51
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Costa MDC, Radzwion M, McLoughlin HS, Ashraf NS, Fischer S, Shakkottai VG, Maciel P, Paulson HL, Öz G. In Vivo Molecular Signatures of Cerebellar Pathology in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. Mov Disord 2020; 35:1774-1786. [PMID: 32621646 PMCID: PMC7572607 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND No treatment exists for the most common dominantly inherited ataxia Machado-Joseph disease, or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). Successful evaluation of candidate therapeutics will be facilitated by validated noninvasive biomarkers of disease pathology recapitulated by animal models. OBJECTIVE We sought to identify shared in vivo neurochemical signatures in two mouse models of SCA3 that reflect the human disease pathology. METHODS Cerebellar neurochemical concentrations in homozygous YACMJD84.2 (Q84/Q84) and hemizygous CMVMJD135 (Q135) mice were measured by in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 9.4 tesla. To validate the neurochemical biomarkers, levels of neurofilament medium (NFL; indicator of neuroaxonal integrity) and myelin basic protein (MBP; indicator of myelination) were measured in cerebellar lysates from a subset of mice and patients with SCA3. Finally, NFL and MBP levels were measured in the cerebellar extracts of Q84/Q84 mice upon silencing of the mutant ATXN3 gene. RESULTS Both Q84/Q84 and Q135 mice displayed lower N-acetylaspartate than wild-type littermates, indicating neuroaxonal loss/dysfunction, and lower myo-inositol and total choline, indicating disturbances in phospholipid membrane metabolism and demyelination. Cerebellar NFL and MBP levels were accordingly lower in both models as well as in the cerebellar cortex of patients with SCA3 than controls. Importantly, N-acetylaspartate and total choline correlated with NFL and MPB, respectively, in Q135 mice. Long-term sustained RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated reduction of ATXN3 levels increased NFL and MBP in Q84/Q84 cerebella. CONCLUSIONS N-acetylaspartate, myo-inositol, and total choline levels in the cerebellum are candidate biomarkers of neuroaxonal and oligodendrocyte pathology in SCA3, aspects of pathology that are reversible by RNAi therapy. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Radzwion
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Naila S. Ashraf
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Svetlana Fischer
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vikram G. Shakkottai
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Departments of Molecular & Integrative Physiology and of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal
| | - Henry L. Paulson
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gülin Öz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Wan N, Chen Z, Wan L, Tang B, Jiang H. MR Imaging of SCA3/MJD. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:749. [PMID: 32848545 PMCID: PMC7417615 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD) is a progressive autosomal dominantly inherited cerebellar ataxia characterized by the aggregation of polyglutamine-expanded protein within neuronal nuclei in the brain, which can lead to brain damage that precedes the onset of clinical manifestations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques such as morphometric MRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) have gained increasing attention as non-invasive and quantitative methods for the assessment of structural and functional alterations in clinical SCA3/MJD patients as well as preclinical carriers. Morphometric MRI has demonstrated typical patterns of atrophy or volume loss in the cerebellum and brainstem with extensive lesions in some supratentorial areas. DTI has detected widespread microstructural alterations in brain white matter, which indicate disrupted brain anatomical connectivity. Task-related fMRI has presented unusual brain activation patterns within the cerebellum and some extracerebellar tissue, reflecting the decreased functional connectivity of these brain regions in SCA3/MJD subjects. MRS has revealed abnormal neurochemical profiles, such as the levels or ratios of N-acetyl aspartate, choline, and creatine, in both clinical cases and preclinical cases before the alterations in brain anatomical structure. Moreover, a number of studies have reported correlations of MR imaging alterations with clinical and genetic features. The utility of these MR imaging techniques can help to identify preclinical SCA3/MJD carriers, monitor disease progression, evaluate response to therapeutic interventions, and illustrate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the occurrence, development, and prognosis of SCA3/MJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Wan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhao Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Linlin Wan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
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53
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Lin CC, Ashizawa T, Kuo SH. Collaborative Efforts for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Research in the United States: CRC-SCA and READISCA. Front Neurol 2020; 11:902. [PMID: 32982927 PMCID: PMC7479060 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias are progressive neurodegenerative disorders primarily affecting the cerebellum. Although the first disease-causing gene was identified nearly 30 years ago, there is no known cure to date, and only a few options exist for symptomatic treatment, with modest effects. The recently developed tools in molecular biology, such as CRISPR/Cas9 and antisense oligonucleotides, can directly act on the disease mechanisms at the genomic or RNA level in disease models. In a nutshell, we are finally just one step away from clinical trials with therapies targeting the underlying genetic cause. However, we still face the challenges for rare neurodegenerative diseases: difficulty in obtaining a large cohort size for sufficient statistical power and the need for biomarkers and clinical outcome assessments (COA) with adequate sensitivity to reflect progression or treatment responses. To overcome these obstacles, ataxia experts form research networks for clinical trial readiness. In this review, we retrace our steps of the collaborative efforts among ataxia researchers in the United States over the years to study and treat these relentless disorders and the future directions of such research networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Chun Lin
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Initiative for Columbia Ataxia and Tremor, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tetsuo Ashizawa
- Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sheng-Han Kuo
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Initiative for Columbia Ataxia and Tremor, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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54
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Wilke C, Haas E, Reetz K, Faber J, Garcia‐Moreno H, Santana MM, van de Warrenburg B, Hengel H, Lima M, Filla A, Durr A, Melegh B, Masciullo M, Infante J, Giunti P, Neumann M, de Vries J, Pereira de Almeida L, Rakowicz M, Jacobi H, Schüle R, Kaeser SA, Kuhle J, Klockgether T, Schöls L, Barro C, Hübener‐Schmid J, Synofzik M. Neurofilaments in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3: blood biomarkers at the preataxic and ataxic stage in humans and mice. EMBO Mol Med 2020; 12:e11803. [PMID: 32510847 PMCID: PMC7338806 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201911803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
With molecular treatments coming into reach for spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), easily accessible, cross-species validated biomarkers for human and preclinical trials are warranted, particularly for the preataxic disease stage. We assessed serum levels of neurofilament light (NfL) and phosphorylated neurofilament heavy (pNfH) in ataxic and preataxic subjects of two independent multicentric SCA3 cohorts and in a SCA3 knock-in mouse model. Ataxic SCA3 subjects showed increased levels of both NfL and pNfH. In preataxic subjects, NfL levels increased with proximity to the individual expected onset of ataxia, with significant NfL elevations already 7.5 years before onset. Cross-sectional NfL levels correlated with both disease severity and longitudinal disease progression. Blood NfL and pNfH increases in human SCA3 were each paralleled by similar changes in SCA3 knock-in mice, here also starting already at the presymptomatic stage, closely following ataxin-3 aggregation and preceding Purkinje cell loss in the brain. Blood neurofilaments, particularly NfL, might thus provide easily accessible, cross-species validated biomarkers in both ataxic and preataxic SCA3, associated with earliest neuropathological changes, and serve as progression, proximity-to-onset and, potentially, treatment-response markers in both human and preclinical SCA3 trials.
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55
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Piccinin CC, Rezende TJR, de Paiva JLR, Moysés PC, Martinez ARM, Cendes F, França MC. A 5-Year Longitudinal Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. Mov Disord 2020; 35:1679-1684. [PMID: 32515873 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The natural history of neurodegeneration in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado Joseph disease is still unclear. Here, we built a long-term longitudinal clinical and neuroimaging study to address this point. METHODS Twenty-three patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado Joseph disease and 22 healthy controls underwent 3T MRI twice 5.0 years apart. T1 and diffusion tensor imaging sequences were obtained. We used T1 multiatlas, diffusion tensor imaging multiatlas, SpineSeg, and CERES-SUIT for cerebral gray and white matter, spinal cord and cerebellar analyses, respectively. Clinical severity was assessed with scale for assessment and rating of ataxia. Analysis of covariance evaluated longitudinal between-group changes. Effect sizes were calculated for each significant result. RESULTS Progressive volumetric abnormalities were most evident in the cerebellum (Lobule X and Crus II; effect size, 2.0), followed by the basal ganglia (effect size, 0.7). The cerebellar peduncles had the largest white-matter diffusivity changes (effect size, 1.29). Scale for assessment and rating of ataxia-related effect size was 0.82. We failed to identify progressive spinal cord abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS Longitudinal changes in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado Joseph disease are more evident in the cerebellum and connections, followed by the basal ganglia. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Callegari Piccinin
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.,Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Thiago Junqueira Ribeiro Rezende
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Campinas, Brazil.,Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Pedro Cury Moysés
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.,Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Alberto Rolim Muro Martinez
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Campinas, Brazil.,Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Fernando Cendes
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Campinas, Brazil.,Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Marcondes Cavalcante França
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Campinas, Brazil.,Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
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56
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Park YW, Joers JM, Guo B, Hutter D, Bushara K, Adanyeguh IM, Eberly LE, Öz G, Lenglet C. Assessment of Cerebral and Cerebellar White Matter Microstructure in Spinocerebellar Ataxias 1, 2, 3, and 6 Using Diffusion MRI. Front Neurol 2020; 11:411. [PMID: 32581994 PMCID: PMC7287151 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of imaging biomarkers for rare neurodegenerative diseases such as spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is important to non-invasively track progression of disease pathology and monitor response to interventions. Diffusion MRI (dMRI) has been shown to identify cross-sectional degeneration of white matter (WM) microstructure and connectivity between healthy controls and patients with SCAs, using various analysis methods. In this paper, we present dMRI data in SCAs type 1, 2, 3, and 6 and matched controls, including longitudinal acquisitions at 12–24-month intervals in a subset of the cohort, with up to 5 visits. The SCA1 cohort also contained 3 premanifest patients at baseline, with 2 showing ataxia symptoms at the time of the follow-up scans. We focused on two aspects: first, multimodal evaluation of the dMRI data in a cross-sectional approach, and second, longitudinal trends in dMRI data in SCAs. Three different pipelines were used to perform cross-sectional analyses in WM: region of interest (ROI), tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS), and fixel-based analysis (FBA). We further analyzed longitudinal changes in dMRI metrics throughout the brain using ROI-based analysis. Both ROI and TBSS analyses identified higher mean (MD), axial (AD), and radial (RD) diffusivity and lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the cerebellum for all SCAs compared to controls, as well as some cerebral alterations in SCA1, 2, and 3. FBA showed lower fiber density (FD) and fiber crossing (FC) regions similar to those identified by ROI and TBSS analyses. FBA also highlighted corticospinal tract (CST) abnormalities, which was not detected by the other two pipelines. Longitudinal ROI-based analysis showed significant increase in AD in the middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) for patients with SCA1, suggesting that the MCP may be a good candidate region to monitor disease progression. The patient who remained symptom-free throughout the study displayed no microstructural abnormalities. On the other hand, the two patients who were at the premanifest stage at baseline, and showed ataxia symptoms in their follow-up visits, displayed AD values in the MCP that were already in the range of symptomatic patients with SCA1 at their baseline visit, demonstrating that microstructural abnormalities are detectable prior to the onset of ataxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Woo Park
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - James M Joers
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Bin Guo
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Diane Hutter
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Khalaf Bushara
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Isaac M Adanyeguh
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Lynn E Eberly
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States.,Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Gülin Öz
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Christophe Lenglet
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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57
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Horimoto Y, Hayashi E, Ito Y, Iida A, Goto Y, Kato S, Okita K, Kako T, Sato C, Tajima T, Inagaki A, Nokura K, Hibino H, Matsukawa N, Yamada K, Kabasawa H. Dopaminergic function in spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 patients with and without parkinsonism. J Neurol 2020; 267:2692-2696. [PMID: 32440919 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-020-09908-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although pure cerebellar ataxia is usually emphasized as the characteristic clinical feature of spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6), parkinsonism has been repeatedly described in patients with genetically confirmed SCA6. METHODS We conducted a positron emission tomography study using a combination of [18F]fluoro-L-dopa for dopamine synthesis and [11C]raclopride for dopamine D2 receptor function on six genetically confirmed SCA6 patients, both with and without parkinsonism. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first dopamine receptor imaging study of patients with SCA6. RESULTS Most patients had somewhat decreased dopaminergic function, and this decrease was significant in the caudate nucleus. In addition, one SCA6 patient with parkinsonism had whole striatal dysfunction of both dopamine synthesis and dopamine D2 receptor function. CONCLUSIONS The pathology of SCA6 may not be restricted to the cerebellum, but may also be distributed across various regions, including in both presynaptic and postsynaptic dopaminergic neurons to some degree. Patients with SCA6 may show apparent parkinsonism after the progression of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiko Horimoto
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center, 1-2, Mikan-yama, Yatomi-cho, Mizuho, Nagoya, 467-8622, Japan.
| | - Emi Hayashi
- Department of Radiology, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center, Nagoya, Japan.,Department of Planning and Research, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Ito
- Department of Radiology, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center, Nagoya, Japan.,Department of Planning and Research, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Akihiko Iida
- Department of Radiology, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yoji Goto
- Department of Neurology, Japanese Red Cross Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shigenori Kato
- Department of Neurology, Japanese Red Cross Nagoya Daini Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kenji Okita
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tetsuharu Kako
- Department of Neurology, Bantane Hospital, Fujita Health University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Chikako Sato
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center, 1-2, Mikan-yama, Yatomi-cho, Mizuho, Nagoya, 467-8622, Japan
| | - Toshihisa Tajima
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center, 1-2, Mikan-yama, Yatomi-cho, Mizuho, Nagoya, 467-8622, Japan.,Department of Planning and Research, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Aki Inagaki
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center, 1-2, Mikan-yama, Yatomi-cho, Mizuho, Nagoya, 467-8622, Japan
| | - Kazuya Nokura
- Department of Neurology, Bantane Hospital, Fujita Health University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Hibino
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center, 1-2, Mikan-yama, Yatomi-cho, Mizuho, Nagoya, 467-8622, Japan
| | | | - Kazuo Yamada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hidehiro Kabasawa
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center, 1-2, Mikan-yama, Yatomi-cho, Mizuho, Nagoya, 467-8622, Japan
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58
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Ramirez-Garcia G, Galvez V, Diaz R, Bayliss L, Fernandez-Ruiz J, Campos-Romo A. Longitudinal atrophy characterization of cortical and subcortical gray matter in Huntington's disease patients. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 51:1827-1843. [PMID: 31705594 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease with clinical manifestations that involve motor, cognitive and psychiatric deficits. Cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have described the main cortical and subcortical macrostructural atrophy of HD. However, longitudinal studies characterizing progressive atrophy are lacking. This study aimed to describe the cortical and subcortical gray matter atrophy using complementary volumetric and surface-based MRI analyses in a cohort of seventeen early HD patients in a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis and to correlate the longitudinal volumetric atrophy with the functional decline using several clinical measures. A group of seventeen healthy individuals was included as controls. After obtaining structural MRIs, volumetric analyses were performed in 36 cortical and 7 subcortical regions of interest per hemisphere and surface-based analyses were performed in the whole cortex, caudate, putamen and thalamus. Cross-sectional cortical surface-based and volumetric analyses showed significant decreases in frontoparietal and temporo-occipital cortices, while subcortical volumetric analysis showed significant decreases in all subcortical structures except the hippocampus. The longitudinal surface-based analysis showed widespread cortical thinning with volumetric decreases in the superior frontal lobe, while a subcortical volumetric decrease occurred in the caudate, putamen and thalamus with shape deformation on the anterior, medial and dorsal side. Functional capacity and motor status decline correlated with caudate progressive atrophy, while cognitive decline correlated with left superior frontal and right paracentral progressive atrophy. These results provide new insights into progressive volumetric and surface-based morphometric atrophy of gray matter in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Ramirez-Garcia
- Unidad Periférica de Neurociencias, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía "MVS", Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Víctor Galvez
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias Cognitivas y Desarrollo, Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Panamericana, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Rosalinda Diaz
- Laboratorio de Neuropsicología, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Leo Bayliss
- Departamento de Neurología, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía "MVS", Ciudad de México, México
| | - Juan Fernandez-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Neuropsicología, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México.,Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Ciudad de México, México.,Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Veracruzana, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Aurelio Campos-Romo
- Unidad Periférica de Neurociencias, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía "MVS", Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
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59
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Jao CW, Soong BW, Huang CW, Duan CA, Wu CC, Wu YT, Wang PS. Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Differentiating Multiple System Atrophy Cerebellar Type and Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. Brain Sci 2019; 9:E354. [PMID: 31817016 PMCID: PMC6956111 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9120354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy cerebellar type (MSA-C) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) demonstrate similar manifestations, including ataxia, pyramidal and extrapyramidal signs, as well as atrophy and signal intensity changes in the cerebellum and brainstem. MSA-C and SCA3 cannot be clinically differentiated through T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alone; therefore, clinical consensus criteria and genetic testing are also required. Here, we used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to measure water molecular diffusion of white matter and investigate the difference between MSA-C and SCA3. Four measurements were calculated from DTI images, including fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), and mean diffusivity (MD). Fifteen patients with MSA-C, 15 patients with SCA3, and 30 healthy individuals participated in this study. Both patient groups demonstrated a significantly decreased FA but a significantly increased AD, RD, and MD in the cerebello-ponto-cerebral tracts. Moreover, patients with SCA3 demonstrated a significant decrease in FA but more significant increases in AD, RD, and MD in the cerebello-cerebral tracts than patients with MSAC. Our results may suggest that FA and MD can be effectively used for differentiating SCA3 and MSA-C, both of which are cerebellar ataxias and have many common atrophied regions in the cerebral and cerebellar cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Wen Jao
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (C.-W.J.); (C.-W.H.); (C.-A.D.)
- Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Shin-Kong Wu Ho Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei 11101, Taiwan
| | - Bing-Wen Soong
- Taipei Neuroscience Institute, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11041, Taiwan;
- Department of Neurology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Wen Huang
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (C.-W.J.); (C.-W.H.); (C.-A.D.)
| | - Chien-An Duan
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (C.-W.J.); (C.-W.H.); (C.-A.D.)
| | - Chih-Chun Wu
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Te Wu
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (C.-W.J.); (C.-W.H.); (C.-A.D.)
- Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Po-Shan Wang
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; (C.-W.J.); (C.-W.H.); (C.-A.D.)
- Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
- The Neurological Institute, Taipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital, Taipei 11261, Taiwan
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60
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Li QF, Dong Y, Yang L, Xie JJ, Ma Y, Du YC, Cheng HL, Ni W, Wu ZY. Neurofilament light chain is a promising serum biomarker in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Mol Neurodegener 2019; 14:39. [PMID: 31684998 PMCID: PMC6829913 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-019-0338-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common subtype of autosomal dominantly inherited spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). No validated blood biomarker is available to assess either disease progression or therapeutic response. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) was recently proposed as a serum biomarker for many neurodegenerative disorders. The present study investigated whether NfL was a promising serum biomarker for SCA3. METHODS Seventeen SCA3 patients and 9 controls were enrolled in cohort A, and 116 SCA3 individuals (preclinical and patients) and 91 controls were recruited as cohort B. We assessed whether serum NfL correlated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NfL in cohort A and correlations between serum NfL levels and clinical features and brain volumes were determined in cohort B. The single-molecule array method was used to measure serum NfL levels. Disease severity was determined using the scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) and the international cooperative ataxia rating scale (ICARS). Cerebellar and brainstem volumes were assessed using MRI neuroimaging measurements. RESULTS Serum/CSF NfL levels in cohort A were elevated in SCA3 patients, and serum and CSF NfL exhibited a significant positive correlation (r = 0.9179, p < 0.0001). Levels of serum NfL in cohort B were significantly higher in preclinical SCA3 (15.03 ± 7.49 vs 6.88 ± 2.72 pg/ mL, p < 0.0001) and manifest SCA3 subjects (37.56 ± 13.47 vs 9.07 ± 6.02 pg/ mL, p < 0.0001) compared to those in controls. Serum NfL concentrations increased from early disease stage to the next stage. Levels of serum NfL in ATXN3 mutation carriers were positively associated with SARA (r = 0.5458, p < 0.0001) and ICARS scores (r = 0.5522, p < 0.0001). Significant negative associations with cerebellar volumes (r = - 0.4217, p = 0.0003) and brainstem volumes (r = - 0.4263, p = 0.0003) were observed. All changes remained significant after adjustment for age and CAG repeat. CONCLUSIONS Levels of serum NfL were significantly elevated in SCA3 individuals and correlated with disease severity. Serum NfL is a promising serum biomarker of disease onset and progression, and a potential candidate biomarker of treatment response in SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan-Fu Li
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Yi Dong
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Lu Yang
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Juan-Juan Xie
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Yin Ma
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Yi-Chu Du
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Hao-Ling Cheng
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wang Ni
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Zhi-Ying Wu
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
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Nóbrega C, Mendonça L, Marcelo A, Lamazière A, Tomé S, Despres G, Matos CA, Mechmet F, Langui D, den Dunnen W, de Almeida LP, Cartier N, Alves S. Restoring brain cholesterol turnover improves autophagy and has therapeutic potential in mouse models of spinocerebellar ataxia. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 138:837-858. [PMID: 31197505 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-02019-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are devastating neurodegenerative disorders for which no curative or preventive therapies are available. Deregulation of brain cholesterol metabolism and impaired brain cholesterol turnover have been associated with several neurodegenerative diseases. SCA3 or Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is the most prevalent ataxia worldwide. We show that cholesterol 24-hydroxylase (CYP46A1), the key enzyme allowing efflux of brain cholesterol and activating brain cholesterol turnover, is decreased in cerebellar extracts from SCA3 patients and SCA3 mice. We investigated whether reinstating CYP46A1 expression would improve the disease phenotype of SCA3 mouse models. We show that administration of adeno-associated viral vectors encoding CYP46A1 to a lentiviral-based SCA3 mouse model reduces mutant ataxin-3 accumulation, which is a hallmark of SCA3, and preserves neuronal markers. In a transgenic SCA3 model with a severe motor phenotype we confirm that cerebellar delivery of AAVrh10-CYP46A1 is strongly neuroprotective in adult mice with established pathology. CYP46A1 significantly decreases ataxin-3 protein aggregation, alleviates motor impairments and improves SCA3-associated neuropathology. In particular, improvement in Purkinje cell number and reduction of cerebellar atrophy are observed in AAVrh10-CYP46A1-treated mice. Conversely, we show that knocking-down CYP46A1 in normal mouse brain impairs cholesterol metabolism, induces motor deficits and produces strong neurodegeneration with impairment of the endosomal-lysosomal pathway, a phenotype closely resembling that of SCA3. Remarkably, we demonstrate for the first time both in vitro, in a SCA3 cellular model, and in vivo, in mouse brain, that CYP46A1 activates autophagy, which is impaired in SCA3, leading to decreased mutant ataxin-3 deposition. More broadly, we show that the beneficial effect of CYP46A1 is also observed with mutant ataxin-2 aggregates. Altogether, our results confirm a pivotal role for CYP46A1 and brain cholesterol metabolism in neuronal function, pointing to a key contribution of the neuronal cholesterol pathway in mechanisms mediating clearance of aggregate-prone proteins. This study identifies CYP46A1 as a relevant therapeutic target not only for SCA3 but also for other SCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clévio Nóbrega
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
- Algarve Biomedical Center, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Liliana Mendonça
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Adriana Marcelo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Antonin Lamazière
- INSERM, Saint-Antoine Research Center, Sorbonne Université, Faculté de Médecine, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint Antoine, Département PM2, Paris, France
| | - Sandra Tomé
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Gaetan Despres
- INSERM, Saint-Antoine Research Center, Sorbonne Université, Faculté de Médecine, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint Antoine, Département PM2, Paris, France
| | - Carlos A Matos
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Fatich Mechmet
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Dominique Langui
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, INSERM U1127, CNRS UMR7225, Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Wilfred den Dunnen
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Luis Pereira de Almeida
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Nathalie Cartier
- INSERM U1169 92265 Fontenay aux Roses and Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris Saclay, 91400, Orsay, France.
- INSERM U1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47 bd de l'hôpital, 75013, Paris, France.
| | - Sandro Alves
- Brainvectis, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47 boulevard de l'Hôpital Paris, 75646, Paris, CEDEX 13, France.
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Srinivasan SR, Shakkottai VG. Moving Towards Therapy in SCA1: Insights from Molecular Mechanisms, Identification of Novel Targets, and Planning for Human Trials. Neurotherapeutics 2019; 16:999-1008. [PMID: 31338702 PMCID: PMC6985354 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-019-00763-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of neurodegenerative disorders inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. The SCAs result in progressive gait imbalance, incoordination of the limbs, speech changes, and oculomotor dysfunction, among other symptoms. Over the past few decades, significant strides have been made in understanding the pathogenic mechanisms underlying these diseases. Although multiple efforts using a combination of genetics and pharmacology with small molecules have been made towards developing new therapeutics, no FDA approved treatment currently exists. In this review, we focus on SCA1, a common SCA subtype, in which some of the greatest advances have been made in understanding disease biology, and consequently potential therapeutic targets. Understanding of the underlying basic biology and targets of therapy in SCA1 is likely to give insight into treatment strategies in other SCAs. The diversity of the biology in the SCAs, and insight from SCA1 suggests, however, that both shared treatment strategies and specific approaches tailored to treat distinct genetic causes of SCA are likely needed for this group of devastating neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vikram G Shakkottai
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, 4009 BSRB, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA.
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63
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Abstract
The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) comprise more than 40 autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorders that present principally with progressive ataxia. Within the past few years, studies of pathogenic mechanisms in the SCAs have led to the development of promising therapeutic strategies, especially for SCAs caused by polyglutamine-coding CAG repeats. Nucleotide-based gene-silencing approaches that target the first steps in the pathogenic cascade are one promising approach not only for polyglutamine SCAs but also for the many other SCAs caused by toxic mutant proteins or RNA. For these and other emerging therapeutic strategies, well-coordinated preparation is needed for fruitful clinical trials. To accomplish this goal, investigators from the United States and Europe are now collaborating to share data from their respective SCA cohorts. Increased knowledge of the natural history of SCAs, including of the premanifest and early symptomatic stages of disease, will improve the prospects for success in clinical trials of disease-modifying drugs. In addition, investigators are seeking validated clinical outcome measures that demonstrate responsiveness to changes in SCA populations. Findings suggest that MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy biomarkers will provide objective biological readouts of disease activity and progression, but more work is needed to establish disease-specific biomarkers that track target engagement in therapeutic trials. Together, these efforts suggest that the development of successful therapies for one or more SCAs is not far away.
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64
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Deelchand DK, Joers JM, Ravishankar A, Lyu T, Emir UE, Hutter D, Gomez CM, Bushara KO, Lenglet C, Eberly LE, Öz G. Sensitivity of Volumetric Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to Progression of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2019; 6:549-558. [PMID: 31538089 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.12804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) causes progressive degeneration of the cerebellum and brainstem. Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was shown to be more sensitive to disease progression than the most sensitive clinical measure, the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), in longitudinal studies, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was shown to detect neurochemical abnormalities with high sensitivity cross-sectionally in SCA1. Objectives The objectives of this study were to compare the sensitivities to change of volumetric MRI, MRS, and SARA in a 3-year longitudinal study in SCA1. Methods A total of 16 early-to-moderate stage patients with SCA1 (SARA 0-14) and 21 matched healthy participants were scanned up to 3 times with 1.5-year intervals. Ataxia severity was assessed with SARA. T1-weighted images and magnetic resonance spectra from the cerebellar vermis, cerebellar white matter, and pons were acquired at 3T. Results The pontine total N-acetylaspartate-to-myo-inositol ratio was the most sensitive MRS measure to change (-3.9 ± 4.6%/yr in SCA1 vs. -0.3 ± 3.5%/yr in controls; P < 0.02), and the pontine volume was the most sensitive MRI measure to change (-2.6 ± 1.2%/yr in SCA1 vs. -0.1 ± 1.2 in controls; P < 0.02). Effect size (mean percent change/standard deviation of percent change) of pontine volume was highest (-2.13) followed by pontine N-acetylaspartate-to-myo-inositol ratio (-0.84) and SARA (+0.60). The pontine N-acetylaspartate-to-myo-inositol ratio was abnormal for 1 premanifest patient at all visits and predicted study withdrawal as a result of disease progression in 3 patients. Conclusion Both MRI and MRS were more sensitive to disease progression than SARA in SCA1. Pontine volume was most sensitive to change, whereas MRS may have more sensitivity at the premanifest stage and predictive value for disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh K Deelchand
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA
| | - James M Joers
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA
| | | | - Tianmeng Lyu
- Division of Biostatistics University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA
| | - Uzay E Emir
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA
| | - Diane Hutter
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA
| | | | - Khalaf O Bushara
- Department of Neurology University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA
| | - Christophe Lenglet
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA
| | - Lynn E Eberly
- Division of Biostatistics University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA
| | - Gülin Öz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA
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65
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Juliano AF, Policeni B, Agarwal V, Burns J, Bykowski J, Harvey HB, Hoang JK, Hunt CH, Kennedy TA, Moonis G, Pannell JS, Parsons MS, Powers WJ, Rosenow JM, Schroeder JW, Slavin K, Whitehead MT, Corey AS. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Ataxia. J Am Coll Radiol 2019; 16:S44-S56. [PMID: 31054758 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2019.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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66
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Abstract
The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a genetically heterogeneous group of autosomal dominantly inherited progressive disorders, the clinical hallmark of which is loss of balance and coordination accompanied by slurred speech; onset is most often in adult life. Genetically, SCAs are grouped as repeat expansion SCAs, such as SCA3/Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), and rare SCAs that are caused by non-repeat mutations, such as SCA5. Most SCA mutations cause prominent damage to cerebellar Purkinje neurons with consecutive cerebellar atrophy, although Purkinje neurons are only mildly affected in some SCAs. Furthermore, other parts of the nervous system, such as the spinal cord, basal ganglia and pontine nuclei in the brainstem, can be involved. As there is currently no treatment to slow or halt SCAs (many SCAs lead to premature death), the clinical care of patients with SCA focuses on managing the symptoms through physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Intense research has greatly expanded our understanding of the pathobiology of many SCAs, revealing that they occur via interrelated mechanisms (including proteotoxicity, RNA toxicity and ion channel dysfunction), and has led to the identification of new targets for treatment development. However, the development of effective therapies is hampered by the heterogeneity of the SCAs; specific therapeutic approaches may be required for each disease.
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67
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Wu C, Cai Q, You H, Zhou X, Chen D, Mo G, Li X. Co-occurrence of ATXN3 and ATXN2 repeat expansions in Chinese ataxia patients with slow saccades. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2019; 7:e663. [PMID: 30920184 PMCID: PMC6565543 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The presence of more than one polyQ‐related gene within a single individual is a rare incidence, which may provide the potential opportunity to study the combined effects of these spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) genes. Methods We retrospectively analyzed genetic data from 112 SCA3 probands and found Patient 1 harbored expanded ATXN2 allele (33 repeats) and intermediate TBP allele (41 repeats), and Patient 2 with intermediate ATXN2 allele (32 repeats). Detailed clinical and oculomotor performances were investigated. The age at onset and oculomotor parameters of both patients were compared with matched pure SCA3 groups controlling either disease severity or CAG repeats. Results Most of the clinical phenotypes and oculomotor characteristics of these two patients were common to typical SCA3 patients. Compared to pure SCA3 groups controlling disease severity, mild reduced horizontal saccade velocity could be detected in both patients. However, mild expansions of the ATXN2 allele seemed to have no influence on the age at onset of Patient 1 but might have a mild impact on Patient 2. Conclusion Our study provides supporting evidence that mild expansions of ATXN2 may have modifying effects on SCA3 phenotype. Larger control series and longitudinal data are warranted to confirm our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wu
- Department of Neurology, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiong Cai
- Department of Neurology, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huajing You
- Department of Neurology, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangxue Zhou
- Department of Neurology, The East Area of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Dingbang Chen
- Department of Neurology, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guiling Mo
- Guangzhou KingMed Center for Clinical Laboratory Co. Ltd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xunhua Li
- Department of Neurology, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Martins Junior CR, Borba FCD, Martinez ARM, Rezende TJRD, Cendes IL, Pedroso JL, Barsottini OGP, França Júnior MC. Twenty-five years since the identification of the first SCA gene: history, clinical features and perspectives for SCA1. ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 2019; 76:555-562. [PMID: 30231129 DOI: 10.1590/0004-282x20180080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of monogenic diseases that share ataxia and autosomal dominant inheritance as the core features. An important proportion of SCAs are caused by CAG trinucleotide repeat expansions in the coding region of different genes. In addition to genetic heterogeneity, clinical features transcend motor symptoms, including cognitive, electrophysiological and imaging aspects. Despite all the progress in the past 25 years, the mechanisms that determine how neuronal death is mediated by these unstable expansions are still unclear. The aim of this article is to review, from an historical point of view, the first CAG-related ataxia to be genetically described: SCA 1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabrício Castro de Borba
- Universidade de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Neurologia, Campinas SP, Brasil
| | | | | | - Iscia Lopes Cendes
- Universidade de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Genética Médica, Campinas SP, Brasil
| | - José Luiz Pedroso
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Unidade de Ataxia, Departamento de Neurologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil
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da Graça FF, de Rezende TJR, Vasconcellos LFR, Pedroso JL, Barsottini OGP, França MC. Neuroimaging in Hereditary Spastic Paraplegias: Current Use and Future Perspectives. Front Neurol 2019; 9:1117. [PMID: 30713518 PMCID: PMC6346681 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.01117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP) are a large group of genetic diseases characterized by progressive degeneration of the long tracts of the spinal cord, namely the corticospinal tracts and dorsal columns. Genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity is a hallmark of this group of diseases, which makes proper diagnosis and management often challenging. In this scenario, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) emerges as a valuable tool to assist in the exclusion of mimicking disorders and in the detailed phenotypic characterization. Some neuroradiological signs have been reported in specific subtypes of HSP and are therefore helpful to guide genetic testing/interpretation. In addition, advanced MRI techniques enable detection of subtle structural abnormalities not visible on routine scans in the spinal cord and brain of subjects with HSP. In particular, quantitative spinal cord morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging look promising tools to uncover the pathophysiology and to track progression of these diseases. In the current review article, we discuss the current use and future perspectives of MRI in the context of HSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Franco da Graça
- Department of Neurology and Neuroimaging Laboratory, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | | | | | - José Luiz Pedroso
- Department of Neurology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Marcondes C França
- Department of Neurology and Neuroimaging Laboratory, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
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Wu YT, Huang SR, Jao CW, Soong BW, Lirng JF, Wu HM, Wang PS. Impaired Efficiency and Resilience of Structural Network in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. Front Neurosci 2019; 12:935. [PMID: 30618564 PMCID: PMC6304428 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Recent studies have shown that the patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) may not only have disease involvement in the cerebellum and brainstem but also in the cerebral regions. However, the relations between the widespread degenerated brain regions remains incompletely explored. Methods: In the present study, we investigate the topological properties of the brain networks of SCA3 patients (n = 40) constructed based on the correlation of three-dimensional fractal dimension values. Random and targeted attacks were applied to measure the network resilience of normal and SCA3 groups. Results: The SCA3 networks had significantly smaller clustering coefficients (P < 0.05) and global efficiency (P < 0.05) but larger characteristic path length (P < 0.05) than the normal controls networks, implying loss of small-world features. Furthermore, the SCA3 patients were associated with reduced nodal betweenness (P < 0.001) in the left supplementary motor area, bilateral paracentral lobules, and right thalamus, indicating that the motor control circuit might be compromised. Conclusions: The SCA3 networks were more vulnerable to targeted attacks than the normal controls networks because of the effects of pathological topological organization. The SCA3 revealed a more sparsity and disrupted structural network with decreased values in the largest component size, mean degree, mean density, clustering coefficient, and global efficiency and increased value in characteristic path length. The cortico-cerebral circuits in SCA3 were disrupted and segregated into occipital-parietal (visual-spatial cognition) and frontal-pre-frontal (motor control) clusters. The cerebellum of SCA3 were segregated from cerebellum-temporal-frontal circuits and clustered into a frontal-temporal cluster (cognitive control). Therefore, the disrupted structural network presented in this study might reflect the clinical characteristics of SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Te Wu
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Biophotonics and Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Ran Huang
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Wen Jao
- Institute of Biophotonics and Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bing-Wen Soong
- Department of Neurology, Shuang Ho Hospital and Taipei Neuroscience Institute, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Neurology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jiing-Feng Lirng
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Mei Wu
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Shan Wang
- Institute of Biophotonics and Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Neurology, Taipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Coarelli G, Brice A, Durr A. Recent advances in understanding dominant spinocerebellar ataxias from clinical and genetic points of view. F1000Res 2018; 7. [PMID: 30473770 PMCID: PMC6234732 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.15788.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are rare types of cerebellar ataxia with a dominant mode of inheritance. To date, 47 SCA subtypes have been identified, and the number of genes implicated in SCAs is continually increasing. Polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion diseases (
ATXN1/SCA1,
ATXN2/SCA2,
ATXN3/SCA3,
CACNA1A/SCA6,
ATXN7/SCA7,
TBP/SCA17, and
ATN1/DRPLA) are the most common group of SCAs. No preventive or curative treatments are currently available, but various therapeutic approaches, including RNA-targeting treatments, such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), are being developed. Clinical trials of ASOs in SCA patients are already planned. There is, therefore, a need to identify valid outcome measures for such studies. In this review, we describe recent advances towards identifying appropriate biomarkers, which are essential for monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy. Neuroimaging biomarkers are the most powerful markers identified to date, making it possible to reduce sample sizes for clinical trials. Changes on brain MRI are already evident at the premanifest stage in SCA1 and SCA2 carriers and are correlated with CAG repeat size. Other potential biomarkers have also been developed, based on neurological examination, oculomotor study, cognitive assessment, and blood and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Longitudinal studies based on multimodal approaches are required to establish the relationships between parameters and to validate the biomarkers identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Coarelli
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Department of Neurology, Avicenne Hospital, Paris 13 University, Bobigny, 93000, France.,Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne University, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Alexis Brice
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne University, Paris, 75013, France.,Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Genetic department, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Alexandra Durr
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne University, Paris, 75013, France.,Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Genetic department, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, 75013, France
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72
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Friedrich J, Kordasiewicz HB, O'Callaghan B, Handler HP, Wagener C, Duvick L, Swayze EE, Rainwater O, Hofstra B, Benneyworth M, Nichols-Meade T, Yang P, Chen Z, Ortiz JP, Clark HB, Öz G, Larson S, Zoghbi HY, Henzler C, Orr HT. Antisense oligonucleotide-mediated ataxin-1 reduction prolongs survival in SCA1 mice and reveals disease-associated transcriptome profiles. JCI Insight 2018; 3:123193. [PMID: 30385727 PMCID: PMC6238731 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.123193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a dominantly inherited ataxia caused by expansion of a translated CAG repeat encoding a glutamine tract in the ataxin-1 (ATXN1) protein. Despite advances in understanding the pathogenesis of SCA1, there are still no therapies to alter its progressive fatal course. RNA-targeting approaches have improved disease symptoms in preclinical rodent models of several neurological diseases. Here, we investigated the therapeutic capability of an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting mouse Atxn1 in Atxn1154Q/2Q-knockin mice that manifest motor deficits and premature lethality. Following a single ASO treatment at 5 weeks of age, mice demonstrated rescue of these disease-associated phenotypes. RNA-sequencing analysis of genes with expression restored to WT levels in ASO-treated Atxn1154Q/2Q mice was used to demonstrate molecular differences between SCA1 pathogenesis in the cerebellum and disease in the medulla. Finally, select neurochemical abnormalities detected by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vehicle-treated Atxn1154Q/2Q mice were reversed in the cerebellum and brainstem (a region containing the pons and the medulla) of ASO-treated Atxn1154Q/2Q mice. Together, these findings support the efficacy and therapeutic importance of directly targeting ATXN1 RNA expression as a strategy for treating both motor deficits and lethality in SCA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Friedrich
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Brennon O'Callaghan
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Hillary P Handler
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience
| | - Carmen Wagener
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Lisa Duvick
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Orion Rainwater
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Bente Hofstra
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | | | - Praseuth Yang
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Zhao Chen
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Judit Perez Ortiz
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience
| | - H Brent Clark
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gülin Öz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sarah Larson
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Huda Y Zoghbi
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Christine Henzler
- Research Informatics Support Systems Bioinformatics, Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Harry T Orr
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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73
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Mascalchi M, Vella A. Neuroimaging Applications in Chronic Ataxias. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2018; 143:109-162. [PMID: 30473193 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2018.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) are the main instruments for neuroimaging investigation of patients with chronic ataxia. MRI has a predominant diagnostic role in the single patient, based on the visual detection of three patterns of atrophy, namely, spinal atrophy, cortical cerebellar atrophy and olivopontocerebellar atrophy, which correlate with the aetiologies of inherited or sporadic ataxia. In fact spinal atrophy is observed in Friedreich ataxia, cortical cerebellar atrophy in Ataxia Telangectasia, gluten ataxia and Sporadic Adult Onset Ataxia and olivopontocerebellar atrophy in Multiple System Atrophy cerebellar type. The 39 types of dominantly inherited spinocerebellar ataxias show either cortical cerebellar atrophy or olivopontocerebellar atrophy. T2 or T2* weighted MR images can contribute to the diagnosis by revealing abnormally increased or decreased signal with a characteristic distribution. These include symmetric T2 hyperintensity of the posterior and lateral columns of the cervical spinal cord in Friedreich ataxia, diffuse and symmetric hyperintensity of the cerebellar cortex in Infantile Neuro-Axonal Dystrophy, symmetric hyperintensity of the peridentate white matter in Cerebrotendineous Xanthomatosis, and symmetric hyperintensity of the middle cerebellar peduncles and peridentate white matter, cerebral white matter and corpus callosum in Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome. Abnormally decreased T2 or T2* signal can be observed with a multifocal distribution in Ataxia Telangectasia and with a symmetric distribution in the basal ganglia in Multiple System Atrophy. T2 signal hypointensity lining diffusely the outer surfaces of the brainstem, cerebellum and cerebrum enables diagnosis of superficial siderosis of the central nervous system. The diagnostic role of nuclear medicine techniques is smaller. SPECT and PET show decreased uptake of radiotracers investigating the nigrostriatal system in Multiple System Atrophy and in patients with Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome. Semiquantitative or quantitative MRI, SPECT and PET data describing structural, microstructural and functional changes of the cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord have been widely applied to investigate physiopathological changes in patients with chronic ataxias. Moreover they can track diseases progression with a greater sensitivity than clinical scales. So far, a few small-size and single center studies employed neuroimaging techniques as surrogate markers of treatment effects in chronic ataxias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Mascalchi
- Meyer Children Hospital, Florence, Italy; Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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74
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Martins Junior CR, Martinez ARM, Vasconcelos IF, de Rezende TJR, Casseb RF, Pedroso JL, Barsottini OGP, Lopes-Cendes Í, França MC. Structural signature in SCA1: clinical correlates, determinants and natural history. J Neurol 2018; 265:2949-2959. [PMID: 30324307 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-018-9087-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2018] [Revised: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in ATXN1, characterized by progressive cerebellar and extracerebellar symptoms. MRI-based studies in SCA1 focused in the cerebellum and connections, but there are few data about supratentorial/spinal damage and its clinical relevance. We have thus designed this multimodal MRI study to uncover the structural signature of SCA1. To accomplish that, a group of 33 patients and 33 age-and gender-matched healthy controls underwent MRI on a 3T scanner. All patients underwent a comprehensive neurological and neuropsychological evaluation. We correlated the structural findings with the clinical features of the disease. In addition, we evaluated the disease progression looking at differences in SCA1 subgroups defined by disease duration. Ataxia and pyramidal signs were the main symptoms. Neuropsychological evaluation disclosed cognitive impairment in 53% with predominant frontotemporal dysfunction. Gray matter analysis unfolded cortical thinning of primary and associative motor areas with more restricted impairment of deep structures. Deep gray matter atrophy was associated with motor handicap and poor cognition skills. White matter integrity loss was diffuse in the brainstem but restricted in supratentorial structures. Cerebellar cortical thinning was found in multiple areas and correlated not only with motor disability but also with verbal fluency. Spinal cord atrophy correlated with motor handicap. Comparison of MRI findings in disease duration-defined subgroups identified a peculiar pattern of progressive degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Roberto Martins Junior
- Department of Neurology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), R. Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, Campinas, 13083-887, Brazil
| | - Alberto Rolim Muro Martinez
- Department of Neurology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), R. Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, Campinas, 13083-887, Brazil
| | - Ingrid Faber Vasconcelos
- Department of Neurology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), R. Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, Campinas, 13083-887, Brazil
| | | | - Raphael Fernandes Casseb
- Department of Neurology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), R. Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, Campinas, 13083-887, Brazil
| | - Jose Luiz Pedroso
- Department of Neurology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Íscia Lopes-Cendes
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Marcondes Cavalcante França
- Department of Neurology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), R. Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, Campinas, 13083-887, Brazil.
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75
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Hernandez-Castillo CR, King M, Diedrichsen J, Fernandez-Ruiz J. Unique degeneration signatures in the cerebellar cortex for spinocerebellar ataxias 2, 3, and 7. Neuroimage Clin 2018; 20:931-938. [PMID: 30308379 PMCID: PMC6178193 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative diseases that selectively affect vulnerable neuronal populations in the cerebellum and other subcortical regions. While previous studies have reported subtype differences in the absolute amount of degeneration in specific regions of interest, they failed to account for two important factors. First, they did not control for overall differences in the severity of the degeneration pattern, and second, they did not fully characterize the spatial pattern of degeneration for each SCA subtype. Here, we provide a systematic characterization of the spatial degeneration patterns for three polyQ SCAs (55 patients, either SCA2, SCA3, or SCA7) while controlling for the severity of the degeneration pattern. After this correction, the cerebellar degeneration pattern can successfully classify between the three different SCA subtypes with high cross-validated accuracy. Specifically, degeneration in SCA3 disproportionally affects motor regions of the cerebellar cortex, which explains the relatively severe motor symptoms observed in this subtype. Our results demonstrate that each of the three studied SCA subtypes has a unique cerebellar degeneration signature, hinting at differences in the disease process. Clinically, these differentiable patterns of cerebellar degeneration can be used to reliably discern subtypes, even at relatively early stages of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos R Hernandez-Castillo
- CONACYT - Instituto de Neuroetologia, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico; Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
| | - Maedbh King
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jörn Diedrichsen
- Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Department of Computer Science and Department of Statistical and Actuarial Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Juan Fernandez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Mexico
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76
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Rezende TJR, de Paiva JLR, Martinez ARM, Lopes-Cendes I, Pedroso JL, Barsottini OGP, Cendes F, França MC. Structural signature of SCA3: From presymptomatic to late disease stages. Ann Neurol 2018; 84:401-408. [PMID: 30014526 DOI: 10.1002/ana.25297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD) is the most frequent spinocerebellar ataxia worldwide and characterized by brainstem, basal ganglia, and cerebellar damage. However, little is known about the natural history of the disease. This motivated us to determine the extension and progression of central nervous system involvement in SCA3/MJD using multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based analyses in a large cohort of patients (n = 79) and presymptomatic subjects (n = 12). METHODS All subjects underwent MRI in a 3T device to assess gray and white matter. To evaluate the cerebral and cerebellar cortices, we used measures from FreeSurfer and SUIT. T1-multiatlas assessed deep gray matter. Diffusion tensor imaging multiatlas was used to investigate cerebral white matter (WM) and SpineSeg to assess the cervical spinal cord. RESULTS There was widespread WM and cerebellar damage, in contrast to the restricted motor cortex involvement when all patients are compared to age- and sex-matched controls. Presymtomatic patients showed WM microstructural abnormalities mainly in the cerebellar and cerebral peduncles and volumetric reduction of midbrain, spinal cord, and substantia nigra. To assess the disease progression, we divided patients into four subgroups defined by time from ataxia onset. There was a clear pattern of evolving structural compromise, starting in infratentorial structures and progressing up to the cerebral cortex. CONCLUSION Structural damage in SCA3/MJD begins in the spinal cord, cerebellar peduncles, as well as substantia nigra and progresses to cerebral areas in the long term. These structural differences reveal some insights into the pathogenesis of SCA3/MJD and suggest a staging scheme to map the progression of the disease. Ann Neurol 2018;84:401-408.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Iscia Lopes-Cendes
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - José Luiz Pedroso
- Department of Neurology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Fernando Cendes
- Department of Neurology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Marcondes C França
- Department of Neurology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
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77
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Mascalchi M, Marzi C, Giannelli M, Ciulli S, Bianchi A, Ginestroni A, Tessa C, Nicolai E, Aiello M, Salvatore E, Soricelli A, Diciotti S. Histogram analysis of DTI-derived indices reveals pontocerebellar degeneration and its progression in SCA2. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200258. [PMID: 30001379 PMCID: PMC6042729 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the potential of histogram metrics of diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI)-derived indices in revealing neurodegeneration and its progression in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2). MATERIALS AND METHODS Nine SCA2 patients and 16 age-matched healthy controls, were examined twice (SCA2 patients 3.6±0.7 years and controls 3.3±1.0 years apart) on the same 1.5T scanner by acquiring T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted (b-value = 1000 s/mm2) images. Cerebrum and brainstem-cerebellum regions were segmented using FreeSurfer suite. Histogram analysis of DTI-derived indices, including mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), axial (AD) / radial (RD) diffusivity and mode of anisotropy (MO), was performed. RESULTS At baseline, significant differences between SCA2 patients and controls were confined to brainstem-cerebellum. Median values of MD/AD/RD and FA/MO were significantly (p<0.001) higher and lower, respectively, in SCA2 patients (1.11/1.30/1.03×10(-3) mm2/s and 0.14/0.19) than in controls (0.80/1.00/0.70×10(-3) mm2/s and 0.20/0.41). Also, peak location values of MD/AD/RD and FA were significantly (p<0.001) higher and lower, respectively, in SCA2 patients (0.91/1.11/0.81×10(-3) mm2/s and 0.12) than in controls (0.71/0.91/0.63×10(-3) mm2/s and 0.18). Peak height values of FA and MD/AD/RD/MO were significantly (p<0.001) higher and lower, respectively, in SCA2 patients (0.20 and 0.07/0.06/0.07×10(-3) mm2/s/year /0.07) than in controls (0.15 and 0.14/0.11/0.12/×10(-3) mm2/s/year /0.09). The rate of change of MD median values was significantly (p<0.001) higher (i.e., increased) in SCA2 patients (0.010×10(-3) mm2/s/year) than in controls (-0.003×10(-3) mm2/s/year) in the brainstem-cerebellum, whereas no significant difference was found for other indices and in the cerebrum. CONCLUSION Histogram analysis of DTI-derived indices is a relatively straightforward approach which reveals microstructural changes associated with pontocerebellar degeneration in SCA2 and the median value of MD is capable to track its progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Mascalchi
- “Mario Serio” Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Chiara Marzi
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering “Guglielmo Marconi”, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Marco Giannelli
- Unit of Medical Physics, Pisa University Hospital “Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana”, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Ciulli
- “Mario Serio” Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Bianchi
- “Mario Serio” Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Ginestroni
- Neuroradiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Carlo Tessa
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Versilia Hospital, AUSL 12 Viareggio, Lido di Camaiore (Lu), Italy
| | | | | | - Elena Salvatore
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Diciotti
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering “Guglielmo Marconi”, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
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78
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Adanyeguh IM, Perlbarg V, Henry PG, Rinaldi D, Petit E, Valabregue R, Brice A, Durr A, Mochel F. Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias: Imaging biomarkers with high effect sizes. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 19:858-867. [PMID: 29922574 PMCID: PMC6005808 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Objective As gene-based therapies may soon arise for patients with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), there is a critical need to identify biomarkers of disease progression with effect sizes greater than clinical scores, enabling trials with smaller sample sizes. Methods We enrolled a unique cohort of patients with SCA1 (n = 15), SCA2 (n = 12), SCA3 (n = 20) and SCA7 (n = 10) and 24 healthy controls of similar age, sex and body mass index. We collected longitudinal clinical and imaging data at baseline and follow-up (mean interval of 24 months). We performed both manual and automated volumetric analyses. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and a novel tractography method, called fixel-based analysis (FBA), were assessed at follow-up. Effect sizes were calculated for clinical scores and imaging parameters. Results Clinical scores worsened as atrophy increased over time (p < 0.05). However, atrophy of cerebellum and pons showed very large effect sizes (>1.2) compared to clinical scores (<0.8). FBA, applied for the first time to SCA, was sensitive to microstructural cross-sectional differences that were not captured by conventional DTI metrics, especially in the less studied SCA7 group. FBA also showed larger effect sizes than DTI metrics. Conclusion This study showed that volumetry outperformed clinical scores to measure disease progression in SCA1, SCA2, SCA3 and SCA7. Therefore, we advocate the use of volumetric biomarkers in therapeutic trials of autosomal dominant ataxias. In addition, FBA showed larger effect size than DTI to detect cross-sectional microstructural alterations in patients relative to controls. Biomarkers are needed to test upcoming therapies for spinocerebellar ataxia. As spinocerebellar ataxias are rare, biomarkers with high effect sizes are needed. We identified imaging biomarkers with higher effect sizes than clinical scores.
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Key Words
- Apparent fiber density
- CCFS, composite cerebellar functional severity score
- CFE, connectivity-based fixel enhancement
- CSD, constrained spherical deconvolution
- CST, corticospinal tract
- DTI, diffusion tensor imaging
- Diffusion imaging.
- FA, fractional anisotropy
- FBA, fixel-based analysis
- FC, fiber cross-section
- FD, fiber density
- FDC, fiber density and cross-section
- FOD, fiber orientation distribution
- FOV, Field of view
- Fixel analysis
- GRAPPA, generalized autocalibrating partial parallel acquisition
- Imaging biomarkers
- MPRAGE, magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo
- MRI, magnetic resonance imaging
- RD, radial diffusivity
- SARA, scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia
- SCA, spinocerebellar ataxias
- SNR, signal-to-noise ratio
- Spinocerebellar ataxia
- TBSS, tract-based spatial statistics
- TE, echo time
- TR, repetition time
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac M Adanyeguh
- INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Vincent Perlbarg
- INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, F-75013 Paris, France; Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core Facililty, iCONICS, Institut du Ceveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Pierre-Gilles Henry
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Daisy Rinaldi
- INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Elodie Petit
- INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Romain Valabregue
- INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, F-75013 Paris, France; Center for NeuroImaging Research (CENIR), Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Alexis Brice
- INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Durr
- INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, F-75013 Paris, France; AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Department of Genetics, Paris, France
| | - Fanny Mochel
- INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, F-75013 Paris, France; AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Department of Genetics, Paris, France; University Pierre and Marie Curie, Neurometabolic Research Group, Paris, France.
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79
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Joers JM, Deelchand DK, Lyu T, Emir UE, Hutter D, Gomez CM, Bushara KO, Eberly LE, Öz G. Neurochemical abnormalities in premanifest and early spinocerebellar ataxias. Ann Neurol 2018; 83:816-829. [PMID: 29575033 DOI: 10.1002/ana.25212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether early neurochemical abnormalities are detectable by high-field magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in individuals with spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) 1, 2, 3, and 6, including patients without manifestation of ataxia. METHODS A cohort of 100 subjects (N = 18-21 in each SCA group, including premanifest mutation carriers; mean score on the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia [SARA] <10 for all genotypes, and 22 matched controls) was scanned at 7 Tesla to obtain neurochemical profiles of the cerebellum and brainstem. A novel multivariate approach (distance-weighted discrimination) was used to combine regional profiles into an "MRS score." RESULTS MRS scores robustly distinguished individuals with SCA from controls, with misclassification rates of 0% (SCA2), 2% (SCA3), 5% (SCA1), and 17% (SCA6). Premanifest mutation carriers with estimated disease onset within 10 years had MRS scores in the range of early-manifest SCA subjects. Levels of neuronal and glial markers significantly correlated with SARA and an Activities of Daily Living score in subjects with SCA. Regional neurochemical alterations were different between SCAs at comparable disease severity, with SCA2 displaying the most extensive neurochemical abnormalities, followed by SCA1, SCA3, and SCA6. INTERPRETATION Neurochemical abnormalities are detectable in individuals before manifest disease, which may allow premanifest enrollment in future SCA trials. Correlations with ataxia and quality-of-life scores show that neurochemical levels can serve as clinically meaningful endpoints in trials. Ranking of SCA types by degree of neurochemical abnormalities indicates that the neurochemistry may reflect synaptic function or density. Ann Neurol 2018;83:816-829.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Joers
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Dinesh K Deelchand
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Tianmeng Lyu
- Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Uzay E Emir
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.,School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
| | - Diane Hutter
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | | | - Khalaf O Bushara
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Lynn E Eberly
- Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Gülin Öz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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Meles SK, Kok JG, De Jong BM, Renken RJ, de Vries JJ, Spikman JM, Ziengs AL, Willemsen ATM, van der Horn HJ, Leenders KL, Kremer HPH. The cerebral metabolic topography of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 19:90-97. [PMID: 30035006 PMCID: PMC6051313 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Introduction We aimed to uncover the pattern of network-level changes in neuronal function in Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). Methods 17 genetically-confirmed SCA3 patients and 16 controls underwent structural MRI and static resting-state [18F]‑Fluoro‑deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) imaging. A SCA3-related pattern (SCA3-RP) was identified using a multivariate method (scaled subprofile model and principal component analysis (SSM PCA)). Participants were evaluated with the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) and with neuropsychological examination including tests for language, executive dysfunction, memory, and information processing speed. The relationships between SCA3-RP expression and clinical scores were explored. Voxel based morphology (VBM) was applied on MRI-T1 images to assess possible correlations between FDG reduction and grey matter atrophy. Results The SCA3-RP disclosed relative hypometabolism of the cerebellum, caudate nucleus and posterior parietal cortex, and relatively increased metabolism in somatosensory areas and the limbic system. This topography, which was not explained by regional atrophy, correlated significantly with ataxia (SARA) scores (ρ = 0.72; P = 0.001). SCA3 patients showed significant deficits in executive function and information processing speed, but only letter fluency correlated with SCA3-RP expression (ρ = 0.51; P = 0.04, uncorrected for multiple comparisons). Conclusion The SCA3 metabolic profile reflects network-level alterations which are primarily associated with the motor features of the disease. Striatum decreases additional to cerebellar hypometabolism underscores an intrinsic extrapyramidal involvement in SCA3. Cerebellar-posterior parietal hypometabolism together with anterior parietal (sensory) cortex hypermetabolism may reflect a shift from impaired feedforward to compensatory feedback processing in higher-order motor control. The demonstrated SCA3-RP provides basic insight in cerebral network changes in this disease. A metabolic cerebral pattern could be identified in FDG-PET data of SCA3 patients, which was not explained by regional atrophy. Striatum decreases in the SCA3-pattern reflect extrapyramidal involvement. The SCA3-pattern reflects changes in higher-order motor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne K Meles
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Jelmer G Kok
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bauke M De Jong
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Remco J Renken
- Neuroimaging Center, Department of Neuroscience, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen J de Vries
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jacoba M Spikman
- Department of Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Aaltje L Ziengs
- Department of Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Antoon T M Willemsen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Harm J van der Horn
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Klaus L Leenders
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hubertus P H Kremer
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
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81
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Reetz K, Rodríguez-Labrada R, Dogan I, Mirzazade S, Romanzetti S, Schulz JB, Cruz-Rivas EM, Alvarez-Cuesta JA, Aguilera Rodríguez R, Gonzalez Zaldivar Y, Auburger G, Velázquez-Pérez L. Brain atrophy measures in preclinical and manifest spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2018; 5:128-137. [PMID: 29468174 PMCID: PMC5817824 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an autosomal dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease mainly affecting the cerebellum and brainstem. In this Cuban-German research collaboration, we aimed to characterize atrophy patterns and associations with clinical measures in preclinical and manifest SCA2. Methods In this study, 16 nonmanifest SCA2 mutation carriers, 26 manifest patients with SCA2, and 18 healthy control subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging, as well as genetic and clinical characterization including assessment of ataxia (Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia) and saccade velocity in Cuba were enrolled. Semiautomated quantitative volumetry of the cerebellum and brainstem, subdivided into the medulla oblongata, the pontine brainstem, and mesencephalon was performed. Additionally, the anteroposterior diameter of the pontine brainstem was measured. Results Analysis of volumetric data revealed degeneration of the cerebellum and brainstem, in particular of pontine volumes and the anteroposterior diameter of the pons, in both manifest SCA2 patients and individuals at risk for SCA2 compared to controls. Comparing patients with nonataxic preclinical SCA2 mutation carriers, we found more pronounced reductions of the pontine brainstem and cerebellum in manifest SCA2. Volumetric data further showed associations with CAG repeat length and predicted age of onset in preclinical SCA2 individuals, and by trend with ataxia signs in patients. Although saccade velocity was associated with reduction in the pontine brainstem in preclinical and manifest SCA2, reduced ability to suppress interfering stimuli measured by the Stroop task was related to cerebellar volume loss in patients. Interpretation Preclinical SCA2 mutation carriers exhibit brain abnormalities, which could be targeted as surrogate parameters for disease progression and in future preventive trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Reetz
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Pauwelsstr. 3052074 Aachen Germany.,JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Roberto Rodríguez-Labrada
- Department Clinical Neurophysiology Centre for the Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias Calle Libertad 26 Holguín 80100 Cuba
| | - Imis Dogan
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Pauwelsstr. 3052074 Aachen Germany.,JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Shahram Mirzazade
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Pauwelsstr. 3052074 Aachen Germany.,JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Sandro Romanzetti
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Pauwelsstr. 3052074 Aachen Germany.,JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Jörg B Schulz
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Pauwelsstr. 3052074 Aachen Germany.,JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Edilia M Cruz-Rivas
- Department of Imaging Clinical-Surgical Hospital "Lucía Iñiguez". Avenue "Celia Sanchez 1 Holguín Cuba
| | - Jose A Alvarez-Cuesta
- Department of Imaging Clinical-Surgical Hospital "Lucía Iñiguez". Avenue "Celia Sanchez 1 Holguín Cuba
| | - Raul Aguilera Rodríguez
- Department Clinical Neurophysiology Centre for the Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias Calle Libertad 26 Holguín 80100 Cuba
| | - Yanetza Gonzalez Zaldivar
- Department Molecular Genetics Centre for the Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias Calle Libertad 26 Holguín 80100 Cuba
| | - Georg Auburger
- Experimental Neurology Goethe University Medical School 60590 Frankfurt/Main Germany
| | - Luis Velázquez-Pérez
- Department Clinical Neurophysiology Centre for the Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias Calle Libertad 26 Holguín 80100 Cuba
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Du X, Gomez CM. Spinocerebellar [corrected] Ataxia Type 6: Molecular Mechanisms and Calcium Channel Genetics. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1049:147-173. [PMID: 29427102 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71779-1_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) type 6 is an autosomal dominant disease affecting cerebellar degeneration. Clinically, it is characterized by pure cerebellar dysfunction, slowly progressive unsteadiness of gait and stance, slurred speech, and abnormal eye movements with late onset. Pathological findings of SCA6 include a diffuse loss of Purkinje cells, predominantly in the cerebellar vermis. Genetically, SCA6 is caused by expansion of a trinucleotide CAG repeat in the last exon of longest isoform CACNA1A gene on chromosome 19p13.1-p13.2. Normal alleles have 4-18 repeats, while alleles causing disease contain 19-33 repeats. Due to presence of a novel internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) with the mRNA, CACNA1A encodes two structurally unrelated proteins with distinct functions within an overlapping open reading frame (ORF) of the same mRNA: (1) α1A subunit of P/Q-type voltage gated calcium channel; (2) α1ACT, a newly recognized transcription factor, with polyglutamine repeat at C-terminal end. Understanding the function of α1ACT in physiological and pathological conditions may elucidate the pathogenesis of SCA6. More importantly, the IRES, as the translational control element of α1ACT, provides a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of SCA6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Du
- Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, 60637, IL, USA
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83
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Saute JAM, Jardim LB. Planning Future Clinical Trials for Machado-Joseph Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1049:321-348. [PMID: 29427112 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71779-1_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD) is an autosomal dominant multiple neurological systems degenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion at ATXN3 gene. Only a few treatments were evaluated in randomized clinical trials (RCT) in SCA3/MJD patients, with a lack of evidence for both disease-modifying and symptomatic therapies. The present chapter discuss in detail major methodological issues for planning future RCT for SCA3/MJD. There are several potential therapies for SCA3/MJD with encouraging preclinical results. Route of treatment, dosage titration and potential therapy biomarkers might differ among candidate drugs; however, the core study design and protocol will be mostly the same. RCT against placebo group is the best study design to test a disease-modifying therapy; the same cannot be stated for some symptomatic treatments. Main outcomes for future RCT are clinical scales: the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of ataxia (SARA) is currently the instrument of choice to prove efficacy of disease-modifying or symptomatic treatments against ataxia, the most important disease feature. Ataxia quantitative scales or its composite scores can be used as primary outcomes to provide preliminary evidence of efficacy in phase 2 RCT, due to a greater sensitivity to change. Details regarding eligibility criteria, randomization, sample size estimation, duration and type of analysis for both disease modifying and symptomatic treatment trials, were also discussed. Finally, a section anticipates the methodological issues for testing novel drugs when an effective treatment is already available. We conclude emphasizing four points, the first being the need of RCT for a number of different aims in the care of SCA3/MJD. Due to large sample sizes needed to warrant power, RCT for disease-modifying therapies should be multicenter enterprises. There is an urge need for surrogate markers validated for several drug classes. Finally, engagement of at risk or presymptomatic individuals in future trials will enable major advances on treatment research for SCA3/MJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Alex Morales Saute
- Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Laboratório de Identificação Genética, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, HCPA, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Gradução em Medicina, Ciências Médicas Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Interna, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Laura Bannach Jardim
- Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Identificação Genética, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, HCPA, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Gradução em Medicina, Ciências Médicas Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Departamento de Medicina Interna, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Instituto Nacional de Genética Médica Populacional (INAGEMP), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) also known as Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease associated with severe clinical manifestations and premature death. Although rare, it is the most common autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia worldwide and has a distinct geographic distribution, reaching peak prevalence in certain regions of Brazil, Portugal and China. Due to its clinical heterogeneity, it was initially described as several different entities and as had many designations over the last decades. An accurate diagnosis become possible in 1994, after the identification of the MJD1 gene. Among its wide clinical spectrum, progressive cerebellar ataxia is normally present. Other symptoms include pyramidal syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, oculomotor abnormalities, extrapyramidal signs and sleep disorders. On the basis of the presence/absence of important extra-pyramidal signs, and the presence/absence of peripheral signs, five clinical types have been defined. Neuroimaging studies like MRI, DTI and MRS, can be useful as they can characterize structural and functional differences in specific subgroups of patients with MJD. There is no effective treatment for MJD. Symptomatic therapies are used to relieve some of the clinical symptoms and physiotherapy is also helpful in improving quality of live. Several clinical trials have been carried out using different molecules like sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, varenicline and lithium carbonate, but the results of these trials were negative or showed little benefit. Future studies sufficiently powered and adequately designed are warranted.
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Faria AV, Liang Z, Miller MI, Mori S. Brain MRI Pattern Recognition Translated to Clinical Scenarios. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:578. [PMID: 29104527 PMCID: PMC5655969 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We explored the performance of structure-based computational analysis in four neurodegenerative conditions [Ataxia (AT, n = 16), Huntington's Disease (HD, n = 52), Alzheimer's Disease (AD, n = 66), and Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA, n = 50)], all characterized by brain atrophy. The independent variables were the volumes of 283 anatomical areas, derived from automated segmentation of T1-high resolution brain MRIs. The segmentation based volumetric quantification reduces image dimensionality from the voxel level [on the order of O(106)] to anatomical structures [O(102)] for subsequent statistical analysis. We evaluated the effectiveness of this approach on extracting anatomical features, already described by human experience and a priori biological knowledge, in specific scenarios: (1) when pathologies were relatively homogeneous, with evident image alterations (e.g., AT); (2) when the time course was highly correlated with the anatomical changes (e.g., HD), an analogy for prediction; (3) when the pathology embraced heterogeneous phenotypes (e.g., AD) so the classification was less efficient but, in compensation, anatomical and clinical information were less redundant; and (4) when the entity was composed of multiple subgroups that had some degree of anatomical representation (e.g., PPA), showing the potential of this method for the clustering of more homogeneous phenotypes that can be of clinical importance. Using the structure-based quantification and simple linear classifiers (partial least square), we achieve 87.5 and 73% of accuracy on differentiating AT and pre-symptomatic HD patents from controls, respectively. More importantly, the anatomical features automatically revealed by the classifiers agreed with the patterns previously described on these pathologies. The accuracy was lower (68%) on differentiating AD from controls, as AD does not display a clear anatomical phenotype. On the other hand, the method identified PPA clinical phenotypes and their respective anatomical signatures. Although most of the data are presented here as proof of concept in simulated clinical scenarios, structure-based analysis was potentially effective in characterizing phenotypes, retrieving relevant anatomical features, predicting prognosis, and aiding diagnosis, with the advantage of being easily translatable to clinics and understandable biologically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia V Faria
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Zifei Liang
- Department of Radiology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Michael I Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Susumu Mori
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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87
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Paulson HL, Shakkottai VG, Clark HB, Orr HT. Polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias - from genes to potential treatments. Nat Rev Neurosci 2017; 18:613-626. [PMID: 28855740 PMCID: PMC6420820 DOI: 10.1038/nrn.2017.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The dominantly inherited spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a large and diverse group of neurodegenerative diseases. The most prevalent SCAs (SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6 and SCA7) are caused by expansion of a glutamine-encoding CAG repeat in the affected gene. These SCAs represent a substantial portion of the polyglutamine neurodegenerative disorders and provide insight into this class of diseases as a whole. Recent years have seen considerable progress in deciphering the clinical, pathological, physiological and molecular aspects of the polyglutamine SCAs, with these advances establishing a solid base from which to pursue potential therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry L Paulson
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Vikram G Shakkottai
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - H Brent Clark
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, USA
| | - Harry T Orr
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, USA
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88
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John L, Küper M, Hulst T, Timmann D, Hermsdörfer J. Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on grip force control in patients with cerebellar degeneration. CEREBELLUM & ATAXIAS 2017; 4:15. [PMID: 28932407 PMCID: PMC5603042 DOI: 10.1186/s40673-017-0072-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The control of grip forces when moving a hand held object is impaired in patients with cerebellar degeneration. We asked the question whether after-effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the lateral cerebellum or M1 improved grip force control in cerebellar patients. METHODS Grip force control while holding an object during cyclic arm movements was assessed in patients with pure cerebellar degeneration (n = 14, mean age 50.2 years ± SD 8.8 years) and age- and sex-matched control participants (n = 14, mean age 50.7 years ± SD 9.8 years). All subjects were tested before and after application of tDCS (2 mA, 22 min) in a within-subject design. Each subject received anodal tDCS applied to the cerebellum, anodal tDCS applied to M1 or sham-stimulation with a break of 1 week between the three experimental sessions. RESULTS There were no clear after-effects of tDCS on grip force control neither in control participants nor in cerebellar patients. Cerebellar patients showed typical impairments with higher grip forces, a higher variability of movements. CONCLUSION In the present study, deficits in grip force control were neither improved by tDCS applied over the cerebellum nor M1 in cerebellar degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liane John
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Küper
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Thomas Hulst
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Erasmus University College, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Joachim Hermsdörfer
- Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Institute of Movement Science, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Sarro L, Nanetti L, Castaldo A, Mariotti C. Monitoring disease progression in spinocerebellar ataxias: implications for treatment and clinical research. Expert Rev Neurother 2017; 17:919-931. [PMID: 28805093 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2017.1364628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are autosomal dominant diseases characterized by progressive gait and limb incoordination, disequilibrium, dysarthria, and eye movement disturbances. Approximately 40 genetic subtypes of SCAs are known and classified according to the causative disease gene/locus. With the possibility of the specific genetic diagnosis in patients and at-risk family members, several clinical scales and functional tests have been validated and used in ataxic patients with the purposes of measuring the entity of disease progression in natural history studies and the possible slowing of neurological impairment in therapeutic trials. Areas covered: This paper reviews the most widely used clinical scales and quantitative tests that contributed in monitoring disease progression of the most common forms of SCAs. Expert commentary: The currently available and validated clinical scales and quantitative performance scores are adequate to measure disease severity, but may require a considerable number of subjects and a long period of treatment to allow the recognition of beneficial effect of interventional therapies. Advanced MRI techniques are a consistent biomarker and maybe useful to track disease progression from the preclinical to the manifest ataxic phase in association with appropriate clinical or paraclinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Sarro
- a Unit of Genetics of Neurodegenerative and Metabolic Diseases , Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta , Milan , Italy
| | - Lorenzo Nanetti
- a Unit of Genetics of Neurodegenerative and Metabolic Diseases , Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta , Milan , Italy
| | - Anna Castaldo
- a Unit of Genetics of Neurodegenerative and Metabolic Diseases , Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta , Milan , Italy
| | - Caterina Mariotti
- a Unit of Genetics of Neurodegenerative and Metabolic Diseases , Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta , Milan , Italy
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Sasaki R, Maki F, Hara D, Tanaka S, Hasegawa Y. Stratification of disease progression in a broad spectrum of degenerative cerebellar ataxias with a clustering method using MRI-based atrophy rates of brain structures. CEREBELLUM & ATAXIAS 2017; 4:9. [PMID: 28680650 PMCID: PMC5492905 DOI: 10.1186/s40673-017-0068-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rate of disease progression differs among patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia. The uncertain natural course in individual patients hinders clinical trials of promising treatments. In this study, we analyzed atrophy changes in brain structures with cluster analysis to find sub-groups of patients with homogenous symptom progression in a broad spectrum of degenerative cerebellar ataxias. METHODS We examined 48 patients including 21 cases of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), 17 cases of the cerebellar type of multiple system atrophy (MSA-C), and 10 cases of cortical cerebellar ataxia (CCA). In all patients, at least two sets of evaluations including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) scoring were performed. The median number (min-max) of follow-up studies in each patient was three (2-6), and the mean follow-up period was 3.1 ± 1.6 years. The area of the corpus callosum on midsagittal images and the cerebellar volume were measured using MRI, and these values were divided by the cranial antero-posterior diameter of each patient to correct for individual head size differences as an area index (Adx) and a volume index (Vdx), respectively. The annual changes in Adx, Vdx, and ICARS score were calculated in each patient, and atrophy patterns in patients were categorized with cluster analysis. RESULTS The annual atrophy rates for the corpus callosum (Adx) and cerebellum (Vdx) and symptom progression differed significantly by subtype of cerebellar ataxia (p = 0.026, 0.019, and 0.021, respectively). However, neither the annual atrophy rate of Adx nor Vdx was significantly correlated with the annual increase in the ICARS score. When the patients were categorized into three clusters based on the annual changes in Adx and Vdx, the annual increase in the ICARS score was significantly different among clusters (2.9 ± 1.7/year in Cluster 1, 4.8 ± 3.2/year in Cluster 2, and 8.7 ± 6.1/year in Cluster 3; p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS The annual increase in the ICARS score can be stratified by cluster analysis based on the atrophy rates of the corpus callosum and cerebellum. Further studies are warranted to explore whether these simple MRI methods could be used for random allocation of a broad spectrum of patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rie Sasaki
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511 Japan
| | - Futaba Maki
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511 Japan
| | - Daisuke Hara
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511 Japan
| | - Shigeaki Tanaka
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511 Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Hasegawa
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511 Japan
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Archer DB, Patten C, Coombes SA. Free-water and free-water corrected fractional anisotropy in primary and premotor corticospinal tracts in chronic stroke. Hum Brain Mapp 2017; 38:4546-4562. [PMID: 28590584 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Measures from diffusion MRI have been used to characterize the corticospinal tract in chronic stroke. However, diffusivity can be influenced by partial volume effects from free-water, region of interest placement, and lesion masking. We collected diffusion MRI from a cohort of chronic stroke patients and controls and used a bitensor model to calculate free-water corrected fractional anisotropy (FAT ) and free water (FW) in the primary motor corticospinal tract (M1-CST) and the dorsal premotor corticospinal tract (PMd-CST). Region of interest analyses and whole-tract slice-by-slice analyses were used to assess between-group differences in FAT and FW in each tract. Correlations between FAT and FW and grip strength were also examined. Following lesion masking and correction for multiple comparisons, relative increases in FW were found for the stroke group in large portions of the M1-CST and PMd-CST in the lesioned hemisphere. FW in cortical regions was the strongest predictor of grip strength in the stroke group. Our findings also demonstrated that FAT is sensitive to the direct effects of the lesion itself, thus after controlling for the lesion, differences in FAT in nonlesioned tissue were small and generally similar between hemispheres and groups. Our observations suggest that FW may be a robust biological measurement that can be used to assess microstructure in residual white matter after stroke. Hum Brain Mapp 38:4546-4562, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek B Archer
- Laboratory for Rehabilitation Neuroscience, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Carolynn Patten
- Rehabilitation Sciences Ph.D. Program, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Neural Control of Movement Lab, Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida.,Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Stephen A Coombes
- Laboratory for Rehabilitation Neuroscience, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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Kang N, Christou EA, Burciu RG, Chung JW, DeSimone JC, Ofori E, Ashizawa T, Subramony SH, Vaillancourt DE. Sensory and motor cortex function contributes to symptom severity in spinocerebellar ataxia type 6. Brain Struct Funct 2017; 222:1039-1052. [PMID: 27352359 PMCID: PMC6276122 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-016-1263-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) is a genetic disease that causes degeneration of Purkinje cells, and recent evidence points to degeneration of Betz cells in the motor cortex. The relation between functional activity of motor cortex and symptom severity during a hand-grip motor control in vivo has not yet been investigated. This study explored both functional changes in the sensorimotor cortex and cerebellar regions and structural alterations in the cerebellum for SCA6 patients as compared to age-matched healthy controls using a multimodal imaging approach (task-based fMRI, task-based functional connectivity, and free-water diffusion MRI). Further, we tested their relation with the severity of ataxia symptoms. SCA6 patients had reduced functional activity in the sensorimotor cortex, supplementary motor area (SMA), cerebellar vermis, and cerebellar lobules I-VI (corrected P < 0.05). Reduced task-based functional connectivity between cortical motor regions (i.e., primary motor cortex and SMA) and cerebellar regions (i.e., vermis and lobules I-VI) was found in SCA6 (corrected P < 0.05). SCA6 had elevated free-water values throughout the cerebellum as compared with controls (corrected P < 0.05). Importantly, reduced functional activity in the sensorimotor cortex and SMA and increased free-water in the superior cerebellar peduncle and cerebellar lobule V were related to more severe symptoms in SCA6 (all pairs: R 2 ≥ 0.4 and corrected P < 0.05). Current results demonstrate that impaired functional activity in sensorimotor cortex and SMA and elevated free-water of lobule V and superior cerebellar peduncle are both related to symptom severity, and may provide candidate biomarkers for SCA6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nyeonju Kang
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118205, Gainesville, FL, 32611-8205, USA
| | - Evangelos A Christou
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118205, Gainesville, FL, 32611-8205, USA
| | - Roxana G Burciu
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118205, Gainesville, FL, 32611-8205, USA
| | - Jae Woo Chung
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118205, Gainesville, FL, 32611-8205, USA
| | - Jesse C DeSimone
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118205, Gainesville, FL, 32611-8205, USA
| | - Edward Ofori
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118205, Gainesville, FL, 32611-8205, USA
| | - Tetsuo Ashizawa
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
| | | | - David E Vaillancourt
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118205, Gainesville, FL, 32611-8205, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
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93
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Mascalchi M, Mari F, Berti B, Bartolini E, Lenge M, Bianchi A, Antonucci L, Santorelli FM, Garavaglia B, Guerrini R. Fast Progression of Cerebellar Atrophy in PLA2G6-Associated Infantile Neuronal Axonal Dystrophy. THE CEREBELLUM 2017; 16:742-745. [DOI: 10.1007/s12311-017-0843-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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94
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Subramony SH. Degenerative Ataxias: challenges in clinical research. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2016; 4:53-60. [PMID: 28078315 PMCID: PMC5221462 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The degenerative ataxias are a very heterogeneous group of disorders that include numerous genetic diseases as well as apparently “sporadic” entities. There has been an explosion of discoveries related to genetic defects and related pathomechanisms that has brought us to the threshold of meaningful therapies in some but not all of these diseases. There also continues to be lack of knowledge of the causation of disease in a sizeable proportion of these patients. The overall rarity of ataxias as a whole and certainly of the individual genetic entities together with slow and variable progression and variable prognosis in juxtaposition with a rapid development of possible therapies in the horizon such as gene replacement and gene knock‐down strategies places the ataxias in a unique position distinct from other similar neurodegenerative diseases. The pace of laboratory research seems not matched by the pace of clinical research and clinical trial readiness. This review summarizes the author's views on the various challenges in translational research in ataxias and hopes to stimulate further thought and discussions on how to bring real help to these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sub H Subramony
- Department of Neurology University of Florida College of Medicine and McKnight Brain Institute Gainesville Florida
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95
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Aguiar P, Pardo J, Arias M, Quintáns B, Fernández-Prieto M, Martínez-Regueiro R, Pumar JM, Silva-Rodríguez J, Ruibal Á, Sobrido MJ, Cortés J. PET and MRI detection of early and progressive neurodegeneration in spinocerebellar ataxia type 36. Mov Disord 2016; 32:264-273. [DOI: 10.1002/mds.26854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2016] [Revised: 09/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Aguiar
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Group; University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), IDIS Health Research Institute; Santiago de Compostela Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Radiology and Public Health; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC); Santiago de Compostela Spain
| | - Julio Pardo
- Department of Psychiatry, Radiology and Public Health; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC); Santiago de Compostela Spain
- Department of Neurology; University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (CHUS); Santiago de Compostela Spain
- Neurogenetics research group; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago (IDIS); Santiago de Compostela Spain
| | - Manuel Arias
- Department of Psychiatry, Radiology and Public Health; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC); Santiago de Compostela Spain
- Department of Neurology; University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (CHUS); Santiago de Compostela Spain
- Neurogenetics research group; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago (IDIS); Santiago de Compostela Spain
| | - Beatriz Quintáns
- Neurogenetics research group; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago (IDIS); Santiago de Compostela Spain
- Genomic Medicine Group (U711), Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER); Institute of Health Carlos III; Madrid Spain
| | - Montse Fernández-Prieto
- Neurogenetics research group; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago (IDIS); Santiago de Compostela Spain
- Genomic Medicine Group (U711), Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER); Institute of Health Carlos III; Madrid Spain
| | - Rocío Martínez-Regueiro
- Neurogenetics research group; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago (IDIS); Santiago de Compostela Spain
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC); Santiago de Compostela Spain
| | - José-Manuel Pumar
- Department of Psychiatry, Radiology and Public Health; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC); Santiago de Compostela Spain
- Department of Radiology; University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (CHUS); Santiago de Compostela Spain
| | - Jesús Silva-Rodríguez
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Group; University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), IDIS Health Research Institute; Santiago de Compostela Spain
| | - Álvaro Ruibal
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Group; University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), IDIS Health Research Institute; Santiago de Compostela Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Radiology and Public Health; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC); Santiago de Compostela Spain
| | - María-Jesús Sobrido
- Neurogenetics research group; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Santiago (IDIS); Santiago de Compostela Spain
- Genomic Medicine Group (U711), Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER); Institute of Health Carlos III; Madrid Spain
| | - Julia Cortés
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Group; University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), IDIS Health Research Institute; Santiago de Compostela Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Radiology and Public Health; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC); Santiago de Compostela Spain
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96
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Huang SR, Wu YT, Jao CW, Soong BW, Lirng JF, Wu HM, Wang PS. CAG repeat length does not associate with the rate of cerebellar degeneration in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Neuroimage Clin 2016; 13:97-105. [PMID: 27942452 PMCID: PMC5133648 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2016.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This cross-sectional study investigated the correlation between the CAG repeat length and the degeneration of cerebellum in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) patients based on neuroimaging approaches. Forty SCA3 patients were recruited and classified into two subgroups according to their CAG repeat lengths (≥ 74 and < 74). We measured each patient's Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) score, N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) ratios based on magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and 3-dimensional fractal dimension (3D-FD) values derived from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results. Furthermore, the 3D-FD values were used to construct structural covariance networks based on graph theoretical analysis. The results revealed that SCA3 patients with a longer CAG repeat length demonstrated earlier disease onset. However, the CAG repeat length did not significantly correlate with their SARA scores, cerebellar NAA/Cr ratios or cerebellar 3D-FD values. Network dissociation between cerebellar regions and parietal-occipital regions was found in SCA3 patients with CAG ≥ 74, but not in those with CAG < 74. In conclusion, the CAG repeat length is uncorrelated with the change of SARA score, cerebellar function and cerebellar structure in SCA3. Nevertheless, a longer CAG repeat length may indicate early structural covariance network dissociation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Ran Huang
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, No.155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Te Wu
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, No.155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, No.155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chii-Wen Jao
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, No.155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bing-Wen Soong
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No.201, Sec. 2, Shipai Rd., Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, No.155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jiing-Feng Lirng
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, No.155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No.201, Sec. 2, Shipai Rd., Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Mei Wu
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, No.155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No.201, Sec. 2, Shipai Rd., Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Shan Wang
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, No.155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No.201, Sec. 2, Shipai Rd., Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, No.155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Taipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital, No.12, Ln. 225, Zhixing Rd., Taipei, Taiwan
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97
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Hara D, Maki F, Tanaka S, Sasaki R, Hasegawa Y. MRI-based cerebellar volume measurements correlate with the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale score in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration or multiple system atrophy. CEREBELLUM & ATAXIAS 2016; 3:14. [PMID: 27536377 PMCID: PMC4987966 DOI: 10.1186/s40673-016-0052-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progression of clinical symptoms and cerebellar atrophy may vary among subtypes of spinocerebellar degeneration and multiple system atrophy. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to demonstrate the relationship between the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) score and cerebellar volume derived from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a broad spectrum of Japanese patients with cerebellar ataxia. METHODS A total of 86 patients with cerebellar ataxia (18 with cortical cerebellar atrophy, 34 with spinocerebellar ataxia, and 34 with multiple system atrophy) and 30 healthy subjects were studied. MRI-based cerebellar volume measurements were performed in all subjects using T1-weighted images acquired with a 1.5-T MRI scanner. The cerebellar volume/cranial anteroposterior (AP) diameter was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Stepwise multiple regression analyses demonstrated that cerebellar volume/cranial AP diameter and midbrain AP/cranial AP diameter were significantly associated with the total score and domain I sub-score of ICARS. We found no interactions between these two anatomical factors in the ICARS total and domain I sub-scores. The main effects of these two predictors were statistically significant both in total and domain I sub-scores (p = 0.001 and 0.022, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Cerebellar volume and midbrain AP diameter normalized to the cranial AP diameter were significantly correlated with the ICARS total and domain I sub-scores. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to explore the role of these MRI biomarkers for predicting disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Hara
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511 Japan
| | - Futaba Maki
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511 Japan
| | - Shigeaki Tanaka
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511 Japan
| | - Rie Sasaki
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511 Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Hasegawa
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Neurology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511 Japan
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98
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Klaes A, Reckziegel E, Franca MC, Rezende TJR, Vedolin LM, Jardim LB, Saute JA. MR Imaging in Spinocerebellar Ataxias: A Systematic Review. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2016; 37:1405-12. [PMID: 27173364 PMCID: PMC7960281 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a4760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Polyglutamine expansion spinocerebellar ataxias are autosomal dominant slowly progressive neurodegenerative diseases with no current treatment. MR imaging is the best-studied surrogate biomarker candidate for polyglutamine expansion spinocerebellar ataxias, though with conflicting results. We aimed to review quantitative central nervous system MR imaging technique findings in patients with polyglutamine expansion spinocerebellar ataxias and correlations with well-established clinical and molecular disease markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched MEDLINE, LILACS, and Cochrane data bases of clinical trials between January 1995 and January 2016, for quantitative MR imaging volumetric approaches, MR spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging, or other quantitative techniques, comparing patients with polyglutamine expansion spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) with controls. Pertinent details for each study regarding participants, imaging methods, and results were extracted. RESULTS After reviewing the 706 results, 18 studies were suitable for inclusion: 2 studies in SCA1, 1 in SCA2, 15 in SCA3, 1 in SCA7, 1 in SCA1 and SCA6 presymptomatic carriers, and none in SCA17 and dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy. Cerebellar hemispheres and vermis, whole brain stem, midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata, cervical spine, striatum, and thalamus presented significant atrophy in SCA3. The caudate, putamen and whole brain stem presented similar sensitivity to change compared with ataxia scales after 2 years of follow-up in a single prospective study in SCA3. MR spectroscopy and DTI showed abnormalities only in cross-sectional studies in SCA3. Results from single studies in other polyglutamine expansion spinocerebellar ataxias should be replicated in different cohorts. CONCLUSIONS Additional cross-sectional and prospective volumetric analysis, MR spectroscopy, and DTI studies are necessary in polyglutamine expansion spinocerebellar ataxias. The properties of preclinical disease biomarkers (presymptomatic) of MR imaging should be targeted in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Klaes
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.K., L.M.V.)
| | - E Reckziegel
- Medical Genetics Services (E.R., L.B.J., J.A.M.S.), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - M C Franca
- Departments of Neurology (M.C.F., T.J.R.R.)
| | - T J R Rezende
- Departments of Neurology (M.C.F., T.J.R.R.) Cosmic Rays and Chronology (T.J.R.R.), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - L M Vedolin
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.K., L.M.V.) Department of Internal Medicine (L.M.V., L.B.J.)
| | - L B Jardim
- Medical Genetics Services (E.R., L.B.J., J.A.M.S.), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil Department of Internal Medicine (L.M.V., L.B.J.) Postgraduate Program in Medicine: Medical Sciences (L.B.J.), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - J A Saute
- Medical Genetics Services (E.R., L.B.J., J.A.M.S.), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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99
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Falcon MI, Gomez CM, Chen EE, Shereen A, Solodkin A. Early Cerebellar Network Shifting in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 6. Cereb Cortex 2016; 26:3205-18. [PMID: 26209844 PMCID: PMC4898673 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhv154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia 6 (SCA6), an autosomal dominant degenerative disease, is characterized by diplopia, gait ataxia, and incoordination due to severe progressive degeneration of Purkinje cells in the vestibulo- and spinocerebellum. Ocular motor deficits are common, including difficulty fixating on moving objects, nystagmus and disruption of smooth pursuit movements. In presymptomatic SCA6, there are alterations in saccades and smooth-pursuit movements. We sought to assess functional and structural changes in cerebellar connectivity associated with a visual task, hypothesizing that gradual changes would parallel disease progression. We acquired functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging data during a passive smooth-pursuit task in 14 SCA6 patients, representing a range of disease duration and severity, and performed a cross-sectional comparison of cerebellar networks compared with healthy controls. We identified a shift in activation from vermis in presymptomatic individuals to lateral cerebellum in moderate-to-severe cases. Concomitantly, effective connectivity between regions of cerebral cortex and cerebellum was at its highest in moderate cases, and disappeared in severe cases. Finally, we noted structural differences in the cerebral and cerebellar peduncles. These unique results, spanning both functional and structural domains, highlight widespread changes in SCA6 and compensatory mechanisms associated with cerebellar physiology that could be utilized in developing new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - C M Gomez
- Department of Neurology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - E E Chen
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
| | - A Shereen
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
| | - A Solodkin
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Department of Neurology, UC Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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100
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Paap BK, Roeske S, Durr A, Schöls L, Ashizawa T, Boesch S, Bunn LM, Delatycki MB, Giunti P, Lehéricy S, Mariotti C, Melegh J, Pandolfo M, Tallaksen CM, Timmann D, Tsuji S, Schulz JB, van de Warrenburg BP, Klockgether T. Standardized Assessment of Hereditary Ataxia Patients in Clinical Studies. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2016; 3:230-240. [PMID: 30363623 PMCID: PMC6178745 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.12315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hereditary ataxias are a heterogeneous group of degenerative diseases of the cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord. They may present with isolated ataxia or with additional symptoms going beyond cerebellar deficits. There are an increasing number of clinical studies with the goal to define the natural history of these disorders, develop biomarkers, and investigate therapeutic interventions. Especially, early and preclinical disease stages are currently of particular interest. METHODS AND RESULTS Evidence-based, we review standards for sampling and storage of biomaterials, clinical and neuropsychological assessment, as well as neurophysiology and neuroimaging and recommendations for standardized assessment of ataxia patients in multicenter studies. CONCLUSIONS DNA, RNA, serum, and, if possible, cerebrospinal fluid samples should be processed following established standards. Clinical assessment in ataxia studies must include use of a validated clinical ataxia scale. There are several validated clinical ataxia scales available. There are no instruments that were specifically designed for assessing neuropsychological and psychiatric symptoms in ataxia disorders. We provide a list of tests that may prove valuable. Quantitative performance tests have the potential to supplement clinical scales. They provide additional objective and quantitative information. Posturography and quantitative movement analysis-despite valid approaches-require standardization before implemented in multicenter studies. Standardization of neurophysiological tools, as required for multicenter interventional trials, is still lacking. Future multicenter neuroimaging studies in ataxias should implement quality assurance measures as defined by the ADNI or other consortia. MRI protocols should allow morphometric analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandra Roeske
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)BonnGermany
| | - Alexandra Durr
- APHP Department of GeneticsGroupe Hospitalier Pitié‐SalpêtrièreParisFrance
- Institut du Cerveau et de la MoelleINSERM U1127CNRS UMR7225Sorbonne Universités–UPMC Université Paris VI UMR_S1127ParisFrance
| | - Ludger Schöls
- Department of Neurology and Hertie‐Institute for Clinical Brain ResearchUniversity of TübingenTübingenGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)TübingenGermany
| | - Tetsuo Ashizawa
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Research ProgramMethodist Hospital Research InstituteHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Sylvia Boesch
- Department of NeurologyMedical University InnsbruckInnsbruckAustria
| | - Lisa M. Bunn
- School of Health ProfessionsPeninsula Allied Health CenterUniversity of PlymouthUnited Kingdom
| | - Martin B. Delatycki
- Murdoch Children's Research InstituteMelbourneAustralia
- Clinical GeneticsAustin HealthHeidelbergVictoriaAustralia
| | - Paola Giunti
- Ataxia Centre Department of MolecularneuroscienceUCL Institute of NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Stéphane Lehéricy
- Institut du Cerveau et de la MoelleINSERM U1127CNRS UMR7225Sorbonne Universités–UPMC Université Paris VI UMR_S1127ParisFrance
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle (ICM) epiniereCentre de NeuroImagerie de Recherche (CENIR)ParisFrance
- Service de NeuroradiologieGroupe Hospitalier Pitie‐SalpetriereParisFrance
| | - Caterina Mariotti
- Unit of Genetics of Neurodegenerative and Metabolic DisordersFondazione IRCCS‐Istituto Neurologico Carlo BestaMilanItaly
| | - Jörg Melegh
- Department of Medical Genetics and Szentagothai Research CenterUniversity of PécsPécsHungary
| | | | - Chantal M.E. Tallaksen
- Department of NeurologyOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Faculty of MedicineOslo UniversityOsloNorway
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of NeurologyEssen University HospitalUniversity of Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
| | - Shoji Tsuji
- Department of NeurologyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Jörg Bela Schulz
- Department of Neurology and JARA BrainUniversity HospitalRWTH AachenAachenGermany
| | - Bart P. van de Warrenburg
- Department of NeurologyRadboud University Medical CenterDonders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and BehaviorNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Thomas Klockgether
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)BonnGermany
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Hospital of BonnBonnGermany
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