Analysis of striatal transcriptome in transgenic mice overexpressing human wild-type alpha-synuclein
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE35723 | GEO | 2012/02/11
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA152125
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:Alpha synuclein (SNCA) has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases (synucleinopathies) that include Parkinson’s disease (PD). Although the primary neurodegeneration in PD involves nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, more extensive yet regionally selective neurodegeneration is observed in other synucleinopathies. Furthermore, SNCA is ubiquitously expressed in neurons and numerous neuronal systems are dysfunctional in PD. Therefore it is of interest to understand how overexpression of SNCA affects neuronal function in regions not directly targeted for neurodegeneration in PD. To gain a better understanding of the consequences of excessive SNCA expression on basal ganglia function, we performed transcriptome analysis of striatal tissue from male Thy1-aSyn-mice and wt littermates. The present study investigated the consequences of SNCA overexpression on cellular processes and functions in the striatum of mice overexpressing wild-type, human SNCA under the Thy1 promoter (Thy1-aSyn mice) by transcriptome analysis. The analysis revealed alterations in multiple biological processes in the striatum of Thy1-aSyn mice, including synaptic plasticity, signaling, transcription, apoptosis, and neurogenesis. The present study investigated the consequences of SNCA overexpression on cellular processes and functions in the striatum of mice overexpressing wild-type, human SNCA under the Thy1 promoter (Thy1-aSyn mice) by transcriptome analysis. The analysis revealed alterations in multiple biological processes in the striatum of Thy1-aSyn mice, including synaptic plasticity, signaling, transcription, apoptosis, and neurogenesis. Animal care was conducted in accordance with the U. S. Public Health Service Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and procedures were approved by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), I.A.C.U. Committee. Transgenic (tg) mice overexpressing human wt SNCA under the Thy-1 promoter (Thy1-aSyn) created previously in a mixed C57BL/6-DBA background were kept in this background by breeding mutant females with wt males. Only male mice were used in the study. The genotype of all tg and wt mice was verified by PCR analysis of tail DNA. Animals were maintained on a 12 hr light/dark cycle with free access to water and food. Six-month old male Thy1-aSyn and wt littermates were sacrificed by decapitation. For microarray analysis, whole striata from each hemisphere were immediately dissected and pooled for each brain. Tissue was permeated in RNAlater (Qiagen, Valencia, CA), frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at - 80º C until used for RNA preparation. For PCR verification of transcriptional changes and for protein extracts preparation, brains from 5 male Thy1-aSyn and 5 wt littermates were obtained as above but then the brains were placed in a metal brain mold with grooves to ensure reproducible cutting of thick brain slices. A first coronal cut was made with a razor blade to remove the frontal part of the brain (at bregma + 1mm, at the anterior level of striatum). The following 1mm coronal slice (including the striatum but no globus pallidus) was used to dissect out striatal tissue. A horizontal cut was made through the anterior commissures to exclude the nucleus accumbens. One cube of striatum was dissected out from each hemisphere, taking care not to include any corpus callosum, choroid plexus, or subventricular zone. Samples were stored at -80º C until further processing. Total RNA was extracted from striata of Thy1-aSyn and wt littermates (all males) with Trizol (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA), followed by a clean-up step with RNeasy columns (Qiagen) and RNA integrity check using a Bioanalyzer (Agilent Tech., Foster city, CA). RNA samples were pooled, one pool representing the six control wt mice and the other representing the six SNCA overexpressing animals. After synthesis, using Superscript (Invitrogen) and labeling using the ENZO labeling kit (Affymetrix Inc., Santa Clara, CA), cRNA probes were hybridized to mouse MOE-430A GeneChip arrays (Affymetrix) following the manufacturer’s protocol at the UCLA microarray core facility. Significant differential gene expression between pooled tg and wt samples was ascertained by estimation of signal log2 ratios (or fold changes in expression values), after quality control checks, data normalization and estimating expression values using the Affymetrix Microarray Suite 5.0 Software (MAS 5.0). After pairwise comparisons and filtering of this gene list using the following criteria: change p-value <0.005 for induce genes, change p-value > 0.995 for decreased genes, signal log2 ratio > 0.6 (> 1.52 fold change), excluding probes called absent in both groups, a list of differentially expressed genes was generated. We used various statistical softwares and databases to ascertain pathways affected by overexpression of SNCA that are associated with overrepresented genes in this gene list, including, the functional annotation tools accessible through DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery, http://david.abcc.ncifcrf.gov )
2012-02-11 | E-GEOD-35723 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Alpha-synuclein (aSyn) is a central player in the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies due to its accumulation in typical protein aggregates in the brain. However, it is still unclear how it contributes to neurodegeneration. Type-2 diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease (PD) and, interestingly, a common molecular alteration among these disorders is the age-associated increase in protein glycation. We hypothesized that glycation-induced neuronal dysfunction might be a contributing factor in synucleinopathies. Here, we dissected the specific impact of methylglyoxal (MGO, a glycating agent) in mice overexpressing aSyn in the brain. We found that MGO-glycation potentiates motor, cognitive, olfactory, and colonic dysfunction in aSyn transgenic (Thy1-aSyn) mice that received a single dose of MGO via intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection. aSyn accumulates in the midbrain, striatum, and prefrontal cortex, and protein glycation is increased in the cerebellum and midbrain. SWATH mass spectrometry analysis, used to quantify changes in the brain proteome, revealed that MGO mainly increase glutamatergic-associated proteins in the midbrain (NMDA, AMPA, glutaminase, VGLUT and EAAT1), but not in the prefrontal cortex, where it mainly affects the electron transport chain. Notably, the glycated proteins in the midbrain of Thy1-aSyn mice that received MGO strongly correlate with PD and dopaminergic pathways. Overall, we demonstrated that MGO-induced glycation accelerates PD-like sensorimotor and cognitive alterations and suggest that the increase of glutamatergic signaling may underly these events. Our study sheds new light into the enhanced vulnerability of the midbrain in PD-related synaptic dysfunction and suggests that glycation suppressors and anti-glutamatergic drugs may hold promise as disease-modifying therapies for synucleinopathies.
2022-05-20 | PXD032832 | Pride
Project description:A growing body of evidence suggests that nuclear alpha-synuclein (aSyn) plays a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, this question has been difficult to address as controlling the localization of aSyn in experimental systems often requires protein overexpression, which affects its aggregation propensity. To overcome this, we engineered Snca-NLS mice which localize endogenous aSyn to the nucleus. We characterized these mice on a behavioral, histological, and biochemical level to determine whether the increase of nuclear aSyn is sufficient to elicit PD-like phenotypes. SncaNLS mice exhibit age-dependent motor deficits and altered gastrointestinal function. We found that these phenotypes were not linked to aSyn aggregation or phosphorylation. Through histological analyses, we observed motor cortex atrophy in the absence of midbrain dopaminergic neurodegeneration. We sampled cortical proteomes of Snca-NLS mice and controls to determine the molecular underpinnings of these pathologies. Interestingly, we found several dysregulated proteins involved in dopaminergic signalling, including Darpp32, Pde10a, and Gng7, which we further confirmed was decreased in cortical samples of the Snca-NLS mice compared to controls. These results suggest that chronic endogenous nuclear aSyn can elicit toxic phenotypes in mice, independent of its aggregation. This model raises key questions related to the mechanism of aSyn toxicity in PD and provides a new model to study an underappreciated aspect of PD pathogenesis.
2022-04-06 | PXD032065 | Pride
Project description:Parkinsonâs disease (PD), the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder at old age, can be caused by elevated expression, or the A53T mutation, of the presynaptic protein alpha-synuclein (SNCA). PD is characterized pathologically by the preferential vulnerability of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal projection neurons. Here, we used two mouse lines overexpressing human A53T-SNCA around ages 6 and 18 months and studied striatal dysfunction in the absence of neurodegeneration to understand early disease mechanisms. High pressure liquid chromatography analysis of striatal neurotransmitter content demonstrated that dopamine (DA) levels correlated directly with the level of expression of SNCA, an observation also observed in SNCA deficient mice. In the striatum of aged A53TSNCA overexpressing mice, where DA levels were elevated, a paradoxical upregulation of dopamine receptors DRD1A and DRD2 was detected by immunoblots and autoradiography, findings compatible with the notion of abnormal vesicle release. Extensive transcriptome studies via microarrays and quantitative real-time RT-PCR validation of altered Homer1, Cb1, Atf2 and Pde7b transcript levels indicated a progressive reduction in the postsynaptic DA response. As functional consequences, long term depression was absent in corticostriatal slices from aged transgenic mice and an insidious decrease of spontaneous locomotor activity of these animals was found in open field tests. Taken together, the dysfunctional neurotransmission and decreased synaptic plasticity seen in the A53T-SNCA overexpressing mice reflects early functional changes within the basal ganglia resulting from synucleinopathy prior to frank neurodegeneration. Thus, preclinical stages of PD may be modeled in this mouse. Parkinsonâs disease (PD), the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder at old age, can be caused by elevated expression, or the A53T mutation, of the presynaptic protein alpha-synuclein (SNCA). PD is characterized pathologically by the preferential vulnerability of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal projection neurons. Here, we used two mouse lines overexpressing human A53T-SNCA around ages 6 and 18 months and studied striatal dysfunction in the absence of neurodegeneration to understand early disease mechanisms. High pressure liquid chromatography analysis of striatal neurotransmitter content demonstrated that dopamine (DA) levels correlated directly with the level of expression of SNCA, an observation also observed in SNCA deficient mice. In the striatum of aged A53TSNCA overexpressing mice, where DA levels were elevated, a paradoxical upregulation of dopamine receptors DRD1A and DRD2 was detected by immunoblots and autoradiography, findings compatible with the notion of abnormal vesicle release. Extensive transcriptome studies via microarrays and quantitative real-time RT-PCR validation of altered Homer1, Cb1, Atf2 and Pde7b transcript levels indicated a progressive reduction in the postsynaptic DA response. As functional consequences, long term depression was absent in corticostriatal slices from aged transgenic mice and an insidious decrease of spontaneous locomotor activity of these animals was found in open field tests. Taken together, the dysfunctional neurotransmission and decreased synaptic plasticity seen in the A53T-SNCA overexpressing mice reflects early functional changes within the basal ganglia resulting from synucleinopathy prior to frank neurodegeneration. Thus, preclinical stages of PD may be modeled in this mouse. Tissue was dissected from the brain of 6 months old (2 WT / 2 TgA / 2 TgB striata, 2 WT / 2 TgA / 2 TgB brainstems/midbrains, 2 WT / 2 TgA / 2 TgB cerebella) and of 18+ months old mice (4 WT / 2 TgA / 2 TgB striata, 6 WT / 4 TgA / 3 TgB brainstems/midbrains, 6 WT / 5 TgA / 4 TgB cerebella). Tissues from individual, particularly old mice up to 28 months age were included here to strengthen the definition of progression markers reflecting old age.
2010-05-27 | E-GEOD-20547 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Parkinson’s disease (PD), the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder at old age, can be caused by elevated expression, or the A53T mutation, of the presynaptic protein alpha-synuclein (SNCA). PD is characterized pathologically by the preferential vulnerability of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal projection neurons. Here, we used two mouse lines overexpressing human A53T-SNCA around ages 6 and 18 months and studied striatal dysfunction in the absence of neurodegeneration to understand early disease mechanisms. High pressure liquid chromatography analysis of striatal neurotransmitter content demonstrated that dopamine (DA) levels correlated directly with the level of expression of SNCA, an observation also observed in SNCA deficient mice. In the striatum of aged A53TSNCA overexpressing mice, where DA levels were elevated, a paradoxical upregulation of dopamine receptors DRD1A and DRD2 was detected by immunoblots and autoradiography, findings compatible with the notion of abnormal vesicle release. Extensive transcriptome studies via microarrays and quantitative real-time RT-PCR validation of altered Homer1, Cb1, Atf2 and Pde7b transcript levels indicated a progressive reduction in the postsynaptic DA response. As functional consequences, long term depression was absent in corticostriatal slices from aged transgenic mice and an insidious decrease of spontaneous locomotor activity of these animals was found in open field tests. Taken together, the dysfunctional neurotransmission and decreased synaptic plasticity seen in the A53T-SNCA overexpressing mice reflects early functional changes within the basal ganglia resulting from synucleinopathy prior to frank neurodegeneration. Thus, preclinical stages of PD may be modeled in this mouse. Parkinson’s disease (PD), the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder at old age, can be caused by elevated expression, or the A53T mutation, of the presynaptic protein alpha-synuclein (SNCA). PD is characterized pathologically by the preferential vulnerability of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal projection neurons. Here, we used two mouse lines overexpressing human A53T-SNCA around ages 6 and 18 months and studied striatal dysfunction in the absence of neurodegeneration to understand early disease mechanisms. High pressure liquid chromatography analysis of striatal neurotransmitter content demonstrated that dopamine (DA) levels correlated directly with the level of expression of SNCA, an observation also observed in SNCA deficient mice. In the striatum of aged A53TSNCA overexpressing mice, where DA levels were elevated, a paradoxical upregulation of dopamine receptors DRD1A and DRD2 was detected by immunoblots and autoradiography, findings compatible with the notion of abnormal vesicle release. Extensive transcriptome studies via microarrays and quantitative real-time RT-PCR validation of altered Homer1, Cb1, Atf2 and Pde7b transcript levels indicated a progressive reduction in the postsynaptic DA response. As functional consequences, long term depression was absent in corticostriatal slices from aged transgenic mice and an insidious decrease of spontaneous locomotor activity of these animals was found in open field tests. Taken together, the dysfunctional neurotransmission and decreased synaptic plasticity seen in the A53T-SNCA overexpressing mice reflects early functional changes within the basal ganglia resulting from synucleinopathy prior to frank neurodegeneration. Thus, preclinical stages of PD may be modeled in this mouse.
2010-05-01 | GSE20547 | GEO
Project description:Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study tested the hypothesis that the dipeptide carnosine would exert a beneficial effect in the Thy1-aSyn mouse model of PD, which displays mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial function and gene expression were evaluated in the midbrain after two months of carnosine administration by intranasal (IN) or drinking water routes of exposure. IN carnosine attenuated transcriptional changes in the midbrain in Thy1-aSyn mice. Additionally, IN-carnosine increased expression of mitochondria complexes and enhanced mitochondrial function, suggesting a potential neuroprotective role for IN-carnosine in PD.
2018-12-31 | GSE115769 | GEO
Project description:Elevated alpha-synuclein (SNCA) gene expression is associated with transcriptional deregulation and increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, which may be partially ameliorated by environmental enrichment. At the molecular level, emerging evidence indicates that excess alpha-synuclein protein (aSyn) impacts the epigenome through direct and/or indirect mechanisms. However, the extents to which both aSyn and the environment converge at the epigenome and whether epigenetic alterations underpin the preventive effects of environmental factors on transcription remain to be elucidated. Here, we profiled five DNA and histone modifications in the hippocampus of wild-type and transgenic mice overexpressing human SNCA. Mice of each genotype were housed under either standard conditions or in an enriched environment (EE) for 12 months. SNCA overexpression induced similar hippocampal DNA hydroxymethylation and H3K27 acetylation changes in both environments, and was associated with environment-dependent changes to H3K4 methylation. These H3K4 methylation changes included loci where the EE ameliorated the impacts of the transgene as well as loci resistant to the effects of environmental enrichment in transgenic mice. In addition, select H3K4 monomethylation alterations were associated with changes in mRNA expression. Our results suggested an environment-dependent impact of excess aSyn on some functionally relevant parts of the epigenome, and will ultimately enhance our understanding of the molecular etiology of Parkinson’s disease and other synucleinopathies.
2023-04-08 | GSE228961 | GEO
Project description:Parkinsonâs disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are the two most common examples of synucleinopathies, i.e. human disorders that display intracellular deposition of the Alpha-synuclein (aSYN) protein. The two forms of aSYN deposits, intracellular Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, are in the PD brain primarily found in the substantia nigra whereas in DLB brains they are diffusely spread in cortical and limbic areas. We are currently analyzing the protective effects on aSYN pathology by the molecular chaperone hsp70 in mice overexpressing wildtype human aSYN. Moreover, transgenic mice overexpressing hsp70 have been cross-bred with the aSYN mouse line. Intriguingly, the aSYN / hsp70 double transgenics display a pronounced reduction in biochemically assessed aSYN aggregation. Gene expression of these mice will not only provide insight into the disease mechanisms of aSYN pathology but its prevention by the overexpression of hsp70, leading to new potential avenues of treatment. Project 1: To investigate and compare alterations in gene expression profiles of brains from wild-type mice and mice overexpressing wildtype human aSYN, human hsp70 and aSYN / hsp70, respectively. The comparison of the expression profiles of the groups of mice: aSYN, Hsp70, aSYN/ Hsp70 and non-transgenic littermates will help to identify the genes that are involved in the mediation of aggregation toxicity of aSYN expression as well as the genes that may mediate an attenuation of aSYN pathology in hsp70-coexpressors. Project 1: Selection of animals Mice of 4 month old (n=6) of age of each background (aSYN, Hsp70, aSYN/ Hsp70 and non-transgenic littermates) will be used for RNA-extraction for a total of 24 mice. Preparation of samples For the proposed experiments, we will use the recommended procedures, as outlined by the consortium, for extracting and purifying RNA from whole brain homogenate. Briefly, RNA will be extracted by the trizol method and purified by using the RNeasy MinElute Cleanup (QIAGEN Inc., USA). RNA labeling and hybridization procedures will be carried out by the microarray consortium. SPECIAL NOTE: The samples will be sent upon availability. Gene Expression Microarray Analysis Six mice will be included in each group per timepoint to generate statistically testable data and limit the possible confound of individual mouse gene expression variations. The genome expression will be evaluated through the use of the GeneChip® Mouse Genome 430 2.0 Array (Affymetrix) for each individual mouse constituting a total of 24 arrays for the proposed study. Gene expression data interpretation will be assisted by the Microarray Consortium Center bioinformatics core.
2008-06-13 | E-GEOD-4758 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:We sought to more precisely characterize the different alpha-synuclein (aSyn) 3M-bM-^@M-^YUTR mRNA species in normal and PD human brain. High-throughput, whole-transcriptome sequencing of the 3M-bM-^@M-^YUTR ends of polyadenylated mRNA transcripts (termed pA-RNAseq; see Methods) was performed on a cohort of 17 unaffected and 17 PD cerebral cortical tissue samples. This revealed 5 aSyn 3M-bM-^@M-^YUTR isoforms, with lengths of 290, 480, 560, 1070 and 2520 nt. Of these, the 560 nt and 2520 nt forms were predominant. The existence and relative preponderance of these species was further confirmed by Northern Blot. We next hypothesized, that aSyn 3M-bM-^@M-^YUTR selection might be altered in PD. Comparison of pA-RNAseq profiles from PD and unaffected cerebral cortex samples revealed an increase in the preponderance of the long 3M-bM-^@M-^YUTR species (>560 nt) relative to shorter species (<560 nt). Such a relative increase in aSynL was confirmed by Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (rt-qPCR) and appeared specific for PD, as the increase was also observed by comparison to RNA from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient samples. We note that the modified aSyn 3M-bM-^@M-^YUTR selection associated with PD patient tissue was detected in cerebral cortex tissue, which typically harbors pathological evidence of the disease process without frank cell loss; thus, this phenotype is unlikely to be a secondary consequence of neurodegeneration. Comparison of 3'UTR ends of alpha-synuclein in PD and unaffected brain cortex
2012-10-04 | E-GEOD-40710 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Several genetic and environmental risk factors for Parkinson’s disease have been identified that converge on mitochondria as central elements in the disease process. However, the mechanisms by which mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to neurodegeneration remain incompletely understood. Non-bioenergetic pathways of the mitochondria are increasingly appreciated, but confounding bioenergetic defects are a major barrier to experimental validation. Here, we describe a novel bioenergetics-independent mechanism by which mild mitochondrial protein import stress augments neurodegeneration. We induced this mitochondrial protein import stress in an established mouse model of Parkinson’s disease expressing the A53T mutated form of human alpha-synuclein (SNCA). Mice with import stress in addition to the A53T mutation demonstrated increased size of SNCA aggregates, co-aggregation of mitochondrial preproteins with SNCA protein, worsened neurodegeneration and changes in gene expression, as determined by whole-transcriptome RNA-sequencing analysis of the forebrain (striatum), cerebellum, spinal cord, as well as heart and skeletal muscle.
2023-10-08 | GSE236975 | GEO