Stathmin, a microtubule-destabilizing protein, is dysregulated in spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a motor neuron degeneration disorder, is caused by either mutations or deletions of survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene which result in insufficient SMN protein. Here, we describe a potential link between stathmin and microtubule defects in SMA. Stathmin was identified by screening Smn-knockdown NSC34 cells through proteomics analysis. We found that stathmin was aberrantly upregulated in vitro and in vivo, leading to a decreased level of polymerized tubulin, which was correlated with disease severity. Reduced microtubule densities and beta(III)-tubulin levels in distal axons of affected SMA-like mice and an impaired microtubule network in Smn-deficient cells were observed, suggesting an involvement of stathmin in those microtubule defects. Furthermore, knockdown of stathmin restored the microtubule network defects of Smn-deficient cells, promoted axon outgrowth and reduced the defect in mitochondria transport in SMA-like motor neurons. We conclude that aberrant stathmin levels may play a detrimental role in SMA; this finding suggests a novel approach to treating SMA by enhancing microtubule stability.