👤 Alessandra A Calvi

Retinal degeneration and visual impairment are the first signs of juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis caused by CLN3 mutations, followed by inevitable progression to blindness. We investigated retinal degeneration in Cln3(Δex1-6) null mice, revealing classic 'fingerprint' lysosomal storage in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), replicating the human disease. The lysosomes contain mitochondrial F0-ATP synthase subunit c along with undigested membranes, indicating a reduced degradative capacity. Mature autophagosomes and basal phagolysosomes, the terminal degradative compartments of autophagy and phagocytosis, are also increased in Cln3(Δex1) (-6) RPE, reflecting disruption to these key pathways that underpin the daily phagocytic turnover of photoreceptor outer segments (POS) required for maintenance of vision. The accumulated autophagosomes have post-lysosome fusion morphology, with undigested internal contents visible, while accumulated phagosomes are frequently docked to cathepsin D-positive lysosomes, without mixing of phagosomal and lysosomal contents. This suggests lysosome-processing defects affect both autophagy and phagocytosis, supported by evidence that phagosomes induced in Cln3(Δex1) (-) (6)-derived mouse embryonic fibroblasts have visibly disorganized membranes, unprocessed internal vesicles and membrane contents, in addition to reduced LAMP1 membrane recruitment. We propose that defective lysosomes in Cln3(Δex1) (-) (6) RPE have a reduced degradative capacity that impairs the final steps of the intimately connected autophagic and phagocytic pathways that are responsible for degradation of POS. A build-up of degradative organellar by-products and decreased recycling of cellular materials is likely to disrupt processes vital to maintenance of vision by the RPE. Show less

The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs, Batten disease) are a group of inherited childhood-onset neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the lysosomal accumulation of undigested material within cells. To understand this dysfunction, we analysed trafficking of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CI-MPR), which delivers the digestive enzymes to lysosomes. A common form of NCL is caused by mutations in CLN3, a multipass transmembrane protein of unknown function. We report that ablation of CLN3 causes accumulation of CI-MPR in the trans Golgi network, reflecting a 50% reduction in exit. This CI-MPR trafficking defect is accompanied by a fall in maturation and cellular activity of lysosomal cathepsins. CLN3 is therefore essential for trafficking along the route needed for delivery of lysosomal enzymes, and its loss thereby contributes to and may explain the lysosomal dysfunction underlying Batten disease. Show less