Moxifloxacin rescues SMA phenotypes in patient-derived cells and animal model.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disease resulting in the loss of α-motoneurons followed by muscle atrophy. It is caused by knock-out mutations in the survival of motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene, which has an unaffected, but due to preferential exon 7 skipping, only partially functional human-specific SMN2 copy. We previously described a Drosophila-based screening of FDA-approved drugs that led us to discover moxifloxacin. We showed its positive effect on the SMN2 exon 7 splicing in SMA patient-derived skin cells and its ability to increase the SMN protein level. Here, we focus on moxifloxacin's therapeutic potential in additional SMA cellular and animal models. We demonstrate that moxifloxacin rescues the SMA-related molecular and phenotypical defects in muscle cells and motoneurons by improving the SMN2 splicing. The consequent increase of SMN levels was higher than in case of risdiplam, a potent exon 7 splicing modifier, and exceeded the threshold necessary for a survival improvement. We also demonstrate that daily subcutaneous injections of moxifloxacin in a severe SMA murine model reduces its characteristic neuroinflammation and increases the SMN levels in various tissues, leading to improved motor skills and extended lifespan. We show that moxifloxacin, originally used as an antibiotic, can be potentially repositioned for the SMA treatment.

Activating ATF6 in spinal muscular atrophy promotes SMN expression and motor neuron survival through the IRE1α-XBP1 pathway.

AIM: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by survival of motor neuron (SMN) deficiency that induces motor neuron (MN) degeneration and severe muscular atrophy. Gene therapies that increase SMN have proven their efficacy but not for all patients. Here, we explored the unfolded protein response (UPR) status in SMA pathology and explored whether UPR modulation could be beneficial for SMA patients. METHODS: We analysed the expression and activation of key UPR proteins by RT-qPCR and by western blots in SMA patient iPSC-derived MNs and one SMA cell line in which SMN expression was re-established (rescue). We complemented this approach by using myoblast and fibroblast SMA patient cells and SMA mouse models of varying severities. Finally, we tested in vitro and in vivo the effect of IRE1α/XBP1 pathway restoration on SMN expression and subsequent neuroprotection. RESULTS: We report that the IRE1α/XBP1 branch of the unfolded protein response is disrupted in SMA, with a depletion of XBP1s irrespective of IRE1α activation pattern. The overexpression of XBP1s in SMA fibroblasts proved to transcriptionally enhance SMN expression. Importantly, rebalancing XBP1s expression in severe SMA-like mice, induced SMN expression and spinal MN protection. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified XBP1s depletion as a contributing factor in SMA pathogenesis, and the modulation of this transcription factor proves to be a plausible therapeutic avenue in the context of pharmacological interventions for patients.