Molecular Biology and Genetics / Moleküler Biyoloji ve Genetik

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11147/9

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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 5
    Citation - Scopus: 5
    Sialidase Neu4 Deficiency Is Associated With Neuroinflammation in Mice
    (Springer, 2021) Timur, Zehra Kevser; İnci, Orhan Kerim; Akyıldız Demir, Seçil; Seyrantepe, Volkan
    Sialidases catalyze the removal of sialic acid residues from glycoproteins, oligosaccharides, and sialylated glycolipids. Sialidase Neu4 is in the lysosome and has broad substrate specificity. Previously generated Neu4-/- mice were viable, fertile and lacked gross morphological abnormalities, but displayed a marked vacuolization and lysosomal storage in lung and spleen cells. In addition, we showed that there is an increased level of GD1a ganglioside and a markedly decreased level of GM1 ganglioside in the brain of Neu4-/- mice. In this study, we further explored whether sialidase Neu4 deficiency causes neuroinflammation. We demostrated that elevated level of GD1a and GT1b is associated with an increased level of LAMP1-positive lysosomal vesicles and Tunel-positive neurons correlated with alterations in the expression of cytokines and chemokines in adult Neu4-/- mice. Astrogliosis and microgliosis were also significantly enhanced in the hippocampus, and cerebellum. These changes in brain immunity were accompanied by motor impairment in these mice. Our results indicate that sialidase Neu4 is a novel mediator of an inflammatory response in the mouse brain due to the altered catabolism of gangliosides.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 37
    Citation - Scopus: 40
    Gm2 Ganglioside Accumulation Causes Neuroinflammation and Behavioral Alterations in a Mouse Model of Early Onset Tay-Sachs Disease
    (BioMed Central Ltd., 2020) Akyıldız Demir, Seçil; Timur, Zehra Kevser; Ateş, Nurselin; Martinez, Luis Alarcon; Seyrantepe, Volkan
    Background Tay-Sachs disease (TSD), a type of GM2-gangliosidosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the alpha subunit of the lysosomal beta-hexosaminidase enzyme. This disease is characterized by excessive accumulation of GM2 ganglioside, predominantly in the central nervous system. Although Tay-Sachs patients appear normal at birth, the progressive accumulation of undegraded GM2 gangliosides in neurons leads to death. Recently, an early onset Tay-Sachs disease mouse model, with genotypeHexa-/-Neu3-/-, was generated. Progressive accumulation of GM2 led to premature death of the double KO mice. Importantly, this double-deficient mouse model displays typical features of Tay-Sachs patients, such as cytoplasmic vacuolization of nerve cells, deterioration of Purkinje cells, neuronal death, deceleration in movement, ataxia, and tremors. GM2-gangliosidosis is characterized by acute neurodegeneration preceded by activated microglia expansion, macrophage, and astrocyte activation, along with the production of inflammatory mediators. However, the mechanism of disease progression inHexa-/-Neu3-/-mice, relevant to neuroinflammation is poorly understood. Method In this study, we investigated the onset and progression of neuroinflammatory changes in the cortex, cerebellum, and retina ofHexa-/-Neu3-/-mice and control littermates by using a combination of molecular genetics and immunochemical procedures. Results We found elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine transcripts, such as Ccl2, Ccl3, Ccl4, and Cxcl10 and also extensive microglial and astrocyte activation and proliferation, accompanied by peripheral blood mononuclear cell infiltration in the vicinity of neurons and oligodendrocytes. Behavioral tests demonstrated a high level of anxiety, and age-dependent loss in both spatial learning and fear memory inHexa-/-Neu3-/-mice compared with that in the controls. Conclusion Altogether, our data suggest thatHexa-/-Neu3-/-mice display a phenotype similar to Tay-Sachs patients suffering from chronic neuroinflammation triggered by GM2 accumulation. Furthermore, our work contributes to better understanding of the neuropathology in a mouse model of early onset Tay-Sachs disease.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 54
    Citation - Scopus: 58
    Murine Sialidase Neu3 Facilitates Gm2 Degradation and Bypass in Mouse Model of Tay-Sachs Disease
    (Elsevier, 2018) Seyrantepe, Volkan; Akyıldız Demir, Seçil; Timur, Zehra Kevser; Von Gerichten, Johanna; Marsching, Christian; Erdemli, Esra; Öztaş, Emin; Takahashi, Kohta; Yamaguchi, Kazunori; Ateş, Nurselin; Dönmez Demir, Buket; Dalkara, Turgay; Erich, Katrin; Hopf, Carsten; Sandhoff, Roger; Miyagi, Taeko
    Tay-Sachs disease is a severe lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in Hexa, the gene that encodes for the α subunit of lysosomal β-hexosaminidase A (HEXA), which converts GM2 to GM3 ganglioside. Unexpectedly, Hexa−/− mice have a normal lifespan and show no obvious neurological impairment until at least one year of age. These mice catabolize stored GM2 ganglioside using sialidase(s) to remove sialic acid and form the glycolipid GA2, which is further processed by β-hexosaminidase B. Therefore, the presence of the sialidase (s) allows the consequences of the Hexa defect to be bypassed. To determine if the sialidase NEU3 contributes to GM2 ganglioside degradation, we generated a mouse model with combined deficiencies of HEXA and NEU3. The Hexa−/− Neu3−/− mice were healthy at birth, but died at 1.5 to 4.5 months of age. Thin-layer chromatography and mass spectrometric analysis of the brains of Hexa−/− Neu3−/− mice revealed the abnormal accumulation of GM2 ganglioside. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated cytoplasmic vacuolation in the neurons. Electron microscopic examination of the brain, kidneys and testes revealed pleomorphic inclusions of many small vesicles and complex lamellar structures. The Hexa−/− Neu3−/− mice exhibited progressive neurodegeneration with neuronal loss, Purkinje cell depletion, and astrogliosis. Slow movement, ataxia, and tremors were the prominent neurological abnormalities observed in these mice. Furthermore, radiographs revealed abnormalities in the skeletal bones of the Hexa−/− Neu3−/− mice. Thus, the Hexa−/− Neu3−/− mice mimic the neuropathological and clinical abnormalities of the classical early-onset Tay-Sachs patients, and provide a suitable model for the future pre-clinical testing of potential treatments for this condition.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 14
    Citation - Scopus: 15
    Neuraminidase-1 Contributes Significantly To the Degradation of Neuronal B-Series Gangliosides but Not To the Bypass of the Catabolic Block in Tay-Sachs Mouse Models
    (Elsevier Ltd., 2015) Timur, Zehra Kevser; Akyıldız Demir, Seçil; Marsching, C.; Sandhoff, R.; Seyrantepe, Volkan
    TaySachs disease is a severe lysosomal storage disorder caused bymutations in the HEXA gene coding for? subunit of lysosomal β-Hexosaminidase A enzyme, which converts GM2 to GM3 ganglioside. HexA mice, depleted of the β-Hexosaminidase A iso-enzyme, remain asymptomatic up to 1 year of age because of a metabolic bypass by neuraminidase(s). These enzymes remove a sialic acid residue converting GM2 to GA2,which is further degraded by the still intact β-Hexosaminidase B iso-enzyme into lactosylceramide. A previously identified ganglioside metabolizing neuraminidase, Neu4, is abundantly expressed in the mouse brain and has activity against gangliosides like GM2 in vitro. Neu4 mice showed increased GD1a and decreased GM1 ganglioside in the brain suggesting the importance of the Neu4 in ganglioside catabolism. Mice with targeted disruption of both HexA and Neu4 genes showed accumulating GM2 ganglioside and epileptic seizures with 40% penetrance, indicating that the neuraminidase Neu4 is a modulatory gene, but may not be the only neuraminidase contributing to the metabolic bypass in HexA mice. Therefore, we elucidated the biological role of neuraminidase-1 in ganglioside degradation in mouse. Analysis of HexANeu1 and HexANeu4Neu1 mice models showed significant contribution of neuraminidase-1 on B-series ganglioside degradation in the brain. Therefore, we speculate that other neuraminidase/neuraminidases such as Neu2 and/or Neu3 might be also involved in the ganglioside degradation pathway in HexA mice.