The dysfunction of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases, though the specific contributions of its toxic gain-of-function versus loss-of-function effects remain unclear. This study investigates the impact of TARDBP loss on cellular metabolism and viability using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons and HeLa cells. TARDBP silencing led to reduced metabolic activity and cell growth, accompanied by neurite degeneration and decreased oxygen consumption rates in both cell types. Notably, TARDBP depletion induced a metabolic shift, impairing ATP production, increasing metabolic inflexibility, and elevating free radical production, indicating a critical role for TDP-43 in maintaining cellular bioenergetics. Furthermore, TARDBP loss triggered non-apoptotic cell death, increased ACSL4 expression, and reprogrammed lipid metabolism towards lipid droplet accumulation, while paradoxically enhancing resilience to ferroptosis inducers. Overall, our findings highlight those essential cellular traits such as ATP production, metabolic activity, oxygen consumption, and cell survival are highly dependent on TARDBP function.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2024.103301 | DOI Listing |
PLoS Genet
December 2024
Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
Neuronal inclusions of hyperphosphorylated TDP-43 are hallmarks of disease for most patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mutations in TARDBP, the gene coding for TDP-43, can cause some cases of familial inherited ALS (fALS), indicating dysfunction of TDP-43 drives disease. Aggregated, phosphorylated TDP-43 may contribute to disease phenotypes; alternatively, TDP-43 aggregation may be a protective cellular response sequestering toxic protein away from the rest of the cell.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Neuropathol Commun
December 2024
Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, 855 N. Wolfe St., Rangos 275, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
The GC hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9ORF72 is the major genetic cause of both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) (C9-ALS/FTD). Despite considerable efforts, the development of mouse models of C9-ALS/FTD useful for therapeutic development has proven challenging due to the intricate interplay of genetic and molecular factors underlying this neurodegenerative disorder, in addition to species differences. This study presents a robust investigation of the cellular pathophysiology and behavioral outcomes in a previously described AAV mouse model of C9-ALS expressing 66 GC hexanucleotide repeats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Neurol
December 2024
Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Background: Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a rare motor neuron disease characterized by upper motor neuron degeneration, diagnosed clinically due to the absence of a (neuropathological) gold standard. Post-mortem studies, particularly TDP-43 pathology analysis, are limited.
Methods: This study reports on 5 cases in which the diagnostic criteria for PLS were met, but in which neuropathology findings showed (partially) conflicting results.
Dis Model Mech
December 2024
Department of Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Science, Toho University, Chiba 274-8510, Japan.
Acta Neuropathol Commun
November 2024
Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan.
Nuclear clearance and cytoplasmic aggregation of TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) are pathological hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and its pathogenic mechanism is mediated by both loss-of-function and gain-of-toxicity of TDP-43. However, the role of TDP-43 gain-of-toxicity in oligodendrocytes remains unclear. To investigate the impact of excess TDP-43 on oligodendrocytes, we established transgenic mice overexpressing the ALS-linked mutant TDP-43 in oligodendrocytes through crossbreeding with Mbp-Cre mice.
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