Lifelong impact of ENPP1 Deficiency and the early onset form of ABCC6 Deficiency from patient or caregiver perspective.

The ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 1 (ENPP1) and ATP-binding cassette subfamily C member 6 (ABCC6) proteins play a prominent role in inhibiting ectopic calcification and arterial stenosis. Patients with ENPP1 Deficiency or infant onset ABCC6 Deficiency often present with pathological calcification, narrowed blood vessels, multiorgan dysfunction and high infant mortality. The heterogenous presentation and progression is well documented. Our objective was to characterize how these morbidities lead to burden of illness and poor quality of life across ages from the patient/caregiver perspective. Patients/caregivers were interviewed via phone using Institutional Review Board-approved questionnaires. Patient-reported outcomes were collected via validated instruments. Thirty-one caregivers and 7 patients participated: infant onset ABCC6 Deficiency, n = 6 (infants/children); ENPP1 Deficiency, n = 32 (13 infants, 12 children, 7 adults). ENPP1 and ABCC6-deficient children aged <8 years and aged 8-18 years reported poor school functioning (0.69 vs 0.72 effect size, respectively) and poor physical health (0.88 vs 1, respectively). In the total ENPP1 cohort, 72% (23/32) reported bone/joint pain and/or mobility/fatigue issues. Three of seven ENPP1-deficient adults reported moderate to severe pain (>4), as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), that interfered with daily activities despite pain medication. Top reported burdens for caregivers of infants with ABCC6/ENPP1 Deficiencies included heart-related issues and hospitalizations. Treatment/medications, and hearing loss were the highest burdens reported by caregivers/families of the pediatric ENPP1 Deficiency cohort, whereas adults reported bone/joint pain and mobility impairment as the greatest burdens. Individuals with ENPP1 Deficiency or infant onset ABCC6 Deficiency experience lifelong morbidity causing substantial physical and emotional burden to patients/caregivers.

Ectopic Calcification and Hypophosphatemic Rickets: Natural History of ENPP1 and ABCC6 Deficiencies.

Generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI) is a rare disorder caused by ENPP1 or ABCC6 variants. GACI is characterized by low pyrophosphate, arterial calcification, and high mortality during the first year of life, but the natural course and possible differences between the causative genes remain unknown. In all, 247 individual records for patients with GACI (from birth to 58.3 years of age) across 19 countries were reviewed. Overall mortality was 54.7% (13.4% in utero or stillborn), with a 50.4% probability of death before the age of 6 months (critical period). Contrary to previous publications, we found that bisphosphonate treatment had no survival benefit based on a start-time matched analysis and inconclusive results when initiated within 2 weeks of birth. Despite a similar prevalence of GACI phenotypes between ENPP1 and ABCC6 deficiencies, including arterial calcification (77.2% and 89.5%, respectively), organ calcification (65.8% and 84.2%, respectively), and cardiovascular complications (58.4% and 78.9%, respectively), mortality was higher for ENPP1 versus ABCC6 variants (40.5% versus 10.5%, respectively; p = 0.0157). Higher prevalence of rickets was reported in 70.8% of surviving affected individuals with ENPP1 compared with that of ABCC6 (11.8%; p = 0.0001). Eleven affected individuals presenting with rickets and without a GACI diagnosis, termed autosomal recessive hypophosphatemic rickets type 2 (ARHR2), all had confirmed ENPP1 variants. Approximately 70% of these patients demonstrated evidence of ectopic calcification or complications similar to those seen in individuals with GACI, which shows that ARHR2 is not a distinct condition from GACI but represents part of the spectrum of ENPP1 deficiency. Overall, this study identified an early mortality risk in GACI patients despite attempts to treat with bisphosphonates, high prevalence of rickets almost exclusive to ENPP1 deficiency, and a spectrum of heterogenous calcification and multiple organ complications with both ENPP1 and ABCC6 variants, which suggests an overlapping pathology. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

The PDE-Opathies: Diverse Phenotypes Produced by a Functionally Related Multigene Family.

The phosphodiesterase (PDE)-opathies, an expanding set of disorders caused by germline mutations in cyclic nucleotide PDEs, present an intriguing paradox. The enzymes encoded by the PDE family all hydrolyze cAMP and/or cGMP, but mutations in different family members produce very divergent phenotypes. Three interacting factors have been shown recently to contribute to this phenotypic diversity: (i) the 21 genes encode over 80 different isoforms, using alternative mRNA splicing and related mechanisms; (ii) the various isoforms have different regulatory mechanisms, mediated by their unique amino-terminal regulatory domains; (iii) the isoforms differ widely in their pattern of tissue expression. These mechanisms explain why many PDE-opathies are gain-of-function mutations and how they exemplify uniqueness and redundancy within a multigene family.

Osteoblast-specific deficiency of ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase or phosphodiesterase-1 engenders insulin resistance in high-fat diet fed mice.

Supraphysiological levels of the osteoblast-enriched mineralization regulator ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase or phosphodiesterase-1 (NPP1) is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We determined the impact of osteoblast-specific Enpp1 ablation on skeletal structure and metabolic phenotype in mice. Female, but not male, 6-week-old mice lacking osteoblast NPP1 expression (osteoblast-specific knockout [KO]) exhibited increased femoral bone volume or total volume (17.50% vs. 11.67%; p < .01), and reduced trabecular spacing (0.187 vs. 0.157 mm; p < .01) compared with floxed (control) mice. Furthermore, an enhanced ability of isolated osteoblasts from the osteoblast-specific KO to calcify their matrix in vitro compared to fl/fl osteoblasts was observed (p < .05). Male osteoblast-specific KO and fl/fl mice showed comparable glucose and insulin tolerance despite increased levels of insulin-sensitizing under-carboxylated osteocalcin (195% increase; p < .05). However, following high-fat-diet challenge, osteoblast-specific KO mice showed impaired glucose and insulin tolerance compared with fl/fl mice. These data highlight a crucial local role for osteoblast NPP1 in skeletal development and a secondary metabolic impact that predominantly maintains insulin sensitivity.

Glycerophosphodiesterase 3 (GDE3) is a lysophosphatidylinositol-specific ectophospholipase C acting as an endocannabinoid signaling switch.

Endocannabinoid signaling plays a regulatory role in various (neuro)biological functions. 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is the most abundant endocannabinoid, and although its canonical biosynthetic pathway involving phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C and diacylglycerol lipase α is known, alternative pathways remain unsettled. Here, we characterize a noncanonical pathway implicating glycerophosphodiesterase 3 (GDE3, from GDPD2 gene). Human GDE3 expressed in HEK293T cell membranes catalyzed the conversion of lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) into monoacylglycerol and inositol-1-phosphate. The enzyme was equally active against 1-acyl and 2-acyl LPI. When using 2-acyl LPI, where arachidonic acid is the predominant fatty acid, LC-MS analysis identified 2-AG as the main product of LPI hydrolysis by GDE3. Furthermore, inositol-1-phosphate release into the medium occurred upon addition of LPI to intact cells, suggesting that GDE3 is actually an ecto-lysophospholipase C. In cells expressing G-protein-coupled receptor GPR55, GDE3 abolished 1-acyl LPI-induced signaling. In contrast, upon simultaneous ex-pression of GDE3 and cannabinoid receptor CB2, 2-acyl LPI evoked the same signal as that induced by 2-AG. These data strongly suggest that, in addition to degrading the GPR55 LPI ligand, GDE3 can act as a switch between GPR55 and CB2 signaling. Coincident with a major expression of both GDE3 and CB2 in the spleen, spleens from transgenic mice lacking GDE3 displayed doubling of LPI content compared with WT mice. Decreased production of 2-AG in whole spleen was also observed, supporting the in vivo relevance of our findings. These data thus open a new research avenue in the field of endocannabinoid generation and reinforce the view of GPR55 and LPI being genuine actors of the endocannabinoid system.

ATP-based therapy prevents vascular calcification and extends longevity in a mouse model of Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome.

Pyrophosphate deficiency may explain the excessive vascular calcification found in children with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) and in a mouse model of this disease. The present study found that hydrolysis products of ATP resulted in a <9% yield of pyrophosphate in wild-type blood and aortas, showing that eNTPD activity (ATP → phosphate) was greater than eNPP activity (ATP → pyrophosphate). Moreover, pyrophosphate synthesis from ATP was reduced and pyrophosphate hydrolysis (via TNAP; pyrophosphate → phosphate) was increased in both aortas and blood obtained from mice with HGPS. The reduced production of pyrophosphate, together with the reduction in plasma ATP, resulted in marked reduction of plasma pyrophosphate. The combination of TNAP inhibitor levamisole and eNTPD inhibitor ARL67156 increased the synthesis and reduced the degradation of pyrophosphate in aortas and blood ex vivo, suggesting that these combined inhibitors could represent a therapeutic approach for this devastating progeroid syndrome. Treatment with ATP prevented vascular calcification in HGPS mice but did not extend longevity. By contrast, combined treatment with ATP, levamisole, and ARL67156 prevented vascular calcification and extended longevity by 12% in HGPS mice. These findings suggest a therapeutic approach for children with HGPS.

Identification and biochemical characterization of a second zebrafish autotaxin gene.

Autotaxin (ATX) is a secreted enzyme that produces a bioactive lysophospholipid, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). ATX plays a role in vascular and neural development in embryos but its mechanisms remain unclear. At the beginning of this study, only one zebrafish atx gene (atxa) was known and had been investigated. In this study, we generated ATX knockout (KO) fish by TALEN targeting atxa. Unexpectedly, atxa KO fish showed neither vascular defects nor reduction of ATX activity, implying the existence of one or more other ATXs in the genome. By a BLAST search using ATXa protein fragments as a query, we found a genomic sequence that closely resembled atxa exons 13, 14 and 15. Consequently, we cloned a cDNA encoding a second zebrafish autotaxin (ATXb), and found that it was transcribed in various tissues. The atxb gene encoded a protein of 832 amino acids (compared to 850 amino acids in ATXa) with 60% amino acid identity to ATXa and clustered with ATXs from other species. A recombinant ATXb protein showed lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD) activities with substrate specificities similar to those of ATXa and mammalian ATXs. These results indicate that ATXb is a second zebrafish ATX, which possibly shares redundant roles with ATXa in embryonic development.

TDP1 suppresses mis-joining of radiomimetic DNA double-strand breaks and cooperates with Artemis to promote optimal nonhomologous end joining.

The Artemis nuclease and tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase (TDP1) are each capable of resolving protruding 3'-phosphoglycolate (PG) termini of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Consequently, both a knockout of Artemis and a knockout/knockdown of TDP1 rendered cells sensitive to the radiomimetic agent neocarzinostatin (NCS), which induces 3'-PG-terminated DSBs. Unexpectedly, however, a knockdown or knockout of TDP1 in Artemis-null cells did not confer any greater sensitivity than either deficiency alone, indicating a strict epistasis between TDP1 and Artemis. Moreover, a deficiency in Artemis, but not TDP1, resulted in a fraction of unrepaired DSBs, which were assessed as 53BP1 foci. Conversely, a deficiency in TDP1, but not Artemis, resulted in a dramatic increase in dicentric chromosomes following NCS treatment. An inhibitor of DNA-dependent protein kinase, a key regulator of the classical nonhomologous end joining (C-NHEJ) pathway sensitized cells to NCS, but eliminated the sensitizing effects of both TDP1 and Artemis deficiencies. These results suggest that TDP1 and Artemis perform different functions in the repair of terminally blocked DSBs by the C-NHEJ pathway, and that whereas an Artemis deficiency prevents end joining of some DSBs, a TDP1 deficiency tends to promote DSB mis-joining.

Inhibition of arterial medial calcification and bone mineralization by extracellular nucleotides: The same functional effect mediated by different cellular mechanisms.

Arterial medial calcification (AMC) is thought to share some outward similarities to skeletal mineralization and has been associated with the transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to an osteoblast-like phenotype. ATP and UTP have previously been shown to inhibit bone mineralization. This investigation compared the effects of extracellular nucleotides on calcification in VSMCs with those seen in osteoblasts. ATP, UTP and the ubiquitous mineralization inhibitor, pyrophosphate (PPi ), dose dependently inhibited VSMC calcification by ≤85%. Culture of VSMCs in calcifying conditions was associated with an increase in apoptosis; treatment with ATP, UTP, and PPi reduced apoptosis to levels seen in non-calcifying cells. Extracellular nucleotides had no effect on osteoblast viability. Basal alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) activity was over 100-fold higher in osteoblasts than VSMCs. ATP and UTP reduced osteoblast TNAP activity (≤50%) but stimulated VSMC TNAP activity (≤88%). The effects of extracellular nucleotides on VSMC calcification, cell viability and TNAP activity were unchanged by deletion or inhibition of the P2Y2 receptor. Conversely, the actions of ATP/UTP on bone mineralization and TNAP activity were attenuated in osteoblasts lacking the P2Y2 receptor. Ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (NPP1) hydrolyses ATP and UTP to produce PPi . In both VSMCs and osteoblasts, deletion of NPP1 blunted the inhibitory effects of extracellular nucleotides suggesting involvement of P2 receptor independent pathways. Our results show that although the overall functional effect of extracellular nucleotides on AMC and bone mineralization is similar there are clear differences in the cellular mechanisms mediating these actions.

Oral administration of pyrophosphate inhibits connective tissue calcification.

Various disorders including pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) and generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI), which are caused by inactivating mutations in ABCC6 and ENPP1, respectively, present with extensive tissue calcification due to reduced plasma pyrophosphate (PPi). However, it has always been assumed that the bioavailability of orally administered PPi is negligible. Here, we demonstrate increased PPi concentration in the circulation of humans after oral PPi administration. Furthermore, in mouse models of PXE and GACI, oral PPi provided via drinking water attenuated their ectopic calcification phenotype. Noticeably, provision of drinking water with 0.3 mM PPi to mice heterozygous for inactivating mutations in Enpp1 during pregnancy robustly inhibited ectopic calcification in their Enpp1-/- offspring. Our work shows that orally administered PPi is readily absorbed in humans and mice and inhibits connective tissue calcification in mouse models of PXE and GACI PPi, which is recognized as safe by the FDA, therefore not only has great potential as an effective and extremely low-cost treatment for these currently intractable genetic disorders, but also in other conditions involving connective tissue calcification.

Isoeugenol is a selective potentiator of camptothecin cytotoxicity in vertebrate cells lacking TDP1.

Camptothecin (CPT), a topoisomerase I (TOP1) inhibitor, exhibits anti-tumor activity against a wide range of tumors. Redundancy of TOP1-mediated repair mechanisms is a major challenge facing the efficiency of TOP1-targetting therapies. This study aims to uncover new TOP1 targeting approaches utilising a selection of natural compounds in the presence or absence of tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterase I (TDP1); a key TOP1-mediated protein-linked DNA break (PDB) repair enzyme. We identify, isoeugenol, a phenolic ether found in plant essential oils, as a potentiator of CPT cytotoxicity in Tdp1 deficient but not proficient cells. Consistent with our cellular data, isoeugenol did not inhibit Tdp1 enzymatic activity in vitro nor it sensitized cells to the PARP1 inhibitor olaparib. However, biochemical analyses suggest that isoeugenol inhibits TDP2 catalytic activity; a pathway that can compensate for the absence of TDP1. Consistent with this, isoeugenol exacerbated etoposide-induced cytotoxicity, which generates TOP2-mediated PDBs for which TDP2 is required for processing. Together, these findings identify isoeugenol as a potential lead compound for developing TDP2 inhibitors and encourage structure-activity relationship studies to shed more light on its utility in drug discovery programs.

Early Developmental Program Shapes Colony Morphology in Bacteria.

When grown on a solid surface, bacteria form highly organized colonies, yet little is known about the earliest stages of colony establishment. Following Bacillus subtilis colony development from a single progenitor cell, a sequence of highly ordered spatiotemporal events was revealed. Colony was initiated by the formation of leading-cell chains, deriving from the colony center and extending in multiple directions, typically in a "Y-shaped" structure. By eradicating particular cells during these early stages, we could influence the shape of the resulting colony and demonstrate that Y-arm extension defines colony size. A mutant in ymdB encoding a phosphodiesterase displayed unordered developmental patterns, indicating a role in guiding these initial events. Finally, we provide evidence that intercellular nanotubes contribute to proper colony formation. In summary, we reveal a "construction plan" for building a colony and provide the initial molecular basis for this process.

Tyrosyl-DNA-phosphodiesterase I (TDP1) participates in the removal and repair of stabilized-Top2α cleavage complexes in human cells.

Tyrosyl-DNA-phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1) is a DNA repair enzyme that removes irreversible protein-linked 3' DNA complexes, 3' phosphoglycolates, alkylation damage-induced DNA breaks, and 3' deoxyribose nucleosides. In addition to its extended spectrum of substrates, TDP1 interacts with several DNA damage response factors. To determine whether TDP1 participates in the repair of topoisomerase II (Top2) induced DNA lesions, we generated TDP1 depleted (TDP1kd) human tumoral cells. We found that TDP1kd cells are hypersensitive to etoposide (ETO). Moreover, we established in a chromatin context that following treatment with ETO, TDP1kd cells accumulate increased amounts of Top2α cleavage complexes, removing them with an altered kinetics. We also showed that TDP1 depleted cells accumulate increased γH2AX and pS296Chk1 signals following treatment with ETO. Similarly, cytogenetics analyses following Top2 poisoning revealed increased amounts of chromatid and chromosome breaks and exchanges on TDP1kd cells in the presence or not of the DNA-PKcs inhibitor NU7026. However, the levels of sister chromatid exchanges were similar in both TDP1kd and control non-silenced cell lines. This suggests a role of TDP1 in both canonical non-homologous end joining and alternative end joining, but not in the homologous recombination repair pathway. Finally, micronucleus analyses following ETO treatment revealed a higher frequency of micronucleus containing γH2AX signals on TDP1kd cells. Together, our results highlight an active role of TDP1 in the repair of Top2-induced DNA damage and its relevance on the genome stability maintenance in human cells.

Understanding the Multifaceted Role of Ectonucleotide Pyrophosphatase/Phosphodiesterase 2 (ENPP2) and its Altered Behaviour in Human Diseases.

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 2 (ENPP2) also known as Autotaxin, is a secreted lysophospholipase D, which hydrolyzes lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) into Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). LPA is the bioactive product of ENPP2 enzyme, which induces diverse signalling pathways via six LPA-G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). ENPP2 is an essential protein for normal development and its altered expression is associated with various human diseases. Cellular ENPP2 silencing results in lethality at the embryonic stage in mice. Initially, it is identified as an autocrine factor in melanoma cells. Different research groups are currently exploring to understand the multifaceted role of ENPP2 in various processes such as embryonic and neural development, migration, invasion, differentiation, proliferation, angiogenesis, and survival. Altered expression of ENPP2 is also associated with various diseases like inflammation, cancer, fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and neural defects. In this article, we have summarized structural aspects of ENPP2 and biochemical functions associated with its diverse cellular roles in various human diseases including cancer and Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition, keeping in view and advocating findings, a note on various phytochemicals and synthetic inhibitors, which are currently explored as therapeutic agents targeting functions of ENPP2 for the treatment of various human diseases is also presented.

Human Mpn1 promotes post-transcriptional processing and stability of U6atac.

Mpn1 is an exoribonuclease that modifies the spliceosomal small nuclear RNA (snRNA) U6 by trimming its oligouridine tail and introducing a cyclic phosphate group (>p). Mpn1 deficiency induces U6 3' end misprocessing, accelerated U6 decay and pre-mRNA splicing defects. Mutations in the human MPN1 gene are associated with the genodermatosis Clericuzio-type poikiloderma with neutropenia (PN). Here we present the deep sequencing of the >p-containing transcriptomes of mpn1Δ fission yeast and PN cells. While in yeast U6 seems to be the only substrate of Mpn1, human Mpn1 also processes U6atac snRNA. PN cells bear unstable U6atac species with aberrantly long and oligoadenylated 3' ends. Our data corroborate the link between Mpn1 and snRNA stability suggesting that PN could derive from pre-mRNA splicing aberrations.

Acidosis is a key regulator of osteoblast ecto-nucleotidase pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (NPP1) expression and activity.

Previous work has shown that acidosis prevents bone nodule formation by osteoblasts in vitro by inhibiting mineralisation of the collagenous matrix. The ratio of phosphate (Pi ) to pyrophosphate (PPi ) in the bone microenvironment is a fundamental regulator of bone mineralisation. Both Pi and PPi , a potent inhibitor of mineralisation, are generated from extracellular nucleotides by the actions of ecto-nucleotidases. This study investigated the expression and activity of ecto-nucleotidases by osteoblasts under normal and acid conditions. We found that osteoblasts express mRNA for a number of ecto-nucleotidases including NTPdase 1-6 (ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase) and NPP1-3 (ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase). The rank order of mRNA expression in differentiating rat osteoblasts (day 7) was Enpp1 > NTPdase 4 > NTPdase 6 > NTPdase 5 > alkaline phosphatase > ecto-5-nucleotidase > Enpp3 > NTPdase 1 > NTPdase 3 > Enpp2 > NTPdase 2. Acidosis (pH 6.9) upregulated NPP1 mRNA (2.8-fold) and protein expression at all stages of osteoblast differentiation compared to physiological pH (pH 7.4); expression of other ecto-nucleotidases was unaffected. Furthermore, total NPP activity was increased up to 53% in osteoblasts cultured in acid conditions (P < 0.001). Release of ATP, one of the key substrates for NPP1, from osteoblasts, was unaffected by acidosis. Further studies showed that mineralised bone formation by osteoblasts cultured from NPP1 knockout mice was increased compared with wildtypes (2.5-fold, P < 0.001) and was partially resistant to the inhibitory effect of acidosis. These results indicate that increased NPP1 expression and activity might contribute to the decreased mineralisation observed when osteoblasts are exposed to acid conditions.

Characterization of the binding properties of T-773 as a PET radioligand for phosphodiesterase 10A.

INTRODUCTION: Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) is a dual-substrate PDE that hydrolyzes both cAMP and cGMP and is selectively expressed in striatal medium spiny neurons. Recent studies have suggested that PDE10A inhibition is a novel approach for the treatment of disorders such as schizophrenia and Huntington's disease. A positron emission tomography (PET) occupancy study can provide useful information for the development of PDE10A inhibitors. We discovered T-773 as a candidate PET radioligand for PDE10A and investigated its properties by in vitro autoradiography and a PET study in a monkey. METHODS: Profiling of T-773 as a PET radioligand for PDE10A was conducted by in vitro enzyme inhibitory assay, in vitro autoradiography, and PET study in a monkey. RESULTS: T-773 showed a high binding affinity and selectivity for human recombinant PDE10A2 in vitro; the IC50 value in an enzyme inhibitory assay was 0.77nmol/L, and selectivity over other PDEs was more than 2500-fold. In autoradiography studies using mouse, rat, monkey, or human brain sections, radiolabeled T-773 selectively accumulated in the striatum. This selective accumulation was not observed in the brain sections of Pde10a-KO mice. The binding of [(3)H]T-773 to PDE10A in rat brain sections was competitively inhibited by MP-10, a selective PDE10A inhibitor. In rat brain sections, [(3)H]T-773 bound to a single high affinity site of PDE10A with Kd values of 12.2±2.2 and 4.7±1.2nmol/L in the caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens, respectively. In a monkey PET study, [(11)C]T-773 showed good brain penetration and striatum-selective accumulation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that [(11)C]T-773 is a potential PET radioligand for PDE10A.

Mineralisation of collagen rich soft tissues and osteocyte lacunae in Enpp1(-/-) mice.

Ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases (NPPs) hydrolyse nucleotide triphosphates to the corresponding nucleotide monophosphates and the mineralisation inhibitor, pyrophosphate (PPi). This study examined the role of NPP1 in osteocytes, osteoclasts and cortical bone, using a mouse model lacking NPP1 (Enpp1(-/-)). We used microcomputed tomography (µCT) to investigate how NPP1 deletion affects cortical bone structure; excised humerus bones from 8, 15 and 22-week old mice were scanned at 0.9 µm. Although no changes were evident in the cortical bone of 8-week old Enpp1(-/-) mice, significant differences were observed in older animals. Cortical bone volume was decreased 28% in 22-week Enpp1(-/-) mice, whilst cortical porosity was reduced 30% and 60% at 15 and 22-weeks, respectively. This was accompanied by up to a 15% decrease in closed pore diameter and a 55% reduction in the number of pores. Cortical thickness was reduced up to 35% in 15 and 22-week Enpp1(-/-) animals and the endosteal diameter was increased up to 23%. Thus, the cortical bone from Enpp1(-/-) mice was thinner and less porous, with a larger marrow space. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a decrease in the size and number of blood vessel channels in the cortical bone as well as a 40% reduction in the mean plan area of osteocyte lacunae. We noted that the number of viable osteocytes isolated from the long bones of Enpp1(-/-) mice was decreased ≤50%. In contrast, osteoclast formation and resorptive activity were unaffected by NPP1 deletion. µCT and histological analysis of Enpp1(-/-) mice also revealed calcification of the joints and vertebrae as well as soft tissues including the whisker follicles, ear pinna and trachea. This calcification worsened as the animals aged. Together, these data highlight the key role of NPP1 in regulating calcification of both soft and skeletal tissues.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of carbon-11 and fluorine-18 labeled tracers for in vivo visualization of PDE10A.

INTRODUCTION: In vivo visualization of PDE10A using PET provides a tool to evaluate the role of PDE10A in various neuropsychiatric diseases and can also be useful in the clinical evaluation of PDE10A inhibitor drug candidates. We evaluated several carbon-11 and fluorine-18 labeled PDE10A inhibitors as potential PDE10A PET radioligands. MATERIALS & METHODS: [(11)C]MP10, [(11)C]JNJ42071965 and four other tracers were developed. Their biodistribution was evaluated in rats. Rat plasma and brain radiometabolites were quantified. Baseline microPET imaging was performed in normal rats and PDE10A knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice. Blocking and displacement studies were conducted. The selectivity of the tracer binding was further studied in an ex vivo autoradiography experiment in PDE10A KO and WT mice. RESULTS: Biodistribution showed brain uptake for all tracers in the striatum and wash-out from the cerebellum. [(11)C]1 ((11)C-MP10) had the highest specific uptake index (striatum (S) vs. cerebellum (C) ratios (S/C)-1) at 60 min (7.4). [(11)C]5 ([(11)C]JNJ42071965) had a high index at the early time points (1.0 and 3.7 at 2 and 30 min p.i., respectively). The affinity of [(11)C]4, [(18)F]3 and [(18)F]6 was too low to visualize PDE10A using microPET. [(11)C] 2 showed a specific binding, while kinetics of [(11)C]1 were too slow. [(11)C]5 reached equilibrium after 10 min (uptake index=1.2). Blocking and displacement experiments in rats and baseline imaging in PDE10A KO mice showed specific and reversible binding of [(11)C]5 to PDE10A. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully radiolabeled and evaluated six radiotracers for their potential to visualize PDE10A in vivo. While [(11)C]1 had the highest striatal specific uptake index, its slow kinetics likely compromise clinical use of this tracer. [(11)C]5 has a relatively high striatum-to-background ratio and fast kinetic profile, which makes it a valuable carbon-11 alternative.

Genetic deletion of PDE10A selectively impairs incentive salience attribution and decreases medium spiny neuron excitability.

The striatum is the main input structure to the basal ganglia and consists mainly out of medium spiny neurons. The numerous spines on their dendrites render them capable of integrating cortical glutamatergic inputs with a motivational dopaminergic signal that originates in the midbrain. This integrative function is thought to underly attribution of incentive salience, a process that is severely disrupted in schizophrenic patients. Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) is located mainly to the striatal medium spiny neurons and hydrolyses cAMP and cGMP, key determinants of MSN signaling. We show here that genetic depletion of PDE10A critically mediates attribution of salience to reward-predicting cues, evident in impaired performance in PDE10A knockout mice in an instrumentally conditioned reinforcement task. We furthermore report modest impairment of latent inhibition in PDE10A knockout mice, and unaltered prepulse inhibition. We suggest that the lack of effect on PPI is due to the pre-attentional nature of this task. Finally, we performed whole-cell patch clamp recordings and confirm suggested changes in intrinsic membrane excitability. A decrease in spontaneous firing in striatal medium spiny neurons was found. These data show that PDE10A plays a pivotal role in striatal signaling and striatum-mediated salience attribution.