Proteomic Profiling of Cranial (Superior) Cervical Ganglia Reveals Beta-Amyloid and Ubiquitin Proteasome System Perturbations in an Equine Multiple System Neuropathy.
Abstract: Equine grass sickness (EGS) is an acute, predominantly fatal, multiple system neuropathy of grazing horses with reported incidence rates of ∼2%. An apparently identical disease occurs in multiple species, including but not limited to cats, dogs, and rabbits. Although the precise etiology remains unclear, ultrastructural findings have suggested that the primary lesion lies in the glycoprotein biosynthetic pathway of specific neuronal populations. The goal of this study was therefore to identify the molecular processes underpinning neurodegeneration in EGS. Here, we use a bottom-up approach beginning with the application of modern proteomic tools to the analysis of cranial (superior) cervical ganglion (CCG, a consistently affected tissue) from EGS-affected patients and appropriate control cases postmortem. In what appears to be the proteomic application of modern proteomic tools to equine neuronal tissues and/or to an inherent neurodegenerative disease of large animals (not a model of human disease), we identified 2,311 proteins in CCG extracts, with 320 proteins increased and 186 decreased by greater than 20% relative to controls. Further examination of selected proteomic candidates by quantitative fluorescent Western blotting (QFWB) and subcellular expression profiling by immunohistochemistry highlighted a previously unreported dysregulation in proteins commonly associated with protein misfolding/aggregation responses seen in a myriad of human neurodegenerative conditions, including but not limited to amyloid precursor protein (APP), microtubule associated protein (Tau), and multiple components of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). Differentially expressed proteins eligible for in silico pathway analysis clustered predominantly into the following biofunctions: (1) diseases and disorders, including; neurological disease and skeletal and muscular disorders and (2) molecular and cellular functions, including cellular assembly and organization, cell-to-cell signaling and interaction (including epinephrine, dopamine, and adrenergic signaling and receptor function), and small molecule biochemistry. Interestingly, while the biofunctions identified in this study may represent pathways underpinning EGS-induced neurodegeneration, this is also the first demonstration of potential molecular conservation (including previously unreported dysregulation of the UPS and APP) spanning the degenerative cascades from an apparently unrelated condition of large animals, to small animal models with altered neuronal vulnerability, and human neurological conditions. Importantly, this study highlights the feasibility and benefits of applying modern proteomic techniques to veterinary investigations of neurodegenerative processes in diseases of large animals.
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The research uncovers the primary molecular processes that lead to neuronal degeneration in Equine grass sickness (EGS), a deadly neurological disease that affects grazing horses and similar species. The study discovered dysregulated proteins related to protein misfolding/aggregation conditions, often seen in human neurodegenerative diseases.
Study Objective and Methodology
The study aimed to determine the molecular actions that trigger neurodegeneration in Equine grass sickness (EGS), an acute, fatal neurological disease that affects 2% of grazing horses and other species such as cats, dogs, and rabbits.
The researchers used modern proteomic tools to analyze the cranial cervical ganglion (CCG), a tissue commonly affected by EGS, in both EGS-afflicted and control cases.
Key Findings
From 2,311 proteins found in the CCG extracts, 320 showed a 20% increase and 186 exhibited a more than 20% decrease relative to control cases.
A previously unknown dysregulation was discovered in proteins typically associated with protein misfolding and aggregation responses, commonly seen in various human neurodegenerative conditions. This involves amyloid precursor protein (APP), microtubule-associated protein (Tau), and multiple components of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS).
Proteins with differential expressions pertinent to in silico pathway analysis primarily clustered into biofunctions such as neurological diseases, skeletal and muscular disorders, cellular assembly and organization, cell-to-cell signaling and interaction (considering molecules like epinephrine and dopamine, and adrenergic signaling and receptor function), and small molecule biochemistry.
Significance and Implications
The study might represent the molecular pathways that cause EGS-induced neurodegeneration but also suggests molecular conservation—including the previously undetected dysregulation of UPS and APP—across a variety of conditions from large animals to small animal models with altered neuronal vulnerability, to human neurological conditions.
Crucially, the research underscores the viability and advantages of applying modern proteomic techniques to veterinary inquiries into neurodegenerative processes in diseases affecting large animals.
Cite This Article
APA
McGorum BC, Pirie RS, Eaton SL, Keen JA, Cumyn EM, Arnott DM, Chen W, Lamont DJ, Graham LC, Llavero Hurtado M, Pemberton A, Wishart TM.
(2015).
Proteomic Profiling of Cranial (Superior) Cervical Ganglia Reveals Beta-Amyloid and Ubiquitin Proteasome System Perturbations in an Equine Multiple System Neuropathy.
Mol Cell Proteomics, 14(11), 3072-3086.
https://doi.org/10.1074/mcp.M115.054635
From the Veterinary Clinical Sciences and bruce.mcgorum@ed.ac.uk T.M.Wishart@ed.ac.uk.
Pirie, R Scott
From the Veterinary Clinical Sciences and.
Eaton, Samantha L
§Division of Neurobiology, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK;
Keen, John A
From the Veterinary Clinical Sciences and.
Cumyn, Elizabeth M
§Division of Neurobiology, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK;
Arnott, Danielle M
§Division of Neurobiology, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK;
Chen, Wenzhang
FingerPrints: Proteomics Facility, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK;
Lamont, Douglas J
FingerPrints: Proteomics Facility, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK;
Graham, Laura C
§Division of Neurobiology, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK;
Llavero Hurtado, Maica
§Division of Neurobiology, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK;
Pemberton, Alan
From the Veterinary Clinical Sciences and.
Wishart, Thomas M
§Division of Neurobiology, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK bruce.mcgorum@ed.ac.uk T.M.Wishart@ed.ac.uk.
MeSH Terms
Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism
Animals
Female
Ganglia, Sensory / chemistry
Ganglia, Sensory / metabolism
Ganglia, Sensory / pathology
Gene Expression Profiling
Gene Expression Regulation
Gene Ontology
Horse Diseases / diagnosis
Horse Diseases / genetics
Horse Diseases / metabolism
Horse Diseases / pathology
Horses
Male
Molecular Sequence Annotation
Neurodegenerative Diseases / diagnosis
Neurodegenerative Diseases / genetics
Neurodegenerative Diseases / metabolism
Neurodegenerative Diseases / pathology
Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
Proteomics
Proteostasis Deficiencies / diagnosis
Proteostasis Deficiencies / genetics
Proteostasis Deficiencies / metabolism
Proteostasis Deficiencies / pathology
Ubiquitin / genetics
Ubiquitin / metabolism
tau Proteins / genetics
tau Proteins / metabolism
Grant Funding
097945 / Wellcome Trust
BBS/E/D/20251969 / Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
MR/M010341/1 / Medical Research Council
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