Genetic and chemical activation of TFEB mediates clearance of aggregated α-synuclein

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 19;10(3):e0120819. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120819. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) is associated with the development of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). The formation of α-syn aggregates results from aberrant accumulation of misfolded α-syn and insufficient or impaired activity of the two main intracellular protein degradation systems, namely the ubiquitin-proteasome system and the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. In this study, we investigated the role of transcription factor EB (TFEB), a master regulator of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway, in preventing the accumulation of α-syn aggregates in human neuroglioma cells. We found that TFEB overexpression reduces the accumulation of aggregated α-syn by inducing autophagic clearance of α-syn. Furthermore, we showed that pharmacological activation of TFEB using 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin promotes autophagic clearance of aggregated α-syn. In summary, our findings demonstrate that TFEB modulates autophagic clearance of α-syn and suggest that pharmacological activation of TFEB is a promising strategy to enhance the degradation of α-syn aggregates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin
  • Autophagy / drug effects
  • Autophagy / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / deficiency
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Silencing
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes / drug effects
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Protein Aggregates / drug effects*
  • Protein Aggregates / genetics*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / genetics
  • alpha-Synuclein / chemistry*
  • alpha-Synuclein / metabolism*
  • beta-Cyclodextrins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • Protein Aggregates
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • TFEB protein, human
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • beta-Cyclodextrins
  • 2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin