A cell-based assay for aggregation inhibitors as therapeutics of polyglutamine-repeat disease and validation in Drosophila

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 May 13;100(10):5950-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2628045100. Epub 2003 May 1.

Abstract

The formation of polyglutamine-containing aggregates and inclusions are hallmarks of pathogenesis in Huntington's disease that can be recapitulated in model systems. Although the contribution of inclusions to pathogenesis is unclear, cell-based assays can be used to screen for chemical compounds that affect aggregation and may provide therapeutic benefit. We have developed inducible PC12 cell-culture models to screen for loss of visible aggregates. To test the validity of this approach, compounds that inhibit aggregation in the PC12 cell-based screen were tested in a Drosophila model of polyglutamine-repeat disease. The disruption of aggregation in PC12 cells strongly correlates with suppression of neuronal degeneration in Drosophila. Thus, the engineered PC12 cells coupled with the Drosophila model provide a rapid and effective method to screen and validate compounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Aggregation
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Survival
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drosophila / genetics*
  • Exons
  • Female
  • Genetic Diseases, Inborn / genetics*
  • Genetic Diseases, Inborn / therapy*
  • Genetic Therapy*
  • Humans
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism
  • Neurites / physiology
  • Neurites / ultrastructure
  • PC12 Cells
  • Peptides / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Peptides / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Rats
  • Sequence Deletion
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Peptides
  • polyglutamine
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex