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Rahimian S, Najafi H, Webber CA, Jalali H. Advances in Exosome-Based Therapies for the Repair of Peripheral Nerve Injuries. Neurochem Res 2024; 49:1905-1925. [PMID: 38807021 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-024-04157-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) are the term used to describe injuries that occur to the nerve fibers of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Such injuries may be caused by trauma, infection, or aberrant immunological response. Although the peripheral nervous system has a limited capacity for self-repair, in cases of severe damage, this process is either interrupted entirely or is only partially completed. The evaluation of variables that promote the repair of peripheral nerves has consistently been a focal point. Exosomes are a subtype of extracellular vesicles that originate from cellular sources and possess abundant proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, play a critical role in facilitating intercellular communication. Due to their modifiable composition, they possess exceptional capabilities as carriers for therapeutic compounds, including but not limited to mRNAs or microRNAs. Exosome-based therapies have gained significant attention in the treatment of several nervous system diseases due to their advantageous properties, such as low toxicity, high stability, and limited immune system activation. The objective of this review article is to provide an overview of exosome-based treatments that have been developed in recent years for a range of PNIs, including nerve trauma, diabetic neuropathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), glaucoma, and Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). It was concluded that exosomes could provide favorable results in the improvement of peripheral PNIs by facilitating the transfer of regenerative factors. The development of bioengineered exosome therapy for PNIs should be given more attention to enhance the efficacy of exosome treatment for PNIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Rahimian
- Division of Nanobiotehnology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Najafi
- Division of Nanobiotehnology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Christine A Webber
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Hanieh Jalali
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, No. 43, South Moffateh Ave, Tehran, 15719-14911, Iran.
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Christidi F, Kleinerova J, Tan EL, Delaney S, Tacheva A, Hengeveld JC, Doherty MA, McLaughlin RL, Hardiman O, Siah WF, Chang KM, Lope J, Bede P. Limbic Network and Papez Circuit Involvement in ALS: Imaging and Clinical Profiles in GGGGCC Hexanucleotide Carriers in C9orf72 and C9orf72-Negative Patients. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:504. [PMID: 39056697 PMCID: PMC11273537 DOI: 10.3390/biology13070504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Background: While frontotemporal involvement is increasingly recognized in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the degeneration of limbic networks remains poorly characterized, despite growing evidence of amnestic deficits, impaired emotional processing and deficits in social cognition. Methods: A prospective neuroimaging study was conducted with 204 individuals with ALS and 111 healthy controls. Patients were stratified for hexanucleotide expansion status in C9orf72. A deep-learning-based segmentation approach was implemented to segment the nucleus accumbens, hypothalamus, fornix, mammillary body, basal forebrain and septal nuclei. The cortical, subcortical and white matter components of the Papez circuit were also systematically evaluated. Results: Hexanucleotide repeat expansion carriers exhibited bilateral amygdala, hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens atrophy, and C9orf72 negative patients showed bilateral basal forebrain volume reductions compared to controls. Both patient groups showed left rostral anterior cingulate atrophy, left entorhinal cortex thinning and cingulum and fornix alterations, irrespective of the genotype. Fornix, cingulum, posterior cingulate, nucleus accumbens, amygdala and hypothalamus degeneration was more marked in C9orf72-positive ALS patients. Conclusions: Our results highlighted that mesial temporal and parasagittal subcortical degeneration is not unique to C9orf72 carriers. Our radiological findings were consistent with neuropsychological observations and highlighted the importance of comprehensive neuropsychological testing in ALS, irrespective of the underlying genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foteini Christidi
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jana Kleinerova
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ee Ling Tan
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
| | - Siobhan Delaney
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Neurology, St James’s Hospital, D08 KC95 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Asya Tacheva
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Neurology, St James’s Hospital, D08 KC95 Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Mark A. Doherty
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Orla Hardiman
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
| | - We Fong Siah
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
| | - Kai Ming Chang
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jasmin Lope
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
| | - Peter Bede
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Neurology, St James’s Hospital, D08 KC95 Dublin, Ireland
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Dharmadasa T, Pavey N, Tu S, Menon P, Huynh W, Mahoney CJ, Timmins HC, Higashihara M, van den Bos M, Shibuya K, Kuwabara S, Grosskreutz J, Kiernan MC, Vucic S. Novel approaches to assessing upper motor neuron dysfunction in motor neuron disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: IFCN handbook chapter. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 163:68-89. [PMID: 38705104 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Identifying upper motor neuron (UMN) dysfunction is fundamental to the diagnosis and understanding of disease pathogenesis in motor neuron disease (MND). The clinical assessment of UMN dysfunction may be difficult, particularly in the setting of severe muscle weakness. From a physiological perspective, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) techniques provide objective biomarkers of UMN dysfunction in MND and may also be useful to interrogate cortical and network function. Single, paired- and triple pulse TMS techniques have yielded novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in MND, and have provided important pathogenic insights, particularly pertaining to site of disease onset. Cortical hyperexcitability, as heralded by reduced short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and increased short interval intracortical facilitation, has been associated with the onset of lower motor neuron degeneration, along with patterns of disease spread, development of specific clinical features such as the split hand phenomenon, and may provide an indication about the rate of disease progression. Additionally, reduction of SICI has emerged as a potential diagnostic aid in MND. The triple stimulation technique (TST) was shown to enhance the diagnostic utility of conventional TMS measures in detecting UMN dysfunction in MND. Separately, sophisticated brain imaging techniques have uncovered novel biomarkers of neurodegeneration that have bene associated with progression. The present review will discuss the utility of TMS and brain neuroimaging derived biomarkers of UMN dysfunction in MND, focusing on recently developed TMS techniques and advanced neuroimaging modalities that interrogate structural and functional integrity of the corticomotoneuronal system, with an emphasis on pathogenic, diagnostic, and prognostic utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanuja Dharmadasa
- Department of Neurology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital City Campus, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nathan Pavey
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sicong Tu
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Parvathi Menon
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - William Huynh
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Colin J Mahoney
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Hannah C Timmins
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Mana Higashihara
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mehdi van den Bos
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kazumoto Shibuya
- Neurology, Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kuwabara
- Neurology, Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Julian Grosskreutz
- Precision Neurology, Excellence Cluster Precision Medicine in Inflammation, University of Lübeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Steve Vucic
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
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Müller HP, Abrahao A, Beaulieu C, Benatar M, Dionne A, Genge A, Frayne R, Graham SJ, Gibson S, Korngut L, Luk C, Welsh RC, Zinman L, Kassubek J, Kalra S. Temporal and spatial progression of microstructural cerebral degeneration in ALS: A multicentre longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging study. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 43:103633. [PMID: 38889523 PMCID: PMC11231599 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The corticospinal tract (CST) reveals progressive microstructural alterations in ALS measurable by DTI. The aim of this study was to evaluate fractional anisotropy (FA) along the CST as a longitudinal marker of disease progression in ALS. METHODS The study cohort consisted of 114 patients with ALS and 110 healthy controls from the second prospective, longitudinal, multicentre study of the Canadian ALS Neuroimaging Consortium (CALSNIC-2). DTI and clinical data from a harmonized protocol across 7 centres were collected. Thirty-nine ALS patients and 61 controls completed baseline and two follow-up visits and were included for longitudinal analyses. Whole brain-based spatial statistics and hypothesis-guided tract-of-interest analyses were performed for cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. RESULTS FA was reduced at baseline and longitudinally in the CST, mid-corpus callosum (CC), frontal lobe, and other ALS-related tracts, with alterations most evident in the CST and mid-CC. CST and pontine FA correlated with functional impairment (ALSFRS-R), upper motor neuron function, and clinical disease progression rate. Reduction in FA was largely located in the upper CST; however, the longitudinal decline was greatest in the lower CST. Effect sizes were dependent on region, resulting in study group sizes between 17 and 31 per group over a 9-month interval. Cross-sectional effect sizes were maximal in the upper CST; whereas, longitudinal effect sizes were maximal in mid-callosal tracts. CONCLUSIONS Progressive microstructural alterations in ALS are most prominent in the CST and CC. DTI can provide a biomarker of cerebral degeneration in ALS, with longitudinal changes in white matter demonstrable over a reasonable observation period, with a feasible number of participants, and within a multicentre framework.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Agessandro Abrahao
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michael Benatar
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Annie Dionne
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Angela Genge
- Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Richard Frayne
- Departments of Radiology and Clinical Neuroscience, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Simon J Graham
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Summer Gibson
- Neuromuscular Medicine Division, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Lawrence Korngut
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Collin Luk
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Divison of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Robert C Welsh
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jan Kassubek
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; German Centre of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Sanjay Kalra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Divison of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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Oliveira NAS, Pinho BR, Pinto J, Guedes de Pinho P, Oliveira JMA. Edaravone counteracts redox and metabolic disruptions in an emerging zebrafish model of sporadic ALS. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 217:126-140. [PMID: 38531462 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease in which the death of motor neurons leads to loss of muscle function. Additionally, cognitive and circadian disruptions are common in ALS patients, contributing to disease progression and burden. Most ALS cases are sporadic, and environmental exposures contribute to their aetiology. However, animal models of these sporadic ALS cases are scarce. The small vertebrate zebrafish is a leading organism to model neurodegenerative diseases; previous studies have proposed bisphenol A (BPA) or β-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) exposure to model sporadic ALS in zebrafish, damaging motor neurons and altering motor responses. Here we characterise the face and predictive validity of sporadic ALS models, showing their potential for the mechanistic study of ALS drugs. We phenotypically characterise the BPA and BMAA-induced models, going beyond motor activity and motor axon morphology, to include circadian, redox, proteostasis, and metabolomic phenotypes, and assessing their predictive validity for ALS modelling. BPA or BMAA exposure induced concentration-dependent activity impairments. Also, exposure to BPA but not BMAA induced motor axonopathy and circadian alterations in zebrafish larvae. Our further study of the BPA model revealed loss of habituation to repetitive startles, increased oxidative damage, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and metabolome abnormalities. The BPA-induced model shows predictive validity, since the approved ALS drug edaravone counteracted BPA-induced motor phenotypes, ER stress, and metabolic disruptions. Overall, BPA exposure is a promising model of ALS-related redox and ER imbalances, contributing to fulfil an unmet need for validated sporadic ALS models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno A S Oliveira
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Mitochondria and Neurobiology Lab, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Brígida R Pinho
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Mitochondria and Neurobiology Lab, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Pinto
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Guedes de Pinho
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jorge M A Oliveira
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Mitochondria and Neurobiology Lab, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
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Andrés-Benito P, Vázquez-Costa JF, Ñungo Garzón NC, Colomina MJ, Marco C, González L, Terrafeta C, Domínguez R, Ferrer I, Povedano M. Neurodegeneration Biomarkers in Adult Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Patients Treated with Nusinersen. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3810. [PMID: 38612621 PMCID: PMC11011665 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study is to evaluate biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders in adult SMA patients and their potential for monitoring the response to nusinersen. Biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders were assessed in plasma and CSF samples obtained from a total of 30 healthy older adult controls and 31 patients with adult SMA type 2 and 3. The samples were collected before and during nusinersen treatment at various time points, approximately at 2, 6, 10, and 22 months. Using ELISA technology, the levels of total tau, pNF-H, NF-L, sAPPβ, Aβ40, Aβ42, and YKL-40 were evaluated in CSF samples. Additionally, plasma samples were used to measure NF-L and total tau levels using SIMOA technology. SMA patients showed improvements in clinical outcomes after nusinersen treatment, which were statistically significant only in walkers, in RULM (p = 0.04) and HFMSE (p = 0.05) at 24 months. A reduction in sAPPβ levels was found after nusinersen treatment, but these levels did not correlate with clinical outcomes. Other neurodegeneration biomarkers (NF-L, pNF-H, total tau, YKL-40, Aβ40, and Aβ42) were not found consistently changed with nusinersen treatment. The slow progression rate and mild treatment response of adult SMA types 2 and 3 may not lead to detectable changes in common markers of axonal degradation, inflammation, or neurodegeneration, since it does not involve large pools of damaged neurons as observed in pediatric forms. However, changes in biomarkers associated with the APP processing pathway might be linked to treatment administration. Further studies are warranted to better understand these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pol Andrés-Benito
- Neurologic Diseases and Neurogenetics Group, Institute of Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Francisco Vázquez-Costa
- Neuromuscular Unit and ERN-NMD Group, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe and IIS La Fe, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46021 Valencia, Spain
| | - Nancy Carolina Ñungo Garzón
- Neuromuscular Unit and ERN-NMD Group, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe and IIS La Fe, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - María J. Colomina
- Anesthesia and Critical Care Department, Bellvitge University Hospital-University of Barcelona, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carla Marco
- Functional Unit of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (UFELA), Department of Neurology, Bellvitge University Hospital, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura González
- Functional Unit of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (UFELA), Department of Neurology, Bellvitge University Hospital, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Terrafeta
- Functional Unit of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (UFELA), Department of Neurology, Bellvitge University Hospital, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raúl Domínguez
- Neurologic Diseases and Neurogenetics Group, Institute of Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- Functional Unit of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (UFELA), Department of Neurology, Bellvitge University Hospital, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- Neuropathology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mónica Povedano
- Neurologic Diseases and Neurogenetics Group, Institute of Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- Functional Unit of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (UFELA), Department of Neurology, Bellvitge University Hospital, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
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Ito M, Fujii N, Kohara S, Tanaka M, Takao M, Mihara B, Saito Y, Mizuma A, Nakayama T, Netsu S, Suzuki N, Kakita A, Nagata E. Elevation of inositol pyrophosphate IP 7 in the mammalian spinal cord of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Neurol 2024; 14:1334004. [PMID: 38274887 PMCID: PMC10808411 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1334004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder associated with progressive impairment of spinal motor neurons. Continuous research endeavor is underway to fully understand the molecular mechanisms associating with this disorder. Although several studies have implied the involvement of inositol pyrophosphate IP7 in ALS, there is no direct experimental evidence proving this notion. In this study, we analyzed inositol pyrophosphate IP7 and its precursor IP6 in the mouse and human ALS biological samples to directly assess whether IP7 level and/or its metabolism are altered in ALS disease state. Methods We used a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) protocol originally-designed for mammalian IP6 and IP7 analysis. We measured the abundance of these molecules in the central nervous system (CNS) of ALS mouse model SOD1(G93A) transgenic (TG) mice as well as postmortem spinal cord of ALS patients. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from ALS patients were also analyzed to assess if IP7 status in these biofluids is associated with ALS disease state. Results SOD1(G93A) TG mice showed significant increase of IP7 level in the spinal cord compared with control mice at the late stage of disease progression, while its level in cerebrum and cerebellum remains constant. We also observed significantly elevated IP7 level and its product-to-precursor ratio (IP7/IP6) in the postmortem spinal cord of ALS patients, suggesting enhanced enzymatic activity of IP7-synthesizing kinases in the human ALS spinal cord. In contrast, human CSF did not contain detectable level of IP6 and IP7, and neither the IP7 level nor the IP7/IP6 ratio in human PBMCs differentiated ALS patients from age-matched healthy individuals. Conclusion By directly analyzing IP7 in the CNS of ALS mice and humans, the findings of this study provide direct evidence that IP7 level and/or the enzymatic activity of IP7-generating kinases IP6Ks are elevated in ALS spinal cord. On the other hand, this study also showed that IP7 is not suitable for biofluid-based ALS diagnosis. Further investigation is required to elucidate a role of IP7 in ALS pathology and utilize IP7 metabolism on the diagnostic application of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatoshi Ito
- Department of Neurology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
- Department of Legal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Natsuko Fujii
- Department of Neurology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
| | - Saori Kohara
- Department of Neurology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
| | - Masayuki Tanaka
- Support Center for Medical Research and Education, Tokai University, Isehara, Japan
| | - Masaki Takao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Mihara Memorial Hospital, Isesaki, Japan
| | - Ban Mihara
- Department of Neurology, Mihara Memorial Hospital, Isesaki, Japan
| | - Yuko Saito
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Mizuma
- Department of Neurology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
| | - Taira Nakayama
- Department of Neurology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
| | - Shizuka Netsu
- Department of Neurology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
| | - Naoto Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Eiichiro Nagata
- Department of Neurology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
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8
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Lugg A, Schindle M, Sivak A, Tankisi H, Jones KE. Nerve excitability measured with the TROND protocol in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurophysiol 2023; 130:1480-1491. [PMID: 37910562 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00174.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
This meta-analysis assessed the 30+ nerve excitability indices generated by the TROND protocol to identify potential biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A comprehensive search was conducted in multiple databases to identify human studies that tested median motor axons. Forest plot analyses were performed using a random-effects model to determine the pooled effect (Z-score), heterogeneity (I2), and Cohen's d for potential biomarker identification. Out of 2,866 studies, 23 studies met the inclusion criteria, incorporating data from 719 controls and 942 patients with ALS. Seven indices emerged as potential biomarkers: depolarizing threshold electrotonus (TEd) 90-100 ms, strength-duration time constant (SDTC), superexcitability, TEd 40-60 ms, resting I/V slope, 50% depolarizing I/V, and subexcitability (ranked by the magnitude of the difference between patients and controls from largest to smallest). In a sensitivity analysis focusing on patients with larger compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs), only four indices were potential biomarkers: TEd 10-20 ms, TEd 90-100 ms, superexcitability, and SDTC. Among the extensive range of 30+ excitability indices generated by the TROND protocol, we have identified seven indices that effectively differentiate patients with ALS from healthy controls. Furthermore, a smaller subset of four indices shows promise as potential biomarkers when the CMAP remains relatively large. However, most studies were considered to be at moderate risk of bias due to case-control designs and absence of sensitivity and specificity calculations, underscoring the need for more prospective diagnostic test-accuracy studies with appropriate disease controls.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This meta-analysis uncovers seven potential axonal excitability biomarkers for lower motor neuron pathology in ALS, shedding light on ion channel dysfunction. The identified dysfunction aligns with the primary pathology-protein homeostasis disruption. These biomarkers could fill a gap to detect presymptomatic spread of the disease in the spinal cord and monitor treatments targeting protein homeostasis and limiting spread, toward enhancing patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lugg
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mason Schindle
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Allison Sivak
- University of Alberta Library, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hatice Tankisi
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kelvin E Jones
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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9
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Trajano GS, Orssatto LBR, McCombe PA, Rivlin W, Tang L, Henderson RD. Longitudinal changes in intrinsic motoneuron excitability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are dependent on disease progression. J Physiol 2023; 601:4723-4735. [PMID: 37768183 DOI: 10.1113/jp285181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased amplitude of persistent inward currents (PICs) is observed in pre-symptomatic genetically modified SOD1 mice models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, at the symptomatic stage this reverses and there is a large reduction in PIC amplitude. It remains unclear whether these changes in PICs can be observed in humans, with cross-sectional studies in humans reporting contradictory findings. In people with ALS, we estimated the PIC contribution to self-sustained firing of motoneurons, using the paired-motor unit analysis to calculate the Δfrequency (ΔF), to compare the weaker and stronger muscles during the course of disease. We hypothesised that, with disease progression, ΔFs would relatively increase in the stronger muscles; and decline in the weaker muscles. Forty-three individuals with ALS were assessed in two occasions on average 17 weeks apart. Tibialis anterior high-density electromyograms were recorded during dorsiflexion (40% of maximal capacity) ramped contractions, followed by clinical tests. ∆F increased from 3.14 (2.57, 3.71) peaks per second (pps) to 3.55 (2.94, 4.17) pps on the stronger muscles (0.41 (0.041, 0.781) pps, standardised difference (d) = 0.287 (0.023, 0.552), P = 0.030). ∆F reduced from 3.38 (95% CI 2.92, 3.84) pps to 2.88 (2.40, 3.36) pps on the weaker muscles (-0.50 (-0.80, -0.21) pps, d = 0.353 (0.138, 0.567), P = 0.001). The ALSFRS-R score reduced 3.9 (2.3, 5.5) points. These data indicate that the contribution of PICs to motoneuron self-sustained firing increases over time in early stages of the disease when there is little weakness before decreasing as the disease progresses and muscle weakness exacerbates, in alignment with the findings from studies using SOD1 mice. KEY POINTS: Research on mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) suggests that the amplitude of persistent inward currents (PICs) is increased in early stages before decreasing as the disease progresses. Cross-sectional studies in humans have reported contradictory findings with both higher and lower PIC contributions to motoneuron self-sustained firing. In this longitudinal (∼17 weeks) study we tracked changes in PIC contribution to motoneuron self-sustained firing, using the ΔF calculation (i.e. onset-offset hysteresis of motor unit pairs), in tibialis anterior muscles with normal strength and with clinical signs of weakness in people with ALS. ΔFs decreased over time in muscles with clinical signs of weakness. The PIC contribution to motoneuron self-sustained firing increases before the onset of muscle weakness, and subsequently decreases when muscle weakness progresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel S Trajano
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lucas B R Orssatto
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Pamela A McCombe
- Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Warwick Rivlin
- Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lily Tang
- Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Robert D Henderson
- Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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10
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Stikvoort García DJL, Sleutjes BTHM, van Schelven LJ, Goedee HS, van den Berg LH. Diagnostic accuracy of nerve excitability and compound muscle action potential scan derived biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur J Neurol 2023; 30:3068-3078. [PMID: 37354059 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The lack of reliable early biomarkers still causes substantial diagnostic delays in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a novel electrophysiological protocol in patients with suspected motor neuron disease (MND). METHODS Consecutive patients with suspected MND were prospectively recruited at our tertiary referral centre for MND in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Procedures were performed in accordance with the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy. In addition to the standard diagnostic workup, an electrophysiological protocol of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) scans and nerve excitability tests was performed on patients' thenar muscles. The combined diagnostic yield of nerve excitability and CMAP scan based motor unit number estimation was compared to the Awaji and Gold Coast criteria and their added value was determined. RESULTS In all, 153 ALS or progressive muscular atrophy patients, 63 disease controls and 43 healthy controls were included. Our electrophysiological protocol had high diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] 0.85, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.80-0.90), even in muscles with undetectable axon loss (AUC 0.78, 95% CI 0.70-0.85) and in bulbar-onset patients (AUC 0.85, 95% CI 0.73-0.95). Twenty-four of 33 (73%) ALS patients who could not be diagnosed during the same visit were correctly identified, as well as 8/13 (62%) ALS patients not meeting the Gold Coast criteria and 49/59 (83%) ALS patients not meeting the Awaji criteria during this first visit. CONCLUSIONS Our practical and non-invasive electrophysiological protocol may improve early diagnosis in clinically challenging patients with suspected ALS. Routine incorporation may boost early diagnosis, enhance patient selection and generate baseline measures for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J L Stikvoort García
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - B T H M Sleutjes
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - L J van Schelven
- Department of Medical Technology and Clinical Physics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - H S Goedee
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - L H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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11
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Taneva SG, Todinova S, Andreeva T. Morphometric and Nanomechanical Screening of Peripheral Blood Cells with Atomic Force Microscopy for Label-Free Assessment of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14296. [PMID: 37762599 PMCID: PMC10531602 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) are complex, multifactorial disorders with significant social and economic impact in today's society. NDDs are predicted to become the second-most common cause of death in the next few decades due to an increase in life expectancy but also to a lack of early diagnosis and mainly symptomatic treatment. Despite recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic methods, there are yet no reliable biomarkers identifying the complex pathways contributing to these pathologies. The development of new approaches for early diagnosis and new therapies, together with the identification of non-invasive and more cost-effective diagnostic biomarkers, is one of the main trends in NDD biomedical research. Here we summarize data on peripheral biomarkers, biofluids (cerebrospinal fluid and blood plasma), and peripheral blood cells (platelets (PLTs) and red blood cells (RBCs)), reported so far for the three most common NDDs-Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). PLTs and RBCs, beyond their primary physiological functions, are increasingly recognized as valuable sources of biomarkers for NDDs. Special attention is given to the morphological and nanomechanical signatures of PLTs and RBCs as biophysical markers for the three pathologies. Modifications of the surface nanostructure and morphometric and nanomechanical signatures of PLTs and RBCs from patients with AD, PD, and ALS have been revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM is currently experiencing rapid and widespread adoption in biomedicine and clinical medicine, in particular for early diagnostics of various medical conditions. AFM is a unique instrument without an analog, allowing the generation of three-dimensional cell images with extremely high spatial resolution at near-atomic scale, which are complemented by insights into the mechanical properties of cells and subcellular structures. Data demonstrate that AFM can distinguish between the three pathologies and the normal, healthy state. The specific PLT and RBC signatures can serve as biomarkers in combination with the currently used diagnostic tools. We highlight the strong correlation of the morphological and nanomechanical signatures between RBCs and PLTs in PD, ALS, and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefka G. Taneva
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, “Acad. G. Bontchev” Str. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (S.T.); (T.A.)
| | - Svetla Todinova
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, “Acad. G. Bontchev” Str. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (S.T.); (T.A.)
| | - Tonya Andreeva
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, “Acad. G. Bontchev” Str. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (S.T.); (T.A.)
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Reutlingen University, Alteburgstraße 150, D-72762 Reutlingen, Germany
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12
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Vucic S, Stanley Chen KH, Kiernan MC, Hallett M, Benninger DH, Di Lazzaro V, Rossini PM, Benussi A, Berardelli A, Currà A, Krieg SM, Lefaucheur JP, Long Lo Y, Macdonell RA, Massimini M, Rosanova M, Picht T, Stinear CM, Paulus W, Ugawa Y, Ziemann U, Chen R. Clinical diagnostic utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation in neurological disorders. Updated report of an IFCN committee. Clin Neurophysiol 2023; 150:131-175. [PMID: 37068329 PMCID: PMC10192339 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
The review provides a comprehensive update (previous report: Chen R, Cros D, Curra A, Di Lazzaro V, Lefaucheur JP, Magistris MR, et al. The clinical diagnostic utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation: report of an IFCN committee. Clin Neurophysiol 2008;119(3):504-32) on clinical diagnostic utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in neurological diseases. Most TMS measures rely on stimulation of motor cortex and recording of motor evoked potentials. Paired-pulse TMS techniques, incorporating conventional amplitude-based and threshold tracking, have established clinical utility in neurodegenerative, movement, episodic (epilepsy, migraines), chronic pain and functional diseases. Cortical hyperexcitability has emerged as a diagnostic aid in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Single-pulse TMS measures are of utility in stroke, and myelopathy even in the absence of radiological changes. Short-latency afferent inhibition, related to central cholinergic transmission, is reduced in Alzheimer's disease. The triple stimulation technique (TST) may enhance diagnostic utility of conventional TMS measures to detect upper motor neuron involvement. The recording of motor evoked potentials can be used to perform functional mapping of the motor cortex or in preoperative assessment of eloquent brain regions before surgical resection of brain tumors. TMS exhibits utility in assessing lumbosacral/cervical nerve root function, especially in demyelinating neuropathies, and may be of utility in localizing the site of facial nerve palsies. TMS measures also have high sensitivity in detecting subclinical corticospinal lesions in multiple sclerosis. Abnormalities in central motor conduction time or TST correlate with motor impairment and disability in MS. Cerebellar stimulation may detect lesions in the cerebellum or cerebello-dentato-thalamo-motor cortical pathways. Combining TMS with electroencephalography, provides a novel method to measure parameters altered in neurological disorders, including cortical excitability, effective connectivity, and response complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Vucic
- Brain, Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Kai-Hsiang Stanley Chen
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney; and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Mark Hallett
- Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - David H Benninger
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Switzerland
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo M Rossini
- Department of Neurosci & Neurorehab IRCCS San Raffaele-Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alfredo Berardelli
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Currà
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Alfredo Fiorini Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Terracina, LT, Italy
| | - Sandro M Krieg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Technical University Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Jean-Pascal Lefaucheur
- Univ Paris Est Creteil, EA4391, ENT, Créteil, France; Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, Henri Mondor Hospital, AP-HP, Créteil, France
| | - Yew Long Lo
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, and Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | | | - Marcello Massimini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Rosanova
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Thomas Picht
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Cluster of Excellence: "Matters of Activity. Image Space Material," Humboldt University, Berlin Simulation and Training Center (BeST), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Cathy M Stinear
- Department of Medicine Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand
| | - Walter Paulus
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Yoshikazu Ugawa
- Department of Human Neurophysiology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Japan
| | - Ulf Ziemann
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany; Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Straße 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Robert Chen
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital-UHN, Division of Neurology-University of Toronto, Toronto Canada
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13
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Pingle SC, Lin F, Anekoji MS, Patro CK, Datta S, Jones LD, Kesari S, Ashili S. Exploring the role of cerebrospinal fluid as analyte in neurologic disorders. Future Sci OA 2023; 9:FSO851. [PMID: 37090492 PMCID: PMC10116372 DOI: 10.2144/fsoa-2023-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear ultrafiltrate of blood that envelopes and protects the central nervous system while regulating neuronal function through the maintenance of interstitial fluid homeostasis in the brain. Due to its anatomic location and physiological functions, the CSF can provide a reliable source of biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of different neurological diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and primary and secondary brain malignancies. The incorporation of CSF biomarkers into the drug discovery and development can improve the efficiency of drug development and increase the chances of success. This review aims to consolidate the current use of CSF biomarkers in clinical practice and explore future perspectives for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep C Pingle
- CureScience Institute, 5820 Oberlin Drive #202, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Feng Lin
- CureScience Institute, 5820 Oberlin Drive #202, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
- Author for correspondence:
| | - Misa S Anekoji
- CureScience Institute, 5820 Oberlin Drive #202, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - C Pawan K Patro
- CureScience Institute, 5820 Oberlin Drive #202, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Souvik Datta
- Rhenix Lifesciences, 237 Vengal Rao Nagar, Hyderabad, TG, 500038, India
| | - Lawrence D Jones
- CureScience Institute, 5820 Oberlin Drive #202, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Santosh Kesari
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center & Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
| | - Shashaanka Ashili
- CureScience Institute, 5820 Oberlin Drive #202, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
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14
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TDP-43 Proteinopathy Specific Biomarker Development. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040597. [PMID: 36831264 PMCID: PMC9954136 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 is the primary or secondary pathological hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, half of frontotemporal dementia cases, and limbic age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy, which clinically resembles Alzheimer's dementia. In such diseases, a biomarker that can detect TDP-43 proteinopathy in life would help to stratify patients according to their definite diagnosis of pathology, rather than in clinical subgroups of uncertain pathology. For therapies developed to target pathological proteins that cause the disease a biomarker to detect and track the underlying pathology would greatly enhance such undertakings. This article reviews the latest developments and outlooks of deriving TDP-43-specific biomarkers from the pathophysiological processes involved in the development of TDP-43 proteinopathy and studies using biosamples from clinical entities associated with TDP-43 pathology to investigate biomarker candidates.
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15
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Vignaroli F, Mele A, Tondo G, De Giorgis V, Manfredi M, Comi C, Mazzini L, De Marchi F. The Need for Biomarkers in the ALS-FTD Spectrum: A Clinical Point of View on the Role of Proteomics. Proteomes 2023; 11:proteomes11010001. [PMID: 36648959 PMCID: PMC9844364 DOI: 10.3390/proteomes11010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are severely debilitating and progressive neurodegenerative disorders. A distinctive pathological feature of several neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS and FTD, is the deposition of aberrant protein inclusions in neuronal cells, which leads to cellular dysfunction and neuronal damage and loss. Despite this, to date, the biological process behind developing these protein inclusions must be better clarified, making the development of disease-modifying treatment impossible until this is done. Proteomics is a powerful tool to characterize the expression, structure, functions, interactions, and modifications of proteins of tissue and biological fluid, including plasma, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid. This protein-profiling characterization aims to identify disease-specific protein alteration or specific pathology-based mechanisms which may be used as markers of these conditions. Our narrative review aims to highlight the need for biomarkers and the potential use of proteomics in clinical practice for ALS-FTD spectrum disorders, considering the emerging rationale in proteomics for new drug development. Certainly, new data will emerge in the near future in this regard and support clinicians in the development of personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angelica Mele
- Neurology Unit, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Giacomo Tondo
- Department of Neurology, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
| | - Veronica De Giorgis
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Center for Translational Research and Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases (CAAD), University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Marcello Manfredi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Center for Translational Research and Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases (CAAD), University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Cristoforo Comi
- Department of Neurology, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- Neurology Unit, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Fabiola De Marchi
- Neurology Unit, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0321-3733962
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16
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Thermodynamic Signatures of Blood Plasma Proteome in Neurodegenerative Pathologies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24010789. [PMID: 36614231 PMCID: PMC9821040 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Discovery of diagnostic biomarkers for age-related neurodegenerative pathologies (NDDs) is essential for accurate diagnosis, following disease progression and drug development. Blood plasma and blood cells are important peripheral sources for NDDs' biomarkers that, although present in lower concentrations than in cerebrospinal fluid, would allow noninvasive diagnostics. To identify new biomarkers for Parkinson's disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in this work we have evaluated the modifications in the thermodynamic behavior of blood plasma proteome exploring differential scanning calorimetry. The plasma thermodynamics reflected the complexity and heterogeneity of the two pathologies. The unfolding temperature of the most abundant plasma protein albumin and the weighted average center of the calorimetric profile appeared as the two thermodynamic signatures that reflected modifications of the plasma proteome, i.e., strong thermal stabilization of albumin and plasma proteins' interaction network, related to both pathologies. Based on those two signatures, both PD and ALS patients were stratified in two sets, except several cases with thermodynamic parameters that strongly differed from those of the calorimetric sets. Along with modifications of the plasma thermodynamic behavior, we found altered globulin levels in all PD and ALS patients' plasma (higher level of α- and β-globulin fractions and lower level of γ-globulin fraction than the respective reference values) employing capillary electrophoresis. The presented results reveal the potential of calorimetry to indirectly identify NDDs' biomarkers in blood plasma.
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Datta A, Udhaya Kumar S, D'costa M, Bothe A, Thirumal Kumar D, Zayed H, George Priya Doss C. Identification of dysregulated canonical pathways associated with pathogenesis and progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-An integrated bioinformatics approach. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2023; 134:21-52. [PMID: 36858735 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2022.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis and progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) remain poorly understood, making the diagnosis of ALS challenging. We aimed to find the novel gene biomarkers via computationally analyzing microarray expression studies, in three different cell lineages, namely myotube cells, astrocyte cells and oligodendrocyte cells. Microarray gene expression profiles were obtained and analyzed for three cell types: myotube cell lineage (GSE122261), astrocyte, and oligodendrocyte cell lineage (GSE87385). A comprehensive computational pipeline, tailored explicitly for microarray gene expression profiling studies, was devised to analyze the sample groups, wherein the myotube sample group comprised of six control (GSM3462697, GSM3462698, GSM3462699, GSM3462700, GSM3462701, GSM3462702) & six diseased (GSM3462691, GSM3462692, GSM3462693, GSM3462694, GSM3462695, GSM3462696) samples were considered. Similarly, for the astrocyte sample group two samples each for the control (GSM2330040, GSM2330042) and the diseased (GSM2330039, GSM2330041), and for the oligodendrocyte sample group, 2 control (GSM2330043, GSM2330045) samples and two diseased (GSM2330044, GSM2330046) samples were considered for the current study. The in-depth interaction of these DEGs was studied using MCODE and subjected to preliminary functional analysis using ClueGO/CluePedia plug-in. Qiagen's IPA software was employed for enrichment analysis, which generated the key canonical pathways and a list of potential biomarker molecules specific to each sample group. The preliminary analysis yielded 512 DEGs across all 3-sample groups, wherein 139 DEGs belonged to the myotube sample group, 216 DEGs for the astrocyte sample group, and 157 DEGs for the oligodendrocytes sample group. The data suggests growth hormone signaling and its activity, ErbB signaling pathway, and JAK/STAT signaling pathway are some of the pathways that are significantly dysregulated and play a crucial role in the development and progression of ALS. KISS1R and CSHL1 are potential genes that could act as diagnostic biomarkers in myotube cell types. Also, KRAS, TGFB2, JUN, and SMAD6 genes may be used as prognostic biomarkers to differentiate between early and late-stage ALS-diseased patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Datta
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S Udhaya Kumar
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Maria D'costa
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Anusha Bothe
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - D Thirumal Kumar
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Chennai, India
| | - Hatem Zayed
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health and Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - C George Priya Doss
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
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18
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Muzio L, Ghirelli A, Agosta F, Martino G. Novel therapeutic approaches for motor neuron disease. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2023; 196:523-537. [PMID: 37620088 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-98817-9.00027-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that leads to the neurodegeneration and death of upper and lower motor neurons (MNs). Although MNs are the main cells involved in the process of neurodegeneration, a growing body of evidence points toward other cell types as concurrent to disease initiation and propagation. Given the current absence of effective therapies, the quest for other therapeutic targets remains open and still challenges the scientific community. Both neuronal and extra-neuronal mechanisms of cellular stress and damage have been studied and have posed the basis for the development of novel therapies that have been investigated on both animal models and humans. In this chapter, a thorough review of the main mechanisms of cellular damage and the respective therapeutic attempts targeting them is reported. The main areas covered include neuroinflammation, protein aggregation, RNA metabolism, and oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Muzio
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, InsPE, Milan, Italy
| | - Alma Ghirelli
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, InsPE, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Agosta
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, InsPE, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianvito Martino
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, InsPE, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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19
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Fundaun J, Kolski M, Molina-Álvarez M, Baskozos G, Schmid AB. Types and Concentrations of Blood-Based Biomarkers in Adults With Peripheral Neuropathies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2248593. [PMID: 36574244 PMCID: PMC9857490 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.48593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Importance Peripheral neuropathies are common conditions and can result in numbness, paresthesia, motor deficits, and pain. There is increasing evidence for the use of biomarkers as clinical indicators of the presence, severity, and prognosis of nerve lesions; however, biomarker identification has largely been focused on disorders of the central nervous system, and less is known about their role in the peripheral nervous system. Objective To assess blood-based biomarker concentrations associated with nerve involvement in patients with peripheral neuropathy compared with control participants. Data Sources Ovid, MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL were searched from inception to September 23, 2021. Study Selection Observational studies reporting on blood biomarkers in patients diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy were included. This review was preregistered on PROSPERO and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline. Data were abstracted by 1 investigator and independently reviewed by a second. Data Extraction and Synthesis Data were meta-analyzed when at least 2 studies reported the same biomarker with comparable methodology. Fixed-effects models were used when only 2 studies were included; random-effects models were used when more than 2 studies were included. Main Outcomes and Measures The outcome of interest was concentration of biomarkers. Results This review included 36 studies reporting on 4414 participants, including 2113 control participants and 2301 patients with peripheral neuropathy with 13 distinct peripheral neuropathy diagnoses. Diabetic neuropathy was the most common neuropathy diagnosis (13 studies), followed by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (6 studies) and Guillain-Barre syndrome (6 studies). Overall, 16 different blood-based biomarkers associated with nerve involvement were evaluated. The most used were neurofilament light chain, S100B, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neuron-specific enolase. Patients with peripheral neuropathy demonstrated significantly higher levels of neurofilament light chain compared with controls (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.93 [95% CI, 0.82 to 1.05]; P < .001). There were no significant differences in levels of S100B (SMD, 1.10 [95% CI, -3.08 to 5.28]; P = .38), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (SMD, -0.52 [95% CI, -2.23 to 1.19]; P = .40), or neuron-specific enolase (SMD, -0.00 [95% CI, -1.99 to 1.98]; P = .10) in patients with peripheral neuropathy compared with control participants. Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis support the use of neurofilament light chain as a blood-based measure associated with the presence of neuronal injury in patients with peripheral neuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Fundaun
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Melissa Kolski
- Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Musculoskeletal Outpatient Department, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Miguel Molina-Álvarez
- Area of Pharmacology, Nutrition, and Bromatology, Department of Basic Health Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Georgios Baskozos
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Annina B. Schmid
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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20
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Kim G, Chen X, Yang Y. Pathogenic Extracellular Vesicle (EV) Signaling in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1119-1132. [PMID: 35426061 PMCID: PMC9587178 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01232-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs), once considered a pathway for cells to remove waste, have now emerged as an important mechanism for intercellular communication. EVs are particularly appealing in understanding the central nervous system (CNS) communication, given that there are very diverse cell types in the CNS and constant communications among various cells to respond to the frequently changing environment. While they are heterogeneous and new vesicles are continuously to be discovered, EVs are primarily classified as plasma membrane-derived microvesicles (MVs) and endosome-derived exosomes. Secretion of EVs has been shown from all CNS cell types in vitro and intercellular EV signaling has been implicated in neural development, axon integrity, neuron to glia communication, and propagation of protein aggregates formed by disease pathogenic proteins. However, significant hurdles remain to be tackled in understanding their physiological and pathological roles as well as how they can be developed as biomarkers or new therapeutics. Here we provide our summary on the known cell biology of EVs and discuss opportunities and challenges in understanding EV biology in the CNS and particularly their involvement in ALS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
| | - Xuan Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
| | - Yongjie Yang
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
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21
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Lima MF, Amaral AG, Moretto IA, Paiva-Silva FJTN, Pereira FOB, Barbas C, dos Santos AM, Simionato AVC, Rupérez FJ. Untargeted Metabolomics Studies of H9c2 Cardiac Cells Submitted to Oxidative Stress, β-Adrenergic Stimulation and Doxorubicin Treatment: Investigation of Cardiac Biomarkers. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:898742. [PMID: 35847971 PMCID: PMC9277393 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.898742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the biggest challenges in the search for more effective treatments for diseases is understanding their etiology. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are an important example of this, given the high number of deaths annually. Oxidative stress (the imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant species in biological system) is one of the factors responsible for CVD occurrence, demanding extensive investigation. Excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are primarily responsible for this condition, and clinical and scientific literature have reported a significant increase in ROS when therapeutic drugs, such as doxorubicin and isoproterenol, are administered. In this context, the aim of this study is the investigation of potential biomarkers that might be associated with oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes. For this purpose, H9c2 cardiomyocytes were submitted to oxidative stress conditions by treatment with doxorubicin (DOX), isoproterenol (ISO) and hydrogen peroxide (PER). Metabolomics analyses of the cell extract and the supernatant obtained from the culture medium were then evaluated by CE-ESI(+)-TOF-MS. Following signal processing, statistical analyses, and molecular features annotations, the results indicate changes in the aspartate, serine, pantothenic acid, glycerophosphocholine and glutathione metabolism in the cell extract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Força Lima
- Center for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Alan Gonçalves Amaral
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Isabela Aparecida Moretto
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Flávia Oliveira Borges Pereira
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Coral Barbas
- Center for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aline Mara dos Santos
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Aline Mara dos Santos, ; Francisco Javier Rupérez,
| | - Ana Valéria Colnaghi Simionato
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Bioanalytics (INCTBio), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Francisco Javier Rupérez
- Center for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Aline Mara dos Santos, ; Francisco Javier Rupérez,
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22
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Govaarts R, Beeldman E, Fraschini M, Griffa A, Engels MMA, van Es MA, Veldink JH, van den Berg LH, van der Kooi AJ, Pijnenburg YAL, de Visser M, Stam CJ, Raaphorst J, Hillebrand A. Cortical and subcortical changes in resting-state neuronal activity and connectivity in early symptomatic ALS and advanced frontotemporal dementia. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 34:102965. [PMID: 35217500 PMCID: PMC8867127 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.102965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine if patterns of resting-state brain activity and functional connectivity in cortical and subcortical regions in patients with early symptomatic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) resemble those of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). In a cross-sectional design, eyes-closed resting-state magnetoencephalography (MEG) data of 34 ALS patients, 18 bvFTD patients and 18 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) were projected to source-space using an atlas-based beamformer. Group differences in peak frequency, band-specific oscillatory activity and functional connectivity (corrected amplitude envelope correlation) in 78 cortical regions and 12 subcortical regions were determined. False discovery rate was used to correct for multiple comparisons. BvFTD patients, as compared to ALS and HCs, showed lower relative beta power in parietal, occipital, temporal and nearly all subcortical regions. Compared to HCs, patients with ALS and patients with bvFTD had a higher delta (0.5-4 Hz) and gamma (30-48 Hz) band resting-state functional connectivity in a high number of overlapping regions in the frontal lobe and in limbic and subcortical regions. Higher delta band connectivity was widespread in the bvFTD patients compared to HCs. ALS showed a more widespread higher gamma band functional connectivity compared to bvFTD. In conclusion, MEG in early symptomatic ALS patients shows resting-state functional connectivity changes in frontal, limbic and subcortical regions that overlap considerably with bvFTD. The findings show the potential of MEG to detect brain changes in early symptomatic phases of ALS and contribute to our understanding of the disease spectrum, with ALS and bvFTD at the two extreme ends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanne Govaarts
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Emma Beeldman
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Matteo Fraschini
- University of Cagliari, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Griffa
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Neurology, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Bioengineering, Center of Neuroprosthetics, École Polytechnique Fédérale De Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marjolein M A Engels
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Magnetoencephalography Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michael A van Es
- University Medical Centre Utrecht, Department of Neurology, Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jan H Veldink
- University Medical Centre Utrecht, Department of Neurology, Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Leonard H van den Berg
- University Medical Centre Utrecht, Department of Neurology, Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Anneke J van der Kooi
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yolande A L Pijnenburg
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit, Alzheimer Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marianne de Visser
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Cornelis J Stam
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Magnetoencephalography Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joost Raaphorst
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Arjan Hillebrand
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Magnetoencephalography Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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23
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Mejia AF, Koppelmans V, Jelsone-Swain L, Kalra S, Welsh RC. Longitudinal surface-based spatial Bayesian GLM reveals complex trajectories of motor neurodegeneration in ALS. Neuroimage 2022; 255:119180. [PMID: 35395402 PMCID: PMC9580623 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Longitudinal fMRI studies hold great promise for the study of neurodegenerative diseases, development and aging, but realizing their full potential depends on extracting accurate fMRI-based measures of brain function and organization in individual subjects over time. This is especially true for studies of rare, heterogeneous and/or rapidly progressing neurodegenerative diseases. These often involve small samples with heterogeneous functional features, making traditional group-difference analyses of limited utility. One such disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a severe disease resulting in extreme loss of motor function and eventual death. Here, we use an advanced individualized task fMRI analysis approach to analyze a rich longitudinal dataset containing 190 hand clench fMRI scans from 16 ALS patients (78 scans) and 22 age-matched healthy controls (112 scans) Specifically, we adopt our cortical surface-based spatial Bayesian general linear model (GLM), which has high power and precision to detect activations in individual subjects, and propose a novel longitudinal extension to leverage information shared across visits. We perform all analyses in native surface space to preserve individua anatomical and functional features. Using mixed-effects models to subsequently study the relationship between size of activation and ALS disease progression, we observe for the first time an inverted U-shaped trajectory o motor activations: at relatively mild motor disability we observe enlarging activations, while at higher levels of motor disability we observe severely diminished activation, reflecting progression toward complete loss of motor function. We further observe distinct trajectories depending on clinical progression rate, with faster progressors exhibiting more extreme changes at an earlier stage of disability. These differential trajectories suggest that initial hyper-activation is likely attributable to loss of inhibitory neurons, rather than functional compensation as earlier assumed. These findings substantially advance scientific understanding of the ALS disease process. This study also provides the first real-world example of how surface-based spatial Bayesian analysis of task fMRI can further scientific understanding of neurodegenerative disease and other phenomena. The surface-based spatial Bayesian GLM is implemented in the BayesfMRI R package
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda F Mejia
- Department of Statistics, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
| | | | - Laura Jelsone-Swain
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina Aiken, Aiken, SC, USA
| | - Sanjay Kalra
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Robert C Welsh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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24
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Kharel S, Ojha R, Preethish-Kumar V, Bhagat R. C-reactive protein levels in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A systematic review. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2532. [PMID: 35201675 PMCID: PMC8933772 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting cortical and spinal motor neurons. There is a lack of optimal biomarkers to diagnose and prognosticate the ALS patients. C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker, has shown promising results in ALS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases were searched from 2000 to June 1, 2021 for suitable studies showing the relationship between CRP and ALS. The concentration of CRP levels was assessed between ALS patients and controls. Further, end outcomes like ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R), survival status, and mortality risks were assessed in relation to CRP levels. RESULTS Eleven studies including five case-control, five cohorts, and one randomized control study were assessed. There were 2785 ALS patients and 3446 healthy controls. A significant increment in CRP levels among ALS patients in comparison with healthy controls were seen in most of the studies. ALSFRS-R and disease progression were found to be significantly correlated with CRP levels. Overall accuracy of CRP in CSF was 62% described in a single study. CONCLUSION Although CRP has shown promise as a prognostic biomarker, extensive cohort studies are required to assess its prognostic value and accuracy in diagnosing ALS taking into account the confounding factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeev Kharel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Rajeev Ojha
- Department of Neurology, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | - Riwaj Bhagat
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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25
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Staats KA, Borchelt DR, Tansey MG, Wymer J. Blood-based biomarkers of inflammation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:11. [PMID: 35073950 PMCID: PMC8785449 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00515-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease in which many processes are detected including (neuro)inflammation. Many drugs have been tested for ALS in clinical trials but most have failed to reach their primary endpoints. The development and inclusion of different types of biomarkers in diagnosis and clinical trials can assist in determining target engagement of a drug, in distinguishing between ALS and other diseases, and in predicting disease progression rate, drug responsiveness, or an adverse event. Ideally, among other characteristics, a biomarker in ALS correlates highly with a disease process in the central nervous system or with disease progression and is conveniently obtained in a peripheral tissue. Here, we describe the state of biomarkers of inflammation in ALS by focusing on peripherally detectable and cellular responses from blood cells, and provide new (combinatorial) directions for exploration that are now feasible due to technological advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim A. Staats
- Staats Life Sciences Consulting, LLC, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - David R. Borchelt
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida USA
| | - Malú Gámez Tansey
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease at The University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida USA
| | - James Wymer
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida USA
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26
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Wei J, Lin JH, Cai LM, Shi JY, Zhang XH, Zou ZY, Chen HJ. Abnormal Stability of Dynamic Functional Architecture in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Preliminary Resting-State fMRI Study. Front Neurol 2021; 12:744688. [PMID: 34721270 PMCID: PMC8548741 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.744688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Static and dynamic analyses for identifying functional connectivity (FC) have demonstrated brain dysfunctions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, few studies on the stability of dynamic FC have been conducted among ALS patients. This study explored the change of functional stability in ALS and how it correlates with disease severity. Methods: We gathered resting-state functional magnetic resonance data from 20 patients with ALS and 22 healthy controls (HCs). The disease severity was assessed with the Revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R). We used a sliding window correlation approach to identify dynamic FC and measured the concordance of dynamic FC over time to obtain the functional stability of each voxel. We assessed the between-group difference in functional stability by voxel-wise two-sample t-test. The correlation between the functional stability index and ALSFRS-R in ALS patients was evaluated using Spearman's correlation analysis. Results: Compared with the HC group, the ALS group had significantly increased functional stability in the left pre-central and post-central gyrus and right temporal pole while decreased functional stability in the right middle and inferior frontal gyrus. The results revealed a significant correlation between ALSFRS-R and the mean functional stability in the right temporal pole (r = −0.452 and P = 0.046) in the ALS patients. Conclusions: ALS patients have abnormal stability of brain functional architecture, which is associated with the severity of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wei
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jia-Hui Lin
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Li-Min Cai
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jia-Yan Shi
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhang-Yu Zou
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hua-Jun Chen
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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27
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Vucic S, Wray N, Henders A, Henderson RD, Talman P, Mathers S, Bellgard M, Aoun S, Birks C, Thomas G, Hansen C, Thomas G, Hogden A, Needham M, Schultz D, Soulis T, Sheean B, Milne J, Rowe D, Zoing M, Kiernan MC. MiNDAUS partnership: a roadmap for the cure and management of motor Neurone disease. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2021; 23:321-328. [PMID: 34590512 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2021.1980889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
An innovative approach to patient management, evidence-based policy development, and clinical drug trials is required to provide personalized care and to improve the likelihood of finding an effective treatment for Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The MiNDAus Partnership builds on and extends existing national collaborations in a targeted approach to improve the standard and coordination of care for people living with MND in Australia, and to enhance the prospects of discovering a cure or treatment. Relationships have been developed between leading clinical and research groups as well as patient-centered organizations, care providers, and philanthropy with a shared vision. MiNDAus has established a corporate structure and meets at least biannually to decide on how best to progress research, drug development, and patient management. The key themes are; (i) empowering patients and their family carers to engage in self-management and ensure personalized service provision, treatment, and policy development, (ii) integration of data collection so as to better inform policy development, (iii) unifying patients and carers with advocacy groups, funding bodies, clinicians and academic institutions so as to inform policy development and research, (iv) coordination of research efforts and development of standardized national infrastructure for conducting innovative clinical MND trials that can be harmonized within Australia and with international trials consortia. Such a collaborative approach is required across stakeholders in order to develop innovative management guidelines, underpinned by necessary and evidence-based policy change recommendations, which, will ensure the best patient care until a cure is discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Vucic
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, Concord Clinical School, University of Sydney and Concord Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Naomi Wray
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Anjali Henders
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Robert D Henderson
- Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Paul Talman
- Deakin University, University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, Australia
| | - Susan Mathers
- Department of Neurology, Calvary Health Care Bethlehem Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Matthew Bellgard
- Office of eResearch, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Samar Aoun
- Perron Institute for Neurological and translational Science, Perth, Western Australia.,La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria
| | | | | | | | - Geoff Thomas
- Thomas MND Research Group, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Anne Hogden
- Australian Institute of Health Service Management, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Merrilee Needham
- Department of Neurology, Fiona Stanley Hospital, CMMIT Murdoch University and School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - David Schultz
- Department of Neurology, Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders Drive, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tina Soulis
- Neuroscience Trials Australia, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Jane Milne
- MND and Me Foundation, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dominic Rowe
- MCentre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Human and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Margie Zoing
- Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia
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28
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Dhawan A. Extracellular miRNA biomarkers in neurologic disease: is cerebrospinal fluid helpful? Biomark Med 2021; 15:1377-1388. [PMID: 34514843 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2021-0092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: The aim of our work is to aggregate data from publications of cerebrospinal fluid extracellular miRNA to identify candidate diagnostic biomarkers, and those warranting further study. Materials & methods: Data were pooled from nine studies, encompassing 864 patients across 16 diseases. Unsupervised clustering grouped patients by a broad category of diseases. Results & conclusion: Compared with healthy controls, in patients with Alzheimer's disease, hsa-miR-767-5p was overexpressed (p < 0.001) and in patients with Huntington's disease, hsa-miR-361-3p was underexpressed (p < 10-4). We also define a subset of extracellular miRNA as candidate biomarkers that are robustly detected across patients, studies and diseases; thereby, warranting further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Dhawan
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
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29
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Lichtenstein T, Sprenger A, Weiss K, Große Hokamp N, Maintz D, Schlamann M, Fink GR, Lehmann HC, Henning TD. MRI DTI and PDFF as Biomarkers for Lower Motor Neuron Degeneration in ALS. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:682126. [PMID: 34512239 PMCID: PMC8428530 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.682126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the utility of nerve magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and muscle MRI multi-echo Dixon for assessing lower motor neuron (LMN) degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods In this prospective observational cohort study, 14 patients with ALS and 13 healthy controls underwent a multiparametric MRI protocol, including DTI of the sciatic nerve and assessment of muscle proton density fat fraction of the biceps femoris and the quadriceps femoris muscles by a multi-echo Dixon sequence. Results In ALS patients, mean fractional anisotropy values of the sciatic nerve were significantly lower than those of healthy controls. The quadriceps femoris, but not the biceps femoris muscle, showed significantly higher intramuscular fat fractions in ALS. Interpretation Our study provides evidence that multiparametric MRI protocols might help estimate structural nerve damage and neurogenic muscle changes in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Lichtenstein
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alina Sprenger
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kilian Weiss
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Philips Healthcare, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nils Große Hokamp
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - David Maintz
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marc Schlamann
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gereon R Fink
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Helmar C Lehmann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tobias D Henning
- Department of Neuroradiology, Center Hospital Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
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Zhao J, Stevens CH, Boyd AW, Ooi L, Bartlett PF. Role of EphA4 in Mediating Motor Neuron Death in MND. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9430. [PMID: 34502339 PMCID: PMC8430883 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron disease (MND) comprises a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases with no effective cure. As progressive motor neuron cell death is one of pathological characteristics of MND, molecules which protect these cells are attractive therapeutic targets. Accumulating evidence indicates that EphA4 activation is involved in MND pathogenesis, and inhibition of EphA4 improves functional outcomes. However, the underlying mechanism of EphA4's function in MND is unclear. In this review, we first present results to demonstrate that EphA4 signalling acts directly on motor neurons to cause cell death. We then review the three most likely mechanisms underlying this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhao
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Claire H. Stevens
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience and Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Andrew W. Boyd
- School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Lezanne Ooi
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience and Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Perry F. Bartlett
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
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Hannaford A, Vucic S, Kiernan MC, Simon NG. Review Article "Spotlight on Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Nerve Disease: The Evidence to Date". Int J Gen Med 2021; 14:4579-4604. [PMID: 34429642 PMCID: PMC8378935 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s295851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular ultrasound is rapidly becoming incorporated into clinical practice as a standard tool in the assessment of peripheral nerve diseases. Ultrasound complements clinical phenotyping and electrodiagnostic evaluation, providing critical structural anatomical information to enhance diagnosis and identify structural pathology. This review article examines the evidence supporting neuromuscular ultrasound in the diagnosis of compressive mononeuropathies, traumatic nerve injury, generalised peripheral neuropathy and motor neuron disease. Extending the sonographic evaluation of nerves beyond simple morphological measurements has the potential to improve diagnostics in peripheral neuropathy, as well as advancing the understanding of pathological mechanisms, which in turn will promote precise therapies and improve therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Hannaford
- Westmead Clinical School, Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Steve Vucic
- Westmead Clinical School, Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, University of Sydney and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Neil G Simon
- Northern Beaches Clinical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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Ta D, Ishaque A, Srivastava O, Hanstock C, Seres P, Eurich DT, Luk C, Briemberg H, Frayne R, Genge AL, Graham SJ, Korngut L, Zinman L, Kalra S. Progressive Neurochemical Abnormalities in Cognitive and Motor Subgroups of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Prospective Multicenter Study. Neurology 2021; 97:e803-e813. [PMID: 34426551 PMCID: PMC8397589 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000012367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate progressive cerebral degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by assessing alterations in N-acetylaspartate (NAA) ratios in the motor and prefrontal cortex within clinical subgroups of ALS. METHODS Seventy-six patients with ALS and 59 healthy controls were enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter study in the Canadian ALS Neuroimaging Consortium. Participants underwent serial clinical evaluations and magnetic resonance spectroscopy at baseline and 4 and 8 months using a harmonized protocol across 5 centers. NAA ratios were quantified in the motor cortex and prefrontal cortex. Patients were stratified into subgroups based on disease progression rate, upper motor neuron (UMN) signs, and cognitive status. Linear mixed models were used for baseline and longitudinal comparisons of NAA metabolite ratios. RESULTS Patients with ALS had reduced NAA ratios in the motor cortex at baseline (p < 0.001). Ratios were lower in those with more rapid disease progression and greater UMN signs (p < 0.05). A longitudinal decline in NAA ratios was observed in the motor cortex in the rapidly progressing (p < 0.01) and high UMN burden (p < 0.01) cohorts. The severity of UMN signs did not change significantly over time. NAA ratios were reduced in the prefrontal cortex only in cognitively impaired patients (p < 0.05); prefrontal cortex metabolites did not change over time. CONCLUSIONS Progressive degeneration of the motor cortex in ALS is associated with more aggressive clinical presentations. These findings provide biological evidence of variable spatial and temporal cerebral degeneration linked to the disease heterogeneity of ALS. The use of standardized imaging protocols may have a role in clinical trials for patient selection or subgrouping. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE This study provides Class II evidence that MRS NAA metabolite ratios of the motor cortex are associated with more rapid disease progression and greater UMN signs in patients with ALS. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02405182.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Ta
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Abdullah Ishaque
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ojas Srivastava
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chris Hanstock
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Seres
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dean T Eurich
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Collin Luk
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hannah Briemberg
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard Frayne
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angela L Genge
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Simon J Graham
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lawrence Korngut
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lorne Zinman
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sanjay Kalra
- From the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (D.T., A.I., O.S., S.K.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (C.H., P.S.), School of Public Health (D.T.E.), and Division of Neurology (C.L., S.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton; Division of Neurology (H.B.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Seaman Family MR Centre (R.F.) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (R.F., L.K.), University of Calgary, Alberta; Montreal Neurological Institute (A.L.G.), McGill University, Quebec; and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (S.J.G., L.Z.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Vucic S, Ferguson TA, Cummings C, Hotchkin MT, Genge A, Glanzman R, Roet KCD, Cudkowicz M, Kiernan MC. Gold Coast diagnostic criteria: Implications for ALS diagnosis and clinical trial enrollment. Muscle Nerve 2021; 64:532-537. [PMID: 34378224 DOI: 10.1002/mus.27392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Diagnostic criteria for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are complex, incorporating multiple levels of certainty from possible through to definite, and are thereby prone to error. Specifically, interrater variability was previously established to be poor, thereby limiting utility as diagnostic enrollment criteria for clinical trials. In addition, the different levels of diagnostic certainty do not necessarily reflect disease progression, adding confusion to the diagnostic algorithm. Realizing these inherent limitations, the World Federation of Neurology, the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology, the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations, the ALS Association (United States), and the Motor Neuron Disease Association convened a consensus meeting (Gold Coast, Australia, 2019) to consider the development of simpler criteria that better reflect clinical practice, and that could merge diagnostic categories into a single entity. The diagnostic accuracy of the novel Gold Coast criteria was subsequently interrogated through a large cross-sectional study, which established an increased sensitivity for ALS diagnosis when compared with previous criteria. Diagnostic accuracy was maintained irrespective of disease duration, functional status, or site of disease onset. Importantly, the Gold Coast criteria differentiated atypical phenotypes, such as primary lateral sclerosis, from the more typical ALS phenotype. It is proposed that the Gold Coast criteria should be incorporated into routine practice and clinical trial settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Vucic
- Westmead Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Angela Genge
- The Neuro, Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | | | - Merit Cudkowicz
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney & Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Toh TH, Abdul-Aziz NA, Yahya MA, Goh KJ, Loh EC, Capelle DP, Shahrizaila N. A model incorporating ultrasound to predict the probability of fast disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Neurophysiol 2021; 132:2722-2728. [PMID: 34312065 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.05.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to develop a model to predict amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease progression based on clinical and neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) parameters. METHODS ALS patients were prospectively recruited. Muscle fasciculation (≥2 over 30-seconds, examined in biceps brachii-brachialis (BB), brachioradialis, tibialis anterior and vastus medialis) and nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) (median, ulnar, tibial, fibular nerve) were evaluated through NMUS. Ultrasound parameters were correlated with clinical data, including revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) progression at one year. A predictive model was constructed to differentiate fast progressors (ALSFRS-R decline ≥ 1/month) from non-fast progressors. RESULTS 40 ALS patients were recruited. Three parameters emerged as strong predictors of fast progressors: (i) ALSFRS-R slope at time of NMUS (p = 0.041), (ii) BB fasciculation count (p = 0.027) and (iii) proximal to distal median nerve CSA ratio < 1.22 (p = 0.026). A predictive model (scores 0-5) was built with excellent discrimination (area under curve: 0.915). Using a score of ≥ 3, the model demonstrated good sensitivity (81.3%) and specificity (91.0%) in differentiating fast from non-fast progressors. CONCLUSION The current model is simple and can predict the probability of fast disease progression. SIGNIFICANCE This model has potential as a surrogate biomarker of ALS disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsun-Haw Toh
- Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nur Adilah Abdul-Aziz
- Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Azly Yahya
- Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Khean-Jin Goh
- Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ee-Chin Loh
- Palliative Care Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - David Paul Capelle
- Palliative Care Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nortina Shahrizaila
- Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Geevasinga N, Van den Bos M, Menon P, Vucic S. Utility of Transcranial Magnetic Simulation in Studying Upper Motor Neuron Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11070906. [PMID: 34356140 PMCID: PMC8304017 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11070906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterised by progressive dysfunction of the upper and lower motor neurons. The disease can evolve over time from focal limb or bulbar onset to involvement of other regions. There is some clinical heterogeneity in ALS with various phenotypes of the disease described, from primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy and flail arm/leg phenotypes. Whilst the majority of ALS patients are sporadic in nature, recent advances have highlighted genetic forms of the disease. Given the close relationship between ALS and frontotemporal dementia, the importance of cortical dysfunction has gained prominence. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive neurophysiological tool to explore the function of the motor cortex and thereby cortical excitability. In this review, we highlight the utility of TMS and explore cortical excitability in ALS diagnosis, pathogenesis and insights gained from genetic and variant forms of the disease.
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Barro C, Zetterberg H. The blood biomarkers puzzle - A review of protein biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 361:109281. [PMID: 34237384 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are heterogeneous in their cause and clinical presentation making clinical assessment and disease monitoring challenging. Because of this, there is an urgent need for objective tools such as fluid biomarkers able to quantitate different aspects of the disease. In the last decade, technological improvements and awareness of the importance of biorepositories led to the discovery of an evolving number of fluid biomarkers covering the main characteristics of neurodegenerative diseases such as neurodegeneration, protein aggregates and inflammation. The ability to quantitate each aspect of the disease at a high definition enables a more precise stratification of the patients at inclusion in clinical trials, hence reducing the noise that may hamper the detection of therapeutical efficacy and allowing for smaller but likewise powered studies, which particularly improves the ability to start clinical trials for rare neurological diseases. Moreover, the use of fluid biomarkers has the potential to support a targeted therapeutical intervention, as it is now emerging for the treatment of amyloid-beta deposition in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Here we review the knowledge that evolved from the measurement of fluid biomarker proteins in neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Barro
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden; Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden; Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK; Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong, China
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Vucic S, Pavey N, Haidar M, Turner BJ, Kiernan MC. Cortical hyperexcitability: Diagnostic and pathogenic biomarker of ALS. Neurosci Lett 2021; 759:136039. [PMID: 34118310 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cortical hyperexcitability is an early and intrinsic feature of both sporadic and familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).. Importantly, cortical hyperexcitability appears to be associated with motor neuron degeneration, possibly via an anterograde glutamate-mediated excitotoxic process, thereby forming a pathogenic basis for ALS. The presence of cortical hyperexcitability in ALS patients may be readily determined by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a neurophysiological tool that provides a non-invasive and painless method for assessing cortical function. Utilising the threshold tracking TMS technique, cortical hyperexcitability has been established as a robust diagnostic biomarker that distinguished ALS from mimicking disorders at early stages of the disease process. The present review discusses the pathophysiological and diagnostic utility of cortical hyperexcitability in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Vucic
- Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Nathan Pavey
- Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mouna Haidar
- Florey Institute of Neuroscieace and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bradley J Turner
- Florey Institute of Neuroscieace and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney and Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
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Thompson AG, Gray E, Charles PD, Hu MTM, Talbot K, Fischer R, Kessler BM, Turner MR. Network Analysis of the CSF Proteome Characterizes Convergent Pathways of Cellular Dysfunction in ALS. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:642324. [PMID: 33815045 PMCID: PMC8010303 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.642324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a clinical syndrome with complex biological determinants, but which in most cases is characterized by TDP-43 pathology. The identification in CSF of a protein signature of TDP-43 network dysfunction would have the potential to inform the identification of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. METHODS We compared CSF proteomic data from patients with ALS (n = 41), Parkinson's disease (n = 19) and healthy control participants (n = 20). Weighted correlation network analysis was used to identify modules within the CSF protein network and combined with gene ontology enrichment analysis to functionally annotate module proteins. Analysis of module eigenproteins and differential correlation analysis of the CSF protein network was used to compare ALS and Parkinson's disease protein co-correlation with healthy controls. In order to monitor temporal changes in the CSF proteome, we performed longitudinal analysis of the CSF proteome in a subset of ALS patients. RESULTS Weighted correlation network analysis identified 10 modules, including those enriched for terms involved in gene expression including nucleic acid binding, RNA metabolism and translation; humoral immune system function, including complement pathways; membrane proteins, axonal outgrowth and adherence; and glutamatergic synapses. Immune system module eigenproteins were increased in ALS, whilst axonal module eigenproteins were decreased in ALS. The 19 altered protein correlations in ALS were enriched for gene expression (OR 3.05, p = 0.017) and membrane protein modules (OR 17.48, p = 0.011), including intramodular hub proteins previously identified as TDP-43 interactors. Proteins decreasing over longitudinal analysis ALS were enriched in glutamatergic synapse and axonal outgrowth modules. Protein correlation network disruptions in Parkinson's disease showed no module enrichment. CONCLUSIONS Alterations in the co-correlation network in CSF samples identified a set of pathways known to be associated with TDP-43 dysfunction in the pathogenesis of ALS, with important implications for therapeutic targeting and biomarker development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander G. Thompson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Gray
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Philip D. Charles
- Target Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Michele T. M. Hu
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Roman Fischer
- Target Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Benedikt M. Kessler
- Target Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Martin R. Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Storti B, Diamanti S, Tremolizzo L, Riva N, Lunetta C, Filippi M, Ferrarese C, Appollonio I. ALS Mimics due to Affection of the Cervical Spine: From Common Compressive Myelopathy to Rare CSF Epidural Collection. Case Rep Neurol 2021; 13:145-156. [PMID: 33790773 PMCID: PMC7989791 DOI: 10.1159/000512810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a clinically heterogeneous disease, with chameleon presentations and several mimics. Considering the poor prognosis of ALS, their precise and timely identification is pivotal. Affection of the cervical spine represents one potential source of ALS mimics that should never be missed, since it is potentially treatable. We hereby present 5 cases initially diagnosed as ALS but eventually found to have different kinds of cervical spine affection, from a common compressive myelopathy to a rare space-occupying cystic fluid collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Storti
- Neurology Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, and School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Susanna Diamanti
- Neurology Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, and School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Lucio Tremolizzo
- Neurology Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, and School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Nilo Riva
- Neuropathology Unit, "San Raffaele" Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Christian Lunetta
- NEuroMuscular Omnicentre (NEMO), Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuropathology Unit, "San Raffaele" Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Ferrarese
- Neurology Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, and School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Ildebrando Appollonio
- Neurology Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, and School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
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40
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Hannaford A, Pavey N, van den Bos M, Geevasinga N, Menon P, Shefner JM, Kiernan MC, Vucic S. Diagnostic Utility of Gold Coast Criteria in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Ann Neurol 2021; 89:979-986. [PMID: 33565111 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains problematic, with current diagnostic criteria (revised El Escorial [rEEC] and Awaji) being complex and prone to error. Consequently, the diagnostic utility of the recently proposed Gold Coast criteria was determined in ALS. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 506 patients (302 males, 204 females) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the Gold Coast criteria to that of the Awaji and rEEC criteria (defined by the proportion of patients categorized as definite, probable, or possible ALS) in accordance with standards of reporting of diagnostic accuracy criteria. RESULTS The sensitivity of Gold Coast criteria (92%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 88.7-94.6%) was comparable to that of Awaji (90.3%, 95% CI = 86.69-93.2%) and rEEC (88.6, 95% CI = 84.8-91.7%) criteria. Additionally, the Gold Coast criteria sensitivity was maintained across different subgroups, defined by site of onset, disease duration, and functional disability. In atypical ALS phenotypes, the Gold Coast criteria exhibited greater sensitivity and specificity. INTERPRETATION The present study established the diagnostic utility of the Gold Coast criteria in ALS, with benefits evident in bulbar and limb onset disease patients, as well as atypical phenotypes. The Gold Coast criteria should be considered in clinical practice and therapeutic trials. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:979-986.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Hannaford
- Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nathan Pavey
- Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | - Parvathi Menon
- Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | - Steve Vucic
- Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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41
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Ranieri F, Mariotto S, Dubbioso R, Di Lazzaro V. Brain Stimulation as a Therapeutic Tool in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Current Status and Interaction With Mechanisms of Altered Cortical Excitability. Front Neurol 2021; 11:605335. [PMID: 33613416 PMCID: PMC7892772 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.605335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last 20 years, several modalities of neuromodulation, mainly based on non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, have been tested as a non-pharmacological therapeutic approach to slow disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In both sporadic and familial ALS cases, neurophysiological studies point to motor cortical hyperexcitability as a possible priming factor in neurodegeneration, likely related to dysfunction of both excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms. A trans-synaptic anterograde mechanism of excitotoxicity is thus postulated, causing upper and lower motor neuron degeneration. Specifically, motor neuron hyperexcitability and hyperactivity are attributed to intrinsic cell abnormalities related to altered ion homeostasis and to impaired glutamate and gamma aminobutyric acid gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling. Several neuropathological mechanisms support excitatory and synaptic dysfunction in ALS; additionally, hyperexcitability seems to drive DNA-binding protein 43-kDA (TDP-43) pathology, through the upregulation of unusual isoforms directly contributing to ASL pathophysiology. Corticospinal excitability can be suppressed or enhanced using NIBS techniques, namely, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), as well as invasive brain and spinal stimulation. Experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that the after-effects of NIBS are mediated by long-term potentiation (LTP)-/long-term depression (LTD)-like mechanisms of modulation of synaptic activity, with different biological and physiological mechanisms underlying the effects of tDCS and rTMS and, possibly, of different rTMS protocols. This potential has led to several small trials testing different stimulation interventions to antagonize excitotoxicity in ALS. Overall, these studies suggest a possible efficacy of neuromodulation in determining a slight reduction of disease progression, related to the type, duration, and frequency of treatment, but current evidence remains preliminary. Main limitations are the small number and heterogeneity of recruited patients, the limited "dosage" of brain stimulation that can be delivered in the hospital setting, the lack of a sufficient knowledge on the excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms targeted by specific stimulation interventions, and the persistent uncertainty on the key pathophysiological processes leading to motor neuron loss. The present review article provides an update on the state of the art of neuromodulation in ALS and a critical appraisal of the rationale for the application/optimization of brain stimulation interventions, in the light of their interaction with ALS pathophysiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Ranieri
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Sara Mariotto
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Raffaele Dubbioso
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
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Kiernan MC, Vucic S, Talbot K, McDermott CJ, Hardiman O, Shefner JM, Al-Chalabi A, Huynh W, Cudkowicz M, Talman P, Van den Berg LH, Dharmadasa T, Wicks P, Reilly C, Turner MR. Improving clinical trial outcomes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nat Rev Neurol 2021; 17:104-118. [PMID: 33340024 PMCID: PMC7747476 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-020-00434-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Individuals who are diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) today face the same historically intransigent problem that has existed since the initial description of the disease in the 1860s - a lack of effective therapies. In part, the development of new treatments has been hampered by an imperfect understanding of the biological processes that trigger ALS and promote disease progression. Advances in our understanding of these biological processes, including the causative genetic mutations, and of the influence of environmental factors have deepened our appreciation of disease pathophysiology. The consequent identification of pathogenic targets means that the introduction of effective therapies is becoming a realistic prospect. Progress in precision medicine, including genetically targeted therapies, will undoubtedly change the natural history of ALS. The evolution of clinical trial designs combined with improved methods for patient stratification will facilitate the translation of novel therapies into the clinic. In addition, the refinement of emerging biomarkers of therapeutic benefits is critical to the streamlining of care for individuals. In this Review, we synthesize these developments in ALS and discuss the further developments and refinements needed to accelerate the introduction of effective therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Steve Vucic
- Sydney Medical School Westmead, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Christopher J McDermott
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, Sheffield, UK
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Academic Neurology Unit, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- National Neuroscience Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jeremy M Shefner
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, Creighton University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - William Huynh
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Merit Cudkowicz
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul Talman
- Neurosciences Department, Barwon Health District, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leonard H Van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Thanuja Dharmadasa
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Paul Wicks
- Wicks Digital Health, Lichfield, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Reilly
- The Motor Neurone Disease Association of New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Clinically Applicable Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Morphologic Measurements of Grey Matter Changes in the Human Brain. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11010055. [PMID: 33466559 PMCID: PMC7824828 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11010055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Purpose: Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) measurements can be used to sensitively estimate brain morphological alterations and may support clinical diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases (ND). We aimed to establish a normative reference database for a clinical applicable quantitative MR morphologic measurement on neurodegenerative changes in patients; (2) Methods: Healthy subjects (HCs, n = 120) with an evenly distribution between 21 to 70 years and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients (n = 11, mean age = 52.45 ± 6.80 years), as an example of ND patients, underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations under routine diagnostic conditions. Regional cortical thickness (rCTh) in 68 regions of interest (ROIs) and subcortical grey matter volume (SGMV) in 14 ROIs were determined from all subjects by using Computational Anatomy Toolbox. Those derived from HCs were analyzed to determine age-related differences and subsequently used as reference to estimate ALS-related alterations; (3) Results: In HCs, the rCTh (in 49/68 regions) and the SGMV (in 9/14 regions) in elderly subjects were less than those in younger subjects and exhibited negative linear correlations to age (p < 0.0007 for rCTh and p < 0.004 for SGMV). In comparison to age- and sex-matched HCs, the ALS patients revealed significant decreases of rCTh in eight ROIs, majorly located in frontal and temporal lobes; (4) Conclusion: The present study proves an overall grey matter decline with normal ageing as reported previously. The provided reference may be used for detection of grey matter alterations in neurodegenerative diseases that are not apparent in standard MR scans, indicating the potential of using qMRI as an add-on diagnostic tool in a clinical setting.
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44
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Dean KE, Shen B, Askin G, Schweitzer AD, Shahbazi M, Wang Y, Lange D, Tsiouris AJ. A specific biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Quantitative susceptibility mapping. Clin Imaging 2021; 75:125-130. [PMID: 33548870 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2020.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Accurate and timely diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a diagnostic challenge given the lack of specific diagnostic and imaging biomarkers as well as the significant clinic overlap with mimic syndromes. We hypothesize that MR quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) can help differentiate ALS from mimic diagnoses. METHODS In a blinded retrospective study of MRIs with QSM from 2015 to 2018, we compared motor cortex susceptibility along the hand and face homunculi in ALS patients and patients with similar clinical presentations. Inclusion required a confirmed ALS or a mimic diagnosis. Comparative groups included age-matched patients with MRIs performed for non-motor neuron symptoms that were reported as normal or demonstrated leukoaraiosis. Quantitative susceptibility values were compared with ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer (post-hoc). ROC analysis and Youden's index were used to identify optimal cutoff values. RESULTS Fifty ALS, 35 mimic, and 70 non-motor neuron symptom patients (35 normal, 35 leukoaraiosis) were included. Hand and face homunculus mean susceptibility values were significantly higher in the ALS group compared to the mimic (p=0.001, p=0.004), leukoaraiosis (p<0.001, p=0.003), and normal (p<0.001, p<0.001) groups. ROC curve analysis comparing ALS to mimics resulted in an area under the curve of 0.71 and 0.67 for the hand and face homunculus measurements, respectively. In differentiating ALS from mimics, Youden's index showed 100% specificity and 36% sensitivity for hand homunculus measurements. CONCLUSIONS QSM has diagnostic potential in the assessment of suspected ALS patients, demonstrating very high specificity in differentiating ALS from mimic diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Dean
- Department of Radiology, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Beiyi Shen
- Department of Radiology, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Gulce Askin
- Department of Healthcare Policy & Research, Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew D Schweitzer
- Department of Radiology, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mona Shahbazi
- Department of Neurology, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Radiology, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dale Lange
- Department of Neurology, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA
| | - Apostolos John Tsiouris
- Department of Radiology, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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45
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Ma X, Lu F, Chen H, Hu C, Wang J, Zhang S, Zhang S, Yang G, Zhang J. Static and dynamic alterations in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10052. [PMID: 33194375 PMCID: PMC7643554 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Static changes in local brain activity in patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have been studied. However, the dynamic characteristics of local brain activity are poorly understood. Whether dynamic alterations could differentiate patients with ALS from healthy controls (HCs) remains unclear. Methods A total of 54 patients with ALS (mean age = 48.71 years, male/female = 36/18) and 54 (mean age = 48.30 years, male/female = 36/18) HCs underwent magnetic resonance imaging scans. To depict static alterations in cortical activity, amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) which measures the total power of regional activity was computed. Dynamic ALFF (d-ALFF) from all subjects was calculated using a sliding-window approach. Statistical differences in ALFF and d-ALFF between both groups were used as features to explore whether they could differentiate ALS from HC through support vector machine method. Results In contrast with HCs, patients with ALS displayed increased ALFF in the right inferior temporal gyrus and bilateral frontal gyrus and decreased ALFF in the left middle occipital gyrus and left precentral gyrus. Furthermore, patients with ALS demonstrated lower d-ALFF in widespread regions, including the right lingual gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, bilateral precentral gyrus, and left paracentral lobule by comparison with HCs. In addition, the ALFF in the left superior orbitofrontal gyrus had a tendency of correlation with ALSFRS-R score and disease progression rate. The classification performance in distinguishing ALS was higher with both features of ALFF and d-ALFF than that with a single approach. Conclusions Decreased dynamic brain activity in the precentral gyrus, paracentral gyrus, lingual gyrus, and temporal regions was found in the ALS group. The combined ALFF and d-ALFF could distinguish ALS from HCs with a higher accuracy than ALFF and d-ALFF alone. These findings may provide important evidence for understanding the neuropathology underlying ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xujing Ma
- Department of Medical Technology, Cangzhou Medical College, Cangzhou, China
| | - Fengmei Lu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, Chengdu, China.,MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, School of life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Heng Chen
- School of Medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Caihong Hu
- Department of Medical Technology, Cangzhou Medical College, Cangzhou, China
| | - Jiao Wang
- Department of Medical Technology, Cangzhou Medical College, Cangzhou, China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Department of Medical Technology, Cangzhou Medical College, Cangzhou, China
| | - Shuqin Zhang
- Department of Medical Technology, Cangzhou Medical College, Cangzhou, China
| | - Guiran Yang
- Department of Medical Technology, Cangzhou Medical College, Cangzhou, China
| | - Jiuquan Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Cancer Institute, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
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46
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Rojas P, Ramírez AI, Fernández-Albarral JA, López-Cuenca I, Salobrar-García E, Cadena M, Elvira-Hurtado L, Salazar JJ, de Hoz R, Ramírez JM. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Neurodegenerative Motor Neuron Disease With Ocular Involvement. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:566858. [PMID: 33071739 PMCID: PMC7544921 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.566858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes degeneration of the lower and upper motor neurons and is the most prevalent motor neuron disease. This disease is characterized by muscle weakness, stiffness, and hyperreflexia. Patients survive for a short period from the onset of the disease. Most cases are sporadic, with only 10% of the cases being genetic. Many genes are now known to be involved in familial ALS cases, including some of the sporadic cases. It has also been observed that, in addition to genetic factors, there are numerous molecular mechanisms involved in these pathologies, such as excitotoxicity, mitochondrial disorders, alterations in axonal transport, oxidative stress, accumulation of misfolded proteins, and neuroinflammation. This pathology affects the motor neurons, the spinal cord, the cerebellum, and the brain, but recently, it has been shown that it also affects the visual system. This impact occurs not only at the level of the oculomotor system but also at the retinal level, which is why the retina is being proposed as a possible biomarker of this pathology. The current review discusses the main aspects mentioned above related to ALS, such as the main genes involved, the most important molecular mechanisms that affect this pathology, its ocular involvement, and the possible usefulness of the retina as a biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Rojas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana I Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A Fernández-Albarral
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés López-Cuenca
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Salobrar-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Cadena
- Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorena Elvira-Hurtado
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan J Salazar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Tamborska A, Bashford J, Wickham A, Iniesta R, Masood U, Cabassi C, Planinc D, Hodson-Tole E, Drakakis E, Boutelle M, Mills K, Shaw C. Non-invasive measurement of fasciculation frequency demonstrates diagnostic accuracy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa141. [PMID: 33543131 PMCID: PMC7850269 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Delayed diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis prevents early entry into clinical trials at a time when neuroprotective therapies would be most effective. Fasciculations are an early hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, preceding muscle weakness and atrophy. To assess the potential diagnostic utility of fasciculations measured by high-density surface electromyography, we carried out 30-min biceps brachii recordings in 39 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 7 patients with benign fasciculation syndrome, 1 patient with multifocal motor neuropathy and 17 healthy individuals. We employed the surface potential quantification engine to compute fasciculation frequency, fasciculation amplitude and inter-fasciculation interval. Inter-group comparison was assessed by Welch’s analysis of variance. Logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic curves and decision trees discerned the diagnostic performance of these measures. Fasciculation frequency, median fasciculation amplitude and proportion of inter-fasciculation intervals <100 ms showed significant differences between the groups. In the best-fit regression model, increasing fasciculation frequency and median fasciculation amplitude were independently associated with the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Fasciculation frequency was the single best measure predictive of the disease, with an area under the curve of 0.89 (95% confidence interval 0.81–0.98). The cut-off of more than 14 fasciculation potentials per minute achieved 80% sensitivity (95% confidence interval 63–90%) and 96% specificity (95% confidence interval 78–100%). In conclusion, non-invasive measurement of fasciculation frequency at a single time-point reliably distinguished amyotrophic lateral sclerosis from its mimicking conditions and healthy individuals, warranting further research into its diagnostic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arina Tamborska
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - James Bashford
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Aidan Wickham
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Raquel Iniesta
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Urooba Masood
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Cristina Cabassi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Domen Planinc
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Emma Hodson-Tole
- Department of Life Sciences, Musculoskeletal Sciences and Sports Medicine Research Centre, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Martyn Boutelle
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Kerry Mills
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Chris Shaw
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
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Schreiber S, Vielhaber S, Schreiber F, Cartwright MS. Peripheral nerve imaging in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Neurophysiol 2020; 131:2315-2326. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2020.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Modgil S, Khosla R, Tiwari A, Sharma K, Anand A. Association of Plasma Biomarkers for Angiogenesis and Proteinopathy in Indian Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients. J Neurosci Rural Pract 2020; 11:573-580. [PMID: 33144793 PMCID: PMC7595776 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1714314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare motor neuron disease with progressive degeneration of motor neurons. Various molecules have been explored to provide the early diagnostic/prognostic tool for ALS without getting much success in the field and miscellaneous reports studied in various population. Objective The study was aimed to see the differential expression of proteins involved in angiogenesis (angiogenin [ANG], vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 [VEGFR2], etc), proteinopathy (transactive response DNA binding protein-43 [TDP-43] and optineurin [OPTN]), and neuroinflammation (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1[MCP-1]) based on the characteristics of ALS pathology. Though, suitable panel based on protein expression profile can be designed to robust the ALS identification by enhancing the prognostic and diagnostic efficacy for ALS. Methods A total of 89 ALS patients and 98 nonneurological controls were analyzed for the protein expression. Expression of angiogenic (VEGF, VEGFR2, and ANG), neuroinflammation (MCP-1), and proteinopathy (TDP-43 and OPTN) markers were estimated in plasma of the participants. Proteins were normalized with respective value of total protein before employing statistical analysis. Results Analysis has exhibited significantly reduced expression of angiogenic, proteinopathy, and neuroinflammation biomarkers in ALS patients in comparison to controls. Spearman's correlation analysis has showed the positive correlation to each protein. Conclusion Altered expression of these proteins is indicating the prominent function in ALS pathology which may be interdependent and may have a synergistic role. Hence, a panel of expression can be proposed to diagnose ALS patient which may also suggest the modulation of therapeutic strategy according to expression profile of patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Modgil
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Research Lab, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Radhika Khosla
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Research Lab, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Abha Tiwari
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Research Lab, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Kaushal Sharma
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Research Lab, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Akshay Anand
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Research Lab, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
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Different Clinical Contexts of Use of Blood Neurofilament Light Chain Protein in the Spectrum of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:4667-4691. [PMID: 32772223 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02035-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
One of the most pressing challenges in the clinical research of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) is the validation and standardization of pathophysiological biomarkers for different contexts of use (CoUs), such as early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of treatment response. Neurofilament light chain (NFL) concentration is a particularly promising candidate, an indicator of axonal degeneration, which can be analyzed in peripheral blood with advanced ultrasensitive methods. Serum/plasma NFL concentration is closely correlated with cerebrospinal fluid NFL and directly reflects neurodegeneration within the central nervous system. Here, we provide an update on the feasible CoU of blood NFL in NDDs and translate recent findings to potentially valuable clinical practice applications. As NFL is not a disease-specific biomarker, however, blood NFL is an easily accessible biomarker with promising different clinical applications for several NDDs: (1) early detection and diagnosis (i.e., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, atypical parkinsonisms, sporadic late-onset ataxias), (2) prognosis (Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease), and (3) prediction of time to symptom onset (presymptomatic mutation carriers in genetic Alzheimer's disease and spinocerebellar ataxia type 3).
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