Increased reactive oxygen species in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with mutations in SOD1

The trans-activating response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a transcriptional repressor and splicing factor. TDP-43 is normally mostly in the nucleus, although it shuttles to the cytoplasm. Mutations in TDP-43 are one cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In neurons of these patients, TDP-43 forms cytoplasmic aggregates. In addition, wild-type TDP-43 is also frequently found in neuronal cytoplasmic aggregates in patients with neurodegenerative diseases not caused by TDP-43 mutations. TDP-43 expressed in yeast causes toxicity and forms cytoplasmic aggregates. This disease model has been validated because genetic modifiers of TDP-43 toxicity in yeast have led to the discovery that their conserved genes in humans are ALS genetic risk factors. While how TDP-43 is associated with toxicity is unknown, several studies find that TDP-43 alters mitochondrial function. We now report that TDP-43 is much more toxic when yeast are respiring than when grown on a carbon source where respiration is inhibited. However, respiration is not the unique target of TDP-43 toxicity because we found that TDP-43 retains some toxicity even in the absence of respiration. We found that H2O2 increases the toxicity of TDP-43, suggesting that the reactive oxygen species associated with respiration could likewise enhance the toxicity of TDP-43. In this case, the TDP-43 toxicity targets in the presence or absence of respiration could be identical, with the reactive oxygen species produced by respiration activating TDP-43 to become more toxic or making TDP-43 targets more vulnerable.

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Mitochondria as a source of reactive oxygen species

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj20090056 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. c3 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Helena M. Cochemé ◽

Michael P. Murphy

Keyword(s):

Reactive Oxygen Species ◽

Reactive Oxygen ◽

Oxygen Species

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Clinical aspects of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species

Biochemical Society Symposium ◽

10.1042/bss0710121 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 71 ◽

pp. 121-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Ascan Warnholtz ◽

Maria Wendt ◽

Michael August ◽

Thomas Münzel

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Reactive Oxygen Species ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Endothelial Dysfunction ◽

Vascular Tissue ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Reactive Oxygen ◽

Clinical Aspects ◽

No Production ◽

Oxygen Species

Endothelial dysfunction in the setting of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic smoking, as well as in the setting of heart failure, has been shown to be at least partly dependent on the production of reactive oxygen species in endothelial and/or smooth muscle cells and the adventitia, and the subsequent decrease in vascular bioavailability of NO. Superoxide-producing enzymes involved in increased oxidative stress within vascular tissue include NAD(P)H-oxidase, xanthine oxidase and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in an uncoupled state. Recent studies indicate that endothelial dysfunction of peripheral and coronary resistance and conductance vessels represents a strong and independent risk factor for future cardiovascular events. Ways to reduce endothelial dysfunction include risk-factor modification and treatment with substances that have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and, simultaneously, to stimulate endothelial NO production, such as inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme or the statins. In contrast, in conditions where increased production of reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide, in vascular tissue is established, treatment with NO, e.g. via administration of nitroglycerin, results in a rapid development of endothelial dysfunction, which may worsen the prognosis in patients with established coronary artery disease.

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