Fas small interfering RNA reduces motoneuron death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice

OBJECTIVE: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective motoneuron death. Understanding of the molecular mechanisms that trigger and regulate motoneuron degeneration could be relevant to ALS and other motoneuron disorders. This study investigates the role of Fas-linked motoneuron death in the pathogenesis of ALS. METHODS: We performed in vitro and in vivo small interfering RNA-mediated interference, by silencing the Fas receptor on motoneurons that carry the superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1)-G93A mutation. RESULTS: We observed a significant reduction in Fas expression at messenger RNA (p < 0.001) and protein levels. Treated motoneurons demonstrated an increase in survival and a reduction in cytochrome c release from mitochondria. In vivo, continuous intrathecal administration of Fas small interfering RNA by an osmotic minipump improved motor function and survival in SOD1-G93A mice (mean increase, 18 days; p < 0.0001). Treated mice showed a significant reduction in Fas and Fas mediators p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, neuronal nitric oxide synthase, and caspase-8. INTERPRETATION: Fas silencing interferes with motoneuron-specific downstream death pathways and results in increased motoneuron survival and amelioration of the SOD1-G93A phenotype, suggesting new possible strategies for molecular therapy of ALS.     

Extracellular mutant SOD1 induces microglial‐mediated motoneuron injury

Through undefined mechanisms, dominant mutations in (Cu/Zn) superoxide dismutase‐1 (mSOD1) cause the non‐cell‐autonomous death of motoneurons in inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Microgliosis at sites of motoneuron injury is a neuropathological hallmark of ALS. Extracellular mutant SOD1 (mSOD1) causes motoneuron injury and triggers microgliosis in spinal cord cultures, but it is unclear whether the injury results from extracellular mSOD1 directly interacting with motoneurons or is mediated through mSOD1‐activated microglia. To dissociate these potential mSOD1‐mediated neurotoxic mechanisms, the effects of extracellular human mSOD1^G93A or mSOD1^G85R were assayed using primary cultures of motoneurons and microglia. The data demonstrate that exogenous mSOD1^G93A did not cause detectable direct killing of motoneurons. In contrast, mSOD1^G93A or mSOD1^G85R did induce the morphological and functional activation of microglia, increasing their release of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and free radicals. Furthermore, only when microglia was co‐cultured with motoneurons did extracellular mSOD1^G93A injure motoneurons. The microglial activation mediated by mSOD1^G93A was attenuated using toll‐like receptors (TLR) 2, TLR4 and CD14 blocking antibodies, or when microglia lacked CD14 expression. These data suggest that extracellular mSOD1^G93A is not directly toxic to motoneurons but requires microglial activation for toxicity, utilizing CD14 and TLR pathways. This link between mSOD1 and innate immunity may offer novel therapeutic targets in ALS. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Axotomy‐induced target disconnection promotes an additional death mechanism involved in motoneuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis transgenic mice

The target disconnection theory of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis suggests that disease onset is initiated by a peripheral pathological event resulting in neuromuscular junction loss and motoneuron (MN) degeneration. Presymptomatic mSOD1^G93A mouse facial MN (FMN) are more susceptible to axotomy‐induced cell death than wild‐type (WT) FMN, which suggests additional CNS pathology. We have previously determined that the mSOD1 molecular response to facial nerve axotomy is phenotypically regenerative and indistinguishable from WT, whereas the surrounding microenvironment shows significant dysregulation in the mSOD1 facial nucleus. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the enhanced mSOD1 FMN loss after axotomy, we superimposed the facial nerve axotomy model on presymptomatic mSOD1 mice and investigated gene expression for death receptor pathways after target disconnection by axotomy vs. disease progression. We determined that the TNFR1 death receptor pathway is involved in axotomy‐induced FMN death in WT and is partially responsible for the mSOD1 FMN death. In contrast, an inherent mSOD1 CNS pathology resulted in a suppressed glial reaction and an upregulation in the Fas death pathway after target disconnection. We propose that the dysregulated mSOD1 glia fail to provide support the injured MN, leading to Fas‐induced FMN death. Finally, we demonstrate that, during disease progression, the mSOD1 facial nucleus displays target disconnection‐induced gene expression changes that mirror those induced by axotomy. This validates the use of axotomy as an investigative tool in understanding the role of peripheral target disconnection in the pathogenesis of ALS. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:2349–2376, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Resveratrol Improves Motoneuron Function and Extends Survival in SOD1G93A ALS Mice

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult onset neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive paralysis and death due to degeneration of motoneurons in spinal cord, brainstem and motor cortex. Nowadays, there is no effective therapy and patients die 2–5 years after diagnosis. Resveratrol (trans-3,4′,5-trihydroxystilbene) is a natural polyphenol found in grapes, with promising neuroprotective effects since it induces expression and activation of several neuroprotective pathways involving Sirtuin1 and AMPK. The objective of this work was to assess the effect of resveratrol administration on SOD1^G93A ALS mice. We determined the onset of symptoms by rotarod test and evaluated upper and lower motoneuron function using electrophysiological tests. We assessed the survival of the animals and determined the number of spinal motoneurons. Finally, we further investigated resveratrol mechanism of action by means of western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. Resveratrol treatment from 8 weeks of age significantly delayed disease onset and preserved lower and upper motoneuron function in female and male animals. Moreover, resveratrol significantly extended SOD1^G93A mice lifespan and promoted survival of spinal motoneurons. Delayed resveratrol administration from 12 weeks of age also improved spinal motoneuron function preservation and survival. Further experiments revealed that resveratrol protective effects were associated with increased expression and activation of Sirtuin 1 and AMPK in the ventral spinal cord. Both mediators promoted normalization of the autophagic flux and, more importantly, increased mitochondrial biogenesis in the SOD1^G93A spinal cord. Taken together, our findings suggest that resveratrol may represent a promising therapy for ALS.     

Peripheral axotomy slows motoneuron degeneration in a transgenic mouse line expressing mutant SOD1 G93A.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that involves motoneuron degeneration, paralysis, and death. Mutations in Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) are one cause of this disease. It has been a puzzle as to why mutations in SOD1, an enzyme expressed in many neuronal types, selectively kill motoneurons. To begin to explore the factors that determine this selectivity, we carried out peripheral axotomy in mice expressing a mutant SOD1 (G93A mice) and controls (nontransgenic mice and mice expressing wild-type human SOD1). Axotomy in controls induced a predicted axonal atrophy and a small degree of axon loss. The axonal atrophy led to an increase in the number of small axons and a decrease in the number of large axons. In contrast to the controls, axotomy in G93A mice reduced the extent of axon degeneration at the end stage of the disease, leading to an increase in the number of surviving motor axons. Interestingly, all of the increased surviving axons were in the axon group with diameters smaller than 4.5 microm. This result suggests an apparent threshold of vulnerability that is correlated with axon size.     

Transformation from a neuroprotective to a neurotoxic microglial phenotype in a mouse model of ALS

Neuroinflammation is a prominent pathological feature in the spinal cords of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as in transgenic mouse models of inherited ALS, and is characterized by activated microglia. Earlier studies showed that activated microglia play important roles in both motoneuron protection and injury. More recent studies investigating the pathoprogression of disease in ALS mice have demonstrated that the in vivo activation states of microglia, including their anti- versus pro-inflammatory responses, are best characterized as a continuum between two extreme activation states which are represented as a neuroprotective M2 (alternatively-activated) phenotypic state or an injurious/toxic M1 (classically-activated) state; a more complete understanding and determination the temporal transformation of microglia activation states in the ALS disease pathoprogression is therefore warranted. In the current study, we demonstrated a phenotypic and functional transformation of adult ALS mice microglia that overexpress mutant superoxide dismutase (mSOD1). mSOD1 microglia isolated from ALS mice at disease onset expressed higher levels of Ym1, CD163 and BDNF (markers of M2) mRNA and lower levels of Nox2 (a marker of M1) mRNA compared with mSOD1 microglia isolated from ALS mice at end-stage disease. More importantly, when co-cultured with motoneurons, these mSOD1 M2 microglia were neuroprotective and enhanced motoneuron survival than similarly co-cultured mSOD1 M1 microglia; end-stage mSOD1 M1 microglia were toxic to motoneurons. Our study documents that adult microglia isolated from ALS mice at disease onset have an M2 phenotype and protect motoneurons whereas microglia isolated from end-stage disease ALS mice have adopted an M1 phenotype and are neurotoxic supporting the dual phenotypes of microglia and their transformation during disease pathoprogression in these mice. Thus, harnessing the neuroprotective potential of microglia may provide novel avenues for ALS therapies.     

Motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutant superoxide dismutase-1 transgenic mice: mechanisms of mitochondriopathy and cell death

The mechanisms of human mutant superoxide dismutase-1 (mSOD1) toxicity to motor neurons (MNs) are unresolved. We show that MNs in G93A-mSOD1 transgenic mice undergo slow degeneration lacking similarity to apoptosis structurally and biochemically. It is characterized by somal and mitochondrial swelling and formation of DNA single-strand breaks prior to double-strand breaks occurring in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. p53 and p73 are activated in degenerating MNs, but without nuclear import. The MN death is independent of activation of caspases-1, -3, and -8 or apoptosis-inducing factor within MNs, with a blockade of apoptosis possibly mediated by Aven up-regulation. MN swelling is associated with compromised Na,K-ATPase activity and aggregation. mSOD1 mouse MNs accumulate mitochondria from the axon terminals and generate higher levels of superoxide, nitric oxide, and peroxynitrite than MNs in control mice. Nitrated and aggregated cytochrome c oxidase subunit-I and alpha-synuclein as well as nitrated SOD2 accumulate in mSOD1 mouse spinal cord. Mitochondria in mSOD1 mouse MNs accumulate NADPH diaphorase and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-like immunoreactivity, and iNOS gene deletion extends significantly the life span of G93A-mSOD1 mice. Prior to MN loss, spinal interneurons degenerate. These results identify novel mechanisms for mitochondriopathy and MN degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mice involving blockade of apoptosis, accumulation of MN mitochondria with enhanced toxic potential from distal terminals, NOS localization in MN mitochondria and peroxynitrite damage, and early degeneration of alpha-synuclein(+) interneurons. The data support roles for oxidative stress, protein nitration and aggregation, and excitotoxicity as participants in the process of MN degeneration caused by mSOD1.     

Transgenic mice with human mutant genes causing Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis provide common insight into mechanisms of motor neuron selective vulnerability to degeneration

A variety of gene mutations can cause familial forms of Parkinson's disease (PD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mutations in the synaptic protein alpha-synuclein (alpha-Syn) cause PD. Mutations in the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) cause ALS. The mechanisms of human mutant a-Syn and SOD1 toxicity to neurons are not known. Transgenic (tg) mice expressing human mutant alpha-Syn or SOD1 develop profound fatal neurologic disease characterized by progressive motor deficits, paralysis, and neurodegeneration. Ala-53-->Thr (A53T)-mutant alpha-Syn and Gly-93-->Ala (G93A)-mutant SOD1 tg mice develop prominent mitochondrial abnormalities. Interestingly, although nigral neurons in A53T mice are relatively preserved, spinal motor neurons (MNs) undergo profound degeneration. In A53T mice, mitochondria degenerate in neurons, and complex IV activity is reduced. Furthermore, mitochondria in neurons develop DNA breaks and have p53 targeted to the outer membrane. Nitrated a-Syn accumulates in degenerating MNs in A53T mice. mSOD1 mouse MNs accumulate mitochondria from the axon terminals and generate higher levels of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species than MNs in control mice. mSOD1 mouse MNs accumulate DNA single-strand breaks prior to double-strand breaks occurring in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Nitrated and aggregated cytochrome c oxidase subunit-I and nitrated SOD2 accumulate in mSOD1 mouse spinal cord. Mitochondria in mSOD1 mouse MNs accumulate NADPH diaphorase and inducible NOS (iNOS)-like immunoreactivity, and iNOS gene deletion significantly extends the lifespan of G93A-mSOD1 mice. Mitochondrial changes develop long before symptoms emerge. These experiments reveal that mitochondrial nitrative stress and perturbations in mitochondrial trafficking may be antecedents of neuronal cell death in animal models of PD and ALS.     

The mitochondrial permeability transition pore in motor neurons: Involvement in the pathobiology of ALS mice

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of motor neurons (MNs) that causes paralysis. Some forms of ALS are inherited, caused by mutations in the superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) gene. The mechanisms of human mutant SOD1 (mSOD1) toxicity to MNs are unresolved. Mitochondria in MNs might be key sites for ALS pathogenesis, but cause–effect relationships between mSOD1 and mitochondriopathy need further study. We used transgenic mSOD1 mice to test the hypothesis that the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) is involved in the MN degeneration of ALS. Components of the multi-protein mPTP are expressed highly in mouse MNs, including the voltage-dependent anion channel, adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT), and cyclophilin D (CyPD), and are present in mitochondria marked by manganese SOD. MNs in pre-symptomatic mSOD1-G93A mice form swollen megamitochondria with CyPD immunoreactivity. Early disease is associated with mitochondrial cristae remodeling and matrix vesiculation in ventral horn neuron dendrites. MN cell bodies accumulate mitochondria derived from the distal axons projecting to skeletal muscle. Incipient disease in spinal cord is associated with increased oxidative and nitrative stress, indicated by protein carbonyls and nitration of CyPD and ANT. Reducing the levels of CyPD by genetic ablation significantly delays disease onset and extends the lifespan of G93A-mSOD1 mice expressing high and low levels of mutant protein in a gender-dependent pattern. These results demonstrate that mitochondria have causal roles in the disease mechanisms in MNs in ALS mice. This work defines a new mitochondrial mechanism for MN degeneration in ALS.     

Mechano-growth factor, an IGF-I splice variant, rescues motoneurons and improves muscle function in SOD1 mice

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motoneuron degeneration. Although viral delivery of IGF-I has shown therapeutic efficacy in the SOD1^G93A mouse model of ALS, clinical trials of IGF-I in ALS patients have led to conflicting results. Here we examine the effects of an IGF-I splice variant, mechano-growth factor (MGF) which has previously been shown to have greater neuroprotective effects than IGF-I in a number of models of neurodegeneration. A mammalian expression plasmid containing either MGF or, for comparison, the IGF-I cDNA sequence was delivered to the hindlimb muscles of SOD1^G93A mice at 70 days of age, at symptom onset. Treatment with either IGF-I or MGF resulted in a significant improvement in hindlimb muscle strength, and an increase in motor unit and motoneuron survival. Significantly more motoneurons survived in MGF treated mice.     

Local GDNF expression mediated by lentiviral vector protects facial nerve motoneurons but not spinal motoneurons in SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice

Approximately 2% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases are associated with mutations in the cytosolic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene. Transgenic SOD1 mice constitute useful models of ALS to screen therapeutical approaches. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) holds promises for the treatment of motoneuron disease. In the present study, GDNF expression in motoneurons of SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice was assessed by facial nucleus or intraspinal injection of lentiviral vectors (LV) encoding GDNF. We show that lentiviral vectors allow the expression for at least 12 weeks of GDNF that was clearly detected in motoneurons. This robust intraspinal expression did, however, not prevent the loss of motoneurons and muscle denervation of transgenic mice. In contrast, LV-GDNF induced a significant rescue of motoneurons in the facial nucleus and prevented motoneuron atrophy. The differential effect of GDNF on facial nucleus versus spinal motoneurons suggests different vulnerability of motoneurons in ALS.     

Cellular changes in motoneurons in a transgenic mouse model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as revealed by monoclonal antibody Py.

Transgenic mice (G93A) carrying the human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) linked superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mutations develop a motoneuron disease resembling human ALS. The affected motoneurons are characterized by the presence of cellular alterations. The antigen recognized by the monoclonal antibody Py is suggested to be associated with the neurofilamentous and microtubular elements of the cytoskeleton of specific neuron populations including the spinal motoneurons. The aim of the present study was to measure changes in the relative Py-immunoreactivity per identified Choline-Acetyl-Transferase (ChAT)-immunoreactive motoneuron during the disease progression. The relative Py-immunoreactivity of identified spinal motoneurons was measured on double stained (Py and ChAT) motoneurons using a digital imaging system coupled to an inverse microscope. A significant decrease of Py-immunoreactivity was already noted in the pre-symptomatic stages of the disease even before the onset of massive motoneuron degeneration. It is concluded that the Py-antibody detects early intracellular abnormalities related to neurodegenerative changes in spinal motoneurons of transgenic SOD1-(G93A) mice.     

Bioenergetic abnormalities in discrete cerebral motor pathways presage spinal cord pathology in the G93A SOD1 mouse model of ALS

Multiple cell death pathways are implicated in the etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but the cause of the characteristic motor neuron degeneration remains unknown. To determine whether CNS metabolic defects are critical for ALS pathogenesis, we examined the temporal evolution of energetic defects in the G93A SOD1 mouse model of familial ALS. [14C]-2-deoxyglucose in vivo autoradiography in G93A mice showed that glucose utilization is impaired in components of the corticospinal and bulbospinal motor tracts prior to either pathologic or bioenergetic changes in the spinal cord. This was accompanied by significant depletions in cortical ATP content in presymptomatic mice, which was partially ameliorated by creatine administration. Findings suggest that bioenergetic defects are involved in the initial stages of mSOD1-induced toxicity in G93A mice and imply that the selective dysfunction and degeneration of spinal cord motor neurons in this model may be secondary to dysfunction within cerebral motor pathways.     

Loss of Fas ligand-function improves survival in G93A-transgenic ALS mice

ALS is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder for which no effective treatment exists. The precise molecular mechanisms underlying the selective degeneration of motor neurons are still unknown. A motor neuron specific apoptotic pathway involving Fas and NO has been discovered. Motor neurons from ALS-mice have an increased sensitivity to Fas-induced cell death via this pathway. In this study we therefore crossed G93A-SOD1 overexpressing ALS mice with Fas ligand (FasL) mutant (gld) mice to investigate whether the reduced Fas signaling could have beneficial effects on motor neuron death. G93A-SOD1 mutant mice with a homozygous FasL mutant showed a modest but statistically significant extension of survival, and reduced loss of motor neurons. These results indicate that motor neuron apoptosis triggered by Fas is relevant in ALS pathogenesis.     

The unfolded protein response in models of human mutant G93A amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Recent studies indicate that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is involved in the pathogenesis of familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ER stress occurs when the ER-mitochondria calcium cycle (ERMCC) is disturbed and misfolded proteins accumulate in the ER. To cope with ER stress, the cell engages the unfolded protein response (UPR). While activation of the UPR has been shown in some ALS models and tissues, ER stress elements have not been studied directly in motor neurons. Here we investigated the expression of XBP1 and ATF6α and phosphorylation of eIF2α, and their modulation, in mutated SOD1(G93A) NSC34 and animal model of ALS. Expression of XBP1 and ATF6α mRNA and protein was enhanced in SOD1(G93A) NSC34 cells. Activation of ATF6α and XBP1 and phosphorylation of eIF2α were detectable in mutated SOD1(G93A) motor but not in wild-type motor neurons. Treatment with the ER stressor thapsigargin enhanced phosphorylation of eIF2α and activated proteolysis of ATF6α and splicing of XBP1 in NSC34 and motor neurons in a time-dependent manner. The present study thus provides direct evidence of activated UPR in motor neurons which overexpress human pathogenic mutant SOD1(G93A) , providing evidence that ER stress plays a major role in ALS.     

Overexpressed mutant G93A superoxide dismutase protects calcineurin from inactivation

Previous studies have claimed that there is a failure of a mutant form of superoxide dismutase (mSOD) to protect the protein phosphatase, calcineurin (CN), against inactivation in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as determined in a murine model of ALS resulting from overexpression of mSOD (G93A). In contrast to previous studies, we find that mice overexpressing G93A mSOD have no statistically significant differences in the expression, or activity, of CN. However, CN from G93A mSOD overexpressing mice is significantly more protected against inactivation than non-transgenic mice that do not overexpress SOD. This reduced inactivation of CN is a consequence of increased expression of G93A mSOD. Thus, like wild-type SOD, G93A mSOD protects CN against inactivation.