Isogenic FUS-eGFP iPSC Reporter Lines Enable Quantification of FUS Stress Granule Pathology that Is Rescued by Drugs Inducing Autophagy

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Lara Marrone - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Ina Poser - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Ian Casci - , University of Pittsburgh (Author)
  • Julia Japtok - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Peter Reinhardt - , TUD Dresden University of Technology, AbbVie (Author)
  • Antje Janosch - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Cordula Andree - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Hyun O. Lee - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Claudia Moebius - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Ellen Koerner - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Lydia Reinhardt - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Maria Elena Cicardi - , University of Milan (Author)
  • Karl Hackmann - , AbbVie (Author)
  • Barbara Klink - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Angelo Poletti - , University of Milan (Author)
  • Simon Alberti - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Marc Bickle - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Andreas Hermann - , TUD Dresden University of Technology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • Udai Bhan Pandey - , University of Pittsburgh (Author)
  • Anthony A. Hyman - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Jared L. Sterneckert - , iPS Cells and Neurodegenerative Disease (Junior Research Group) (Author)

Abstract

Perturbations in stress granule (SG) dynamics may be at the core of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Since SGs are membraneless compartments, modeling their dynamics in human motor neurons has been challenging, thus hindering the identification of effective therapeutics. Here, we report the generation of isogenic induced pluripotent stem cells carrying wild-type and P525L FUS-eGFP. We demonstrate that FUS-eGFP is recruited into SGs and that P525L profoundly alters their dynamics. With a screening campaign, we demonstrate that PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibition increases autophagy and ameliorates SG phenotypes linked to P525L FUS by reducing FUS-eGFP recruitment into SGs. Using a Drosophila model of FUS-ALS, we corroborate that induction of autophagy significantly increases survival. Finally, by screening clinically approved drugs for their ability to ameliorate FUS SG phenotypes, we identify a number of brain-penetrant anti-depressants and anti-psychotics that also induce autophagy. These drugs could be repurposed as potential ALS treatments. Sterneckert and colleagues generate isogenic FUS-eGFP reporter iPSCs that enable the identification of stress granule (SG) phenotypes specifically induced by the ALS mutation FUS P525L. Compound screening shows that modulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway regulating autophagy ameliorates SG phenotypes. A second screen identifies similarly acting brain-penetrant US FDA-approved drugs that could be repurposed to treat ALS.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)375-389
Number of pages15
JournalStem cell reports
Volume10
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 13 Feb 2018
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 29358088
ORCID /0000-0002-7688-3124/work/142250034
ORCID /0000-0003-4017-6505/work/142253803

Keywords

Keywords

  • amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autophagy, CRISPR/Cas9n, FUS, gene editing, induced pluripotent stem cells, stress granules

Library keywords