Overexpression of mutant superoxide dismutase 1 causes a motor axonopathy in the zebrafish.
The development of small animal models is of major interest to unravel the pathogenesis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, especially because of their potential in large-scale chemical and genetic screening. We have investigated the zebrafish as a model to study amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective loss of motor neurons, caused by mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in a subset of patients. Overexpression of mutant human SOD1 in zebrafish embryos induced a motor axonopathy that was specific, dose-dependent and found for all mutations studied. Moreover, using this newly established animal model for ALS, we investigated the role of a known modifier in the disease: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Lowering VEGF induced a more severe phenotype, whereas upregulating VEGF rescued the mutant SOD1 axonopathy. This novel zebrafish model underscores the potential of VEGF for the treatment of ALS and furthermore will permit large-scale genetic and chemical screening to facilitate the identification of new therapeutic targets in motor neuron disease.
Lemmens
Robin
R
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, K.U. Leuven, Belgium. robin.lemmens@med.kuleuven.be
Van Hoecke
Annelies
A
Hersmus
Nicole
N
Geelen
Veerle
V
D'Hollander
Isabel
I
Thijs
Vincent
V
Van Den Bosch
Ludo
L
Carmeliet
Peter
P
Robberecht
Wim
W
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish
D012333:RNA, Messenger; C000606290:SOD1 protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1