Linking epigenetic dysregulation, mitochondrial impairment, and metabolic dysfunction in SBMA motor neurons
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR). Using gene expression analysis and ChIP sequencing, we mapped transcriptional changes in genetically engineered patient stem cell-derived motor neurons. We found that transcriptional dysregulation in SBMA can occur through AR-mediated histone modification. We detected reduced histone acetylation, along with decreased expression of genes encoding compensatory metabolic proteins and reduced substrate availability for mitochondrial function. Furthermore, we found that pyruvate supplementation corrected this deficiency and improved mitochondrial function and SBMA motor neuron viability. We propose that epigenetic dysregulation of metabolic genes contributes to reduced mitochondrial ATP production. Our results show a molecular link between altered epigenetic regulation and mitochondrial metabolism that contributes to neurodegeneration.
Source: JCI Insight
Institutions: National Institutes of Health, George Washington University, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Brown University, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Johns Hopkins University, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Language: English
Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,100
OpenAlex ID: W3041076017