Therapeutic targeting of Lyn kinase to treat chorea-acanthocytosis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Kevin Peikert - , Rostock University Medical Centre (Author)
  • Enrica Federti - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Alessandro Matte - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Gabriela Constantin - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Enrica Caterina Pietronigro - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Paolo Francesco Fabene - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Paola Defilippi - , Polytechnic University of Turin (Author)
  • Emilia Turco - , Polytechnic University of Turin (Author)
  • Federico Del Gallo - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Pietro Pucci - , University Federico II of Napoli (Author)
  • Angela Amoresano - , University Federico II of Napoli (Author)
  • Anna Illiano - , University Federico II of Napoli (Author)
  • Flora Cozzolino - , University Federico II of Napoli (Author)
  • Maria Monti - , University Federico II of Napoli (Author)
  • Francesca Garello - , Polytechnic University of Turin (Author)
  • Enzo Terreno - , Polytechnic University of Turin (Author)
  • Seth Leo Alper - , Harvard Medical School (HMS) (Author)
  • Hannes Glaß - , Rostock University Medical Centre (Author)
  • Lisann Pelzl - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Katja Akgün - , Department of Neurology (Author)
  • Tjalf Ziemssen - , Department of Neurology (Author)
  • Rainer Ordemann - , University Vascular Centre (Author)
  • Florian Lang - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Anna Maria Brunati - , University of Padua (Author)
  • Elena Tibaldi - , University of Padua (Author)
  • Immacolata Andolfo - , University of Naples Federico II (Author)
  • Achille Iolascon - , University of Naples Federico II (Author)
  • Giuseppe Bertini - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Mario Buffelli - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Carlo Zancanaro - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Erika Lorenzetto - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Angela Siciliano - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Massimiliano Bonifacio - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Adrian Danek - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Ruth Helen Walker - , James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Author)
  • Andreas Hermann - , University of Rostock (Author)
  • Lucia De Franceschi - , University of Verona (Author)

Abstract

Chorea-Acanthocytosis (ChAc) is a devastating, little understood, and currently untreatable neurodegenerative disease caused by VPS13A mutations. Based on our recent demonstration that accumulation of activated Lyn tyrosine kinase is a key pathophysiological event in human ChAc cells, we took advantage of Vps13a-/- mice, which phenocopied human ChAc. Using proteomic approach, we found accumulation of active Lyn, γ-synuclein and phospho-tau proteins in Vps13a-/- basal ganglia secondary to impaired autophagy leading to neuroinflammation. Mice double knockout Vps13a-/- Lyn-/- showed normalization of red cell morphology and improvement of autophagy in basal ganglia. We then in vivo tested pharmacologic inhibitors of Lyn: dasatinib and nilotinib. Dasatinib failed to cross the mouse brain blood barrier (BBB), but the more specific Lyn kinase inhibitor nilotinib, crosses the BBB. Nilotinib ameliorates both Vps13a-/- hematological and neurological phenotypes, improving autophagy and preventing neuroinflammation. Our data support the proposal to repurpose nilotinib as new therapeutic option for ChAc patients.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)81
JournalActa neuropathologica communications
Volume9
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 3 May 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC8091687
Scopus 85105087773

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Animals, Dasatinib/administration & dosage, Drug Delivery Systems/methods, Female, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Neuroacanthocytosis/drug therapy, Protein Kinase Inhibitors/administration & dosage, Pyrimidines/administration & dosage, Vesicular Transport Proteins/genetics, src-Family Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors