Umeå University's logo

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurons. The resulting paresis begins focally, usually in one muscle, and spreads contiguously, leading to muscle wasting, progressive paralysis and eventually death. 90% of all ALS cases are sporadic, with no genetic background (sALS), while 10% are hereditary or familial (fALS). The first identified cause of ALS was mutations in the gene encoding the enzyme superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), which are found in 3-6% of the ALS patients. Mutations in SOD1 confer a cytotoxic gain of function on the enzyme. Cytosolic inclusions containing aggregated SOD1 in motor neurons are a hallmark of ALS, both in patients and transgenic (Tg) mice carrying mutant human SOD1s (hSOD1). These inclusions have also been reported in sporadic and familial ALS cases without SOD1 mutations, suggesting a broader role of this protein in the ALS pathology. However, the mechanism of SOD1 misfolding and aggregation, and their contribution to the disease pathogenesis, is unclear.

Our research group has recently identified two structurally different strains of hSOD1 aggregates (denoted A and B) in the central nervous system of Tg murine models expressing full-length hSOD1 variants.

The aim of this thesis is to investigate if the SOD1 aggregation is a collateral byproduct in the process of the disease, or if it drives ALS pathogenesis. In addition, this work investigates the spreading characteristic of the disease in vivo.

Human SOD1 A and B seeds were prepared from spinal cords of terminally ill hSOD1 Tg mice by ultracentrifugation through a density gradient. Minute amounts of the aggregate seeds were micro-inoculated into the lumbar spinal cord of asymptomatic recipient Tg mice, overexpressing G85R mutant hSOD1 (hSOD1^G85R). Mice inoculated with A or B aggregates developed early-onset fatal ALS-like disease, becoming terminally ill around 100 days after inoculation. This is nearly 200 days earlier than hSOD1^G85R Tg mice inoculated with a control preparation or non-inoculated mice. Concomitantly, exponentially growing templated hSOD1 aggregation developed in the recipient mice, spreading all along the neuraxis. The pathology provoked by the A and B strains differed in aggregation growth rates, disease progression rates, aggregate distribution along the neuraxis, rates of weight loss, end-stage amounts of aggregates, and histopathology.

Next, we explored the existence of mutant hSOD1 aggregates with prion-like properties in the spinal cord of ALS patients.  To this end, aggregate seeds were prepared from the spinal cord of the autopsy material of an ALS patient carrying the hSOD1^G127X truncation mutation, as well as from mice transgenic for the same mutation. The aggregates showed a strain A-like core structure. Inoculation of both the murine and human derived seeds into the lumbar spinal cord of hSOD1 expressing mice efficiently transmitted strain A aggregation, propagating rostrally throughout the neuraxis and causing premature fatal ALS-like disease. The inoculation of human or murine control seeds had no effect. The potency of the ALS patient-derived seed was exceedingly high, and the disease was initiated under conditions plausible to exist also in the human motor system. These results demonstrate for the first time, the presence of hSOD1 aggregates with prion-like properties in human ALS.

We extended the exploration of hSOD1 prion mechanisms by inoculating another recipient mouse line, with wild-type-like stability and essentially normal SOD activity. Mice that are hemizygous for the hSOD1^D90A transgene insertion do not develop ALS pathology and have normal murine lifespans (>700 days). Homozygous mice develop ALS-like disease around 400 days-of-age. Interestingly, inoculations of both strain A and B seeds into the lumbar spinal cord of hemizygous hSOD1^D90A mice induced progressive hSOD1 aggregations and premature fatal ALS-like disease after around 250 and 350 days, respectively. In contrast, hemizygous hSOD1^D90A mice inoculated with a mouse control seed died from senescence-related causes at ages beyond 700 days.

Altogether, data in this thesis shows that the hSOD1 aggregate strains are ALS transmitting prions, suggesting that prion-like growth and spread of hSOD1 aggregation is the core pathogenic mechanism of SOD1-induced ALS.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset degeneration of motor neurons that is commonly caused by mutations in the gene encoding superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). Both patients and Tg mice expressing mutant human SOD1 (hSOD1) develop aggregates of unknown importance. In Tg mice, 2 different strains of hSOD1 aggregates (denoted A and B) can arise; however, the role of these aggregates in disease pathogenesis has not been fully characterized. Here, minute amounts of strain A and B hSOD1 aggregate seeds that were prepared by centrifugation through a density cushion were inoculated into lumbar spinal cords of 100-day-old mice carrying a human SOD1 Tg. Mice seeded with A or B aggregates developed premature signs of ALS and became terminally ill after approximately 100 days, which is 200 days earlier than for mice that had not been inoculated or were given a control preparation. Concomitantly, exponentially growing strain A and B hSOD1 aggregations propagated rostrally throughout the spinal cord and brainstem. The phenotypes provoked by the A and B strains differed regarding progression rates, distribution, end-stage aggregate levels, and histopathology. Together, our data indicate that the aggregate strains are prions that transmit a templated, spreading aggregation of hSOD1, resulting in a fatal ALS-like disease.

Motor neurons containing aggregates of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) are hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by mutations in the gene encoding SOD1. We have previously reported that two strains of mutant human (h) SOD1 aggregates (denoted A and B) can arise in hSOD1-transgenic models for ALS and that inoculation of such aggregates into the lumbar spinal cord of mice results in rostrally spreading, templated hSOD1 aggregation and premature fatal ALS-like disease. Here, we explored whether mutant hSOD1 aggregates with prion-like properties also exist in human ALS. Aggregate seeds were prepared from spinal cords from an ALS patient carrying the hSOD1^G127Gfs*7 truncation mutation and from mice transgenic for the same mutation. To separate from mono-, di- or any oligomeric hSOD1 species, the seed preparation protocol included ultracentrifugation through a density cushion. The core structure of hSOD1^G127Gfs*7 aggregates present in mice was strain A-like. Inoculation of the patient- or mouse-derived seeds into lumbar spinal cord of adult hSOD1-expressing mice induced strain A aggregation propagating along the neuraxis and premature fatal ALS-like disease (p < 0.0001). Inoculation of human or murine control seeds had no effect. The potencies of the ALS patient-derived seed preparations were high and disease was initiated in the transgenic mice by levels of hSOD1^G127Gfs*7 aggregates much lower than those found in the motor system of patients carrying the mutation. The results suggest that prion-like growth and spread of hSOD1 aggregation could be the primary pathogenic mechanism, not only in hSOD1 transgenic rodent models, but also in human ALS.

The deposition of aggregated proteins is a common neuropathological denominator for neurodegenerative disorders. Experimental evidence suggests that disease propagation involves prion-like mechanisms that cause the spreading of template-directed aggregation of specific disease-associated proteins. In transgenic (Tg) mouse models of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1)-linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), inoculation of minute amounts of human SOD1 (hSOD1) aggregates into the spinal cord or peripheral nerves induces premature ALS-like disease and template-directed hSOD1 aggregation that spreads along the neuroaxis. This infectious nature of spreading pathogenic aggregates might have implications for the safety of laboratory and medical staff, recipients of donated blood or tissue, or possibly close relatives and caregivers. Here we investigate whether transmission of ALS-like disease is unique to the spinal cord and peripheral nerve inoculations or if hSOD1 aggregation might spread from the periphery into the central nervous system (CNS). We inoculated hSOD1 aggregate seeds into the peritoneal cavity, hindlimb skeletal muscle or spinal cord of adult Tg mice expressing mutant hSOD1. Although we used up to 8000 times higher dose—compared to the lowest dose transmitting disease in spinal cord inoculations—the peripheral inoculations did not transmit seeded aggregation to the CNS or premature ALS-like disease in hSOD1 Tg mice. Nor was any hSOD1 aggregation detected in the liver, kidney, skeletal muscle or sciatic nerve. To explore potential reasons for the lack of disease transmission, we examined the stability of hSOD1 aggregates and found them to be highly vulnerable to both proteases and detergent. Our findings suggest that exposed individuals and personnel handling samples from ALS patients are at low risk of any potential transmission of seeded hSOD1 aggregation.

Increasing evidence suggests that propagation of the motor neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) involves the pathogenic aggregation of disease-associated proteins that spread in a prion-like manner. We have identified two aggregate strains of human superoxide dismutase 1 (hSOD1) that arise in the CNS of transgenic mouse models of SOD1-mediated ALS. Both strains transmit template-directed aggregation and premature fatal paralysis when inoculated into the spinal cord of adult hSOD1 transgenic mice. This spread of pathogenic aggregation could be a potential target for immunotherapeutic intervention. Here we generated mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed to exposed epitopes in hSOD1 aggregate strains and identified an aggregate selective mAb that targets the aa 143–153 C-terminal extremity of hSOD1 (αSOD1^143–153). Both pre-incubation of seeds with αSOD1^143–153 prior to inoculation, and weekly intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration attenuated transmission of pathogenic aggregation and prolonged the survival of seed-inoculated hSOD1^G85R Tg mice. In contrast, administration of a mAb targeting aa 65–72 (αSOD1^65–72), which exhibits high affinity towards monomeric disordered hSOD1, had an adverse effect and aggravated seed induced premature ALS-like disease. Although the mAbs reached similar concentrations in CSF, only αSOD1^143–153 was found in association with aggregated hSOD1 in spinal cord homogenates. Our results suggest that an aggregate-selective immunotherapeutic approach may suppress seeded transmission of pathogenic aggregation in ALS. However, long-term administration of αSOD1^143–153 was unable to prolong the lifespan of non-inoculated hSOD1^G85R Tg mice. Thus, spontaneously initiated hSOD1 aggregation in spinal motor neurons may be poorly accessible to therapeutic antibodies.

Mutations in the human Superoxide dismutase 1 (hSOD1) gene are well-established cause of the motor neuron disease ALS. Patients and transgenic (Tg) ALS model mice carrying mutant variants develop hSOD1 aggregates in the CNS. We have identified two hSOD1 aggregate strains, which both transmit spreading template-directed aggregation and premature fatal paralysis when inoculated into adult transgenic mice. This prion-like spread of aggregation could be a primary disease mechanism in SOD1-induced ALS. Human SOD1 aggregation has been studied extensively both in cultured cells and under various conditions in vitro. To determine how the structure of aggregates formed in these model systems related to disease-associated aggregates in the CNS, we used a binary epitope-mapping assay to examine aggregates of hSOD1 variants G93A, G85R, A4V, D90A, and G127X formed in vitro, in four different cell lines and in the CNS of Tg mice. We found considerable variability between replicate sets of in vitro-generated aggregates. In contrast, there was a high similarity between replicates of a given hSOD1 mutant in a given cell line, but pronounced variations between different hSOD1 mutants and different cell lines in both structures and amounts of aggregates formed. The aggregates formed in vitro or in cultured cells did not replicate the aggregate strains that arise in the CNS. Our findings suggest that the distinct aggregate morphologies in the CNS could result from a micro-environment with stringent quality control combined with second-order selection by spreading ability. Explorations of pathogenesis and development of therapeutics should be conducted in models that replicate aggregate structures forming in the CNS. (Figure presented.)