Mitochondrial Dysregulation and Impaired Autophagy in iPSC-Derived Dopaminergic Neurons of Multiple System Atrophy

Publication date: Available online 18 October 2018Source: Stem Cell ReportsAuthor(s): Giacomo Monzio Compagnoni, Giulio Kleiner, Maura Samarani, Massimo Aureli, Gaia Faustini, Arianna Bellucci, Dario Ronchi, Andreina Bordoni, Manuela Garbellini, Sabrina Salani, Francesco Fortunato, Emanuele Frattini, Elena Abati, Christian Bergamini, Romana Fato, Silvia Tabano, Monica Miozzo, Giulia Serratto, Maria Passafaro, Michela DeleidiSummaryMultiple system atrophy (MSA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects several areas of the CNS, whose pathogenesis is still widely unclear and for which an effective treatment is lacking. We have generated induced pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons from four MSA patients and four healthy controls and from two monozygotic twins discordant for the disease. In this model, we have demonstrated an aberrant autophagic flow and a mitochondrial dysregulation involving respiratory chain activity, mitochondrial content, and CoQ10 biosynthesis. These defective mechanisms may contribute to the onset of the disease, representing potential therapeutic targets.
Source: Stem Cell Reports - Category: Stem Cells Source Type: research