Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder. There are several genetic mutations that lead to ALS development, such as chromosome 9 hexanucleotide repeat 72 (C9ORF72), transactive response DNA-binding protein (TARDBP), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and fused in sarcoma (FUS). ALS is associated with disrupted gene homeostasis causing aberrant RNA processing or toxic pathology. Several animal models of ALS disease have been developed to understand whether TARDBP-mediated neurodegeneration results from a gain or a loss of function of the protein, however, none exactly mimic the pathophysiology and the phenotype of human ALS. Here, the pathophysiology of specific ALS-linked gene mutations is discussed. Furthermore, some of the generated mouse models, as well as the similarities and differences between these models, are comprehensively reviewed. Further refinement of mouse models will likely aid the development of a better form of model that mimics human ALS. However, disrupted gene homeostasis that causes mutation can result in an ALS-like syndrome, increasing concerns about whether neurodegeneration and other effects in these models are due to the mutation or to gene overexpression. Research on the pleiotropic role of different proteins present in motor neurons is also summarized. The development of better mouse models that closely mimic human ALS will help identify potential therapeutic targets for this disease.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a devastating adult neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor neuron degeneration and death approximately 3 years after onset. Riluzole is currently the only treatment available, but only offers a slight survival benefit (1). The etiology of ALS is complex and is associated with several genes, making it difficult to study the etiopathogenesis of this disease (2) (Figure 1).
During the past decade, significant advances have been made in understanding this disease, from linkage analysis to isolation of defective genes and identification of their protein product (3). The development of animal models for the study of this disease, in particular, mouse models for ALS (1), has now made it possible to understand the molecular basis of this disease and has demonstrated the feasibility of using the whole affected gene, which is found in all patients with ALS, as a means of treating this disorder.
The most common form of ALS is sporadic ALS, which is an age-associated disease characterized by cytoskeletal abnormalities and the death of motor neurons (4). The familial form of ALS (FALS) is an inherited autosomal dominant disease linked to mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene, which manifest as inclusions and degeneration of motor neurons. It has been reported that 5-10% of all patients with ALS have the inherited form of ALS (5, 6).
A non-coding hexanucleotide C9ORF72 gene repeat expansion is the most common mutation associated with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and FALS (7). Transgenic ALS mouse models that express SOD1 have been critical in furthering our understanding of the disease (8). Transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP43) ubiquitinated inclusions are a hallmark of ALS and FTD with ubiquitin-positive inclusions. However, mutations in the gene encoding these inclusions (TARDBP) are associated with only 3% of sporadic and FALS (8, 9). Moreover, mutations in the gene encoding the RNA-binding protein fused in sarcoma (FUS) can cause FALS but rarely FTD (10).
Experimental models of ALS are important for clarifying the complex functions of different proteins and the pathology of ALS (11). In order to examine the mechanisms underlying ALS, investigators have used a variety of animal models, including experimentally produced, spontaneously occurring, or genetically-engineered disease models. While these models have provided important insight into the underlying mechanisms of ALS, they are not without their limitations in that they allow study of different aspects of the disease.
This review discusses the major neuropathological features and mechanisms of ALS-associated mutations, as well as behavioral/neuropathophysiological features of recently developed mouse models, and the results of their biochemical mechanisms with the aim of potentially using these models to test new therapies for ALS.
The C9ORF72 Mutation
Since its discovery in November 2011, the C9ORF72 mutation has been reported as the most frequent mutation associated with ALS and FTD in Western countries (12, 13). The C9ORF72 gene has a high penetrance, and most persons with the C9 expansion die due to a neurodegenerative disorder. Although some patients who carry this mutation develop a range of FTD disorders, others exhibit ALS symptoms; some patients have a mixture of both FTD and ALS at presentation (14). A number of important questions regarding this mutation remain unanswered, especially those pertaining to selective vulnerability and why ALS develops in one member of a family whereas another family member dies from FTD.
The discovery of C9ORF72 repeat expansions has helped scientists understand the mechanism underlying neurodegeneration in ALS, which appears to be related to dysfunctional RNA processing (15). The repeat has been identified on a non-coding region of C9ORF72, which encodes a protein with no identified function that is expressed at high concentrations in the brain (15, 16). RNA aggregates are formed within the nucleus due to the very long hexanucleotide repeat, which is thought to range between 700 and 1,600 units (16). It is also thought that the long hexanucleotide repeat suppresses gene expression through abnormal RNA splicing. Another hypothesis that has been proposed to explain the mechanism of the disease is C9ORF72 protein function loss (17). It will be challenging to develop therapies for C9ORF72 and this might necessitate the development of new therapeutic strategies that involve suppressing the expression of the C9 repeat (17). The development of robust animal models and use of well-defined patient cohorts are crucial to understanding how the disease develops and help in discovering potential therapeutic targets (17, 18).
Mouse models. Besides inclusion formation, evidence suggests that patients with G4C2 repeat expansion have increased repressive histone hypermethylation at the C9ORF72 repeat expansion locus (16). Scientists developed C9ORF72 knockout cell and mouse models to understand the underlying mechanism in C9ORF72-associated ALS/FTD pathogenesis.
A decrease in C9ORF72 transcript expression in animal models has been associated with neurodegenerative and behavioral deficits (17, 18).
Experiments on animal models have shown that a decrease in C9ORF72 led to decrease in RNA foci and dipeptide repeat proteins (DPR), contrary to findings in patients with C9ORF72-associated ALS/FTD (19, 20). Nevertheless, in other models that do not support the loss of function (LOF) argument, the administration of antisense oligonucleotides against C9ORF72 transcript did not cause adult mice to develop behavioral or neurodegenerative disorder (20). On the contrary, it reduced symptomatology (21). Moreover, patients with C9ORF72-associated ALS/FTD did not show a mutation in the coding region of the gene. Inclusions were, however, documented (22). Consequently, while abnormal C9ORF72 repeat expansions may be implicated in the etiopathogenesis of ALS, there is no strong clinicopathological evidence that LOF leads to neurodegeneration in C9ORF72-associated ALS/FTD.
Given the difficulty in cloning GGGGCC (G4C2) expansions and the instability of these expansions in somatic cells, investigators face challenges in developing transgenic mouse models (23). However, much research has been ongoing in this area to assess the pathological functions of G4C2 expansion on in vitro and in vivo model systems. It was not until recently that scientists were able to develop transgenic mouse models that recapitulate the pathology and symptoms of human ALS/FTD (22).
Some investigators (23, 24) used bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) to develop the first transgenic mice. These mice carried the G4C2 expansion and expressed approximately 500 and 1,000 repeats of the human C9 gene at moderate levels, respectively (23, 24). Although models exhibited histological phenotypes similar to human C9ORF72-associated ALS/FTD, the mice had normal phenotypes. Histological investigations demonstrated the production and deposition of RNA foci and poly-(glycine-proline) peptides in the brain and spinal cord (25). Other researchers used a virus-mediated gene-delivery system to develop transgenic mice harboring 66 repeats of G4C2 motifs or dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins (26, 27). The mice expressed high levels of synthetic C9-RNA and DPR, and showed histopathological features and phenotypical neurodegenerative defects comparable to those observed in patients with ALS and FTD (26, 27). Of note, transgenic mice overexpressed synthetic peptides at levels exceeding the normal physiological levels noted in patients. Conversely, other investigators used BAC transgenic mice and successfully reproduced the histopathological, molecular and clinical features of the disease (28, 29). In the latter two studies, the investigators found that the number of RNA foci, DPR aggregates and neuronal loss were proportional to repeat length. Nevertheless Liu et al., found that only symptomatic mice with acute end-stage disease presented cytoplasmic and nuclear TDP43 inclusions in the entirety of the denervated brain, hippocampus, and motor cortex (28, 29). The other group contended that mice expressing up to 450 C9ORF72 RNAs (C9450 mice) did not display TDP43 mislocalization or aggregation, although higher levels of phosphorylated TDP43 were observed (28). Liu et al. reported a dramatic decrease in survival among mice from the C9-500/32 (two transgene copies, one with ~500 and the other with 32 repeats) and C9-500 (one copy with ~500 repeats), lines compared to non-transgenic controls (28, 29). Although the results of Jiang et al.'s study provide deep insight into critical drivers of disease pathogenesis and an understanding of the molecular mechanisms of ALS and FTD (28), further research is warranted to elucidate the molecular basis of sex-specific differences. In addition, the data do not explain differences observed between the four C9ORF72 BAC lines that were selected for analyses (28, 29). Put together, there is no solid basis to assume that the full-length gene construct is not obligatory for neurodegeneration since investigators used different constructs and observed dissimilar results. Jiang et al. (28), and Liu et al. (28, 29) for example, reported neurodegenerative disorders despite using part of the gene in their construct, whereas Rourke et al. did not observe behavioral abnormalities or neurodegeneration even at advanced ages (23).
Pathogenesis of C9OR72-, TARDBP-, SOD1-, and FUS-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A: Chromosome 9 hexanucleotide repeat72 (C9ORF72) 2 mutation acts through a gain-of-function (GOF) mechanism. GGGGCC[G4C2] is translocated to the cytosol and then either translated to form aggregates of poly-(GP) dipeptide-repeat proteins (DPR) or misfolded to form aggregates of ubiquitinated (U) RNA foci associated with TDP43 or FUS proteins, which both mediate neuronal toxicity. B: transactive response DNA-binding protein (TARDBP) mutation acts through both loss of function (LOF) and GOF mechanisms. Normal TDP43 function is lost due to mutant (mt) TDP43 proteins inhibiting normal TDP43 from binding to pre-mRNA. C: superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mutation acts through a GOF mechanism. Mutant SOD1 dimers in the cytosol accumulate as SOD1 inclusions within mitochondria and Lewy-body-like hyaline (LBLH) inclusions in the cytosol where they can trigger mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation later, causing mitochondrial destruction. D: fused in sarcoma (FUS) mutation acts through both LOF and GOF mechanisms. Mutant FUS proteins cause LOF by inhibiting normal FUS from binding to pre-mRNA. E: Cytosol vacuolization is caused by all the above-mentioned mutations.
The discrepancies in disease manifestation between the developed mouse models prompted the identification of models that closely mimic human ALS (Table I). A set of criteria were used to select these mouse models, including late-onset ALS, low expression of a misfolded protein, occurrence of gliosis or paralysis, and presence of cytosolic inclusions at presentation.
In most cases, C9ORF72 models support the toxic gain of function (GOF) mechanism, which is evidenced by the accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates. On the other hand, no significant replication of ALS has been reported in knockdown models. Currently, research acknowledges the potential of the use of antisense oligonucleotides as a therapeutic approach for C9ORF72-related disease since they can target genes such as SOD1 and C9ORF72, and alleviate toxicity due to G4C2 repeat while maintaining the normal function of C9ORF72 (23).
The SOD1 Mutation
In 1994, a breakthrough was achieved with the discovery of genetic mutations in the SOD1 gene that were linked to FALS (30). SOD1 mutations remained the only known cause of ‘classical’ ALS until causative mutations in the TARDBP gene were found (30, 31). During the subsequent two decades, more than 180 SOD1 mutations have been identified, with most being missense point mutations, mainly substitution. However, insertion and deletion point mutations have also been identified (32).
Recent research on ALS genetics support the role of proteins in RNA metabolism and cytoskeletal organization, typically in the central nervous system (33). On the contrary, SOD1 is expressed in several tissues, and is not limited to the spinal cord and motor neurons (34, 35). In addition, the level of SOD1 in tissues is not developmentally regulated (36). The SOD1 enzyme has a well-defined catalytic function, whereby it detoxifies the superoxide species in cells (36). Scientists quickly ruled-out deficient SOD1 enzymatic activity in their quest to identify the possible underlying mechanism for ALS since mutations preserving or abolishing SOD1 activity were found to cause ALS disease (37). These factors by themselves suggest that there is no outright explanation for the involvement of SOD1 in adult-onset neurodegenerative disease.
Here focus is placed on a few of the varied yet organized motor neuron toxicity due to the formation of aggregates caused by the instability of the SOD1 protein (36). Among these are excitotoxicity, deficient axonal transport, and mitochondrial dysfunction (36). Like in all ALS-associated mutations, there is cytoplasmic accumulation of misfolded SOD1 in the form of inclusions, namely Lewy-body-like hyaline inclusions (LBHI), which are the most frequent inclusions in SOD1 mutants. These inclusions are located on mitochondrial neurons and astrocytes, and as a result, these suffer morphological damage (38, 39). LBHI is made up of several components, including mutated and wild-type SOD1, granule-coated fibrils, as well as ubiquitin (40). A disruption of Ca2+ intracellular reservoirs results from mitochondrial dysfunction, and, consequently, excess Ca2+ is stored in the mitochondria. This results in motor neurons becoming very sensitive to glutamate (excitatory neurotransmitter), causing excitotoxicity (39, 41). In TDP43 pathogenesis, it has been suggested that axonal transport disruption is attributed to damaged axonal cytoskeleton (42).
A growing body of evidence suggests that dysfunctional axonal transport plays a role in the pathogenesis of ALS (43). Defects in both anterograde and retrograde axonal transport have been described in Sod1G93A transgenic mice (43). Previous research has demonstrated that one of the first axonal pathologies in Sod1G93A transgenic mice was the block of axonal retrograde transport (43). This suggests that ineffective axonal transport is a major pathogenic driver of ALS. Furthermore, some investigators demonstrated impairment of both fast and slow axonal transport in transgenic mice that exhibited low levels of mutant SOD1 (44). Severe defects in axonal transport have been observed in mice overexpressing human neurofilament heavy-subunit gene (45). Patients with sporadic ALS or FALS present point mutations of the p150 subunit of dynactin (46), which can cause a decrease in retrograde transport; however, the disease progresses at a slower rate than ALS in transgenic mice (47). Conversely, mutations in cytoplasmic dynein can cause pure sensory neuropathy or a sensory neuropathy with motor neuron involvement (48). It is thought that the progression of SOD1-associated ALS is caused by non-cell autonomous toxicity. Misfolded mutant SOD1 is secreted in association with components of neurosecretory vesicles by motor neurons or glial cells (49). The secreted mutant SOD1 will, in turn, affect other motor neurons and glial cells, especially astrocytes and microglia (50), causing the development of motor neuronal damage and, consequently, disease progression.
Contrary to health astrocytes, which have the capacity to block Ca2+ from entering motor neurons, mutant astrocytes lack the ability to regulate the GluR2 subunit, rendering motor neurons vulnerable to excitotoxicity (23, 51, 52). A site-specific recombinase technology (Cre-Lox system) has been used to remove SOD1 mutants from astrocytes and microglia (51-53). This system slowed disease progression but did not prevent disease onset, although it has been demonstrated that the removal of mutant SOD1 expression from neurons prevented disease onset (53). Thus, it is possible that astrocyte cell replacement therapy can improve survival in patients with ALS (53). Mutant SOD1 causes other forms of neuronal damage, including endoplasmic reticulum stress, proteasome inhibition, and synaptic vesicle defects (54), which will not be covered in this review.
Mouse models for chromosome 9 hexanucleotide repeat 72 (C9ORF72)-related amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Mouse models. Many transgenic mouse models have been developed since the discovery of mutant SOD1-induced ALS. These models have helped scientists to understand the mechanism underlying ALS. It has now been established that SOD1 gain and LOF can complement each other in the pathogenesis of AMS (55). In some models, Sod1−/− knockout mice did not develop the ALS phenotype. Rather, these mice had signs of decreased fertility, axonal repair difficulties, higher oxidative stress, weakness, and in severe cases, early post-natal mortality without expressing any phenotypes of ALS up to 6 months of age (56-58).
Conversely, overexpression of human wild-type SOD1 did not result in the development of symptoms typical of ALS. Thus, some mice showed late deficient hindlimb splaying at 8 months of age, whereas mutant SOD1 transgenic mice exhibited the ALS phenotype at an earlier age (30, 35). Most models in the literature were created by the administration of a 12-kb fragment of human genomic DNA that contains all regulatory elements as the transgene vector (59). Researchers have introduced the following mutant SOD1 genes into mice: A4V, G93A, G37R, D90A, and G85R. Mice with these gene variants had phenotypes that mimicked several features of ALS (Table II).
Furthermore, these phenotypes depend on the patient's genetic profile, gender, mutation type, and accumulation of mutant SOD1 protein. It was demonstrated that contrary to mice, patients with the A4V mutation had rapid disease progression and death within 1 year of symptom manifestation (60). Conversely, investigators noted that the disease was slowly progressive in both mice and humans who had D90A mutation (60). Furthermore, slow disease progression and prolonged survival were common among female mice (61). Similar observations were noted in humans (62). The mouse models most widely used by ALS researchers are those expressing approximately 25 copies of the transgene Sod1G93A under the influence of a human SOD1 promoter (3). These are ideal for studying the pathogenesis of ALS because they closely mimic the disease in patients with SOD1-related ALS. LBHI accumulation, neuronal loss in the ventral horns of the spinal cord, and reactive gliosis have been described in patients with SOD1-related ALS (62). Nevertheless, some features such as CNS vacuolization have only been observed in mutant Sod1 mice and infrequently in humans (62). It is thought that these are due to the accumulation of remnants of damaged mitochondria. Sod1G93A mice can live for approximately 4 months after developing signs of motor neuron degeneration and paralysis. In previous reports, investigators have observed other signs such as muscle denervation at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), microgliosis, and extensive inflammation of the brain (55, 57). Of note, motor neuron degeneration did not improve after eliminating microglia expressing mutant Sod1G93A, whereas a decrease of mutant Sod1G37R in astrocytes led to a significant prolongation of survival in transgenic mice (52, 63). Although significant progress has been made in identifying the mechanism underlying motor neuron degeneration in SOD1-related ALS, further study is warranted to understand disease progression among the different variants (64).
Mouse models for superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)-related amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Mouse models for fused in sarcoma (FUS)-related amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The FUS Mutation
The FUS mutation is the second most frequent mutation associated with ALS (64-66), accounting for 5% of cases in patients with FALS (64). Mutations in the FUS protein have been identified in patients with FALS, sporadic ALS, FTD, and frontotemporal lobar degeneration without motor impairment (64, 67). Clinically, the disease is aggressive and has been associated with young age (68, 69).
In most cases, mutations have been identified clustered in the C-terminal portion of the FUS protein, which consists of several domains, including the RNA-recognition motif, C-terminus, and nuclear localization signal (NLS) (70, 71). Researchers identified a new mutation that triggers juvenile FUS-associated ALS, located in the C-terminal amino acid (Y526C) (72). FUS proteins play a role in controlling transcription, processing RNA, and repairing DNA (73) FUS proteins can translocate intracellularly between the nucleus and the cytoplasm similar to TDP43 (74).
In patients with FUS mutation, an impairment of DNA-repair pathways and RNA splicing can cause physiological defects such as dendritic growth retardation, NMJ denervation, and neuron dysfunction (75). However, it is believed that the impairment of DNA-repair mechanisms is not due to the binding of mutant FUS to the DNA foci but rather due to the interaction with histone deacetylase 1 (76-78) Juvenile ALS with basophilic inclusions is pathologically and genetically different from the classic form of sporadic ALS. Basophilic inclusions are positive for FUS protein; however, these are negative for TDP43 (78). Moreover, the intensity of basophilic inclusions, especially in the horn of the spinal cord and cortical neurons, is a reflection of disease severity (79).
The administration of rosiglitazone in FUS transgenic rats prevented neuronal loss by inhibiting the development of abnormal dendrites, thus preserving their spatial memory (80). This suggests that neuronal loss is downstream of dendritic disruption, and this might also be the case in NMJ denervation. The use of FUS transgenic rats can potentially help understand the mechanism underlying cortical dementia in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (80).
Mouse models. A mutation in the FUS gene can cause ALS by both LOF and toxic GOF, contrary to other forms of ALS (Table III).
Mouse models for transactive response DNA-binding protein (TARDBP)-related amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
In one report, antisense morpholino oligonucleotide was used to knock-down fus gene in zebrafish (81). Neurological disorders such as NMJ denervation associated with abnormal synaptic activity and motor neuronal excitotoxicity were observed in this model (81). Of note, the investigators also observed symptoms that mimicked ALS in another group of zebrafish overexpressing mutant FUS (17). These observations demonstrate that LOF is the key pathogenic mechanism in FUS-related ALS. Nevertheless, there was no evidence to exclude toxicity due to GOF. In a more recent study, investigators developed a transgenic mouse model expressing FUSR521C mutation driven by the Syrian hamster prion promoter (82). While significant and progressive neuronal loss were observed in these mice, no cytoplasmic inclusions were noted. Conversely, in most cases, endogenous FUS was not able to function properly (83). Overall, by identifying defects in transcription and RNA splicing in knockdown mouse models, investigators have demonstrated that LOF should be considered as a mechanism of action in FUS-induced ALS (83). Nevertheless, additional research is warranted, as controversy continues to surround this hypothesis.
Other researchers hold that toxic GOF is involved in the development of FUS-related ALS (84). It was shown that homozygous mice overexpressing human wild-type FUS under the mouse prion promoter had progressive and lethal neurodegenerative disease despite having FUS protein levels only l.7-fold higher than non-transgenic mice (85). Mice with FUS mutation developed tremors at 1 month of age and showed signs of spinal cord neuronal loss and gliosis (86). Nevertheless, researchers did not identify physiological alterations in the brain (87). Furthermore, the accumulation of FUS inclusions was observed in the cytoplasm of the anterior horn of the spinal cord and brain, but did not co-localize with ubiquitin inclusions (88). Of note, wild-type FUS is characteristic of FTD and not ALS, although the mice displayed signs typical of ALS (71). These observations support the hypothesis that the disease acts through a GOF mechanism due to cytoplasmic accumulation of FUS and the absence of inclusions in the nucleus (81). Other investigators did not observe significant motor neuron loss or NMJ denervation in wild-type transgenic mice (75). In their model, the mice expressed a single copy of human wild-type FUS using Cre-LoxP recombinant at the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) locus (75). The investigators utilized the same promoter to develop transgenic mice overexpressing human mutant FUSR521C and FUSP525L, which have been reported to cause late-and early-onset disease in humans, respectively (71). Contrary to the healthy wild-type model, FUSR521C and FUSP525L mice exhibited denervated NMJ and progressive neurodegeneration at 2 and 1 month of age, respectively (71). This indicates that the FUSP525L mutation causes more aggressive disease than the FUSR521C mutation. In one report, the investigators found that mutant FUS, besides being more pathogenic, was more stable than human wild-type FUS (72). In both mutant models, diffused condensed inclusions of human wild-type FUS were observed. In addition, researchers documented an abnormal accumulation of FUS in the cytosol rather than in the nucleus (72, 73, 82). FUSP525L mice demonstrated more cytoplasmic FUS than FUSR521C, indicating that the frequency of FUS accumulation is directly related to the severity of ALS (82). Furthermore, to support their argument that the disease acts through a GOF toxicity mechanism in these models, the investigators developed a conditional FUS knockout model to overcome the prenatal lethality of consecutive FUS knockouts (75).The investigators concluded that the toxicity observed in FUS-related ALS does not involve an excess of human FUS or require the interaction of the mutant gene and wild-type forms. Rather, it is thought that toxicity is only due to accumulation of mutant FUS (17, 73, 75).
Lastly, there is evidence that the disease acts through a GOF or LOF mechanism depending on the type of mutation (89). Investigators developed human wild-type FUS or FUSR521G mice models by utilizing a Cre-inducible transgenic approach. Mortality rates were approximately 70% and 100% in mice expressing FUSR521G and human wild-type FUS, respectively (82, 85). In both groups, mortality was due to loss of motor function, which occurred before the mice were 1 month old. FUSR521G tat mice (Tat transgenic mice that express Tat protein; a number of studies have documented its neurotoxic property and its association with neurological diseases) survived and exhibited impaired motor function and mild behavioral disorders compared to their littermates (82, 85). Most mice expressing human wild-type FUS and FUSR521G developed hindlimb clasping, NMJ denervation, and muscle atrophy prior to motor loss (82, 85). This finding contradicts those of previous researches that demonstrated that wild-type FUS was less severe than mutant FUS. Similarly to the model generated by Qiu et al. (82), cytoplasmic FUS proteins were not detected in these models. Nevertheless, both mutants were distinct in terms of their gene-expression profile and synaptic homeostasis. Mice that expressed human wild-type FUS exhibited low gene expression, implying that endogenous FUS was non-functional. Thus, the expression of human wild-type FUS was through the LOF mechanism. Mice that expressed FUSR521G, contrary to transgenic mice that expressed human wild-type FUS, showed disrupted branching of dendrites, which was thought to be caused by toxic GOF. Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that FUSR521G mice also demonstrated low gene expression, a finding that is in line with that reported by Qiu et al. (82). This supports the hypothesis that FUS-related ALS acts through a partial LOF and GOF.
The TARDBP Mutation
TDP43 has been identified as the main component of cytoplasmic and intracellular inclusions in neurons and glia of patients with sporadic and FALS (90). Over 30 distinct mutations in the gene encoding TDP43, TARDBP, have been identified, and 3-4% occurred in patients with FALS (91, 92). While FUS and TDP43 proteins share similar structures and functions, suggesting that they probably have the same disease mechanisms, their functions of both proteins, for the most part, uncharacterized.
More than 50 missense mutations in the TARDBP gene have been identified, and these are related to polymorphism or substitution. Mutations in the TARDBP gene cause TDP43 hyper-phosphorylation and ubiquitin aggregation (93). Of note, TDP43 inclusions are found in most patients with ALS and ALS-associated FTD, except for those who have mutations associated with SOD1. For example, TDP43 inclusions have been described in progranulin (GRN) gene, valosin-containing protein (VCP), and C9ORF72 mutations (94). The presence of TDP43 inclusions can lead to a variety of proteinopathies, including axonopathy, mitochondrial degeneration, and abnormal RNA regulation (95). Under normal circumstances, TDP43 proteins help transport target mRNAs from the soma to distal axonal compartments as well as the NMJ (95). A deficiency of TDP43 causes retrograde movement of mRNA granules in Drosophila motor neurons and mouse cortical neurons (65).
Oxidative stress accumulation is also common in neurodegenerative diseases caused by protein mutation. Glutathione depletion triggers the formation of TDP43 inclusions (96), suggesting a relationship between reactive oxygen species and TDP43 impairment. Other investigators further demonstrated that TDP43 aggregates trigger oxidative stress and cause the formation of stress granules that recruit more TDP43, leading to the formation of large protein inclusions (97). These, then ubiquitinate mRNA molecules, including HDAC6 and fission factors, causing the degradation of mitochondria and subsequently, neurodegeneration (98, 99). Nevertheless, mitochondrial aggregation following the attachment of TDP43 did not require fission protein (100). Rather, this involved dysfunction of tau protein, which facilitates axonal transport of neurotransmitters (101). While these findings point towards a possible role of TDP43 inclusions in proteinopathies, researchers still have to determine whether these inclusions can cause neurodegeneration or are just a downstream consequence.
Mouse models. TDP43 affects many biological processes, including embryogenesis and neuronal development (102, 103). Cell dysfunction results if TDP43 does not function properly (104). That said, it was challenging for researchers to develop mouse models to study a single disease.
While some researchers successfully generated TDP43 models (105), the experiments had shortcomings in the sense that none could recapitulate the classical TDP43-associated ALS-like phenotype. To understand whether TARDBP-related ALS acts through LOF, researchers generated knockout mouse models. They found that embryogenesis was impaired in homozygous knockout mice, suggesting that TDP43 played a part in disease pathogenesis (106). Conversely, there was evidence that TDP43 synthesis was autoregulated, as heterozygous knockout mice did not have symptoms of neuromuscular disease and had normal protein expression (106-108). Symptoms typical of ALS were not exhibited in any of the generated knockout models. Overall, it can be deduced that TDP43 aggregation is likely the main cause of ALS/FTLD through a GOF rather than LOF (109).
Furthermore, in order to study the nature of GOF toxicity in ALS and the nature of GOF toxicity in ALS in which high levels of TARDBP mRNA and protein in defected neurons have been reported, researchers generated transgenic mice overexpressing human wild-type TDP43 carried by exogenous promoters such as Cre, Thy1.2, Prp and Camkllα (108, 110). The mice in this model exhibited phenotypes similar to those observed in Camkllα mice. These include the presence of fragmented and phosphorylated TDP43 inclusions in the cytosol, early neuronal loss, gliosis, axonopathy, intestinal dysfunction, progressive paralysis, and death. However, these signs are not pathognomonic for ALS and may be observed in different types of TDP43 proteinopathies (66, 111, 112). These findings raise concerns regarding the reliability of these mouse models in the study of ALS pathogenesis.
Researchers have also attempted to understand the role of the structural compartments of TDP43 by generating transgenic mice models overexpressing only C-terminal fragments or containing defective NLS human TDP43 (37, 72, 113). Investigators observed only cognitive dysfunction and mild motor neurodegeneration in C-terminal fragments and defective NLS mice, respectively. This suggests that these domains may be involved in ALS (114), although they did not exactly mimic ALS.
Given that ALS-TDP43 cytoplasmic inclusions are typical in ALS, it is necessary to study these mutations, especially A315T, M337V, G348C, and A382T, reported to occur frequently (115-119). This review delves into the significance of these mutations in some transgenic lines (Table IV).
Some investigators generated human wild-type TARDBPA315T, and TARDBPG348C transgenic mouse models by injecting DNA fragments, encompassing its human endogenous promoter subcloned from TARDBP-BAC into mice (116). In all three models studied, TDP43 overexpression was about three-fold compared to endogenous levels. All the models under investigation, contrary to those with higher expression that used exogenous promoters (112, 119, 120), exhibited late disease onset at age 10 months. Of note, transgenic mice expressing TARDBPG348C had more aggressive disease than mice with TARDBPA315T and wild-type TARDBP (120). For example, aggregates containing peripherin proteins, pathognomonic of ALS, were identified in high amounts in the hippocampus and the cortex of TARDBPG348C mice compared with TARDBPA315T and wild-type TARDBP mice. Similarly, investigators found that microgliosis and astrogliosis were prominent in TARDBPG348C than in TARDBPA315T and wild-type TARDBP mice. Other researchers generated knock-in mouse models expressing heterozygous human TARDBPA382T or TARDBPG348C mutations, and found that disease onset was late in these mice (121). This indicated that the use of an endogenous promoter can be better to recapitulate signs and symptoms characteristic of ALS. In addition, the researchers reported that the levels of mutant mRNA and proteins in astrocytes were higher in TARDBPA382T than TARDBPG348C mice. In other TARDBP transgenic mouse models carrying the endogenous promoter, late disease onset was documented in mice with mutant TARDBPM337V and TARDBPQ331K expressing exogenous promoters (118, 122). Janssens et al. demonstrated hindlimb clasping at less than 1 month of age in mice with mutant TARDBPM337V driven by a Thy-1.2 promoter (118), whereas Wang et al. described cortical neuronal loss driven by a prion promoter in transgenic mice at 12 months of age (122). According to some investigators, the level of TDP43M337V in hemizygous TARDBPM337V mice was not enough to reach the minimum level required to cause motor neuron death (in the spinal cord), which is a typical feature necessary for the onset of ALS-like phenotypes such as muscle weakness and paralysis (122). However, this hypothesis should be further investigated. Conversely, other researchers described motor deficits at 3 and 10 months of age in TARDBPQ331K and TARDBPM337V mice, respectively; these were under the control of mouse prion promoter (110). The mice in this model did not exhibit cytoplasmic TDP43 aggregations and on the contrary, TDP43 proteins were localized in the nucleus. Nevertheless, aberrant splicing events were observed in some RNA targets and enhanced in others. Thus, it can be presumed that mutations in TDP43 cause ALS through LOF and GOF in the absence of toxicity. In yet another study, investigators used the Cre recombinase system to reduce TDP43Q331K expression in neurons and discovered that disease onset was delayed; however, this did not stop it from progressing (123).
Overall, it can be deduced from the findings above that overexpression of TDP43 at very high levels, especially in mice with A315T mutation, can cause premature death, most likely due to gastrointestinal complications (124, 125). In addition, the use of either low protein expression or endogenous promoter correlates with late-onset motor dysfunction. Therefore, mice in these models develop signs that are reminiscent of TDP43-related ALS. Regarding the mechanism underlying neuronal toxicity, the subject remains a controversial issue, and further studies are warranted in this domain.
Conclusion
Much has been achieved in the field of genetic research, especially in understanding the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS. It was not until recently that researchers understood why it was important to determine the underlying mechanism of LOF and GOF. Despite advances in our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the development of ALS, the disease remains fatal. Researchers have only been able to develop mouse models that closely mimic ALS in humans; however, none of these models mimic the exact pathophysiology of the disease in humans, and current treatments can only relieve symptoms, not provide a cure. This review provides a deep insight into the best mouse models that have been generated to date. These models can serve as a basis for further research into developing better models that can potentially help in identifying an effective therapy against ALS.
Acknowledgements
The Author would like to thank Dr. Aida Mohammedeid (Ph.D. of neuroscience) for her help in editing some parts of this article.
Footnotes
This article is freely accessible online.
- Received April 14, 2018.
- Revision received May 22, 2018.
- Accepted May 31, 2018.
- Copyright© 2018, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved
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