Project description:RNA sequencing of skeletal muscle biopsies from healthy controls and Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA) patients before and after treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhuEPO) to dissect the mechanisms of disease.
Project description:ObjectiveIn Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), the most affected tissues are not accessible to sampling and available transcriptomic findings originate from blood-derived cells and animal models. Herein, we aimed at dissecting for the first time the pathophysiology of FRDA by means of RNA-sequencing in an affected tissue sampled in vivo.MethodsSkeletal muscle biopsies were collected from seven FRDA patients before and after treatment with recombinant human Erythropoietin (rhuEPO) within a clinical trial. Total RNA extraction, 3'-mRNA library preparation and sequencing were performed according to standard procedures. We tested for differential gene expression with DESeq2 and performed gene set enrichment analysis with respect to control subjects.ResultsFRDA transcriptomes showed 1873 genes differentially expressed from controls. Two main signatures emerged: (1) a global downregulation of the mitochondrial transcriptome as well as of ribosome/translational machinery and (2) an upregulation of genes related to transcription and chromatin regulation, especially of repressor terms. Downregulation of the mitochondrial transcriptome was more profound than previously shown in other cellular systems. Furthermore, we observed in FRDA patients a marked upregulation of leptin, the master regulator of energy homeostasis. RhuEPO treatment further enhanced leptin expression.InterpretationOur findings reflect a double hit in the pathophysiology of FRDA: a transcriptional/translational issue and a profound mitochondrial failure downstream. Leptin upregulation in the skeletal muscle in FRDA may represent a compensatory mechanism of mitochondrial dysfunction, which is amenable to pharmacological boosting. Skeletal muscle transcriptomics is a valuable biomarker to monitor therapeutic interventions in FRDA.
Project description:Friedreich´s Ataxia (FRDA) is a severe neuromuscular disorder caused by a deficiency of the mitochondrial protein frataxin. While some aspects of FRDA pathology are developmental, the causes underlying the steady progression are unclear. The inaccessibility of key affected tissues to sampling is a main hurdle. Skeletal muscle displays a disease phenotype and may be sampled in vivo to address open questions on FRDA pathophysiology. We performed a mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics analysis in gastrocnemius skeletal muscle biopsies from genetically confirmed FRDA patients (n=5) and controls. Our data corroborate a predominant mitochondrial biosignature of FRDA, which extends beyond a mere oxidative phosphorylation failure. Skeletal muscle proteomics highlighted a derangement of mitochondrial architecture and maintenance pathways and an adaptative metabolic shift of contractile proteins. The present findings are relevant for the design of future therapeutic strategies and highlight the value of skeletal muscle -omics as disease state readout in FRDA.
Project description:Functional genomic analysis of frataxin deficiency reveals tissue-specific alterations and identifies the PPARγ pathway as a therapeutic target in Friedreich's ataxia Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), the most common inherited ataxia, is characterized by focal neurodegeneration, diabetes mellitus, and life-threatening cardiomyopathy. Frataxin, which is significantly reduced in patients with this recessive disorder, is a mitochondrial iron-binding protein, but how its deficiency leads to neurodegeneration and metabolic derangements is not known. We performed microarray analysis of heart and skeletal muscle in a mouse model of frataxin deficiency, and found molecular evidence of increased lipogenesis in skeletal muscle, and alteration of fiber-type composition in heart, consistent with insulin resistance and cardiomyopathy, respectively. Since the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) pathway is known to regulate both processes, we hypothesized that dysregulation of this pathway could play a key role in frataxin deficiency. We confirmed this by showing a coordinate dysregulation of the PPARγ coactivator Pgc1a and transcription factor Srebp1 in cellular and animal models of frataxin deficiency, and in cells from FRDA patients, who have marked insulin resistance. Finally, we show that genetic modulation of the PPARγ pathway affects frataxin levels in vitro, supporting PPARγ as a novel therapeutic target in FRDA. To compare frataxin deficient (KIKO) mice vs. WT, heart, skeletal muscle, and liver.
Project description:Functional genomic analysis of frataxin deficiency reveals tissue-specific alterations and identifies the PPARγ pathway as a therapeutic target in Friedreich's ataxia Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), the most common inherited ataxia, is characterized by focal neurodegeneration, diabetes mellitus, and life-threatening cardiomyopathy. Frataxin, which is significantly reduced in patients with this recessive disorder, is a mitochondrial iron-binding protein, but how its deficiency leads to neurodegeneration and metabolic derangements is not known. We performed microarray analysis of heart and skeletal muscle in a mouse model of frataxin deficiency, and found molecular evidence of increased lipogenesis in skeletal muscle, and alteration of fiber-type composition in heart, consistent with insulin resistance and cardiomyopathy, respectively. Since the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) pathway is known to regulate both processes, we hypothesized that dysregulation of this pathway could play a key role in frataxin deficiency. We confirmed this by showing a coordinate dysregulation of the PPARγ coactivator Pgc1a and transcription factor Srebp1 in cellular and animal models of frataxin deficiency, and in cells from FRDA patients, who have marked insulin resistance. Finally, we show that genetic modulation of the PPARγ pathway affects frataxin levels in vitro, supporting PPARγ as a novel therapeutic target in FRDA. To compare frataxin deficient (KIKO) mice vs. WT, heart and skeletal muscle. Three replicates (KIKO vs WT), with dye swap
Project description:In our chemogenetic neurovacular mouse model, DRGs transcriptomic analysis was performed by RNA-seq; Oxidative stress is associated with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease. We created transgenic chemogenetic mouse lines expressing yeast D-amino oxidase (DAAO) in endothelial cells and neurons. DAAO generates hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in target tissues when mice are provided with D-amino acids, causing oxidative stress. DAAO-TGCdh5 transgenic mice express DAAO under control of the putatively endothelial-specific Cdh5 promoter. We provided these mice with D-alanine¬– expecting a vascular phenotype– but found that the mice develop sensory ataxia and neurodegeneration in dorsal root ganglia (DRG), associated with transgene expression within DRG neurons; electron microscopy revealed distorted mitochondria. DAAO-TGCdh5 mice also develop cardiac hypertrophy in response to chemogenetic oxidative stress, and we discovered transgene expression in parasympathetic nodose ganglia innervating the heart. We developed and characterized another transgenic line expressing DAAO under control of a different endothelial cell-specific Tie2 promoter. DAAO-TGTie2 mice express the transgene in endothelium but not neurons, and develop neither ataxia nor cardiac hypertrophy. The combination of ataxia, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cardiac hypertrophy is similar to findings in patients with Friedreich's Ataxia. Our observations confirm that neurovascular oxidative stress is sufficient to cause sensory ataxia and cardiac hypertrophy, and identify the DAAO-TGCdh5 mouse as a potentially informative animal model for Friedreich’s Ataxia.
Project description:Frataxin, a conserved mitochondrial protein involved in iron homeostasis, is reduced in patients with Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA). Transcription profiling and DNA damage assays were performed on blood cells from FRDA patients. Altered expression patterns pertained to immune response, signaling pathways, transcription, apoptosis, and genotoxic stress response pathways. FRDA patients had significantly more mitochondrial and nuclear DNA damage than a control population. Frataxin mRNA levels correlated with age of onset and displayed unique sets of gene alterations involved in oxidative phosphorylation and protein synthesis. Thus analysis of blood in FRDA patients yields insight into the nature and progression of the disease, as well as potential therapeutic approaches. Keywords: Friedreich's ataxia; frataxin; mitochondrial DNA damage; nuclear DNA damage; genotoxic stress
Project description:Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA; OMIM 229300), an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative mitochondrial disease, is the most prevalent hereditary ataxia. In addition, FRDA patients showed additional non-neurological features such as scoliosis, diabetes and cardiac complications. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is found in two thirds of patients at the time of diagnosis, is the primary cause of death in these patients. In this data set, using small RNA-sequencing of small RNA purified from plasma samples of FRDA patients and controls we identified differential expression of miRNAs (hsa-miR-128-3p, hsa-miR-625-3p, hsa-miR-130b-5p, hsa-miR-151a-5p, hsa-miR-330-3p, hsa-miR-323a-3p, and hsa-miR-142-3p) between both groups. In addition, we found that miR-323a-3p can be used as a biomarker for differentiation of FRDA patients with cardiac problems. Identification of miRNA signatures could therefore provide new molecular explanation for pathological mechanisms occurring during the natural history of the FRDA. Since miRNA levels change with disease progression and pharmacological interventions, miRNAs will contribute to design new therapeutic strategies and improve clinical decisions. Plama miRNA profiles of 25 Friedreich's ataxia patients and 17 healthy subjects were generated by deep sequencing using Illumina HiScan SQ.
Project description:Functional genomic analysis of frataxin deficiency reveals tissue-specific alterations and identifies the PPARγ pathway as a therapeutic target in Friedreich's ataxia Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), the most common inherited ataxia, is characterized by focal neurodegeneration, diabetes mellitus, and life-threatening cardiomyopathy. Frataxin, which is significantly reduced in patients with this recessive disorder, is a mitochondrial iron-binding protein, but how its deficiency leads to neurodegeneration and metabolic derangements is not known. We performed microarray analysis of heart and skeletal muscle in a mouse model of frataxin deficiency, and found molecular evidence of increased lipogenesis in skeletal muscle, and alteration of fiber-type composition in heart, consistent with insulin resistance and cardiomyopathy, respectively. Since the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) pathway is known to regulate both processes, we hypothesized that dysregulation of this pathway could play a key role in frataxin deficiency. We confirmed this by showing a coordinate dysregulation of the PPARγ coactivator Pgc1a and transcription factor Srebp1 in cellular and animal models of frataxin deficiency, and in cells from FRDA patients, who have marked insulin resistance. Finally, we show that genetic modulation of the PPARγ pathway affects frataxin levels in vitro, supporting PPARγ as a novel therapeutic target in FRDA.
Project description:Functional genomic analysis of frataxin deficiency reveals tissue-specific alterations and identifies the PPARγ pathway as a therapeutic target in Friedreich's ataxia Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), the most common inherited ataxia, is characterized by focal neurodegeneration, diabetes mellitus, and life-threatening cardiomyopathy. Frataxin, which is significantly reduced in patients with this recessive disorder, is a mitochondrial iron-binding protein, but how its deficiency leads to neurodegeneration and metabolic derangements is not known. We performed microarray analysis of heart and skeletal muscle in a mouse model of frataxin deficiency, and found molecular evidence of increased lipogenesis in skeletal muscle, and alteration of fiber-type composition in heart, consistent with insulin resistance and cardiomyopathy, respectively. Since the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) pathway is known to regulate both processes, we hypothesized that dysregulation of this pathway could play a key role in frataxin deficiency. We confirmed this by showing a coordinate dysregulation of the PPARγ coactivator Pgc1a and transcription factor Srebp1 in cellular and animal models of frataxin deficiency, and in cells from FRDA patients, who have marked insulin resistance. Finally, we show that genetic modulation of the PPARγ pathway affects frataxin levels in vitro, supporting PPARγ as a novel therapeutic target in FRDA.