Shinsuke Ishigaki

Thioredoxin-interacting protein mediates ER stress-induced β cell death through initiation of the inflammasome.

Recent clinical and experimental evidence suggests that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress contributes to the life-and-death decisions of β cells during the progression of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Although crosstalk between inflammation and ER stress has been suggested to play a significant role in β cell dysfunction and death, a key molecule connecting ER stress to inflammation has not been identified. Here we report that thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is a critical signaling node that links ER stress and inflammation. TXNIP is induced by ER stress through the PERK and IRE1 pathways, induces IL-1β mRNA transcription, activates IL-1β production by the NLRP3 inflammasome, and mediates ER stress-mediated β cell death. Collectively, our results suggest that TXNIP is a potential therapeutic target for diabetes and ER stress-related human diseases such as Wolfram syndrome.

Differential expression of inflammation- and apoptosis-related genes in spinal cords of a mutant SOD1 transgenic mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS)‐linked mutations in copper–zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause motor neuron death through one or more acquired toxic properties. We analyzed the molecular mechanism underlying motor neuron degeneration in the transgenic mouse model expressing the SOD1 gene with G93A mutation. Using cDNA microarray, the differentially expressed genes were identified in the spinal cords of G93A mice, 30 being elevated and seven decreased. cDNA microarray analysis to monitor gene expression during neurodegeneration revealed an up‐regulation of genes related to an inflammatory process, such as the tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) gene, resulting from glial cell activation, together with the change in apoptosis‐related gene expression, such as caspase‐1. The increased expression of the inflammation‐ and apoptosis‐related genes occurred at 11 weeks of age in the presymptomatic stage prior to motor neuron death. These results suggest a mechanism of neurodegeneration that includes an inflammatory response as an important component. Thus, ALS has paralleled other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimers and prion diseases, in which the inflammatory process is believed to participate directly in neuronal death.

Wolfram syndrome 1 gene negatively regulates ER stress signaling in rodent and human cells

Wolfram syndrome is an autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, caused by nonautoimmune loss of beta cells, and neurological dysfunctions. We have previously shown that mutations in the Wolfram syndrome 1 (WFS1) gene cause Wolfram syndrome and that WFS1 has a protective function against ER stress. However, it remained to be determined how WFS1 mitigates ER stress. Here we have shown in rodent and human cell lines that WFS1 negatively regulates a key transcription factor involved in ER stress signaling, activating transcription factor 6alpha (ATF6alpha), through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. WFS1 suppressed expression of ATF6alpha target genes and repressed ATF6alpha-mediated activation of the ER stress response element (ERSE) promoter. Moreover, WFS1 stabilized the E3 ubiquitin ligase HRD1, brought ATF6alpha to the proteasome, and enhanced its ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation, leading to suppression of ER stress signaling. Consistent with these data, beta cells from WFS1-deficient mice and lymphocytes from patients with Wolfram syndrome exhibited dysregulated ER stress signaling through upregulation of ATF6alpha and downregulation of HRD1. These results reveal a role for WFS1 in the negative regulation of ER stress signaling and in the pathogenesis of diseases involving chronic, unresolvable ER stress, such as pancreatic beta cell death in diabetes.

Gene expression profile of spinal motor neurons in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The causative pathomechanism of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is not clearly understood. Using microarray technology combined with laser‐captured microdissection, gene expression profiles of degenerating spinal motor neurons isolated from autopsied patients with sporadic ALS were examined. Gene expression was quantitatively assessed by real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. Spinal motor neurons showed a distinct gene expression profile from the whole spinal ventral horn. Three percent of genes examined were downregulated, and 1% were upregulated in motor neurons. Downregulated genes included those associated with cytoskeleton/axonal transport, transcription, and cell surface antigens/receptors, such as dynactin, microtubule‐associated proteins, and early growth response 3 (EGR3). In contrast, cell death–associated genes were mostly upregulated. Promoters for cell death pathway, death receptor 5, cyclins A1 and C, and caspases‐1, ‐3, and ‐9, were upregulated, whereas cell death inhibitors, acetyl‐CoA transporter, and NF‐κB were also upregulated. Moreover, neuroprotective neurotrophic factors such as ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor were upregulated. Inflammation‐related genes, such as those belonging to the cytokine family, were not, however, significantly upregulated in either motor neurons or ventral horns. The motor neuron–specific gene expression profile in sporadic ALS can provide direct information on the genes leading to neurodegeneration and neuronal death and are helpful for developing new therapeutic strategies. Ann Neurol 2005;57:236–251

Disulfide bond mediates aggregation, toxicity, and ubiquitylation of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked mutant SOD1

Mutations in the Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through the gain of a toxic function; however, the nature of this toxic function remains largely unknown. Ubiquitylated aggregates of mutant SOD1 proteins in affected brain lesions are pathological hallmarks of the disease and are suggested to be involved in several proposed mechanisms of motor neuron death. Recent studies suggest that mutant SOD1 readily forms an incorrect disulfide bond upon mild oxidative stress in vitro, and the insoluble SOD1 aggregates in spinal cord of ALS model mice contain multimers cross-linked via intermolecular disulfide bonds. Here we show that a non-physiological intermolecular disulfide bond between cysteines at positions 6 and 111 of mutant SOD1 is important for high molecular weight aggregate formation, ubiquitylation, and neurotoxicity, all of which were dramatically reduced when the pertinent cysteines were replaced in mutant SOD1 expressed in Neuro-2a cells. Dorfin is a ubiquityl ligase that specifically binds familial ALS-linked mutant SOD1 and ubiquitylates it, thereby promoting its degradation. We found that Dorfin ubiquitylated mutant SOD1 by recognizing the Cys6- and Cys111-disulfide cross-linked form and targeted it for proteasomal degradation.

Position-dependent FUS-RNA interactions regulate alternative splicing events and transcriptions

FUS is an RNA-binding protein that regulates transcription, alternative splicing, and mRNA transport. Aberrations of FUS are causally associated with familial and sporadic ALS/FTLD. We analyzed FUS-mediated transcriptions and alternative splicing events in mouse primary cortical neurons using exon arrays. We also characterized FUS-binding RNA sites in the mouse cerebrum with HITS-CLIP. We found that FUS-binding sites tend to form stable secondary structures. Analysis of position-dependence of FUS-binding sites disclosed scattered binding of FUS to and around the alternatively spliced exons including those associated with neurodegeneration such as Mapt, Camk2a, and Fmr1. We also found that FUS is often bound to the antisense RNA strand at the promoter regions. Global analysis of these FUS-tags and the expression profiles disclosed that binding of FUS to the promoter antisense strand downregulates transcriptions of the coding strand. Our analysis revealed that FUS regulates alternative splicing events and transcriptions in a position-dependent manner.

Differentially expressed genes in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spinal cords--screening by molecular indexing and subsequent cDNA microarray analysis.

To analyze the genes related to the pathophysiology of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS) we performed gene profiling of SALS spinal cords using molecular indexing combined with cDNA microarray. Eighty‐four fragments were cloned in the first screening procedure with molecular indexing. Subsequent quantitative microarray screening revealed 11 genes which were differentially expressed in SALS. Real‐time RT‐PCR verified that the expression level of the following six genes was altered in SALS: dorfin, metallothionein‐3, 30 kDa TATA‐binding protein‐associated factor, neugrin, ubiquitin‐like protein 5 and macrophage‐inhibiting factor‐related protein‐8. These results indicated that genes associated with the ubiquitin–proteasome system, oxidative toxicity, transcription, neuronal differentiation and inflammation might be involved in the pathogenesis of SALS.

Physical and functional interaction between Dorfin and Valosin-containing protein that are colocalized in ubiquitylated inclusions in neurodegenerative disorders.

Dorfin, a RING-IBR type ubiquitin ligase (E3), can ubiquitylate mutant superoxide dismutase 1, the causative gene of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Dorfin is located in ubiquitylated inclusions (UBIs) in various neurodegenerative disorders, such as ALS and Parkinsons disease (PD). Here we report that Valosin-containing protein (VCP) directly binds to Dorfin and that VCP ATPase activity profoundly contributes to the E3 activity of Dorfin. High through-put analysis using mass spectrometry identified VCP as a candidate of Dorfin-associated protein. Glycerol gradient centrifugation analysis showed that endogenous Dorfin consisted of a 400–600-kDa complex and was co-immunoprecipitated with endogenous VCP. In vitro experiments showed that Dorfin interacted directly with VCP through its C-terminal region. These two proteins were colocalized in aggresomes in HEK293 cells and UBIs in the affected neurons of ALS and PD. VCPK524A, a dominant negative form of VCP, reduced the E3 activity of Dorfin against mutant superoxide dismutase 1, whereas it had no effect on the autoubiquitylation of Parkin. Our results indicate that VCPs functionally regulate Dorfin through direct interaction and that their functional interplay may be related to the process of UBI formation in neurodegenerative disorders, such as ALS or PD.

Loss of TDP-43 causes age-dependent progressive motor neuron degeneration.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a devastating, progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects upper and lower motor neurons. Although several genes are identified as the cause of familial cases, the pathogeneses of sporadic forms, which account for 90% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, have not been elucidated. Transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 a nuclear protein regulating RNA processing, redistributes to the cytoplasm and forms aggregates, which are the histopathological hallmark of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in affected motor neurons, suggesting that loss-of-function of transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 is one of the causes of the neurodegeneration. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the effects of knockout of transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 in mouse postnatal motor neurons using Cre/loxp system. These mice developed progressive weight loss and motor impairment around the age of 60 weeks, and exhibited degeneration of large motor axon, grouped atrophy of the skeletal muscle, and denervation in the neuromuscular junction. The spinal motor neurons lacking transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 were not affected for 1 year, but exhibited atrophy at the age of 100 weeks; whereas, extraocular motor neurons, that are essentially resistant in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, remained preserved even at the age of 100 weeks. Additionally, ultra structural analysis revealed autolysosomes and autophagosomes in the cell bodies and axons of motor neurons of the 100-week-old knockout mice. In summary, the mice in which transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 was knocked-out specifically in postnatal motor neurons exhibited an age-dependent progressive motor dysfunction accompanied by neuropathological alterations, which are common to sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These findings suggest that transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 plays an essential role in the long term maintenance of motor neurons and that loss-of-function of this protein seems to contribute to the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

FUS/TLS assembles into stress granules and is a prosurvival factor during hyperosmolar stress

FUsed in Sarcoma/Translocated in LipoSarcoma (FUS/TLS or FUS) has been linked to several biological processes involving DNA and RNA processing, and has been associated with multiple diseases, including myxoid liposarcoma and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS‐associated mutations cause FUS to associate with stalled translational complexes called stress granules under conditions of stress. However, little is known regarding the normal role of endogenous (non‐disease linked) FUS in cellular stress response. Here, we demonstrate that endogenous FUS exerts a robust response to hyperosmolar stress induced by sorbitol. Hyperosmolar stress causes an immediate re‐distribution of nuclear FUS to the cytoplasm, where it incorporates into stress granules. The redistribution of FUS to the cytoplasm is modulated by methyltransferase activity, whereas the inhibition of methyltransferase activity does not affect the incorporation of FUS into stress granules. The response to hyperosmolar stress is specific, since endogenous FUS does not redistribute to the cytoplasm in response to sodium arsenite, hydrogen peroxide, thapsigargin, or heat shock, all of which induce stress granule assembly. Intriguingly, cells with reduced expression of FUS exhibit a loss of cell viability in response to sorbitol, indicating a prosurvival role for endogenous FUS in the cellular response to hyperosmolar stress. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 2222–2231, 2013.