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Mol. Neurodegener., May 20 2025, 20 (1) | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-025-00848-7
Mutations in NEK1 cause ciliary dysfunction as a novel pathogenic mechanism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Min‑Young Noh1†, Seong‑il Oh2†, Young‑Eun Kim3†, Sun Joo Cha4, Wonjae Sung1, Ki‑Wook Oh1, Yurim Park5,6, Ji Young Mun5, Chang‑Seok Ki7, Minyeop Nahm4* and Seung Hyun Kim1,8*
1Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni‑ro, Seongdong‑gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
2Department of Neurology, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
3Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
4Dementia Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
5Neural Circuit Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
6Department of Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
7Green Cross Genome Corporation, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
8Cell Therapy Center, Hanyang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
†Min-Young Noh, Seong-il Oh and Young-Eun Kim contributed equally to this work.
*Correspondence: Minyeop Nahm, Seung Hyun Kim
1Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, 222, Wangsimni‑ro, Seongdong‑gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
2Department of Neurology, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
3Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
4Dementia Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
5Neural Circuit Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
6Department of Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
7Green Cross Genome Corporation, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
8Cell Therapy Center, Hanyang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
†Min-Young Noh, Seong-il Oh and Young-Eun Kim contributed equally to this work.
*Correspondence: Minyeop Nahm, Seung Hyun Kim
Abstract
Background: Neuronal primary cilia, vital for signaling and cell-cycle regulation, have been implicated in maintaining neuronal identity. While a link between primary ciliary defects and neurodegenerative diseases is emerging, the precise pathological mechanisms remain unclear.
Methods: We studied the genetic contribution of NEK1 to ALS pathogenesis by analyzing the exome sequences of 920 Korean patients with ALS. To understand the disease contribution of NEK1 variants in ALS, we performed a series of functional studies using patient fibroblasts focusing on primary cilia and microtubule-related phenotypes. In addition, these findings were validated in iPSC-derived motor neurons (iPSC-MNs).
Results: NIMA-related kinase 1 (NEK1), a gene encoding a serine/threonine kinase involved in cell cycle regulation, has been identified as a risk gene for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we report that mutations in NEK1 cause primary ciliary abnormality, cell cycle re-entry, and disrupted tubulin acetylation in ALS. We analyzed the whole-exome sequences of 920 Korean patients with sporadic ALS and identified 16 NEK1 variants in 23 patients. We found that two novel variants, p.E853Rfs*9 and p.M1?, reduced NEK1 expression, resulting in loss-of-function (LOF) and one synonymous splicing variant (p.Q132=) exhibited an aberrant isoform lacking exon 5. All three NEK1 variants exhibited abnormal primary ciliary structure, impaired sonic hedgehog signaling, and altered cell-cycle progression. Furthermore, the ALS-linked variants induced intracellular calcium overload followed by Aurora kinase A (AurA)-histone deacetylase (HDAC)6 activation, resulting in ciliary disassembly. These defects were restored by treatment with the intracellular Ca2+ chelator, BAPTA. We also found that NEK1 variants cause decreased α-tubulin acetylation, mitochondrial alteration, and impaired DNA damage response (DDR). Notably, drug treatment to inhibit HDAC6 restored the NEK1-dependent deficits in patient fibroblasts. And, we confirmed that data found in patient fibroblasts were reproduced in iPSC-MNs model.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that NEK1 contributes to ALS pathogenesis through the LOF mechanism, and HDAC6 inhibition provides an attractive therapeutic strategy for NEK1 variants associated ALS treatment.
Methods: We studied the genetic contribution of NEK1 to ALS pathogenesis by analyzing the exome sequences of 920 Korean patients with ALS. To understand the disease contribution of NEK1 variants in ALS, we performed a series of functional studies using patient fibroblasts focusing on primary cilia and microtubule-related phenotypes. In addition, these findings were validated in iPSC-derived motor neurons (iPSC-MNs).
Results: NIMA-related kinase 1 (NEK1), a gene encoding a serine/threonine kinase involved in cell cycle regulation, has been identified as a risk gene for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we report that mutations in NEK1 cause primary ciliary abnormality, cell cycle re-entry, and disrupted tubulin acetylation in ALS. We analyzed the whole-exome sequences of 920 Korean patients with sporadic ALS and identified 16 NEK1 variants in 23 patients. We found that two novel variants, p.E853Rfs*9 and p.M1?, reduced NEK1 expression, resulting in loss-of-function (LOF) and one synonymous splicing variant (p.Q132=) exhibited an aberrant isoform lacking exon 5. All three NEK1 variants exhibited abnormal primary ciliary structure, impaired sonic hedgehog signaling, and altered cell-cycle progression. Furthermore, the ALS-linked variants induced intracellular calcium overload followed by Aurora kinase A (AurA)-histone deacetylase (HDAC)6 activation, resulting in ciliary disassembly. These defects were restored by treatment with the intracellular Ca2+ chelator, BAPTA. We also found that NEK1 variants cause decreased α-tubulin acetylation, mitochondrial alteration, and impaired DNA damage response (DDR). Notably, drug treatment to inhibit HDAC6 restored the NEK1-dependent deficits in patient fibroblasts. And, we confirmed that data found in patient fibroblasts were reproduced in iPSC-MNs model.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that NEK1 contributes to ALS pathogenesis through the LOF mechanism, and HDAC6 inhibition provides an attractive therapeutic strategy for NEK1 variants associated ALS treatment.
논문정보
- Research article
- 2025년 05월 (BRIC 등록일 2025-05-20)
- 국내 연구진
- 의약학 > 신경의학
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