RNA binding proteins (RBPs) play a key role in cellular growth, homoeostasis and survival and are tightly regulated. A deep understanding of their spatiotemporal regulation is needed to understand their contribution to physiology and pathology. Here, we have characterized the spatiotemporal expression pattern of hnRNP A1 and its splice variant hnRNP A1B in mice. We have found that hnRNP A1B expression is more restricted to the CNS compared to hnRNP A1, and that it can form an SDS-resistant dimer in the CNS. Also, hnRNP A1B expression becomes progressively restricted to motor neurons in the ventral horn of the spinal cord, compared to hnRNP A1 which is more broadly expressed. We also demonstrate that hnRNP A1B is present in neuronal processes, while hnRNP A1 is absent. This finding supports a hypothesis that hnRNP A1B may have a cytosolic function in neurons that is not shared with hnRNP A1. Our results demonstrate that both isoforms are differentially expressed across tissues and have distinct localization profiles, suggesting that the two isoforms may have specific subcellular functions that can uniquely contribute to disease progression.
Loss-of-function GRN mutations result in progranulin haploinsufficiency and are a common cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are emerging as a promising therapeutic modality for neurological diseases, but ASO-based strategies for increasing target protein levels are still relatively limited. Here, we report the use of ASOs to increase progranulin protein levels by targeting the miR-29b binding site in the 3′ UTR of the GRN mRNA, resulting in increased translation.
Heterozygous GRN mutations cause frontotemporal dementia (FTD) due to haploinsufficiency of progranulin. The microRNA, miR-29b, negatively regulates progranulin protein levels. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are emerging as a promising therapeutic modality for neurological diseases, but strategies for increasing target protein levels are limited. Here, we tested if ASOs can increase progranulin levels by sterically blocking the miR-29b binding site in the 3' UTR of the human GRN mRNA. We found 16 ASOs that increase progranulin protein levels in a dose-dependent manner in neuroglioma cells. A subset of these ASOs also increased progranulin levels in iPSC-derived neurons and in a humanized GRN mouse model. While the ASOs did not increase GRN mRNA levels, polysome profiling experiments revealed that the ASOs increase progranulin translation. Consistent with this, ASO treatment increased levels of newly synthesized progranulin protein. In FRET-based assays, the ASOs effectively competed miR-29b from binding to the GRN 3' UTR RNA. Together, these studies establish the mechanism of action is that these ASOs displace miR-29b from its binding site and thereby de-repress translation, resulting in increased synthesis of progranulin protein. Our results demonstrate that ASOs can be used to effectively increase target protein levels by partially blocking miR binding sites; this ASO strategy may be therapeutically feasible for progranulin-deficient FTD as well as other conditions of haploinsufficiency.
Background GRN mutations cause frontotemporal dementia (FTD) due to haploinsufficiency of progranulin. Several microRNAs (miRs), including miR‐29b, have been reported to negatively regulate progranulin protein levels. Here, we tested if antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) – which are versatile modulators of target mRNA/protein levels – can be used to increase progranulin levels by sterically blocking the miR‐29b binding site.MethodWe designed 48 ASOs targeting the miR‐29b binding site in the 3’ UTR of the human GRN mRNA. We treated H4 neuroglioma cells and iPSC‐derived neurons with these ASOs and subsequently measured progranulin protein levels by western blot and ELISA. We performed further studies to determine the mechanism of action of these ASOs using ribosomal profiling, metabolic labeling, and FRET assays.ResultsWe identified 16 ASOs that increased progranulin protein levels in a dose‐dependent manner. Ribosomal profiling experiments revealed that cells treated with ASOs had marked enrichment in GRN mRNA in heavy polyribosome fractions, compared to cells treated with a scrambled control ASO, suggesting that the ASOs increase the rate of progranulin translation. Consistent with this, ASO treatment resulted in increased levels of newly synthesized progranulin protein. FRET‐based assays showed that ASOs can effectively compete miR‐29b from its binding site in the GRN 3’ UTR RNA under in vitro conditions.ConclusionsTogether, our results demonstrate that ASOs can be used to effectively increase target protein levels by partially blocking miR binding sites. This strategy may be therapeutically feasible for progranulin‐deficient FTD as well as other conditions of haploinsufficiency.
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