Role of WW Domain-containing Oxidoreductase WWOX in Driving T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Maturation.

Whether tumor suppressor WWOX (WW domain-containing oxidoreductase) stimulates immune cell maturation is largely unknown. Here, we determined that Tyr-33-phosphorylated WWOX physically binds non-phosphorylated ERK and IκBα in immature acute lymphoblastic leukemia MOLT-4 T cells and in the naïve mouse spleen. The IκBα·ERK·WWOX complex was shown to localize, in part, in the mitochondria. WWOX prevents IκBα from proteasomal degradation. Upon stimulating MOLT-4 with ionophore A23187/phorbol myristate acetate, endogenous IκBα and ERK undergo rapid phosphorylation in <5 min, and subsequently WWOX is Tyr-33 and Tyr-287 de-phosphorylated and Ser-14 phosphorylated. Three hours later, IκBα starts to degrade, and ERK returns to basal or non-phosphorylation, and this lasts for the next 12 h. Finally, expression of CD3 and CD8 occurs in MOLT-4 along with reappearance of the IκBα·ERK·WWOX complex near 24 h. Inhibition of ERK phosphorylation by U0126 or IκBα degradation by MG132 prevents MOLT-4 maturation. By time-lapse FRET microscopy, IκBα·ERK·WWOX complex exhibits an increased binding strength by 1-2-fold after exposure to ionophore A23187/phorbol myristate acetate for 15-24 h. Meanwhile, a portion of ERK and WWOX relocates to the nucleus, suggesting their role in the induction of CD3 and CD8 expression in MOLT-4.

Microprocessor complex subunit DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene 8 (Dgcr8) is required for schwann cell myelination and myelin maintenance.

We investigated the role of a key component of the Microprocessor complex, DGCR8, in the regulation of myelin formation and maintenance. We found that conditionally ablating Dgcr8 in Schwann cells (SCs) during development results in an arrest of SC differentiation. Dgcr8 conditional knock-out (cKO) SCs fail to form 1:1 relationships with axons or, having achieved this, fail to form myelin sheaths. The expression of genes normally found in immature SCs, such as sex-determining region Y-box 2 (Sox2), is increased in Dgcr8 cKO SCs, whereas the expression of myelin-related genes, including the master regulatory transcription factor early growth response 2 (Egr2), is decreased. Additionally, expression of a novel gene expression program involving sonic hedgehog (Shh), activated de novo in injured nerves, is elevated in Dgcr8 cKOs but not in Egr2 null mice, a model of SC differentiation arrest, suggesting that the injury-related gene expression program in Dgcr8 cKOs cannot be attributed to differentiation arrest. Inducible ablation of Dgcr8 in adult SCs results in gene expression changes similar to those found in cKOs, including an increase in the expression of Sox2 and Shh. Analyses of these nerves mainly reveal normal myelin thickness and axon size distribution but some dedifferentiated SCs and increased macrophage infiltration. Together our data suggest that Dgcr8 is responsible for modulation of gene expression programs underlying myelin formation and maintenance as well as suppression of an injury-related gene expression program.

An Lmx1b-miR135a2 regulatory circuit modulates Wnt1/Wnt signaling and determines the size of the midbrain dopaminergic progenitor pool.

MicroRNAs regulate gene expression in diverse physiological scenarios. Their role in the control of morphogen related signaling pathways has been less studied, particularly in the context of embryonic Central Nervous System (CNS) development. Here, we uncover a role for microRNAs in limiting the spatiotemporal range of morphogen expression and function. Wnt1 is a key morphogen in the embryonic midbrain, and directs proliferation, survival, patterning and neurogenesis. We reveal an autoregulatory negative feedback loop between the transcription factor Lmx1b and a newly characterized microRNA, miR135a2, which modulates the extent of Wnt1/Wnt signaling and the size of the dopamine progenitor domain. Conditional gain of function studies reveal that Lmx1b promotes Wnt1/Wnt signaling, and thereby increases midbrain size and dopamine progenitor allocation. Conditional removal of Lmx1b has the opposite effect, in that expansion of the dopamine progenitor domain is severely compromised. Next, we provide evidence that microRNAs are involved in restricting dopamine progenitor allocation. Conditional loss of Dicer1 in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) results in expanded Lmx1a/b+ progenitors. In contrast, forced elevation of miR135a2 during an early window in vivo phenocopies the Lmx1b conditional knockout. When En1::Cre, but not Shh::Cre or Nes::Cre, is used for recombination, the expansion of Lmx1a/b+ progenitors is selectively reduced. Bioinformatics and luciferase assay data suggests that miR135a2 targets Lmx1b and many genes in the Wnt signaling pathway, including Ccnd1, Gsk3b, and Tcf7l2. Consistent with this, we demonstrate that this mutant displays reductions in the size of the Lmx1b/Wnt1 domain and range of canonical Wnt signaling. We posit that microRNA modulation of the Lmx1b/Wnt axis in the early midbrain/isthmus could determine midbrain size and allocation of dopamine progenitors. Since canonical Wnt activity has recently been recognized as a key ingredient for programming ESCs towards a dopaminergic fate in vitro, these studies could impact the rational design of such protocols.

DELE1 promotes translation-associated homeostasis, growth, and survival in mitochondrial myopathy.

Mitochondrial dysfunction causes devastating disorders, including mitochondrial myopathy. Here, we identified that diverse mitochondrial myopathy models elicit a protective mitochondrial integrated stress response (mt-ISR), mediated by OMA1-DELE1 signaling. The response was similar following disruptions in mtDNA maintenance, from knockout of Tfam, and mitochondrial protein unfolding, from disease-causing mutations in CHCHD10 (G58R and S59L). The preponderance of the response was directed at upregulating pathways for aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, the intermediates for protein synthesis, and was similar in heart and skeletal muscle but more limited in brown adipose challenged with cold stress. Strikingly, models with early DELE1 mt-ISR activation failed to grow and survive to adulthood in the absence of Dele1, accounting for some but not all of OMA1's protection. Notably, the DELE1 mt-ISR did not slow net protein synthesis in stressed striated muscle, but instead prevented loss of translation-associated proteostasis in muscle fibers. Together our findings identify that the DELE1 mt-ISR mediates a stereotyped response to diverse forms of mitochondrial stress and is particularly critical for maintaining growth and survival in early-onset mitochondrial myopathy.

Genotype-phenotype correlation in PRKN-associated Parkinson's disease.

Bi-allelic pathogenic variants in PRKN are the most common cause of autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease (PD). 647 patients with PRKN-PD were included in this international study. The pathogenic variants present were characterised and investigated for their effect on phenotype. Clinical features and progression of PRKN-PD was also assessed. Among 133 variants in index cases (n = 582), there were 58 (43.6%) structural variants, 34 (25.6%) missense, 20 (15%) frameshift, 10 splice site (7.5%%), 9 (6.8%) nonsense and 2 (1.5%) indels. The most frequent variant overall was an exon 3 deletion (n = 145, 12.3%), followed by the p.R275W substitution (n = 117, 10%). Exon3, RING0 protein domain and the ubiquitin-like protein domain were mutational hotspots with 31%, 35.4% and 31.7% of index cases presenting mutations in these regions respectively. The presence of a frameshift or structural variant was associated with a 3.4 ± 1.6 years or a 4.7 ± 1.6 years earlier age at onset of PRKN-PD respectively (p < 0.05). Furthermore, variants located in the N-terminus of the protein, a region enriched with frameshift variants, were associated with an earlier age at onset. The phenotype of PRKN-PD was characterised by slow motor progression, preserved cognition, an excellent motor response to levodopa therapy and later development of motor complications compared to early-onset PD. Non-motor symptoms were however common in PRKN-PD. Our findings on the relationship between the type of variant in PRKN and the phenotype of the disease may have implications for both genetic counselling and the design of precision clinical trials.

Connectivity correlates to predict essential tremor deep brain stimulation outcome: Evidence for a common treatment pathway.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is the most common surgical treatment for essential tremor (ET), yet there is variation in outcome and stimulation targets. This study seeks to consolidate proposed stimulation "sweet spots," as well as assess the value of structural connectivity in predicting treatment outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-seven ET individuals with unilateral thalamic DBS were retrospectively included. Using normative brain connectomes, structural connectivity measures were correlated with the percentage improvement in contralateral tremor, based on the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin tremor rating scale (TRS), after parameter optimization (range 3.1-12.9 months) using a leave-one-out cross-validation in 83 individuals. The predictive feature map was used for cross-validation in a separate cohort of 14 ET individuals treated at another center. Lastly, estimated volumes of tissue activated (VTA) were used to assess a treatment "sweet spot," which was compared to seven previously reported stimulation sweet spots and their relationship to the tract identified by the predictive feature map. RESULTS: In the training cohort, structural connectivity between the VTA and dentato-rubro-thalamic tract (DRTT) correlated with contralateral tremor improvement (R = 0.41; p < 0.0001). The same connectivity profile predicted outcomes in a separate validation cohort (R = 0.59; p = 0.028). The predictive feature map represented the anatomical course of the DRTT, and all seven analyzed sweet spots overlapped the predictive tract (DRTT). CONCLUSIONS: Our results strongly support the possibility that structural connectivity is a predictor of contralateral tremor improvement in ET DBS. The results suggest the future potential for a patient-specific functionally based surgical target. Finally, the results showed convergence in "sweet spots" suggesting the importance of the DRTT to the outcome.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue mimicking bulbar-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

One-third of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) present with bulbar symptoms, exhibiting progressive dysphagia and dysarthria. In comparison, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue can cause tongue paralysis secondary to hypoglossal nerve infiltration. In rare cases, SCC can mimic motor neuron disease. Here, we describe a patient with SCC of the base of the tongue related to human papillomavirus infection who was initially misdiagnosed with bulbar-onset ALS.

Late onset CMT2A in a Family with an MFN2 Variant: c.2222T>G (p.Leu741Trp).

Mutations in MFN2 cause a range of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) phenotypes with different inheritance patterns and underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Recently, a family with a dominantly inherited CMT harboring c.2222T>G (p.Leu741Trp) mutation in MFN2 has been reported for the first time. Here, we report a second family also with a dominantly inherited CMT harboring the same mutation, thereby confirming the pathogenicity of this mutation. Interestingly, the disease onset of this second family is much later than the previously reported cases.

Mothers' experience supporting life adjustment in children with T1DM.

The purpose of this study was to use a phenomenological approach to explore the essential structure of mothers' life experience when helping their first- to third-grade children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) make life adjustments at school. Twelve mothers whose children had been diagnosed with T1DM participated in this study at a teaching hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. Study results revealed six themes and identified the presence of various dynamic relationships between T1DM symptoms, the children's development, and collaborative self-care.

Presence of both anti-contactin 1 and anti-neurofascin 140 antibodies in a case of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an acquired disorder of peripheral nerves and nerve roots. Its cause is unknown, but recently antibodies to nodal and paranodal proteins have been discovered in a small subset of CIDP patients. These contactin and neurofascin-related immune-mediated neuropathies are thought to be variants of CIDP and often respond suboptimally to standard therapy. Here, we report a patient with both anti-contactin 1 and anti-neurofascin 140 antibodies whose presentation resembled phenotypes of both CIDP variants.

Egr2-dependent microRNA-138 is dispensable for peripheral nerve myelination.

Recent studies have elucidated the crucial role for microRNAs in peripheral nerve myelination by ablating components of the microRNA synthesis machinery. Few studies have focused on the role of individual microRNAs. To fill this gap, we focused this study on miR-138, which was shown to be drastically reduced in Dicer1 and Dgcr8 knockout mice with hypomyelinating phenotypes and to potentially target the negative regulators of Schwann cell differentiation. Here, we show that of two miR-138 encoding loci, mir-138-1 is the predominant locus transcribed in Schwann cells. mir-138-1 is transcriptionally upregulated during myelination and downregulated upon nerve injury. EGR2 is required for mir-138-1 transcription during development, and both SOX10 and EGR2 bind to an active enhancer near the mir-138-1 locus. Based on expression analyses, we hypothesized that miR-138 facilitates the transition between undifferentiated Schwann cells and myelinating Schwann cells. However, in conditional knockouts, we could not detect significant changes in Schwann cell proliferation, cell cycle exit, or myelination. Overall, our results demonstrate that miR-138 is an Egr2-dependent microRNA but is dispensable for Schwann cell myelination.