Kim Tieu - US grants

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our long term goal is to study the mechanism of neurodegeneration induced by environmental neurotoxicants. This proposal is submitted to investigate the active role of astrocytes in regulating the levels of environmental neurotoxic cations and hence, in modulating neurodegeneration. Based on our preliminary data we hypothesize that cations such as MPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium) and paraquat (PQ) are bi- directionally transported across the astrocytic plasma membrane by the organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) and, through this mechanism, OCT3 modulates neurotoxicity. Thus, the tissue and cellular distribution of OCT3 should be critical in defining the differential regional susceptibility to cationic neurotoxins. Cations representing two different categories of environmental neurotoxicants with different toxicokinetics will be used. 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is a lipophillic compound that will be used to generate MPP+ inside of astrocytes. The goal is to assess how the release of MPP+ from astrocytes (v/a OCT3) into the extracellular space would subsequently induce selective death in the nigral dopaminergic neurons. PQ, a widely used cationic herbicide that has been linked to parkinsonism, will be used to assess how astrocytes affect neurodegeneration by taking up (via OCT3) and thus removing toxic cations from the extracellular space. Of note, both MPP+ and PQ also increase the outflow of the endogenous cation dopamine (DA), which is neurotoxic upon oxidation To test our hypotheses, mutant mice deficient in OCT3 and an OCT3 inhibitor will be used. In the first specific aim, we will assess how OCT3 regulates the levels of MPP+, PQ and DA by determining its uptake and reverse transport kinetics for these cations using both cell culture and animal models. In the second specific aim, we will evaluate how OCT3 modulates neurotoxicity through its bi-directional transport of MPP+ and PQ. We hypothesize that OCT3 ablation, by sequestrating MPP+ in astrocytes, attenuates dopaminergic neuronal death after MPTP treatment. Conversely, OCT3 ablation, by preventing the uptake of MPP+, PQ, and DA into astrocytes, enhances dopaminergic neuronal death after MPP+ and PQ treatments. Thus, our plan is to assess the magnitude of dopaminergic neurotoxicity in OCT3 mutant mice as well as co-culture models of astrocytes and dopaminergic neurons, treated with MPTP, MPP+ or PQ. We will also assess whether re-expression of OCT3 in astrocytes deficient in this transporter would reverse the neurotoxic effects. The proposed studies have potential to unravel a still unrecognized pathway by which different cell types in the brain interact with each other to modulate neurodegeneration induced by environmental toxicants. In addition, these studies may provide significant insights into a novel mechanism that contributes to the pattern of cell death as seen in neurodegenerative disorders such as sporadic Parkinson's disease. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable]

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our long term goal is to study the mechanism of neurodegeneration induced by environmental neurotoxicants. This proposal is submitted to investigate gene-environment interactions in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease mediated through the mitochondrial pathway. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been proposed as a major mechanism of neurodegeneration in PD for years, but direct evidence in humans was inadequate until the recent discoveries of mutations in PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), which encodes a mitochondrial kinase. Although PINK1 mutations are associated with autosomal recessive PD, interestingly, an increasing number of PD patients carrying single heterozygous mutations have been reported. These observations suggest that a heterozygous PINK1 mutation may act as a susceptibility factor that interplays with environmental insults. To determine the interactions between PINK1 mutations and environmental toxicants, we have created stable cell lines with inducible over-expression of various PINK1 mutants. Based on our preliminary results, we hypothesize that PINK1 mutations increase cell susceptibility to environmental toxicants such as paraquat (PQ) through a novel mechanism: mitochondrial fragmentation via the mitochondrial fission / fusion machinery. In the first specific aim, we will characterize neurotoxicity induced by PQ and MPP+ (two toxicants representing different mechanisms of toxicity) through the mitochondrial fission and fusion pathway in N27 cells with a PINK1 mutation (L347P) and empty vector control, as well as in N27 cells with PINK1 knockdown mediated by siRNA. We will assess cell viability, functional outcomes (ATP production, dopamine release and electron transport chain activity), as well as mitochondrial fragmentation (size/shape) and alterations in mitochondrial fission and fusion proteins. In specific aim 2, we will perform neuroprotective experiments against PQ and MPP+ toxicity in mutant PINK1 cells by targeting the mitochondrial fission and fusion pathway, through genetic manipulations and a small molecule. We will transfect cells with relevant constructs and use a chemical inhibitor to attenuate mitochondrial fragmentation. The neuroprotective effects of these two strategies against MPP+ and PQ toxicity will be determined using cell viability and functional assays as described in specific aim 1. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE This research may provide insights into the complexity of gene-environment interactions in the cause of cell death as seen in Parkinson's disease by unraveling a still unrecognized molecular pathway. Furthermore, this novel mechanism may offer an additional avenue to develop neuroprotective therapy for patients with Parkinson's disease.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our long term goal is to study the mechanisms of neurodegeneration induced by environmental toxicants, genetic mutations and potential gene-environment interactions to gain insights into the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Advances in the genetics of PD have highlighted the critical role of mitochondrial dynamics (fission / fusion / movement) in neuronal function and survival. However, because monogenic familial PD represents only a small fraction of PD cases, it is critical to determine whether perturbed mitochondrial dynamics also plays a role in the nigrostriatal damage induced by environmental neurotoxicants. Most of these exogenous toxic molecules cause mitochondrial dysfunction either directly by blocking mitochondrial respiration, or indirectly through oxidative stress. Based on our preliminary data, this proposal will utilize two complementary toxicant-based animal models of nigrostriatal neurodegeneration: A) The herbicide paraquat (PQ) induces cell death primarily through oxidative stress. B) The pesticide/insecticide rotenone directly inhibits mitochondrial function. We hypothesize that whether excessive mitochondrial fission and dysfunction is induced directly by blocking mitochondrial respiration (rotenone) or indirectly by oxidative stress (PQ), promoting mitochondrial fusion will attenuate pre-synaptic dysfunction and neurotoxicity seen in these animal models. In Aim 1, we will investigate the impact of promoting mitochondrial fusion in the PQ mouse and rotenone rat models. Because PQ does not induce striatal damage in regular mice, we will use our novel mutant mice with deletion of the organic cation transporter 3 (Oct3-/-) to create a PQ animal model with damage in both nigra and striatum, as well as to enhance relevance to human gene-environment interactions because OCT3 variants have been associated with PD. Small molecule and gene-based approaches will be used for manipulation of mitochondrial fission/fusion machinery. Both neurorestorative and neuroprotective effects of these strategies will be determined in animals with pre-existing lesions and with active neurodegeneration. Striatal mitochondrial function, evoked striatal dopamine release in freely moving animals, synaptic function using electrophysiology, motor function and the integrity of the nigrostriatal pathway will be analyzed. In Aim 2, we will investigate the mechanisms by which PQ and rotenone induce mitochondrial fission and why blocking this process is protective. Where relevant, both animal models and cell cultures will be used. A wide range of state-of-the art equipment/techniques such as 3-dimensional electron microscopy, laser capture microdissection, the Seahorse extracellular flux analyzer and amperometry will be used to quantify alterations in levels of proteins/genes of interest specifically in nigral dopaminergic neurons, mitochondrial trafficking/morphology/function and synaptic density/function. Accomplishment of these aims will provide critical information regarding how toxic insults impact nigrostriatal pathway through perturbed mitochondrial dynamics and offer insights into a potential novel therapeutic target for PD.

Project Summary The long term goal of our laboratory is to study the pathogenic mechanisms induced by environmental toxicants, genetic mutations and gene-environment interactions in Parkinson?s disease (PD) with the ultimate goal of developing disease-modifying therapeutics for this brain disorder. Overall, our research projects address the following fundamental questions: 1) Gene- environment interactions: Do mutations linked to PD render dopamine neurons more susceptible to environmental toxicants? 2) Glia-neuron interactions: How do glial cells contribute to the vulnerability of dopamine neurons in PD? 3) Excessive mitochondrial fission has been demonstrated in genetic and toxicant-induced models of PD. Can mitochondrial fission and fusion be targeted for PD treatment? These research projects have been supported by NIEHS since 2006. This R35 proposal will be built upon the strength, expertise, experimental models and other resources generated from the NIEHS funded projects in our laboratory to take our work to the next transformative level. The primary goal of this R35 proposal is to demonstrate that neurotoxicity induced by neurotoxicants such as manganese (Mn) alone or in combination with other factors (?-synuclein and gastric bacteria) linked to PD can be mitigated by reducing the function of dynamin related protein-1 (Drp1), which is typically known as a mitochondrial fission protein. However, our recent findings have led us to unexpected and exciting mechanism of Drp1 through autophagy. Combined with our recent discoveries that neurotoxicants such as Mn and paraquat impair autophagy at a low and sub-lethal concentration, our vision is that Drp1 plays a central role in pathogenic mechanism and this protein can be targeted for PD therapy. Over the next eight years, this R35 will give us the flexibility and power to fully investigate the extensive involvement of Drp1 in neurotoxicity mediated by glia-neuron interactions, gene-environment interactions and gastric bacteria that have been linked to PD. This proposal utilizes a transdisciplinary approach from a team of accomplished investigators with relevant established track-records, a wide range of chemical and genetic tools, high standard techniques and innovative experimental models for molecular target manipulations with functional studies at cellular, circuit and whole animal levels. Completion of this project will provide paradigm shifts in our understanding of how Drp1 mediates neurotoxicity through a wide range of toxic insults.