ALS: A Disease of Motor Neurons and Their Nonneuronal Neighbors

Boillée, Séverine; Velde, Christine Vande; Cleveland, Don W.

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2006.09.018

Cited by 1,301 publications

(1,166 citation statements)

References 263 publications

(351 reference statements)

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“…Although there is no consensus about the exact role of mitochondrial abnormalities [61], it is accepted that mitochondrial dysfunction is an important hallmark of ALS pathogenesis [5,62,63]. Several authors have shown deficits in mitochondrial function in the spinal cord and muscles of both human patients [64] and animal models of ALS [65][66][67].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resveratrol Improves Motoneuron Function and Extends Survival in SOD1G93A ALS Mice

et al. 2014

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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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resveratrol Improves Motoneuron Function and Extends Survival in SOD1G93A ALS Mice

et al. 2014

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“…Overall, it is difficult to predict the expected effect of acetylation modulators in complex neurodegenerative diseases that affect several non-neuronal cell types [119,140]. In particular, the effect of HAT activation in the neuromuscular junction, which is tightly regulated through chromatin acetylation [141,142], has not been documented; however, studies have shown the deleterious effect of valproate [126].…”

Section: Alsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acetyltransferases (HATs) as Targets for Neurological Therapeutics

et al. 2013

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The acetylation of histone and non-histone proteins controls a great deal of cellular functions, thereby affecting the entire organism, including the brain. Acetylation modifications are mediated through histone acetyltransferases (HAT) and deacetylases (HDAC), and the balance of these enzymes regulates neuronal homeostasis, maintaining the pre-existing acetyl marks responsible for the global chromatin structure, as well as regulating specific dynamic acetyl marks that respond to changes and facilitate neurons to encode and strengthen longterm events in the brain circuitry (e.g., memory formation). Unfortunately, the dysfunction of these finely-tuned regulations might lead to pathological conditions, and the deregulation of the HAT/HDAC balance has been implicated in neurological disorders. During the last decade, research has focused on HDAC inhibitors that induce a histone hyperacetylated state to compensate acetylation deficits. The use of these inhibitors as a therapeutic option was efficient in several animal models of neurological disorders. The elaboration of new cell-permeant HAT activators opens a new era of research on acetylation regulation. Although pathological animal models have not been tested yet, HAT activator molecules have already proven to be beneficial in ameliorating brain functions associated with learning and memory, and adult neurogenesis in wild-type animals. Thus, HAT activator molecules contribute to an exciting area of research.

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“…A growing body of evidence suggests that, besides many other mechanisms (e.g., excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, toxicity by protein misfolding, and mitochondrial dysfunction, see [2]), neuroinflammation and immune reaction are pivotal features both in patients with ALS and in animal models [3][4][5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fingolimod: A Disease-Modifier Drug in a Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

et al. 2016

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Fingolimod phosphate (FTY720), the first approved oral therapy for multiple sclerosis, primarily acts as an immunomodulator. Its concomitant effects in the central nervous system, however, indicate a potentially broader spectrum of activity in neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we investigated the possible effects of fingolimod in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a strong neuroinflammatory component. Fingolimod (0.1 and 1 mg/kg i.p.) was administered to mSOD1 G93A mice, a well-characterized mouse model of ALS, starting from the onset of motor symptoms to the end stage of the disease. The drug was able to improve the neurological phenotype (p < 0.05) and to extend the survival (p < 0.01) of ALS mice. The beneficial effect of fingolimod administration was associated with a significant modulation of neuroinflammatory and protective genes (CD11b, Foxp3, iNOS, Il1β, Il10, Arg1, and Bdnf) in motor cortex and spinal cord of animals. Our data show, for the first time, that fingolimod is protective in ALS mice and that its beneficial effects are accompanied by a modulation of microglial activation and innate immunity. Considering that the treatment was started in already symptomatic mice, our data strongly support fingolimod as a potential new therapeutic approach to ALS.

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ALS: A Disease of Motor Neurons and Their Nonneuronal Neighbors

Cited by 1,301 publications

References 263 publications

Resveratrol Improves Motoneuron Function and Extends Survival in SOD1G93A ALS Mice

Resveratrol Improves Motoneuron Function and Extends Survival in SOD1G93A ALS Mice

Acetyltransferases (HATs) as Targets for Neurological Therapeutics

Fingolimod: A Disease-Modifier Drug in a Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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