent evidence suggests that oligomerization and spreading of a-syn from neuron to neuron are key events contributing to the development of PD. To directly visualize and characterize a-syn oligomerization and spreading in vivo, we generated two independent conditional transgenic mouse models based on a-syn protein complementation assays using both split Gaussia luciferase and split Venus YFP. These inducible, neuron-specific transgenic mice allow to directly assess the quantity and subcellular distribution of a-syn oligomers in vivo. Using these innovative mouse models we demonstrate an age dependent accumulation of a specific subtype of a-syn oligomers and their synaptic localization in vivo. We provide in vivo evidence that although a-syn is found throughout neurons a-syn oligomerization takes place at the presynapse. Furthermore, our new mouse models provide strong evidence for a long distance transsynaptic cell-to-cell transfer of de novo generated a-syn oligomers in vivo.
Project description:Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN) is a dual-specific protein and lipid phosphatase that regulates AKT and downstream signaling of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). PTEN functions as a tumor suppressor gene whose mutations result in PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS) characterized by increased cancer risk and neurodevelopmental comorbidity. Here, we generated a novel neuron-specific Pten knock-out mouse model (Syn-Cre/Pten HOM) to test the ability of pharmacologic mTOR inhibition to rescue Pten mutation-associated disease phenotypes in vivo and in vitro. We found that treatment with the mTOR inhibitor, everolimus, increased the survival of Syn-Cre/Pten HOM mice while some neurologic phenotypes persisted. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that in contrast to mice harboring a neuron-specific deletion of the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 gene (Syn-Cre/Tsc2 KO), genes that are under AKT regulation were significantly increased in the Syn-Cre/Pten HOM mice. In addition, genes associated with synapse, extracellular matrix, and myelination were broadly increased in Syn-Cre/Pten HOM mouse neocortex. These findings were confirmed by immunostaining of cortical sections in vivo, which revealed excessive immunoreactivity of myelin basic protein and perineuronal nets (PNN), the specialized extracellular matrix surrounding fast-spiking parvalbumin (PV) interneurons. We also detected increased expression of Synapsin I/PSD95 positive synapses and network hyperactivity phenotypes in Syn-Cre/Pten HOM mice neurons compared to wild-type (WT) neurons in vitro. Strikingly, everolimus treatment rescued the number of synapses and network hyperactivity in the Syn-Cre/Pten HOM mice cortical neuron cultures. Taken together, our results revealed in vivo and in vitro molecular and neuronal network mechanisms underlying neurological phenotypes of PHTS. Notably, pharmacologic mTOR inhibition by everolimus led to successful downstream signaling rescue, including mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) site-specific suppression of S6 phosphorylation, correlating with phenotypic rescue found in our novel neuron-specific Syn-Cre/Pten HOM mice.
Project description:To uncover new disease-associated genes and their relevant mechanisms, we carried out a gene microarray analysis based on a Parkinson’s disease (PD) in vitro model induced by a-synuclein oligomers. The result do help to reveal the mRNA and lncRNA profile in a-syn induced cells and rotenone-stimulated cells.
Project description:Parkinson disease (PD) is closely linked to the misfolding and accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) into Lewy bodies. HtrA1 is a PDZ serine protease that degrades fibrillar tau, which is associated with Alzheimer disease (AD). Further, inactivating mutations to mitochondrial HtrA2 have been implicated in PD. Here, we establish that HtrA1 inhibits the aggregation of α-syn as well as FUS and TDP-43, which are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We demonstrate that the protease domain of HtrA1 is necessary and sufficient for inhibition of aggregation, yet this activity is independent of HtrA1 proteolytic activity. Further, we find that HtrA1 also disaggregates preformed α-syn fibrils, which may promote their clearance. Treatment of α-syn fibrils with HtrA1 renders α-syn incapable of seeding the aggregation of endogenous α-syn in mammalian biosensor cells. We find that HtrA1 remodels α-syn by specifically targeting the NAC domain, which is the key domain that catalyzes α-syn oligomerization and fibrillization. Finally, in a primary neuron model of α-syn aggregation, we show that HtrA1 and its proteolytically inactive form both detoxify α-syn and prevent the formation of hyperphosphorylated α-syn accumulations. Our findings suggest that HtrA1 prevents aggregation and promotes disaggregation of multiple disease-associated proteins, and may be a therapeutic target for treating a range of neurodegenerative disorders.
Project description:Parkinson disease (PD) is closely linked to the misfolding and accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) into Lewy bodies. HTRA1 is a PDZ serine protease that degrades fibrillar tau, which is associated with Alzheimer disease (AD). Further, inactivating mutations to mitochondrial HTRA2 have been implicated in PD. Here, we establish that HTRA1 inhibits the aggregation of α-syn as well as FUS and TDP-43, which are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We demonstrate that the protease domain of HTRA1 is necessary and sufficient for inhibition of aggregation, yet this activity is independent of HTRA1 proteolytic activity. Further, we find that HTRA1 also disaggregates preformed α-syn fibrils, which may promote their clearance. Treatment of α-syn fibrils with HTRA1 renders α-syn incapable of seeding the aggregation of endogenous α-syn in mammalian biosensor cells. We find that HTRA1 remodels α-syn by specifically targeting the NAC domain, which is the key domain that catalyzes α-syn oligomerization and fibrillization. Finally, in a primary neuron model of α-syn aggregation, we show that HTRA1 and its proteolytically inactive form both detoxify α-syn and prevent the formation of hyperphosphorylated α-syn accumulations. Our findings suggest that HTRA1 prevents aggregation and promotes disaggregation of multiple disease-associated proteins, and may be a therapeutic target for treating a range of neurodegenerative disorders.
Project description:We report the application of Illumina paired-end RNA-seq approach for transcriptome of brain tissue in mice. By removing sequence-dependent bias and amplification noise using UMI-tools. The mapped reads of each sample were assembled using StringTie. After the final transcriptome was generated, StringTie and edgeR was used to estimate the expression levels of all transcripts. By obtaining a total of million paired-end reads of sequence from cerebral cortex tissue, we generated transcriptome profiles of mouse ischemic cortex in sham, 24 h after focal ischemia, 28 d after focal ischemia, with or without neuron-specific knockdown of TIPARP, respectively. We found 2017 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between Sham+AAV-SYN-shRNA-Con and tMCAO+AAV-SYN-shRNA-Con group, and 516 DEGs between tMCAO+AAV-SYN-shRNA-Con and tMCAO+AAV-SYN-shRNA-TIPARP group at 24 h after stroke. In addition, we found 487 DEGs between Sham+AAV-SYN-shRNA-Con and tMCAO+AAV-SYN-shRNA-Con group, and 192 DEGs between tMCAO+AAV-SYN-shRNA-Con and tMCAO+AAV-SYN-shRNA-TIPARP group at 28 d after stroke. This study provides a detailed analysis of the underlying mechanisms of neuron-specific knockdown of TIPARP in neuronal injury and long-term effect, with biologic replicates, generated by RNA-seq technology.
Project description:Kuznetsov2016(II) - α-syn aggregation
kinetics in Parkinson's
This theoretical model uses 2-step Finke-Watzky (FW) kinetics
todescribe the production, misfolding, aggregation, transport and
degradation of α-syn that may lead to Parkinson's Disease
(PD). Deregulated α-syn degradation is predicted to be
crucialfor PD pathogenesis.
This model is described in the article:
What can trigger the onset
of Parkinson's disease - A modeling study based on a
compartmental model of α-synuclein transport and aggregation in
neurons.
Kuznetsov IA, Kuznetsov AV.
Math Biosci 2016 Aug; 278: 22-29
Abstract:
The aim of this paper is to develop a minimal model
describing events leading to the onset of Parkinson's disease
(PD). The model accounts for α-synuclein (α-syn) production in
the soma, transport toward the synapse, misfolding, and
aggregation. The production and aggregation of polymeric α-syn
is simulated using a minimalistic 2-step Finke-Watzky model. We
utilized the developed model to analyze what changes in a
healthy neuron are likely to lead to the onset of α-syn
aggregation. We checked the effects of interruption of α-syn
transport toward the synapse, entry of misfolded (infectious)
α-syn into the somatic and synaptic compartments, increasing
the rate of α-syn synthesis in the soma, and failure of α-syn
degradation machinery. Our model suggests that failure of α-syn
degradation machinery is probably the most likely cause for the
onset of α-syn aggregation leading to PD.
This model is hosted on
BioModels Database
and identified by:
BIOMD0000000615.
To cite BioModels Database, please use:
BioModels Database:
An enhanced, curated and annotated resource for published
quantitative kinetic models.
To the extent possible under law, all copyright and related or
neighbouring rights to this encoded model have been dedicated to
the public domain worldwide. Please refer to
CC0
Public Domain Dedication for more information.
Project description:Aggregated α-synuclein (α-SYN) proteins, encoded by the SNCA gene, are hallmarks of Lewy body disease (LBD), affecting multiple brain regions. However, the specific mechanisms underlying α-SYN pathology in cortical neurons, crucial for LBD-associated dementia, remain unclear. Here, we generated human cortical LBD models by differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from SNCA triplication LBD patients into cerebral organoids and observed increased levels of pathological α-SYN in these organoids. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed prominent expression of the SNCA gene in excitatory neurons, which exhibited synaptic and mitochondrial dysfunction, consistent with findings in the cortex of LBD human brains. Furthermore, screening 1280 FDA-approved drugs identified four candidates, which inhibited α-SYN seeding in RT-QuIC assay, reduced α-SYN aggregation and alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction in SNCA triplication iPSC models. Our findings provide valuable insights into the development of cortical LBD models and the discovery of potential drugs targeting α-SYN aggregation.
Project description:Aggregated α-synuclein (α-SYN) proteins, encoded by the SNCA gene, are hallmarks of Lewy body disease (LBD), affecting multiple brain regions. However, the specific mechanisms underlying α-SYN pathology in cortical neurons, crucial for LBD-associated dementia, remain unclear. Here, we generated human cortical LBD models by differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from SNCA triplication LBD patients into cerebral organoids and observed increased levels of pathological α-SYN in these organoids. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed prominent expression of the SNCA gene in excitatory neurons, which exhibited synaptic and mitochondrial dysfunction, consistent with findings in the cortex of LBD human brains. Furthermore, screening 1280 FDA-approved drugs identified four candidates, which inhibited α-SYN seeding in RT-QuIC assay, reduced α-SYN aggregation and alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction in SNCA triplication iPSC models. Our findings provide valuable insights into the development of cortical LBD models and the discovery of potential drugs targeting α-SYN aggregation.
Project description:As the resident macrophages of the CNS, microglia fulfill manifold functions important for brain development and homeostasis. In the context of neurodegenerative diseases, they are crucial for de- and regenerative as well as immunological processes. The discovery of distinct activation patterns and increased phagocytosis indicated a damaging role of microglia in multiple system atrophy. This devastating, rapidly progressing atypical parkinsonian disorder is characterized by alpha-synuclein accumulation in the cytoplasm of oligodendrocytes. Alpha-synuclein aggregates have been related to myelin loss, severe neurodegeneration, and motor deficits accompanied by a region-specific myeloid immune response. Analyzing the gene expression profile of microglia in a mouse model of multiple system atrophy, MBP29-hα-syn mice, we identified a disease-assoctiated expression profile with an upregulation of the colony-stimulating factor 1 (Csf1). Thus, we hypothesized that targeting the CSF1 receptor using the small-molecule inhibitor PLX5622 reduces myeloid cells and thereby modifies the disease progression and neuropathological phenotype in this mouse model. After validation of a widespread depletion of myeloid cells after CSF1R inhibition, we consequently analyzed the survival, motor functions, neuropathological characteristics, and gene expression of affected brain regions in MBP29-hα-syn mice. Intriguingly, we identified a two-faced outcome comprising (1) an improved survival rate (24%) accompanied by delayed onset of neurological symptoms in contrast to (2) severely impaired motor functions in beam walking, pole test, and RotaRod of PLX5622-treated MBP29-hα-syn mice. Gene expression analysis revealed that PLX5622 reversed myeloid cell activation, however, predominantly reduced the expression of genes related to transsynaptic signaling and signal release. While these transcriptional changes were accompanied by a reduction of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (19%) of PLX5622-treated MBP29-hα-syn mice, an increase of the striatal neuritic density was observed without changes in alpha-synuclein levels or myelin lipids in the forebrain. Together, our findings provide insight into the complex role of myeloid cell depletion in multiple system atrophy by demonstrating a two-faced outcome on the behavioral and neuronal phenotype of MBP29-hα-syn mice. Therefore, it is important to carefully balance the beneficial and adversive effects of CSF1R inhibition in different models of neurodegenerative disorders prior to clinical translation.
Project description:The aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide is associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Cell membrane composition, especially monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1), is known to promote the formation of Aβ fibrils, yet little is known about the roles of GM1 in the early steps of Aβ oligomer formation. Here, by using GM1-contained liposomes as a mimic of neuronal cell membrane, we demonstrate that GM1 is a critical trigger of Aβ oligomerization and aggregation. We find that GM1 not only promotes the formation of Aβ fibrils, but also facilitates the maintenance of Aβ oligomers on liposome membranes. We structurally characterize the Aβ oligomers formed on the membrane and find that GM1 captures Aβ by binding to its arginine-5 residue. To interrogate the mechanism of Aβ oligomer toxicity, we design a new liposome-based Ca2+-encapsulation assay and provide new evidence for the Aβ ion channel hypothesis. Finally, we conduct cell viability assay to determine the toxicity of Aβ oligomers formed on membranes. Overall, by uncovering the roles of GM1 in mediating early Aβ oligomer formation and maintenance, our work provides a novel direction for pharmaceutical research for AD.