Unfolded protein response activation inC9orf72frontotemporal dementia is associated with dipeptide pathology and granulovacuolar degeneration in granule cells

A repeat expansion in theC9orf72gene is the most prevalent genetic cause of frontotemporal dementia (C9-FTD). Several studies have indicated the involvement of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in C9-FTD. In human neuropathology, UPR markers are strongly associated with granulovacuolar degeneration (GVD). In this study, we aim to assess the presence of UPR markers together with the presence of dipeptide pathology and GVD in post mortem brain tissue from C9-FTD cases and neurologically healthy controls. Using immunohistochemistry we assessed the presence of phosphorylated PERK, IRE1 alpha and eIF2 alpha in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum of C9-FTD (n = 18) and control (n = 9) cases. The presence of UPR activation markers was compared with the occurrence of pTDP-43, p62 and dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins (poly(GA), -(GR) & -(GP)) as well as casein kinase 1 delta (CK1 delta), a marker for GVD. Increased presence of UPR markers was observed in the hippocampus and cerebellum in C9-FTD compared to control cases. In the hippocampus, overall levels of pPERK and peIF2 alpha were higher in C9-FTD, including in granule cells of the dentate gyrus (DG). UPR markers were also observed in granule cells of the cerebellum in C9-FTD. In addition, increased levels of CK1 delta were observed in granule cells in the DG of the hippocampus and granular layer of the cerebellum in C9-FTD. Double-labelling experiments indicate a strong association between UPR markers and the presence of dipeptide pathology as well as GVD. We conclude that UPR markers are increased in C9-FTD and that their presence is associated with dipeptide pathology and GVD. Increased presence of UPR markers and CK1 delta in granule cells in the cerebellum and hippocampus could be a unique feature of C9-FTD.

Automated summary

The study found increased presence of UPR markers in the hippocampus and cerebellum in C9-FTD patients, which were closely associated with the presence of dipeptide pathology and GVD. Higher levels of pPERK and peIF2α markers were observed in specific regions.