Modulation of histone H3K4 dimethylation by spermidine ameliorates motor neuron survival and neuropathology in a mouse model of ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive paralysis due to motor neuron degeneration. It has been proposed that epigenetic modification and transcriptional dysregulation may contribute to motor neuron death. In this study, we investigate the basis for therapeutic approaches to target lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 (LSD1) and elucidate the mechanistic role of LSD1-histone H3K4 signaling pathway in ALS pathogenesis. Cellular and animal models of ALS were treated by spermidine (SD), then we performed neuropathological, body weight and survival evaluation in order to examine the role of SD in mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (mSOD1) (G93A) ALS mice. Herein, we found that dimethylated histone H3K4 (H3K4me2) levels are decreased in cellular and animal models of ALS, and correlated with motor neuronal dysfunction in ALS (G93A) mice. SD administration modulated the LSD1 activity and restored H3K4me2 levels in ChAT-positive motor neurons in the lumbar spinal cord of ALS mice. SD prevented cellular damage by improving the number and size of motor neurons in ALS mice. SD administration also reduced GFAP-positive astrogliogenesis in the white and gray matter of the lumbar spinal cord, improving the neuropathology of ALS mice. Moreover, SD administration delayed disease onset and prolonged the lifespan of ALS (G93A) transgenic mice. Together, modulating epigenetic targets such as LSD1 by small compounds may be a useful therapeutic strategy for treating ALS. Gene expression profiling analysis of RNA-seq data for G93A mice treated by spermidine. >>>Submitter states that the raw data could not be located<<<