Human neural networks with sparse TDP-43 pathology reveal NPTX2 misregulation in ALS/FTLD
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ABSTRACT: Human cellular models of neurodegeneration require reproducibility and longevity, which is necessary for simulating these age-dependent diseases. Such systems are particularly needed for TDP-43 proteinopathies, which involve human-specific mechanisms that cannot be directly studied in animal models. To explore the emergence and consequences of TDP-43 pathologies, we generated iPSC-derived, colony morphology neural stem cells (iCoMoNSCs) via manual selection of neural precursors.
Project description:TDP-43 proteinopathies including frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are devastating neurodegenerative disorders characterized by aggregation and mislocalization of the nucleic-acid binding protein TDP-43 and subsequent neuronal dysfunction. Here, we developed an endogenous model of sporadic TDP-43 proteinopathy based on the principle that disease-associated TDP-43 acetylation at lysine 145 (K145) alters TDP-43 conformation, impairs its RNA-binding capacity, and induces downstream mis-regulation of target genes. Expression of aberrant acetylation-mimic TDP-43K145Q resulted in stress-induced phase-separated nuclear TDP-43 foci formation and loss-of-TDP-43-function in mouse primary neurons and human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons. Aged mice harboring the single TDP-43K145Q mutation recapitulate several key hallmarks of neurodegenerative proteinopathies, including progressive TDP-43 phosphorylation and insolubility, cytoplasmic mis-localization, widespread transcriptomic and splicing alterations, and cognitive dysfunction. Our study supports a model in which aberrant TDP-43 acetylation drives neuronal dysfunction and cognitive decline through alternative splicing and transcription of genes important in synaptic plasticity and apoptosis, providing a new paradigm to interrogate FTLD disease mechanisms and uncover disease-modifying therapeutics.
Project description:Cytoplasmic aggregation and nuclear depletion of TDP-43 are hallmarks of several age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Yet, recapitulating both features in cellular systems has been a major challenge. Here, we produced amyloid-like fibrils from the recombinant low-complexity-domain of TDP-43, and demonstrate that sonicated fibrils trigger TDP-43 pathology in human cell lines and iPSC-derived neurons. Fibril-induced cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions acquire distinct biophysical properties, recapitulate pathological hallmarks such as phosphorylation, ubiquitin- and p62-accumulation, and recruit nuclear endogenous TDP-43 leading to nuclear-loss-of-function-driven disease-specific cryptic splicing defects. Cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregates exhibit, with time, distinct heterogeneous morphologies as in patients including compacted, filamentous or fragmented, through the activation of cellular protein clearance pathways. Cell-specific progressive toxicity is provoked by seeded TDP-43 pathology in human neurons. These findings identify templated aggregation of TDP-43 as a key mechanism driving both cytoplasmic gain- and nuclear-loss-of-function, offering a valuable approach to identify modifiers of sporadic TDP-43 proteinopathies.
Project description:The occurrence of extensive cryptic splicing following the depletion of nuclear TDP-43 results in impaired neuronal function and degeneration. Here, we show that oligonucleotides containing CA-repeat sequences can mimic TDP-43 pre-mRNA binding and broadly repress cryptic splicing events, reverse protein loss, and restore neuronal activity in TDP-43-depleted neurons. Our results indicate that (CA)n oligonucleotides are potential therapeutic agents to address global mis-splicing in TDP-43 proteinopathies.
Project description:The occurrence of extensive cryptic splicing following the depletion of nuclear TDP-43 results in impaired neuronal function and degeneration. Here, we show that oligonucleotides containing CA-repeat sequences can mimic TDP-43 pre-mRNA binding and broadly repress cryptic splicing events, reverse protein loss, and restore neuronal activity in TDP-43-depleted neurons. Our results indicate that (CA)n oligonucleotides are potential therapeutic agents to address global mis-splicing in TDP-43 proteinopathies.
Project description:The TDP-43 proteinopathies, which include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, are a devastating group of neurodegenerative disorders that are characterized by the mislocalization and aggregation of TDP-43. Here we demonstrate that RNA-targeting CRISPR effector proteins, a programmable class of gene silencing agents that includes the Cas13 family of enzymes and Cas7-11, can be used to mitigate TDP-43 pathology when programmed to target ataxin-2, a modifier of TDP-43-associated toxicity. In addition to inhibiting the aggregation and transit of TDP-43 to stress granules, we find that the in vivo delivery of an ataxin-2-targeting Cas13 system to a mouse model of TDP-43 proteinopathy improved functional deficits, extended survival, and reduced the severity of neuropathological hallmarks. Further, we benchmark RNA-targeting CRISPR platforms against ataxin-2 and find that high-fidelity forms of Cas13 possess improved transcriptome-wide specificity compared to Cas7-11 and a first-generation effector. Our results demonstrate the potential of CRISPR technology for TDP-43 proteinopathies.
Project description:Cellular responses to co-morbid tau and TDP-43 preceding neurodegeneration have not been characterized. In this study, we evaluate transcriptomic changes at time-points preceding frank neuronal loss using a C. elegans model of tau and TDP-43 co-expression. We find significant differential expression and exon usage in genes enriched in multiple pathways including lipid metabolism and lysosomal degradation. We note that tau related changes largely resemble tau/TDP-43 changes. We test loss-of-function mutations in a subset of tau and TDP-43 responsive genes, identifying new modifiers of neurotoxicity. Characterizing early cellular responses to tau and TDP-43 co-pathology is critical for understanding protective and pathogenic responses to mixed proteinopathies, and an important step in developing therapeutic strategies protecting against pathological tau and TDP-43 in AD.
Project description:TDP-43 is a nuclear protein involved in pivotal processes, extensively studied for its implication in neurodegenerative disorders. TDP-43 cytosolic inclusions are a common neuropathologic hallmark in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related diseases, and it is now established that TDP-43 misfolding and aggregation play a key role in their etiopathology. TDP-43 neurotoxic mechanisms are not yet clarified, but the identification of proteins able to modulate TDP-43-mediated damage may be promising therapeutic targets for TDP-43 proteinopathies. Here we show by the use of refined yeast models that the nucleolar protein nucleolin (NCL) acts as a potent suppressor of TDP-43 toxicity, restoring cell viability. We provide evidence that NCL co-expression is able to alleviate TDP-43-induced damage also in human cells, further supporting its beneficial effects in a more consistent pathophysiological context. Presented data suggest that NCL could promote TDP-43 nuclear retention, reducing the formation of toxic cytosolic TDP-43 aggregates.
Project description:A pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia is the aggregation of TDP-43. While extensive exploration into the function of TDP-43 has focused entirely in the central nervous system (CNS), the implications in physiology and pathology of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) have long been overlooked. Herein, we demonstrate that deletion of TDP-43 in Schwann cells results in a 50% reduction in peripheral nerve conduction velocity, without any obvious alterations to peripheral compact myelin. Compromised insulatory function of myelin was due to the complete loss of paranodal axoglial junctions flanking the nodes of Ranvier. By contrast, the paranodal junctions in the CNS oligodendrocytes are unaltered upon deletion of TDP-43. Mechanistically, TDP-43 binds directly to Nfasc mRNA, which encodes neurofascin, a key cell adhesion molecule essential for establishing paranodal junctions. TDP-43 binding sites overlap with a cryptic exon of Nfasc such that loss of TDP-43 leads to the retention of this cryptic exon with a premature stop codon, a prerequisite for nonsense-mediated decay. Thus, TDP-43 is required for the proper assembly of nodes of Ranvier that is essential for saltatory conduction by suppressing the cryptic exon in the Nfasc mRNA of the Schwann cells. Our findings indicate a direct involvement of TDP-43 in normal PNS function and suggest that PNS-autonomous dysfunction in saltatory conduction may contribute to TDP-43 proteinopathies.
Project description:Accumulation of abnormally phosphorylated TDP-43 (pTDP-43) is the main pathological finding characterizing affected neurons in most patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). At least four different subtypes of FTLD-TDP have been described, based on the morphology and neuroanatomical distribution of pathological TDP-43 accumulations. To understand the molecular basis of this heterogeneity that correlates with clinical presentations, we developed SarkoSpin, a new method for the biochemical isolation of pathological TDP-43 from complex tissues. Using postmortem samples of 79 patients and controls, we show that SarkoSpin allows the physical separation of pTDP-43 from ~99.8% of total proteins, including the extreme bulk of physiological TDP-43. Pathological TDP-43 extracted from different disease subtypes forms large and buoyant assemblies of distinct densities and 3-dimentional shapes that correlate with specific neuropathological classifications.