Autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA) and Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) are the two most common inherited optic neuropathies, they are each caused by deficiencies of mitochondrial function, and result in death of Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs), causing blindness. Thus RGCs are especially sensitive to deficits of mitochondrial function for an unknown reason. Our overarching goal is to elucidate the mito-pathophysiological mechanism of these mitochondrial optic neuropathies, and develop therapeutic leads. Currently no curative therapy exists for ADOA and LHON for multiple reasons. The reasons include the lack of an RGC-specific pathophysiological mechanism for the disease, the lack of animal models, and the lack of a high-throughput screening assay for drugs that improve mitochondrial function. We have addressed each of these issues in the former grant period and request support to continue our studies. For example, we have demonstrated that mitochondrial complex 1 inhibition signals cell death through the activation of a 'mitoinjury response': mito comp1AE ROSAEERAE ATF4AE targetsAE death, and this mitoinjury response and cell death can be blocked by blocked by interruption of the signal at ER or ATF4. We observe that persistent activation of this response by mitochondrial oxidative stress results in cellular dysfunction and death, and that inhibition of this response rescues cells from death. In animal models of the diseases, LHON: the ndufs4 mouse, and ADOA: the opa1 mouse, there is neurodegeneration of RGCs, and dendropathy of RGCs, respectively, resulting in defects of visual function. Thus, our plan has three overarching goals. First, to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanism of RGC death in two recently-derived animal models of mitochondrial disease. Secondly, we will investigate specific aspects of signaling in cellular models of the diseases. Thirdly, we will screen libraries to isolate drugs that rescue mitochondrial function and block ROS and cell death, and test them in the animal models, in preparation for clinical trials in humans.

Public Health Relevance

LHON and ADOA are the two most common inherited optic neuropathies. Our project is to validate a specific pathophysiological mechanism we have developed from our previous award in two animal models of LHON and ADOA, the ndufs4 and opa1 mouse. In addition we carry out a 'repurposing' drug screening isolate drugs that increase mitochondrial function, and will test these in cell and animal models of LHON and ADOA.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY012245-13
Application #
8867237
Study Section
Diseases and Pathophysiology of the Visual System Study Section (DPVS)
Program Officer
Chin, Hemin R
Project Start
2000-05-01
Project End
2016-06-30
Budget Start
2015-07-01
Budget End
2016-06-30
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Davis
Department
Veterinary Sciences
Type
Schools of Veterinary Medicine
DUNS #
047120084
City
Davis
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
95618
Yu, Alfred K; Datta, Sandipan; McMackin, Marissa Z et al. (2017) Rescue of cell death and inflammation of a mouse model of complex 1-mediated vision loss by repurposed drug molecules. Hum Mol Genet 26:4929-4936
McMackin, Marissa Z; Henderson, Chelsea K; Cortopassi, Gino A (2017) Neurobehavioral deficits in the KIKO mouse model of Friedreich's ataxia. Behav Brain Res 316:183-188
Datta, Sandipan; He, Guochun; Tomilov, Alexey et al. (2017) In Vitro Evaluation of Mitochondrial Function and Estrogen Signaling in Cell Lines Exposed to the Antiseptic Cetylpyridinium Chloride. Environ Health Perspect 125:087015
Jasoliya, Mittal J; McMackin, Marissa Z; Henderson, Chelsea K et al. (2017) Frataxin deficiency impairs mitochondrial biogenesis in cells, mice and humans. Hum Mol Genet 26:2627-2633
Hayashi, Genki; Jasoliya, Mittal; Sahdeo, Sunil et al. (2017) Dimethyl fumarate mediates Nrf2-dependent mitochondrial biogenesis in mice and humans. Hum Mol Genet 26:2864-2873
Datta, Sandipan; Baudouin, Christophe; Brignole-Baudouin, Francoise et al. (2017) The Eye Drop Preservative Benzalkonium Chloride Potently Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Preferentially Affects LHON Mutant Cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 58:2406-2412
Datta, Sandipan; Tomilov, Alexey; Cortopassi, Gino (2016) Identification of small molecules that improve ATP synthesis defects conferred by Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy mutations. Mitochondrion 30:177-86
Shen, Yan; McMackin, Marissa Z; Shan, Yuxi et al. (2016) Frataxin Deficiency Promotes Excess Microglial DNA Damage and Inflammation that Is Rescued by PJ34. PLoS One 11:e0151026
Datta, Sandipan; Sahdeo, Sunil; Gray, Jennifer A et al. (2016) A high-throughput screen for mitochondrial function reveals known and novel mitochondrial toxicants in a library of environmental agents. Mitochondrion 31:79-83
Shan, Yuxi; Cortopassi, Gino (2016) Mitochondrial Hspa9/Mortalin regulates erythroid differentiation via iron-sulfur cluster assembly. Mitochondrion 26:94-103

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