Project description:TDP-43, a DNA/RNA binding protein involved in RNA transcription and splicing has been associated with the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS. However, the function of TDP-43 in motor neurons remains undefined. Here, we employ both gain- and loss-of-function approaches to determine roles of TDP-43 in motor neurons. Mice expressing human TDP-43 in neurons exhibited growth retardation and premature death that are characterized by abnormal intranuclear inclusions comprised of TDP-43 and Fused in Sarcoma (FUS), and massive accumulation of mitochondria in TDP-43-negative cytoplasmic inclusions in motor neurons, lack of mitochondria in motor axon terminals and immature neuromuscular junctions. Whereas elevated level of TDP-43 disrupts the normal nuclear distribution of Survival Motor Neuron (SMN)-associated Gemini of coiled bodies (GEMs) in motor neurons, its absence prevents the formation of GEMs in the nuclei of these cells. Moreover, transcriptome-wide deep sequencing analysis revealed that decrease in abundance of neurofilament transcripts contributed to the reduction of caliber of motor axons in TDP-43 mice. In concert, our findings indicate that TDP-43 participates in pathways critical for motor neuron physiology, including those that regulate the normal distributions of SMN-associated GEMs in the nucleus and mitochondria in the cytoplasm. Human TDP-43 coding region were inserted into pThy1.2 expression cassette and subsequently injected into C57BL/6;SJL hybrid mouse embryos to make human TDP-43 transgenic mice
Project description:TDP-43, a DNA/RNA binding protein involved in RNA transcription and splicing has been associated with the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS. However, the function of TDP-43 in motor neurons remains undefined. Here, we employ both gain- and loss-of-function approaches to determine roles of TDP-43 in motor neurons. Mice expressing human TDP-43 in neurons exhibited growth retardation and premature death that are characterized by abnormal intranuclear inclusions comprised of TDP-43 and Fused in Sarcoma (FUS), and massive accumulation of mitochondria in TDP-43-negative cytoplasmic inclusions in motor neurons, lack of mitochondria in motor axon terminals and immature neuromuscular junctions. Whereas elevated level of TDP-43 disrupts the normal nuclear distribution of Survival Motor Neuron (SMN)-associated Gemini of coiled bodies (GEMs) in motor neurons, its absence prevents the formation of GEMs in the nuclei of these cells. Moreover, transcriptome-wide deep sequencing analysis revealed that decrease in abundance of neurofilament transcripts contributed to the reduction of caliber of motor axons in TDP-43 mice. In concert, our findings indicate that TDP-43 participates in pathways critical for motor neuron physiology, including those that regulate the normal distributions of SMN-associated GEMs in the nucleus and mitochondria in the cytoplasm.
Project description:Mutation in TDP-43 is causative to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). TDP-43 is a multifunctional ribonucleoprotein and is reproted to regulate thousands of genes in neurons, but how astrocytes contribute to TDP-43 pathogenesis is not known. This study examined how mutant TDP-43 in astrocytes kills motor neurons and causes ALS phenotypes. Primary astrocytes were isolated from transgenic rats expressing mutant TDP-43 or from control rats without mutant TDP-43 expression. Cultured astrocytes were induced to express mutant human TDP-43 and their gene expression profiles were determined by microarray assays. Microarray analysis revealed that hundreds of genes were altered in astrocytes in response to mutant TDP-43 expression.
Project description:Mutation in TDP-43 is causative to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). TDP-43 is a multifunctional ribonucleoprotein and is reproted to regulate thousands of genes in neurons, but how astrocytes contribute to TDP-43 pathogenesis is not known. This study examined how mutant TDP-43 in astrocytes kills motor neurons and causes ALS phenotypes. Primary astrocytes were isolated from transgenic rats expressing mutant TDP-43 or from control rats without mutant TDP-43 expression. Cultured astrocytes were induced to express mutant human TDP-43 and their gene expression profiles were determined by microarray assays. Microarray analysis revealed that hundreds of genes were altered in astrocytes in response to mutant TDP-43 expression. As mutant TDP-43 transgene is under the control of tetracycline-regulated pomoter elements (TRE), mutant TDP-43 expression is subjected to Doxycline regulation. Astrocytes isolated from GFAP-tTA/TRE-TDP43M337V rats were desiginated as M337V groups and astrocytes isolated from GFAP-tTA single transgenic rats were desiginated as tTA control groups. Total RNA was isolated from cultured astrocytes at varying times (3, 4, or 6 days after Dox withdrawal) after mutant TDP-43 was induced in astrocytes. Upon mutant TDP-43 induction in astroyctes, gene expression profiles in astroyctes were determined by Illumina Direct Hybridization Assay and compared between tTA and M337V groups at the varying time points of mutant TDP-43 induction.
Project description:Aims: Loss of nuclear TDP-43 characterises sporadic and most familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). TDP-43 (encoded by TARDBP) has multiple roles in RNA processing. We aimed to determine whether 1) RNA splicing dysregulation is present in lower motor neurons in ALS and in a motor neuron-like cell model, and 2) TARDBP mutations (mtTARDBP) are associated with aberrant RNA splicing using patient-derived fibroblasts. Methods: Affymetrix exon arrays were used to study mRNA expression and splicing in lower motor neurons obtained by laser capture microdissection of autopsy tissue from individuals with sporadic ALS and TDP-43 proteinopathy. Findings were confirmed by qRT-PCR and in NSC34 motor neuronal cells following shRNA-mediated TDP-43 depletion. Exon arrays and immunohistochemistry were used to study mRNA splicing and TDP-43 expression in fibroblasts from patients with mtTARDBP-associated, sporadic and mutant SOD1-associated ALS. Results: We found altered expression of spliceosome components in motor neurons and widespread aberrations of mRNA splicing that specifically affected genes involved in ribonucleotide binding. This was confirmed in TDP-43 depleted NSC34 cells. Fibroblasts with mtTARDBP showed loss of nuclear TDP-43 protein and demonstrated similar changes in splicing and gene expression, that were not present in fibroblasts from patients with sporadic or SOD1-related ALS. Conclusion: Loss of nuclear TDP-43 is associated with RNA processing abnormalities in ALS motor neurons, patient-derived cells with mtTARDBP, and following artificial TDP-43 depletion, suggesting that splicing dysregulation directly contributes to disease pathogenesis. Key functional pathways affected include those central to RNA metabolism. RNA was extracted from lower motor neurons obtained by laser capture microdissection from autopsy material from neurologically healthy controls (n=6) and cases of sporadic ALS (n=3) and ALS due to C9ORF72 mutations (n=3).
Project description:Aims: Loss of nuclear TDP-43 characterises sporadic and most familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). TDP-43 (encoded by TARDBP) has multiple roles in RNA processing. We aimed to determine whether 1) RNA splicing dysregulation is present in lower motor neurons in ALS and in a motor neuron-like cell model, and 2) TARDBP mutations (mtTARDBP) are associated with aberrant RNA splicing using patient-derived fibroblasts. Methods: Affymetrix exon arrays were used to study mRNA expression and splicing in lower motor neurons obtained by laser capture microdissection of autopsy tissue from individuals with sporadic ALS and TDP-43 proteinopathy. Findings were confirmed by qRT-PCR and in NSC34 motor neuronal cells following shRNA-mediated TDP-43 depletion. Exon arrays and immunohistochemistry were used to study mRNA splicing and TDP-43 expression in fibroblasts from patients with mtTARDBP-associated, sporadic and mutant SOD1-associated ALS. Results: We found altered expression of spliceosome components in motor neurons and widespread aberrations of mRNA splicing that specifically affected genes involved in ribonucleotide binding. This was confirmed in TDP-43 depleted NSC34 cells. Fibroblasts with mtTARDBP showed loss of nuclear TDP-43 protein and demonstrated similar changes in splicing and gene expression, that were not present in fibroblasts from patients with sporadic or SOD1-related ALS. Conclusion: Loss of nuclear TDP-43 is associated with RNA processing abnormalities in ALS motor neurons, patient-derived cells with mtTARDBP, and following artificial TDP-43 depletion, suggesting that splicing dysregulation directly contributes to disease pathogenesis. Key functional pathways affected include those central to RNA metabolism. RNA was extracted from NSC34 motor neuronal cells depleted of TDP-43 by shRNA (n=4), treated with control shGFP (n=4), and treated with control shLuciferase (n=3).
Project description:Transgenic (Tg) mice expressing nuclear or cytoplasmic human TDP-43 were generated. Tg mice had motor spasticity and forebrain neurodegeneration. Human TDP-43 reduced mouse TDP-43 in nuclei of affected neurons. Tg mice showed alterations in transcripts related to chromatin assembly. Cerebral cortex from 21 transgenic mice and controls were assayed after two weeks off doxycyline diet as described in Igaz et al.
Project description:Transgenic (Tg) mice expressing nuclear or cytoplasmic human TDP-43 were generated. Tg mice had motor spasticity and forebrain neurodegeneration. Human TDP-43 reduced mouse TDP-43 in nuclei of affected neurons. Tg mice showed alterations in transcripts related to chromatin assembly.
Project description:Aims: Loss of nuclear TDP-43 characterises sporadic and most familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). TDP-43 (encoded by TARDBP) has multiple roles in RNA processing. We aimed to determine whether 1) RNA splicing dysregulation is present in lower motor neurons in ALS and in a motor neuron-like cell model, and 2) TARDBP mutations (mtTARDBP) are associated with aberrant RNA splicing using patient-derived fibroblasts. Methods: Affymetrix exon arrays were used to study mRNA expression and splicing in lower motor neurons obtained by laser capture microdissection of autopsy tissue from individuals with sporadic ALS and TDP-43 proteinopathy. Findings were confirmed by qRT-PCR and in NSC34 motor neuronal cells following shRNA-mediated TDP-43 depletion. Exon arrays and immunohistochemistry were used to study mRNA splicing and TDP-43 expression in fibroblasts from patients with mtTARDBP-associated, sporadic and mutant SOD1-associated ALS. Results: We found altered expression of spliceosome components in motor neurons and widespread aberrations of mRNA splicing that specifically affected genes involved in ribonucleotide binding. This was confirmed in TDP-43 depleted NSC34 cells. Fibroblasts with mtTARDBP showed loss of nuclear TDP-43 protein and demonstrated similar changes in splicing and gene expression, that were not present in fibroblasts from patients with sporadic or SOD1-related ALS. Conclusion: Loss of nuclear TDP-43 is associated with RNA processing abnormalities in ALS motor neurons, patient-derived cells with mtTARDBP, and following artificial TDP-43 depletion, suggesting that splicing dysregulation directly contributes to disease pathogenesis. Key functional pathways affected include those central to RNA metabolism. RNA was extracted from fibroblasts grown from neurologically healthy controls (n=6) and 3 groups of patients with ALS: 1) sporadic cases (n=6); 2) cases due to mutations of SOD1 (n=4); 3) cases due to mutations of TARDBP (n=3). The three ALS groups were compared to the controls.
Project description:The discovery that TDP-43 mutations cause familial ALS and that many patients display pathological TDP-43 mislocalization has nominated altered RNA metabolism as a potential disease mechanism. Despite its importance, the identity of RNAs regulated by TDP-43 in motor neurons remains poorly understood. Here, we report transcripts whose abundances in human motor neurons are sensitive to TDP-43 depletion. Notably, we found STMN2, which encodes a microtubule regulator, declined after TDP-43 knockdown, in patient-specific motor neurons, following TDP-43 mislocalization, and in the postmortem patient spinal cords. Loss of STMN2 upon reduced TDP-43 function was due to the emergence of a cryptic exon, which is of substantial functional importance, as we further demonstrate that STMN2 is necessary for both axonal outgrowth and repair. Importantly, post-translational stabilization of STMN2 could rescue neurite outgrowth and axon regeneration deficits induced by TDP-43 depletion. We propose restoring STMN2 expression warrants future examination as an ALS therapeutic strategy.