Open AccessNiacin‐mediated Tace activation ameliorates CMT neuropathies with focal hypermyelination
Author(s) -
Bolino Alessandra,
Piguet Françoise,
Alberizzi Valeria,
Pellegatta Marta,
Rivellini Cristina,
GuerreroValero Marta,
Noseda Roberta,
Brombin Chiara,
is Alessandro,
D'Adamo Patrizia,
Taveggia Carla,
Previtali Stefano Carlo
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
embo molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.923
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1757-4684
pISSN - 1757-4676
DOI - 10.15252/emmm.201606349
Subject(s) - cancer research , neuregulin , protein kinase b , neuregulin 1 , chemistry , pharmacology , medicine , signal transduction , neuroscience , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry
Charcot–Marie–Tooth ( CMT ) neuropathies are highly heterogeneous disorders caused by mutations in more than 70 genes, with no available treatment. Thus, it is difficult to envisage a single suitable treatment for all pathogenetic mechanisms. Axonal Neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) type III drives Schwann cell myelination and determines myelin thickness by ErbB2/B3‐ PI 3K–Akt signaling pathway activation. Nrg1 type III is inhibited by the α‐secretase Tace, which negatively regulates PNS myelination. We hypothesized that modulation of Nrg1 levels and/or secretase activity may constitute a unifying treatment strategy for CMT neuropathies with focal hypermyelination as it could restore normal levels of myelination. Here we show that in vivo delivery of Niaspan, a FDA ‐approved drug known to enhance TACE activity, efficiently rescues myelination in the Mtmr2 −/− mouse, a model of CMT 4B1 with myelin outfoldings, and in the Pmp22 +/− mouse, which reproduces HNPP (hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies) with tomacula. Importantly, we also found that Niaspan reduces hypermyelination of Vim (vimentin) −/− mice, characterized by increased Nrg1 type III and Akt activation, thus corroborating the hypothesis that Niaspan treatment downregulates Nrg1 type III signaling.