in-vivo-electrophysiological-measurement-compound-muscle-action

<em>In Vivo</em> Electrophysiological Measurement of Compound Muscle Action Potential from the Forelimbs in Mouse Models of Motor Neuron Degeneration

Assessing the functionality of the nerve axon provides detailed information on the progression of neuromuscular disorders. Electrophysiological recordings ...

KU Leuven - University of Leuven

Peripheral neuropathies are characterized by a progressive and length-dependent loss of peripheral nerve function. This can be caused either by genetic defects, classified as 'inherited peripheral neuropathies', or they can be acquired throughout life. In that case, the disease is caused by various insults such as toxins and mechanical injuries, or it can arise secondary to medical conditions such as metabolic disorders, nutritional deficiencies, inflammation and infections. Peripheral neuropathies are not only very heterogeneous in etiology, but also in their pathology and clinical presentation. A commonality amongst all peripheral neuropathies is that no pharmacological disease-modifying therapies currently exist that can reverse or cure these diseases. Moreover, the length-dependent nature of the disease, affecting the longest nerves at the most distal sites, suggests an important role for disturbances in axonal transport, directly or indirectly linked to alterations in the cytoskeleton. In this review, we will give a systematic overview of the main arguments for the involvement of axonal transport defects in both inherited and acquired peripheral neuropathies. In addition, we will discuss the possible therapeutic strategies that can potentially counteract these disturbances, as this particular pathway might be a promising strategy to find a cure. Since counteracting axonal transport defects could limit the axonal degeneration and could be a driving force for neuronal regeneration, the benefits might be twofold.

Defective axonal transport: A common pathological mechanism in inherited and acquired peripheral neuropathies.

Peripheral nerve axons require a well-organized axonal microtubule network for efficient transport to ensure the constant crosstalk between soma and synapse. Mutations in more than 80 different genes cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which is the most common inherited disorder affecting peripheral nerves. This genetic heterogeneity has hampered the development of therapeutics for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The aim of this study was to explore whether histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) can serve as a therapeutic target focusing on the mutant glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS/GARS)-induced peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral nerves and dorsal root ganglia from the C201R mutant Gars mouse model showed reduced acetylated α-tubulin levels. In primary dorsal root ganglion neurons, mutant GlyRS affected neurite length and disrupted normal mitochondrial transport. We demonstrated that GlyRS co-immunoprecipitated with HDAC6 and that this interaction was blocked by tubastatin A, a selective inhibitor of the deacetylating function of HDAC6. Moreover, HDAC6 inhibition restored mitochondrial axonal transport in mutant GlyRS-expressing neurons. Systemic delivery of a specific HDAC6 inhibitor increased α-tubulin acetylation in peripheral nerves and partially restored nerve conduction and motor behaviour in mutant Gars mice. Our study demonstrates that α-tubulin deacetylation and disrupted axonal transport may represent a common pathogenic mechanism underlying Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and it broadens the therapeutic potential of selective HDAC6 inhibition to other genetic forms of axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Robert Prior

Department of Neurosciences,
Experimental Neurology,
Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology

KU Leuven - University of Leuven

In Vivo Electrophysiological Measurement of Compound Muscle Action Potential from the Forelimbs in Mouse Models of Motor Neuron Degeneration

Robert Prior

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Neurosciences,Experimental Neurology,Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology

KU Leuven - University of Leuven

In Vivo Electrophysiological Measurement of Compound Muscle Action Potential from the Forelimbs in Mouse Models of Motor Neuron Degeneration

Department of Neurosciences,
Experimental Neurology,
Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology