Knockdown of transactive response DNA-binding protein TDP-43 downregulates histone deacetylase 6

TDP-43 is an RNA/DNA-binding protein implicated in transcriptional repression and mRNA processing. Inclusions of TDP-43 are hallmarks of frontotemporal dementias and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Besides aggregation of TDP-43, loss of nuclear localization is observed in disease. To identify relevant targets of TDP-43, we performed an expression profiling study. Thereby, histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) downregulation was discovered upon TDP-43 silencing on mRNA and protein level in human embryonic kidney HEK293E and neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. This was accompanied by accumulation of the major HDAC6 substrate, acetyl-tubulin. Expression of wild-type but neither RNA-binding- nor nuclear-localization-deficient TDP-43 restored HDAC6 expression. Moreover, TDP-43 bound specifically to HDAC6 mRNA arguing for a direct functional interaction. Importantly, in vivo validation in TDP-43 knockout Drosophila melanogaster also showed HDAC6 mRNA decrease. HDAC6 is necessary for protein aggregate formation and degradation. Indeed, downregulation of HDAC6 reduced aggregate formation and increased cytotoxicity of expanded poly-glutamine ataxin-3 in TDP-43 silenced cells. This was completely restored by co-transfection with HDAC6. In conclusion, loss of functional TDP-43 causes HDAC6 downregulation and might thereby contribute to pathogenesis.

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Fiesel FC, Voigt A, Weber SS, Van den Haute C, Waldenmaier A, Görner K, Walter M, Anderson ML, Kern JV, Rasse TM, Schmidt T, Springer W, Kirchner R, Bonin M, Neumann M, Baekelandt V, Alunni-Fabbroni M, Schulz JB, Kahle PJ