Knockdown of GADD34 in neonatal mutant SOD1 mice ameliorates ALS

Mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause ~20% of familial ALS (FALS), which comprises 10% of total ALS cases. In mutant SOD1- (mtSOD1-) induced ALS, misfolded aggregates of SOD1 lead to activation of the unfolded protein response/integrated stress response (UPR/ISR). Protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), a kinase that phosphorylates eukaryotic translation initiator factor 2α (p-eIF2α), coordinates the response by causing a global suppression of protein synthesis. Growth arrest and DNA damage 34 (GADD34) dephosphorylates p-eIF2α, allowing protein synthesis to return to normal. If the UPR/ISR is overwhelmed by the amount of misfolded protein, CCAAT/enhancer-binding homologous protein (CHOP) is activated leading to apoptosis. In the current study we investigated the effect of knocking down CHOP and GADD34 on disease of G93A and G85R mtSOD1 mice. Although a CHOP antisense oligonucleotide had no effect on survival, an intravenous injection of GADD34 shRNA encoded in adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) into neonatal G93A as well as neonatal G85R mtSOD1 mice led to a significantly increased survival. G85R mtSOD1 mice had a reduction in SOD1 aggregates/load, astrocytosis, and microgliosis. In contrast, there was no change in disease phenotype when GADD34 shRNA was delivered to older G93A mtSOD1 mice. Our current study shows that GADD34 shRNA is effective in ameliorating disease when administered to neonatal mtSOD1 mice. Targeting the UPR/ISR may be beneficial in mtSOD1-induced ALS as well as other neurodegenerative diseases in which misfolded proteins and ER stress have been implicated.