> Publications > MCT1-dependent energetic failure and neuroinflammation underlie optic nerve degeneration in Wolfram syndrome mice

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Publication

April 17, 2024 • ✎ STRIA TECH

MCT1-dependent energetic failure and neuroinflammation underlie optic nerve degeneration in Wolfram syndrome mice

Topics:

Neuroinflammation

Optic Nerve Damage

Rare and Inherited CNS and Eye Disorders

Rare Disease

The Optic Nerve, its Neurons and Diseases

Publication

Elife (Jan 16, 2023) MCT1-dependent energetic failure and neuroinflammation underlie optic nerve degeneration in Wolfram syndrome mice

Rossi G, Ordazzo G, Vanni NN, Castoldi V, Iannielli A, Di Silvestre D, Bellini E, Bernardo L, Giannelli SG, Luoni M, Muggeo S, Leocani L, Mauri P, Broccoli V

DOI: 10.7554/eLife.81779 >>

Wolfram syndrome is a rare genetic disorder with mutations in the gene WFS1. The corresponding protein wolframin, a transmembrane protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum, is involved in multiple metabolic processes. Patients suffer from several complications, including diabetes from infancy and progressive complete vision loss. Here, Rossi et al concentrated on the retinal phenotype in a Wolfram syndrome mouse model, to describe the progression of the disease and the underlying mechanisms.

Wolfram syndrome 1 (WS1) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the WFS1 gene leading to a wide spectrum of clinical dysfunctions, among which blindness, diabetes, and neurological deficits are the most prominent. WFS1 encodes for the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident transmembrane protein wolframin with multiple functions in ER processes. However, the WFS1-dependent etiopathology in retinal cells is unknown. Herein, we showed that Wfs1 mutant mice developed early retinal electrophysiological impairments followed by marked visual loss. Interestingly, axons and myelin disruption in the optic nerve preceded the degeneration of the retinal ganglion cell bodies in the retina. Transcriptomics at pre-degenerative stage revealed the STAT3-dependent activation of proinflammatory glial markers with reduction of the homeostatic and pro-survival factors glutamine synthetase and BDNF. Furthermore, label-free comparative proteomics identified a significant reduction of the monocarboxylate transport isoform 1 (MCT1) and its partner basigin that are highly enriched on retinal glia and myelin-forming oligodendrocytes in optic nerve together with wolframin. Loss of MCT1 caused a failure in lactate transfer from glial to neuronal cell bodies and axons leading to a chronic hypometabolic state. Thus, this bioenergetic impairment is occurring concurrently both within the axonal regions and cell bodies of the retinal ganglion cells, selectively endangering their survival while impacting less on other retinal cells. This metabolic dysfunction occurs months before the frank RGC degeneration suggesting an extended time-window for intervening with new therapeutic strategies focused on boosting retinal and optic nerve bioenergetics in WS1.