Summary
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor neuron degeneration that leads to progressive muscle atrophy. Currently only a few FDA-approved drugs are available for ALS, which merely extend patients’ life by a few months. Thus, there is an urgent need for new and more effective disease-modifying treatments. Although ALS is characterized by selective motor neuron degeneration, extensive evidence indicates that other cell types contribute to both onset and progression of ALS. An unresolved question in the ALS field is whether skeletal muscle fibers are merely bystanders or rather active contributors to motor neuron degeneration in ALS, and if so, through which biological pathways. Previous and ongoing work by the host laboratory has demonstrated the contribution of skeletal muscle in FUS-ALS, (1-2% of ALS cases). As TDP-43 cytoplasmic inclusions are a universal feature in nearly all ALS patients, assessing whether mutant TDP-43 toxicity in muscle contributes to ALS may be relevant to the broad community of ALS patients. I hypothesize that TDP-43 toxicity in skeletal muscle contributes to motor neuron degeneration and ALS-related phenotypes through specific molecular programs. I will use genetic and viral approaches to modulate mutant TDP-43 levels specifically in skeletal muscle in a TDP-43-ALS mouse model, and assess the effects on ALS-related phenotypes. Moreover, I will use single-nucleus RNA sequencing, a cutting-edge technique that became recently available, to determine – for the first time – the biological function of TDP-43 in skeletal muscle in the context of ALS, and to potentially identify novel therapeutic targets. Indeed, if mutant TDP-43 expression in skeletal muscle would influence the age of disease onset and/or disease progression, this would imply that therapeutic strategies for ALS should not only target motor neurons but also skeletal muscles, potentially improving ALS treatment approaches.
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| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101149165 |
| Start date: | 01-06-2024 |
| End date: | 31-05-2026 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | - 203 464,00 Euro |
Cordis data
Original description
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor neuron degeneration that leads to progressive muscle atrophy. Currently only a few FDA-approved drugs are available for ALS, which merely extend patients’ life by a few months. Thus, there is an urgent need for new and more effective disease-modifying treatments. Although ALS is characterized by selective motor neuron degeneration, extensive evidence indicates that other cell types contribute to both onset and progression of ALS. An unresolved question in the ALS field is whether skeletal muscle fibers are merely bystanders or rather active contributors to motor neuron degeneration in ALS, and if so, through which biological pathways. Previous and ongoing work by the host laboratory has demonstrated the contribution of skeletal muscle in FUS-ALS, (1-2% of ALS cases). As TDP-43 cytoplasmic inclusions are a universal feature in nearly all ALS patients, assessing whether mutant TDP-43 toxicity in muscle contributes to ALS may be relevant to the broad community of ALS patients. I hypothesize that TDP-43 toxicity in skeletal muscle contributes to motor neuron degeneration and ALS-related phenotypes through specific molecular programs. I will use genetic and viral approaches to modulate mutant TDP-43 levels specifically in skeletal muscle in a TDP-43-ALS mouse model, and assess the effects on ALS-related phenotypes. Moreover, I will use single-nucleus RNA sequencing, a cutting-edge technique that became recently available, to determine – for the first time – the biological function of TDP-43 in skeletal muscle in the context of ALS, and to potentially identify novel therapeutic targets. Indeed, if mutant TDP-43 expression in skeletal muscle would influence the age of disease onset and/or disease progression, this would imply that therapeutic strategies for ALS should not only target motor neurons but also skeletal muscles, potentially improving ALS treatment approaches.Status
SIGNEDCall topic
HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01-01Update Date
24-11-2024
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