Exploring therapeutic strategies for infantile neuronal axonal dystrophy (INAD/PARK14)

Guang Lin, Burak Tepe, Geoff McGrane, Regine C. Tipon, Gist Croft, Leena Panwala, Amanda Hope, Agnes J.H. Liang, Zhongyuan Zuo, Seul Kee Byeon, Lily Wang, Akhilesh Pandey, Hugo J. Bellen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (INAD) is caused by recessive variants in PLA2G6 and is a lethal pediatric neurodegenerative disorder. Loss of the Drosophila homolog of PLA2G6, leads to ceramide accumulation, lysosome expansion, and mitochondrial defects. Here, we report that retromer function, ceramide metabolism, the endolysosomal pathway, and mitochondrial morphology are affected in INAD patient-derived neurons. We show that in INAD mouse models, the same features are affected in Purkinje cells, arguing that the neuropathological mechanisms are evolutionary conserved and that these features can be used as biomarkers. We tested 20 drugs that target these pathways and found that Ambroxol, Desipramine, Azoramide, and Genistein alleviate neurodegenerative phenotypes in INAD flies and INAD patient-derived neural progenitor cells. We also develop an AAV-based gene therapy approach that delays neurodegeneration and prolongs lifespan in an INAD mouse model.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere82555
JournaleLife
Volume12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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