Investigating ion dyshomeostasis in Niemann-Pick disease type C, both in vitro and in vivo

Maguire, Emily 2017. Investigating ion dyshomeostasis in Niemann-Pick disease type C, both in vitro and in vivo. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This thesis investigated ion dyshomeostasis within Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC), a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease. Chapter 3 characterizes newly discovered lysosomal Zn2+ storage in NPC, and identifies a novel function for the NPC1 protein as a lysosomal Zn2+ transporter. Zn2+ accumulation appears responsible for some lipid storage within NPC, and treating cells with the Zn2+ chelator phytic acid corrects downstream NPC phenotypes. Chapter 4 investigates Ca2+-modulating therapies for treating NPC. These include tanganil, demonstrated in a recent case study to ameliorate ataxia within NPC patients, and which works by increasing cytosolic Ca2+ to overcome the NPC lysosomal Ca2+ signaling defect. The importance of this Ca2+ signaling defect in NPC can be seen both in the aforementioned beneficial effects of Ca2+ modulating therapies and when looking at NPC-like lipid storage and reduced neuronal Ca2+ spikes observed following treatment of zebrafish with an inhibitor of lysosomal Ca2+ signaling, Ned-19 (Chapter 5). In addition, Chapter 5 describes the generation and characterization of NPC zebrafish treated with inhibitors of npc1 (U18666A, 1NMP) and microinjected with npc1-morpholino. These models accurately recapitulate human NPC phenotypes (characteristic lipid storage, behavioural defects) and can be used to test emerging NPC therapies in vivo (e.g. phytic acid, tanganil). Finally, Chapter 6 explores how different formulations of curcumin, which correct NPC phenotypes both in vitro and in vivo via Ca2+ modulation, have reduced effect and can exacerbate storage in cells when combined with lipid vectors. Having described studies into both Ca2+ and Zn2+ dyshomeostasis in NPC, a new 2-armed pathogenic cascade was hypothesized whereby early dyshomeostasis of lysosomal Ca2+ and Zn2+ generates all downstream NPC phenotypes. Combination therapies with Ca2+ modulators (e.g. tanganil) and Zn2+ chelators (e.g. phytic acid) may provide the best option to treat this complex disease, and require testing both in vitro and in vivo.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Biosciences
Funders:	Niemann-Pick Research Foundation (NPRF)
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	11 May 2018
Last Modified:	15 Jun 2021 13:55
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/111382

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