title: Full-length PGC-1α salvages the phenotype of a mouse model of human neuropathy through mitochondrial proliferation.
abstract: Increased mitochondrial mass, commonly termed mitochondrial proliferation, is frequently observed in many human diseases directly or indirectly involving mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial proliferation is thought to counterbalance a compromised energy metabolism, yet it might also be detrimental through alterations of mitochondrial regulatory functions such as apoptosis, calcium metabolism or oxidative stress. Here, we show that prominent mitochondrial proliferation occurs in Cramping mice, a model of hereditary neuropathy caused by a mutation in the dynein heavy chain gene Dync1h1. The mitochondrial proliferation correlates with post-prandial induction of full-length (FL) and N-terminal truncated (NT) isoforms of the transcriptional co-activator PGC-1α. The selective knock-out of FL-PGC-1α isoform, preserving expression and function of NT-PGC-1α, led to a complete reversal of mitochondrial proliferation. Moreover, FL-PGC-1α ablation potently exacerbated the mitochondrial dysfunction and led to severe weight loss. Finally, FL-PGC-1α ablation triggered pronounced locomotor dysfunction, tremors and inability to rear in Cramping mice. In summary, endogenous FL-PGC-1α activates mitochondrial proliferation and salvages neurological and metabolic health upon disease. NT-PGC-1α cannot fulfil this protective action. Activation of this endogenous salvage pathway might thus be a valuable therapeutic target for diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Krisztina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rona-Voros
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eschbach
authors.forename: Aurélia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vernay
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wiesner
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schwalenstocker
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geniquet
authors.forename: Bénédicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mousson De Camaret
authors.forename: Andoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Echaniz-Laguna
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Loeffler
authors.forename: Albert C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ludolph
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weydt
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dupuis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D056445:Cytoplasmic Dyneins / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D010641:Phenotype; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C516947:Dync1h1 protein, mouse; C486497:PPARGC1A protein, human; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014157:Transcription Factors; D056445:Cytoplasmic Dyneins