The mechanisms for motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are not understood. Our preliminary studies indicate that motor neuron death in ALS may occur by programmed cell death (PCD). We have identified abnormalities in proapoptotic and antiapoptotic protein levels in individuals with ALS, leading to our hypothesis that neurodegeneration in ALS may occur by PCD, involving subcellular redistributions of cell death proteins. Our studies also suggest that neuronal apoptosis in ALS may be Fas-mediated. The proposed experiments are designed to further evaluate this mechanism for motor neuron death. We will examine, in postmortem central nervous system tissues from individuals with ALS and from age and disease matched controls, the possible role of Fas-mediated PCD as a mechanism for neuronal apoptosis in ALS, by measuring the expression of apoptosis- inducing cell surface receptors and their ligands as well as the subcellular expression of apoptosis regulatory proteins, specifically members of the Bcl-2 and caspase families and caspase target proteins. We have also found that axotomy and target deprivation of motor neurons (by sciatic nerve avulsion) in adult rodents causes apoptosis. Motor neuron apoptosis in this model is associated with mitochondrial accumulation within the cell body and oxidative stress. We will use this model of apoptosis to test the hypothesis that motor neurons undergoing apoptosis in adult mouse spinal cord develop mitochondrial abnormalities, oxidative stress, and release cytochrome c which corresponds termporally with activation of caspases. We will identify whether the mechanisms for motor neuron apoptosis are dependent on Bax, p53, or Fas/Fas ligand by evaluating the progression of avulsion-induced motor neuron apoptosis in mice deficient in these genes. We will then use interventions, including antioxidant, caspase inhibitor and immunosuppressant/mitochondrial premeability transition blocker therapies, to prevent or delay motor neuron apoptosis in mice. These experiments will identify the contributions of PCD mechanisms to the pathogenesis of ALS and will clarify the molecular pathways leading to motor neuron apoptosis in vivo. These studies should lead to a better understanding of motor neuron death and to the design of new therapeutic experiments critical for the future treatment of ALS.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS034100-06
Application #
6393712
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-MDCN-2 (01))
Program Officer
Sheehy, Paul A
Project Start
1996-09-10
Project End
2002-12-31
Budget Start
2001-08-01
Budget End
2002-12-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$198,880
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
045911138
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Martin, Lee J; Wong, Margaret (2017) Enforced DNA repair enzymes rescue neurons from apoptosis induced by target deprivation and axotomy in mouse models of neurodegeneration. Mech Ageing Dev 161:149-162
Chang, Qing; Martin, Lee J (2016) Voltage-gated calcium channels are abnormal in cultured spinal motoneurons in the G93A-SOD1 transgenic mouse model of ALS. Neurobiol Dis 93:78-95
Martin, Lee J; Semenkow, Samantha; Hanaford, Allison et al. (2014) Mitochondrial permeability transition pore regulates Parkinson's disease development in mutant ?-synuclein transgenic mice. Neurobiol Aging 35:1132-52
Martin, Lee J; Fancelli, Daniele; Wong, Margaret et al. (2014) GNX-4728, a novel small molecule drug inhibitor of mitochondrial permeability transition, is therapeutic in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Cell Neurosci 8:433
Martin, Lee J (2012) Biology of mitochondria in neurodegenerative diseases. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci 107:355-415
Martin, Lee J; Chang, Qing (2012) Inhibitory synaptic regulation of motoneurons: a new target of disease mechanisms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 45:30-42
Gertz, Barry; Wong, Margaret; Martin, Lee J (2012) Nuclear localization of human SOD1 and mutant SOD1-specific disruption of survival motor neuron protein complex in transgenic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 71:162-77
Martin, Lee J (2011) Mitochondrial pathobiology in ALS. J Bioenerg Biomembr 43:569-79
Northington, Frances J; Chavez-Valdez, Raul; Martin, Lee J (2011) Neuronal cell death in neonatal hypoxia-ischemia. Ann Neurol 69:743-58
Chang, Qing; Martin, Lee J (2011) Glycine receptor channels in spinal motoneurons are abnormal in a transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurosci 31:2815-27

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