FUS-mediated regulation of acetylcholine receptor transcription at neuromuscular junctions is compromised in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Nat Neurosci. 2019 Nov;22(11):1793-1805. doi: 10.1038/s41593-019-0498-9. Epub 2019 Oct 7.

Abstract

Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) disruption is an early pathogenic event in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Yet, direct links between NMJ pathways and ALS-associated genes such as FUS, whose heterozygous mutations cause aggressive forms of ALS, remain elusive. In a knock-in Fus-ALS mouse model, we identified postsynaptic NMJ defects in newborn homozygous mutants that were attributable to mutant FUS toxicity in skeletal muscle. Adult heterozygous knock-in mice displayed smaller neuromuscular endplates that denervated before motor neuron loss, which is consistent with 'dying-back' neuronopathy. FUS was enriched in subsynaptic myonuclei, and this innervation-dependent enrichment was distorted in FUS-ALS. Mechanistically, FUS collaborates with the ETS transcription factor ERM to stimulate transcription of acetylcholine receptor genes. Co-cultures of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons and myotubes from patients with FUS-ALS revealed endplate maturation defects due to intrinsic FUS toxicity in both motor neurons and myotubes. Thus, FUS regulates acetylcholine receptor gene expression in subsynaptic myonuclei, and muscle-intrinsic toxicity of ALS mutant FUS may contribute to dying-back motor neuronopathy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / pathology
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / physiopathology*
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Gene Knock-In Techniques
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Motor Neurons / pathology
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / pathology
  • Nerve Degeneration / physiopathology*
  • Neuromuscular Junction / metabolism*
  • Neuromuscular Junction / pathology
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS / physiology*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • FUS protein, mouse
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS
  • Receptors, Cholinergic