Frontotemporal dementia is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that results in progressive decline in behavior, executive function, and language. Currently, there are no effective treatments. Recent advances, however, have led to a greater understanding of the most common pathological form of the disease, called frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitinated inclusions (FTLD-U). In 2006, the major protein in the hallmark ubiquitinated inclusions of FTLD-U was identified as TAR DMA binding protein 43 (TDP-43). The function of TDP-43 is largely unknown. However, several lines of evidence indicate a role in the regulation of gene expression. TDP-43 binds DNA and RNA, regulating through these interactions the temporal and tissue-specific expression of some genes, as well as the splicing of others. Moreover, physiologic TDP-43 is nuclear, where it associates with heterogeneous ribonucleoproteins with well-known splicing activities. This research proposal is designed around the hypothesis that through aberrant activity of TDP-43, dysregulation of gene expression is a key disease mechanism in FTLD-U. Genome-wide approaches will be employed to evaluate this hypothesis. The following are the proposal's specific aims: 1. Obtain and analyze genome-wide expression profiles of FTLD-U at the mRNA and microRNA levels. 2. Identify DNA binding partners of TDP-43 in cell culture models and in FTLD-U using chromatin immunoprecipitation of TDP-43 followed by microarray analysis (ChlP-on-chip). 3. Characterize the relationship of specific microRNAs and TDP-43 to changes in mRNA expression. 4. Extend techniques developed in the study of FTLD-U to other diseases characterized by the accumulation of pathologic TDP-43.

Public Health Relevance

Frontotemporal dementia is the second-most common cause of dementia in individuals under age 65. Understanding key genes dysregulated in this disease could lead to the development of targeted therapies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08AG033101-05
Application #
8310963
Study Section
National Institute on Aging Initial Review Group (NIA)
Program Officer
Miller, Marilyn
Project Start
2008-09-30
Project End
2013-08-31
Budget Start
2012-09-01
Budget End
2013-08-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$127,953
Indirect Cost
$9,478
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
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