title: Stabilization of hyperdynamic microtubules is neuroprotective in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: Mutations in copper/zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), a genetic cause of human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, trigger motoneuron death through unknown toxic mechanisms. We report that transgenic SOD1G93A mice exhibit striking and progressive changes in neuronal microtubule dynamics from an early age, associated with impaired axonal transport. Pharmacologic administration of a microtubule-modulating agent alone or in combination with a neuroprotective drug to symptomatic SOD1G93A mice reduced microtubule turnover, preserved spinal cord neurons, normalized axonal transport kinetics, and delayed the onset of symptoms, while prolonging life by up to 26%. The degree of reduction of microtubule turnover was highly predictive of clinical responses to different treatments. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that hyperdynamic microtubules impair axonal transport and accelerate motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Measurement of microtubule dynamics in vivo provides a sensitive biomarker of disease activity and therapeutic response and represents a new pharmacologic target in neurodegenerative disorders.
authors.affiliation: KineMed, Inc., Emeryville, California 94608, USA. pfanara@kinemed.com
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fanara
authors.forename: Jayee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Rommel V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Hueck
authors.forename: Macha R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Awada
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Kristofor H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Husted
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Marc K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hellerstein
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014867:Water; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010100:Oxygen