Therapeutic targeting of Lyn kinase to treat chorea-acanthocytosis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Kevin Peikert - (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 - , Universita' di Napoli Federico II (Author)
  • Angela Amoresano - , Universita' di Napoli Federico II (Author)
  • Anna Illiano - , Universita' di Napoli Federico II (Author)
  • Flora Cozzolino - , Universita' di Napoli Federico II (Author)
  • Maria Monti - , Universita' di Napoli Federico II (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 - , Universita' di Napoli Federico II (Author)
  • Achille Iolascon - , Universita' di Napoli 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
Article number81
Pages (from-to)81
JournalActa neuropathologica communications
Volume9
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 3 May 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC8091687
Scopus 85105087773
ORCID /0000-0001-8799-8202/work/171553578

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