scholarly journals Gene delivery corrects N-acetylglutamate synthase deficiency and enables insights in the physiological impact of L-arginine activation of N-acetylglutamate synthase

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Sonaimuthu ◽  
E. Senkevitch ◽  
N. Haskins ◽  
P. Uapinyoying ◽  
M. McNutt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ammonia Concentration ◽  
Ammonia Toxicity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Adeno Associated Virus ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Acetylglutamate Synthase ◽  
Physiological Impact ◽  
Carbamylphosphate Synthetase ◽  
Allosteric Activator

AbstractThe urea cycle protects the central nervous system from ammonia toxicity by converting ammonia to urea. N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) catalyzes formation of N-acetylglutamate, an essential allosteric activator of carbamylphosphate synthetase 1. Enzymatic activity of mammalian NAGS doubles in the presence of L-arginine, but the physiological significance of NAGS activation by L-arginine has been unknown. The NAGS knockout (Nags−/−) mouse is an animal model of inducible hyperammonemia, which develops hyperammonemia without N-carbamylglutamate and L-citrulline supplementation (NCG + Cit). We used adeno associated virus (AAV) based gene transfer to correct NAGS deficiency in the Nags−/− mice, established the dose of the vector needed to rescue Nags−/− mice from hyperammonemia and measured expression levels of Nags mRNA and NAGS protein in the livers of rescued animals. This methodology was used to investigate the effect of L-arginine on ureagenesis in vivo by treating Nags−/− mice with AAV vectors encoding either wild-type or E354A mutant mouse NAGS (mNAGS), which is not activated by L-arginine. The Nags−/− mice expressing E354A mNAGS were viable but had elevated plasma ammonia concentration despite similar levels of the E354A and wild-type mNAGS proteins. The corresponding mutation in human NAGS (NP_694551.1:p.E360D) that abolishes binding and activation by L-arginine was identified in a patient with NAGS deficiency. Our results show that NAGS deficiency can be rescued by gene therapy, and suggest that L-arginine binding to the NAGS enzyme is essential for normal ureagenesis.

scholarly journals Impaired ureagenesis due to arginine-insensitive N-acetylglutamate synthase

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parthasarathy Sonaimuthu ◽  
Emilee Senkevitch ◽  
Nantaporn Haskins ◽  
Prech Uapinyoying ◽  
Markey McNutt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urea Cycle ◽  
Ammonia Concentration ◽  
Ammonia Toxicity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Adeno Associated Virus ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Acetylglutamate Synthase ◽  
And Control ◽  
Carbamylphosphate Synthetase

AbstractThe urea cycle protects the central nervous system from ammonia toxicity by converting ammonia to non-toxic urea. N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) is an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of N-acetylglutamate (NAG), an allosteric activator of carbamylphosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1), the rate limiting enzyme of the urea cycle. Enzymatic activity of mammalian NAGS doubles in the presence of L-arginine but the physiological significance of NAGS activation by L-arginine is unknown. Previously, we have described the creation of a NAGS knockout (Nags−/−) mouse, which develops hyperammonemia without N-carbamylglutamate and L-citrulline supplementation (NCG+Cit). In order to investigate the effect of L-arginine on ureagenesis in vivo, we used adeno associated virus (AAV) mediated gene transfer to deliver either wild-type or E354A mutant mouse NAGS (mNAGS), which is not activated by L-arginine, to Nags−/− mice. The ability of the E354A mNAGS mutant protein to rescue Nags−/− mice was determined by measuring their activity on the voluntary wheel following NCG+Cit withdrawal. The Nags−/− mice that received E354A mNAGS remained apparently healthy and active but had elevated plasma ammonia concentration despite similar expression levels of the E354A mNAGS and control wild-type NAGS proteins. The corresponding mutation in human NAGS (NP 694551.1:p.E360D) that abolishes binding and activation by L-arginine was also identified in a patient with hyperammonemia due to NAGS deficiency. Taken together, our results suggest that L-arginine binding to the NAGS enzyme is essential for normal ureagenesis.

Induction of an Antitumoral Immune Response by Wild-Type Adeno-Associated Virus Type 2 in an In Vivo Model of Pancreatic Carcinoma

Pancreas ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Eisold ◽  
Jan Schmidt ◽  
Eduard Ryschich ◽  
Michael Gock ◽  
Ernst Klar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Pancreatic Carcinoma ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Adeno Associated Virus

scholarly journals Abnormal fluid homeostasis in apelin receptor knockout mice

2009 ◽  
Vol 202 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma M Roberts ◽  
Michael J F Newson ◽  
George R Pope ◽  
Rainer Landgraf ◽  
Stephen J Lolait ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Intake ◽  
Urine Volume ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Circumventricular Organs ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Drinking Behaviour ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Fluid Homeostasis ◽  
The Central Nervous System

The apelinergic system, comprised of apelin and its G protein-coupled receptor (APJ; APLNR as given in MGI Database), is expressed within key regions of the central nervous system associated with arginine vasopressin (AVP) synthesis and release as well as in structures involved in the control of drinking behaviour, including the magnocellular neurones of the hypothalamus, circumventricular organs, and the pituitary gland. This localisation is indicative of a possible functional role in fluid homeostasis. We investigated a role for APJ in the regulation of fluid balance using mice deficient for the receptor. Male APJ wild-type and knockout (APJ−/−) mice were housed in metabolic cages to allow determination of water intake and urine volume and osmolality. When provided with free access to water, APJ−/− mice drank significantly less than wild-types, while their urine volume and osmolality did not differ. Water deprivation for 24 h significantly reduced urine volume and increased osmolality in wild-type but not in APJ−/− mice. Baseline plasma AVP concentration increased comparably in both wild-type and APJ−/− mice following dehydration; however, APJ−/− mice were unable to concentrate their urine to the same extent as wild-type mice in response to the V2 agonist desmopressin. Analysis of c-fos (Fos as given in MGI Database) mRNA expression in response to dehydration showed attenuation of expression within the subfornical organ, accentuated expression in the paraventricular nucleus, but no differences in expression in the supraoptic nucleus nor median pre-optic nucleus in APJ−/− mice compared with wild-type. These findings demonstrate a physiological role for APJ in mechanisms of water intake and fluid retention and suggest an anti-diuretic effect of apelin in vivo.

scholarly journals Consequences of DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase Catalytic Subunit Deficiency on Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Genome Circularization and Heterodimerization in Muscle Tissue

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (8) ◽  
pp. 4751-4759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongsheng Duan ◽  
Yongping Yue ◽  
John F. Engelhardt
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Muscle Tissue ◽  
Southern Blotting ◽  
Catalytic Subunit ◽  
Inverted Terminal Repeat ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Dependent Protein Kinase ◽  
Adeno Associated Virus ◽  
Dependent Protein

ABSTRACT Circular concatemerization of the recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) genome has been suggested as the predominant process facilitating long-term rAAV transduction in muscle. A recent study (S. Song, P. J. Laipis, K. I. Berns, and T. R. Flotte, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98:4084-4088, 2001) with SCID mice, which are defective in the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), has suggested that DNA-PKcs regulates the removal of free rAAV vector ends in muscle tissue. In the present study, we have sought to evaluate whether a lack of DNA-PKcs activity reduces circularization of rAAV genomes in SCID muscle and whether such a reduction alters the directivity of heterodimerization. Consistent with the previous report, linear rAAV genomes and free vector ends were detected only in DNA-PKcs-deficient muscle by Southern blotting. Appreciable amounts of circular rAAV genomes were detected in both DNA-PKcs-deficient and wild-type muscle samples by Southern blotting and bacterial trapping experiments. The existence of double-D inverted terminal repeat circular intermediates in SCID and wild-type muscles was also supported by their sensitivity to T7 endonuclease I digestion. However, DNA-PKcs-deficient muscle did demonstrate a ∼50% reduction in the abundance of rescued circular genomes, despite equivalent levels of single rAAV transduction seen in wild-type animals. Dual trans-splicing lacZ vectors were used to functionally evaluate directional head-to-tail intermolecular viral genome concatamerization in vivo. Although AAV genomes are processed differently in SCID and wild-type muscles, a comparable level of trans-splicing-mediated β-galactosidase expression was observed in both strains, suggesting that both circular and linear AAV concatemers may have contributed to the trans-splicing-mediated transgene expression. In summary, we have shown that SCID skeletal muscle retains a fairly high capacity to form circular genomes, despite a significant increase in linear vector genomes. Furthermore, the alteration in equilibrium between circular and linear concatemer genomes caused by the lack of DNA-PKcs activity does not appear to significantly affect the efficiency of dual-vector gene expression from head-to-tail linear and/or circular heterodimers.

scholarly journals Immune Response in the Absence of Neurovirulence in Mice Infected with M Protein Mutant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (18) ◽  
pp. 9273-9277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Ahmed ◽  
Tracie R. Marino ◽  
Shelby Puckett ◽  
Nancy D. Kock ◽  
Douglas S. Lyles
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Immune Response ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus ◽  
M Protein ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Protein Mutants ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis

ABSTRACT Matrix (M) protein mutants of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), such as rM51R-M virus, are less virulent than wild-type (wt) VSV strains due to their inability to suppress innate immunity. Studies presented here show that when inoculated intranasally into mice, rM51R-M virus was cleared from nasal mucosa by day 2 postinfection and was attenuated for spread to the central nervous system, in contrast to wt VSV, thus accounting for its reduced virulence. However, it stimulated an antibody response similar to that in mice infected with the wt virus, indicating that it has the ability to induce adaptive immunity in vivo without causing disease. These results support the use of M protein mutants of VSV as vaccine vectors.

scholarly journals Coordinated Regulation and Widespread Cellular Expression of Interferon-Stimulated Genes (ISG) ISG-49, ISG-54, and ISG-56 in the Central Nervous System after Infection with Distinct Viruses

2006 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 860-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christie Wacher ◽  
Marcus Müller ◽  
Markus J. Hofer ◽  
Daniel R. Getts ◽  
Regina Zabaras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Cellular Expression ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Lcmv Infection

ABSTRACT The interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs) ISG-49, ISG-54, and ISG-56 are highly responsive to viral infection, yet the regulation and function of these genes in vivo are unknown. We examined the simultaneous regulation of these ISGs in the brains of mice during infection with either lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) or West Nile virus (WNV). Expression of the ISG-49 and ISG-56 genes increased significantly during LCMV infection, being widespread and localized predominantly to common as well as distinct neuronal populations. Expression of the ISG-54 gene also increased but to lower levels and with a more restricted distribution. Although expression of the ISG-49, ISG-54, and ISG-56 genes was increased in the brains of LCMV-infected STAT1 and STAT2 knockout (KO) mice, this was blunted, delayed, and restricted to the choroid plexus, meninges, and endothelium. ISG-56 protein was regulated in parallel with the corresponding RNA transcript in the brain during LCMV infection in wild-type and STAT KO mice. Similar changes in ISG-49, ISG-54, and ISG-56 RNA levels and ISG-56 protein levels were observed in the brains of wild-type mice following infection with WNV. Thus, the ISG-49, ISG-54, and ISG-56 genes are coordinately upregulated in the brain during LCMV and WNV infection; this upregulation, in the case of LCMV, was totally (neurons) or partially (non-neurons) dependent on the IFN-signaling molecules STAT1 and STAT2. These findings suggest a dominant role for the ISG-49, ISG-54, and ISG-56 genes in the host response to different viruses in the central nervous system, where, particularly in neurons, these genes may have nonredundant functions.

scholarly journals Immunological Aspects of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Delivery to the Mammalian Brain

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (16) ◽  
pp. 8446-8454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihail Y. Mastakov ◽  
Kristin Baer ◽  
C. Wymond Symes ◽  
Claudia B. Leichtlein ◽  
Robert M. Kotin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rational Design ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Repeated Administration ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Adeno Associated Virus ◽  
Genomic Studies ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Genetic Sequences ◽  
Virus Delivery

ABSTRACT Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAV) are highly efficient vectors for gene delivery into the central nervous system (CNS). However, host inflammatory and immune responses may play a critical role in limiting the use of rAAV vectors for gene therapy and functional genomic studies in vivo. Here, we evaluated the effect of repeated injections of five rAAV vectors expressing different genetic sequences (coding or noncoding) in a range of combinations into the rat brain. Specifically, we wished to determine whether a specific immune or inflammatory response appeared in response to the vector and/or the transgene protein after repeated injections under conditions of mannitol coinjection. We show that readministration of the same rAAV to the CNS is possible if the interval between the first and second injection is more than 4 weeks. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that rAAV vectors carrying different genetic sequences can be administered at intervals of 2 weeks. Our data therefore suggest that the AAV capsid structure is altered by the vector genetic sequence, such that secondary structures of the single-stranded genome have an impact on the antigenicity of the virus. This study provides guidelines for more rational design of gene transfer studies in the rodent brain and, in addition, suggests the use of repeated administration of rAAV as a viable form of therapy for the treatment of chronic diseases.

scholarly journals Identification, cloning and expression of the mouse N-acetylglutamate synthase gene

2002 ◽  
Vol 364 (3) ◽  
pp. 825-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ljubica CALDOVIC ◽  
Hiroki MORIZONO ◽  
Xiaolin YU ◽  
Mark THOMPSON ◽  
Dashuang SHI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coli Strain ◽  
Cloning And Expression ◽  
Affinity Column ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Apparent Homogeneity ◽  
Liver Cdna Library ◽  
Targeting Signal ◽  
Acetylglutamate Synthase ◽  
Carbamylphosphate Synthetase ◽  
Allosteric Activator

In ureotelic animals, N-acetylglutamate (NAG) is an essential allosteric activator of carbamylphosphate synthetase I (CPSI), the first enzyme in the urea cycle. NAG synthase (NAGS; EC 2.3.1.1) catalyses the formation of NAG from glutamate and acetyl-CoA in liver and intestinal mitochondria. This enzyme is supposed to regulate ureagenesis by producing variable amounts of NAG, thus modulating CPSI activity. Moreover, inherited deficiencies in NAGS have been associated with hyperammonaemia, probably due to the loss of CPSI activity. Although the existence of the NAGS protein in mammals has been known for decades, the gene has remained elusive. We identified the mouse (Mus musculus) and human NAGS genes using their similarity to the respective Neurospora crassa gene. NAGS was cloned from a mouse liver cDNA library and was found to encode a 2.3kb message, highly expressed in liver and small intestine with lower expression levels in kidney, spleen and testis. The deduced amino acid sequence contains a putative mitochondrial targeting signal at the N-terminus. The cDNA sequence complements an argA (NAGS)-deficient Escherichia coli strain, reversing its arginine auxotrophy. His-tagged versions of the pre-protein and two putative mature proteins were each overexpressed in E. coli, and purified to apparent homogeneity by using a nickel-affinity column. The pre-protein and the two putative mature proteins catalysed the NAGS reaction but one of the putative mature enzymes had significantly higher activity than the pre-protein. The addition of l-arginine increased the catalytic activity of the purified recombinant NAGS enzymes by approx. 2–6-fold.

The atypical chemokine receptor CCX-CKR scavenges homeostatic chemokines in circulation and tissues and suppresses Th17 responses

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (20) ◽  
pp. 4130-4140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain Comerford ◽  
Robert J. B. Nibbs ◽  
Wendel Litchfield ◽  
Mark Bunting ◽  
Yuka Harata-Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Lymph Nodes ◽  
Chemokine Receptor ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Peripheral Lymph ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Abstract Our previous in vitro studies led to proposals that the atypical chemokine receptor CCX-CKR is a scavenger of CCR7 ligand homeostatic chemokines. In the present study, we generated CCX-CKR−/− mice and confirm this scavenger function in vivo. Compared with wild-type mice, CCX-CKR−/− have a 5-fold increase in the level of CCL21 protein in blood, and 2- to 3-fold increases in CCL19 and CCL21 in peripheral lymph nodes. The effect of these protein increases on immunity was investigated after immunization with MOG35-55 peptide emulsified in complete Freund adjuvant (CFA). The subsequent characteristic paralysis develops with enhanced kinetics and severity in CCX-CKR−/− versus wild-type mice. Despite this effect, antigen-specific immune responses in the draining lymph nodes are diminished in CCX-CKR−/− mice. Instead, the earlier onset of disease is associated with enhanced T-cell priming in the CCX-CKR−/− spleen and a skewing of CD4+ T-cell responses toward Th17 rather than Th1. This observation correlates with increased expression of IL-23 in the CCX-CKR−/− spleen and increased CCL21 levels in the central nervous system postimmunization. The early onset of disease in CCX-CKR−/− mice is reversed by systemic administration of neutralizing anti-CCL21 antibodies. Thus, by regulating homeostatic chemokine bioavailability, CCX-CKR influences the localization, kinetics, and nature of adaptive immune responses in vivo.

scholarly journals Non-coding sequence variants define a novel regulatory element in the first intron of the N-acetylglutamate synthase gene.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Häberle ◽  
Barry Moore ◽  
Nantaporn Haskins ◽  
Véronique Rüfenacht ◽  
Dariusz Rokicki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urea Cycle ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Urea Cycle Disorder ◽  
Sequence Variants ◽  
Coding Regions ◽  
First Intron ◽  
Causes Of Disease ◽  
Acetylglutamate Synthase ◽  
Carbamylphosphate Synthetase ◽  
Allosteric Activator

N-acetylglutamate synthase deficiency (NAGSD, MIM #237310) is an autosomal recessive urea cycle disorder caused either by decreased expression of the NAGS gene or defective NAGS enzyme resulting in decreased production of N-acetylglutamate (NAG), an allosteric activator of carbamylphosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1). NAGSD is the only urea cycle disorder that can be effectively treated with a single drug, N-carbamylglutamate (NCG), a stable NAG analog, which activates CPS1 to restore ureagenesis. We describe three patients with NAGSD due to four novel sequence variants in the NAGS regulatory regions. All three patients had hyperammonemia that resolved upon treatment with NCG. Sequence variants NM_153006.2:c.-3065A>C and NM_153006.2:c-3098C>T reside in the NAGS enhancer, within known HNF1 and predicted glucocorticoid receptor binding sites, respectively. Sequence variants NM_153006.2:c.426+326G>A and NM_153006.2:c.427-218A>C reside in the first intron of NAGS and define a novel NAGS regulatory element that binds retinoic X receptor α. Reporter gene assays in HepG2 and HuH-7 cells demonstrated that all four substitutions could result in reduced expression of NAGS. These findings show that analyzing non-coding regions of NAGS and other urea cycle genes can reveal molecular causes of disease and identify novel regulators of ureagenesis.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document