HuD impairs neuromuscular junctions and induces apoptosis in human iPSC and Drosophila ALS models

Beatrice Silvestri, Michela Mochi, Darilang Mawrie, Valeria de Turris, Alessio Colantoni, Beatrice Borhy, Margherita Medici, Eric Nathaniel Anderson, Maria Giovanna Garone, Christopher Patrick Zammerilla, Marco Simula, Monica Ballarino, Udai Bhan Pandey and Alessandro Rosa ()
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Beatrice Silvestri: Sapienza University of Rome
Michela Mochi: Sapienza University of Rome
Darilang Mawrie: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Valeria de Turris: Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)
Alessio Colantoni: Sapienza University of Rome
Beatrice Borhy: Sapienza University of Rome
Margherita Medici: Sapienza University of Rome
Eric Nathaniel Anderson: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Maria Giovanna Garone: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Christopher Patrick Zammerilla: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Marco Simula: Sapienza University of Rome
Monica Ballarino: Sapienza University of Rome
Udai Bhan Pandey: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Alessandro Rosa: Sapienza University of Rome

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Abstract Defects at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) are among the earliest hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). According to the “dying-back” hypothesis, NMJ disruption not only precedes but also triggers the subsequent degeneration of motoneurons in both sporadic (sALS) and familial (fALS) ALS. Using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we show that the RNA-binding protein HuD (ELAVL4) contributes to NMJ defects and apoptosis in FUS-ALS. HuD overexpression mimics the severe FUSP525L mutation, while its knockdown rescues the FUSP525L phenotypes. In Drosophila, neuronal overexpression of the HuD ortholog, elav, induces motor dysfunction, and its knockdown improves motor function in a FUS-ALS model. Finally, we report increased HuD levels upon oxidative stress in human motoneurons and in sALS patients with an oxidative stress signature. Based on these findings, we propose that HuD plays a role downstream of FUS mutations in fALS and in sALS related to oxidative stress.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54004-8

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