Neuronal proliferation and development process play a role in ALS, with studies demonstrating how in G93A-SOD1 mice ependymal stem progenitor cells show a higher proliferation and differentiation towards the neuronal lineage. Moreover, human derived neural progenitor cells from ALS patients tend to differentiate to neuronal lineages. LncRNAs play a role in neuronal cell’s development, and the ablation of a panel of 8 lncRNAs causes strong modifications in mouse brain’s development. Recently, we investigated the role of these 8 lncRNAs in neuronal stem cell differentiation. We identified an interaction between HuR (ELAVL1) and these lncRNAs. We found AU-rich regions within their sequences and by RNA-Immunoprecipitation we demonstrated that the lncRNAs bind HuR. Furthermore, both pharmacological and genetic inhibition of HuR lead to a modification in their metabolism. We then decided to investigate the role of six of these lncRNAs (lincENC1, lincBRN1a, lincBRN1b, TUG1, FENDRR, lincp21) in ALS pathology. Their expression was investigated in different spinal cord (SC) areas (cervical, thoracic and lumbar) and in brain areas (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, mesencephalon, striatum and cerebellum) of G93A-SOD1 mice, both at a pre-symptomatic stage (8 weeks of age) and at a symptomatic stage (18 weeks of age). In the spinal cord areas, we found significant differences in the lncRNAs expression which indicated a potential role for these lncRNAs in neuronal development. In 8W mice (pre-symptomatic), lincBRN1a was up-regulated in the SOD1-G93A lumbar SC. For 18W mice, linc-p21 was up-regulated both in the cervical and in the thoracic SC and an increase in lincENC1 was observed in the SOD1-G93A thoracic SC. Furthermore, we found an up-regulation in lincBRN1b expression from the 8W to the 18W stage in the cervical SC, indicating a potential role for this lncRNA in the neuronal aging process. In the brain areas, we found no significant differences in the lncRNAs’ expression in the cerebellum, striatum and mesencephalon. However, we found some alterations in the hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex. In particular, in the 8W stadium, linc-brn1b and FENDRR were decreased in both areas, and linc-p21 in the prefrontal cortex. FENDRR’s expression was downregulated from the 8W to the 18W stage in the prefrontal cortex, suggesting an age-dependent role for this lncRNA. Together, these data highlight a potential role for lncRNAs in disease onset and progression. The understanding of how these lncRNAs influence the ALS pathology may elucidate new targetable pathways.

LncRNAs involved in neuronal development seem to play a role in ALS pathology / F. Rey, T. Giallongo, M. Stefania, B. Alice, P. Bernasconi, A. Gorio, S. Carelli, A.M. DI GIULIO. ((Intervento presentato al convegno Congresso DISS tenutosi a Milano nel 2018.

LncRNAs involved in neuronal development seem to play a role in ALS pathology

F. Rey;T. Giallongo;P. Bernasconi;A. Gorio;S. Carelli;A.M. DI GIULIO
2018

Abstract

Neuronal proliferation and development process play a role in ALS, with studies demonstrating how in G93A-SOD1 mice ependymal stem progenitor cells show a higher proliferation and differentiation towards the neuronal lineage. Moreover, human derived neural progenitor cells from ALS patients tend to differentiate to neuronal lineages. LncRNAs play a role in neuronal cell’s development, and the ablation of a panel of 8 lncRNAs causes strong modifications in mouse brain’s development. Recently, we investigated the role of these 8 lncRNAs in neuronal stem cell differentiation. We identified an interaction between HuR (ELAVL1) and these lncRNAs. We found AU-rich regions within their sequences and by RNA-Immunoprecipitation we demonstrated that the lncRNAs bind HuR. Furthermore, both pharmacological and genetic inhibition of HuR lead to a modification in their metabolism. We then decided to investigate the role of six of these lncRNAs (lincENC1, lincBRN1a, lincBRN1b, TUG1, FENDRR, lincp21) in ALS pathology. Their expression was investigated in different spinal cord (SC) areas (cervical, thoracic and lumbar) and in brain areas (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, mesencephalon, striatum and cerebellum) of G93A-SOD1 mice, both at a pre-symptomatic stage (8 weeks of age) and at a symptomatic stage (18 weeks of age). In the spinal cord areas, we found significant differences in the lncRNAs expression which indicated a potential role for these lncRNAs in neuronal development. In 8W mice (pre-symptomatic), lincBRN1a was up-regulated in the SOD1-G93A lumbar SC. For 18W mice, linc-p21 was up-regulated both in the cervical and in the thoracic SC and an increase in lincENC1 was observed in the SOD1-G93A thoracic SC. Furthermore, we found an up-regulation in lincBRN1b expression from the 8W to the 18W stage in the cervical SC, indicating a potential role for this lncRNA in the neuronal aging process. In the brain areas, we found no significant differences in the lncRNAs’ expression in the cerebellum, striatum and mesencephalon. However, we found some alterations in the hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex. In particular, in the 8W stadium, linc-brn1b and FENDRR were decreased in both areas, and linc-p21 in the prefrontal cortex. FENDRR’s expression was downregulated from the 8W to the 18W stage in the prefrontal cortex, suggesting an age-dependent role for this lncRNA. Together, these data highlight a potential role for lncRNAs in disease onset and progression. The understanding of how these lncRNAs influence the ALS pathology may elucidate new targetable pathways.
9-nov-2018
Settore BIO/11 - Biologia Molecolare
LncRNAs involved in neuronal development seem to play a role in ALS pathology / F. Rey, T. Giallongo, M. Stefania, B. Alice, P. Bernasconi, A. Gorio, S. Carelli, A.M. DI GIULIO. ((Intervento presentato al convegno Congresso DISS tenutosi a Milano nel 2018.
Conference Object
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
poster Rey et al diss2018.pdf

accesso riservato

Tipologia: Altro
Dimensione 280.21 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
280.21 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/616727
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact