Depletion of WFS1 compromises mitochondrial function in hiPSC-derived neuronal models of Wolfram syndrome

Malgorzata Zatyka, Tatiana R Rosenstock, Congxin Sun, Adina M Palhegyi, Georgina W Hughes, Samuel Lara-Reyna, Dewi Astuti, Alessandro di Maio, Axel Sciauvaud, Miriam E Korsgen, Vesna Stanulovic, Gamze Kocak, Malgorzata Rak, Sandra Pourtoy-Brasselet, Katherine Winter, Thiago Varga, Margot Jarrige, Hélène Polvèche, Joao Correia, Eva-Maria FrickelMaarten Hoogenkamp, Douglas G Ward, Laetitia Aubry, Timothy Barrett, Sovan Sarkar*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Mitochondrial dysfunction involving mitochondria-associated ER membrane (MAM) dysregulation is implicated in the pathogenesis of late-onset neurodegenerative diseases, but understanding is limited for rare early-onset conditions. Loss of the MAM-resident protein WFS1 causes Wolfram syndrome (WS), a rare early-onset neurodegenerative disease that has been linked to mitochondrial abnormalities. Here we demonstrate mitochondrial dysfunction in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal cells of WS patients. VDAC1 is identified to interact with WFS1, whereas loss of this interaction in WS cells could compromise mitochondrial function. Restoring WFS1 levels in WS cells reinstates WFS1-VDAC1 interaction, which correlates with an increase in MAMs and mitochondrial network that could positively affect mitochondrial function. Genetic rescue by WFS1 overexpression or pharmacological agents modulating mitochondrial function improves the viability and bioenergetics of WS neurons. Our data implicate a role of WFS1 in regulating mitochondrial functionality and highlight a therapeutic intervention for WS and related rare diseases with mitochondrial defects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1090-1106
Number of pages17
JournalStem Cell Reports
Volume18
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 9 May 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by LifeArc Philanthropic Fund (P2019-0004), LifeArc Pathfinder Award, along with Wellcome Trust Seed Award (109626/Z/15/Z), Wellcome Trust ISSF (1516ISSFFEL10), UKIERI DST Thematic Partnership Award (2016-17-0087), and Birmingham Fellowship to S.S. University of Birmingham (UoB) Brazil Visiting Fellowship, FAPESP-UoB Strategic Collaboration Fund, and Rutherford Fellowship to S.S. and T.R.R. BBSRC and UoB-funded MIBTP Studentship (BB/T00746X/1) to M.E.K. and S.S. FAPESP grant (2015/02041-1) to T.R.R. Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship (217202/Z/19/Z) to E.M.F. Agence Nationale de la Recherche: Labex REVIVE (ANR-10-LABX-73) to L.A. and MRC DPFS (MR/P007732/1) to T.B. We thank New York Stem Cell Foundation for providing WS1 and WS2 hiPSC lines, R. Jaenisch for providing WIBR3 hESC line, J. Barlow and UoB Mitochondrial Profiling Center for technical support and the use of Seahorse facility, and M. Coleman for the use of microplate reader. T.R.R. is also a Volunteer Professor at University of São Paulo, Brazil. T.B. is an NIHR Senior Investigator. S.S. is also Former Fellow for life at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, UK. The authors declare no competing interests.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)

Keywords

  • Wolfram syndrome
  • WFS1
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction
  • Mitochondrial membrane potential
  • VDAC1
  • Mitochondria-associated ER membrane
  • Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons
  • Neurodegeneration
  • Cyclosporin A
  • MnTBAP

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Depletion of WFS1 compromises mitochondrial function in hiPSC-derived neuronal models of Wolfram syndrome'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this