Phenotypic and molecular features underlying neurodegeneration of motor neurons derived from spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy patients

• Published in: Neurobiology of disease Vol. 124; pp. 1 - 13
• Main Authors: Sheila, Marianne, Narayanan, Gunaseelan, Ma, Siming, Tam, Wai Leong, Chai, Josiah, Stanton, Lawrence W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.04.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-Linked - genetics; Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-Linked - metabolism; Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-Linked - pathology; Cell Differentiation; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - metabolism; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - pathology; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - physiology; Motor Neurons - metabolism; Motor Neurons - pathology; Neurites - metabolism; Neurites - pathology; Phenotype; Signal Transduction
• ISSN: 0969-9961; 1095-953X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.10.019

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of polyglutamine region in the androgen receptor. To gain insights into mechanisms of SBMA, four wild-type and five SBMA iPSC lines were differentiated to spinal motor neurons (sMNs) with high efficiency. SBMA sMNs showed neurite defects, reduced sMN survival and decreased protein synthesis levels. Microarray analysis revealed a dysregulation in various neuronal-related signalling pathways in SBMA sMNs. Strikingly, FAM135B a novel gene of unknown function, was found drastically downregulated in SBMA sMNs. Knockdown of FAM135B in wild-type sMNs reduced their survival and contributed to neurite defects, similar to SBMA sMNs, suggesting a functional role of FAM135B in SBMA. The degenerative phenotypes and dysregulated genes revealed could be potential therapeutic targets for SBMA. •Spinal motor neurons (sMNs) were generated at high efficiency from SBMA iPSC lines.•SBMA sMNs show key neurodegenerative phenotypes including reduced sMN survival.•Microarray analysis reveals novel genes such as FAM135B, dysregulated in SBMA.•Knockdown of FAM135B results in neurodegeneration, indicating its role in SBMA.